Consumer Guide to Health Care – Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Units

The following is a list (alphabetized by city) of Wisconsin facilities that are certified to provide care for people with traumatic brain injuries. If you have questions about any of these TBI units, please use the contact information listed for the facility.

Traumatic brain injury resources:

• Brain Injury Alliance of Wisconsin (BIAW)
• Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA)
• Brain Injury Recovery Network
• Brain Injury Resource Center of Wisconsin (BIRCofWI)
• Caring Bridge
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
• DHS Area Administration
• Division of Medicaid Services
• Make The Connection
• To apply for healthcare through the marketplace, go to www.healthcare.gov or call 1-800-318-2596 or 1-855-889-4325 (TTY)

A letter of intent should be submitted for facilities requesting to start a new TBI unit, expand or decrease beds in a current unit, or close a TBI unit.  

A letter of intent must be sent to:

Division of Quality Assurance
Attention: Nikki Andrews
1 West Wilson St, Room 450
Madison, WI 53701

The letter of intent must include the following:

• Defining the specific changes the facility is proposing to implement on the TBI unit. Include a floor plan of proposed changes.
• A letter from the DQA Office of Plan Review and Inspection indicating approval of the new unit's construction plan, if applicable.
• Clearly stated intention or rationale for the change of a TBI unit.
• Where "beds" will be coming from or going to within the corporation pursuant to Wis. Admin. Code ch.DHS 122.
• Estimated date the facility was intending to implement their requested changes.

Additional information below is requested for those facilities that are starting a new TBI unit:

• Mission Statement and Unit Goals including length of program.
• Advisory committee or method of oversight.
• On-call consultants including their area of responsibility or position.
• Unit or Care Coordinator name and credentials.
• Current Standards of Practice used for development of policies and procedures.
• Equipment: supportive supplies, etc.
• Electrical equipment, alternative sources.
• Plan for integration program back to the community.
• Staffing forms for each shift:

Registered Nurse:
F62023 (Word, 171 KB), F62025 (Word, 164 KB), F62027 (Word, 171 KB)

Licensed Practical Nurse:
F62164 (Word, 182 KB), F62165 (Word, 171 KB), F62166 (Word, 183 KB)

Nurse Aide:
F62024 (PDF, 161 KB), F62026 (Word, 171 KB), F62028 (Word, 171 KB)

Other Direct Care Nurse Aide (used for therapy staff):
F62440 (PDF, 172 KB), F62441 (PDF, 172KB), F62442 (PDF, 172 KB)

• Policies and procedures for infection control. Current TBI units should send a list for staff and residents with infections for the last two months.
• Disaster plan
• Contracts for supplies, if any.
• All policies pertaining to TBI patients including the continuing stay requirements.
• Medical Director's name and credentials along with a statement of agreement for responsibility for the patients of the TBI unit.
• All contracted services for TBI residents, i.e. activities, therapies, sheltered work, etc.
  Policies or Plan of Care for residents as it pertains to respiratory therapy, activities, physical and occupational therapy, and discharge planning.
• List of facility staff name(s) and contact number(s) for any questions or needed information for DQA personnel.

Materials submitted will be reviewed in a timely matter and a letter of acceptance or denial will be sent at least 7 days prior to the anticipated opening of the TBI unit. The facility will notify the DQA, Nikki Andrews at 608-267-3745 when the unit has become operational and has at least 1 resident/client in the unit. Within 10 working days an on-site survey will be conducted to verify the safety and welfare of resident/client(s).

The on-site survey will include a tour of the unit, observations of resident cares, review of policies and procedures, and interviews with staff, patients, and family members. In addition, the following records will be requested and reviewed by survey staff:

• Completed pre-admission functional test(s), i.e. Functional Independence Measure.
• History and physical information including computed tomography (CT) reports.
• Verification of background checks for newly hired staff working on the TBI unit including the Integrated Background Information System (IBIS), Department of Justice (DOJ), Background Information Disclosure (BID) and out-of-state and/or military discharge papers.
• Copy of the resident requirements and admission packet.
• Staff (TBI unit) training records including certificates and licenses.

If you need additional information email Nikki Andrews.