5.1. SCI Center Programs and Organization

Designated SCI Centers. Designated SCI Centers provide SCI/D primary care and SCI/D specialty care with a full continuum of acute stabilization, acute rehabilitation, subacute rehabilitation, medical and surgical care, ventilator management and weaning, respite care, preventive services, sustaining health care, SCI Home Care (SCI-HC), and long-term care services consistent with VHA policies. Sustaining health care is the spectrum of services after initial rehabilitation. Veterans living in the geographic area of an SCI Center generally receive their SCI/D primary care services from a primary care provider in the SCI Service at the SCI Center. 

 

Approval of SCI Centers. SCI Centers are approved by the Under Secretary for Health and organized as an independent service line reporting to the Chief of Staff, Chief Medical Officer, or equivalent, at the medical center. Each SCI Center is organized with a catchment area of VA medical centers that refer to that SCI Center (see App. A). The establishment of a new SCI Center must follow VA's physical plant, staffing, and resource requirements, and must be located at VA medical centers that are capable of providing complete tertiary care.

 

NOTE: Uniform Federal Accessibility Standards and the Office of Facilities Management Design Guides are used in construction of all new sites. VA and PVA have an agreement specifying that PVA is offered involvement in all major, minor, and non-recurring SCI/D projects. 

 

SCI Long-Term Care Centers. Designated SCI Long-Term Care (LTC) Centers provide primary care and SCI/D specialty care within their focus on sustaining health and LTC services. Veterans living in the geographic area of a designated SCI LTC Center often receive their SCI/D primary care and LTC services at the SCI LTC Center through SCI Services.

 

NOTE: Uniform Federal Accessibility Standards and the Office of Facilities Management Design Guides are used in construction of all new sites. VA and PVA have an agreement specifying that PVA is offered involvement in all major, minor, and non-recurring SCI/D projects.