Sunset in Sonoran Desert, near Phoenix

Inpatient Neuro-Rehabilitation

Overview

The Inpatient Neuro-Rehabilitation Program at Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix, Arizona, helps people rebuild their lives after brain injury, spinal cord injury (SCI), stroke, a neurosurgical procedure, and other neurological conditions. As part of one of the world’s top-ranked hospitals for neuro-rehabilitation, neurology, and neurosurgery, we provide expert, compassionate care that helps people regain independence, confidence, and quality of life.

Our 46-bed inpatient neuro-rehabilitation unit, accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF), is home to an interdisciplinary team of specialists—physicians, nurses, therapists, and other professionals—who work together to help everyone in our care reach their highest potential. Whether you are recovering from a stroke, traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, or neurological disease, our team will guide you through every step of recovery.

Our mission is to restore function, rebuild strength, and help you return to your home, work, and community with renewed confidence.

Neuro-rehabilitation is a continuum—a series of progressive steps that guide recovery from hospital to home.

  1. Acute Hospital Care: Focused on saving lives and stabilizing medical conditions after a neurological injury.
  2. Inpatient Neuro-Rehabilitation: Intensive, hospital-based setting with daily therapy and medical support.
  3. Outpatient Neuro-Rehabilitation: The next step is once patients are medically stable and able to live at home, but still require ongoing therapy.
  4. Community and Wellness Programs: Maintenance and long-term health support after completing outpatient rehab.

Inpatient neuro-rehabilitation is a vital step in the neurological recovery continuum. It begins once a patient is medically stable after an acute injury or illness and no longer requires intensive medical or surgical care but still needs 24-hour nursing, medical supervision, and multiple daily therapies to regain function.

At Barrow, patients typically transition into the inpatient rehabilitation program from:

  • Acute care following neurosurgery, trauma, or stroke
  • Intensive care or hospital units after stabilization
  • Other hospitals that refer patients to Barrow for specialized neuro-rehabilitation

After completing inpatient rehabilitation, patients usually move into our outpatient neuro-rehabilitation program or community-based therapy to continue their recovery journey.

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Percent Overall Satisfaction

Nearly 98 percent of our patients reported being satisfied with our program, and 97.7 percent felt it prepared them to go home.

Dr. Christina Kwasnica treating a neuro-rehabilitation a patient in an exam room.

Who can benefit from inpatient neuro-rehabilitation?

Inpatient neuro-rehabilitation can help individuals who have experienced significant neurological changes due to brain injury, spinal cord injury, stroke, or other complex neurological conditions.

Inpatient Neuro-Rehabilitation is most appropriate for patients who:

  • Need 24-hour nursing or medical oversight
  • Require coordinated, intensive therapy from multiple disciplines
  • Have the endurance to participate in at least three hours of therapy per day
  • Are motivated to regain as much independence as possible

Our goal is to help every patient make measurable progress toward safe mobility, self-care, and community reintegration.

Part of Barrow and St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center, our Inpatient Neuro-Rehabilitation Unit has the advantage of being fully integrated with the largest specialty center for the neurosciences in the Southwest and one of the largest hospitals in Arizona. This ensures that, no matter what challenges arise during your stay with us, the best experts are only minutes away.

Dr. Matthias Linke with a patient

Conditions Treated and Services Offered

The Inpatient Neuro-Rehabilitation Unit at Barrow serves patients with a wide range of brain, spinal cord, and neurological conditions.

  • Brain Injury Rehabilitation: Traumatic brain injury (TBI), stroke, anoxic brain injury, brain tumors, and infections
  • Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation: Traumatic and non-traumatic SCI, tumors, vascular disorders, and degenerative spine conditions
  • Stroke Rehabilitation: Hemorrhagic stroke, ischemic stroke, and transient ischemic attack (TIA)
  • Other Neurological Conditions: Multiple sclerosis (MS), Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), Parkinson’s disease, and peripheral neuropathy

Our Neuro-Rehabilitation Center incorporates robotics, aquatic therapy, spasticity management, and community reintegration. Patients practice real-world activities such as grocery shopping, cooking, and navigating their environments under therapist guidance.

Barrow’s inpatient unit features modern therapy gyms, adaptive living spaces, and realistic, home-like environments for functional training. Being located within a world-class neurological hospital ensures immediate access to acute care if needed, providing continuity and safety.

You can expect progress to continue after discharge. From the first day of admission, our case managers and therapists plan for your next steps—transitioning to outpatient therapy, arranging equipment, or connecting you to community resources. Our goal is to ensure you leave with the confidence and tools needed for continued success.

Patients from across the world choose Barrow Neurological Institute for its renowned interdisciplinary team, intensive individualized therapy, cutting-edge technology, and compassionate approach to care. Barrow is consistently ranked among the world’s best specialized hospitals for neuro-rehabilitation, reflecting a standard of excellence in every aspect of care.

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Patients Served

Our Center served 157 patients in 2024, making it one of the busiest and most-experienced neuro-rehabilitation providers in the United States.

Common Questions

What is inpatient neuro-rehabilitation?

Inpatient neuro-rehabilitation is a hospital-based program designed for people recovering from brain or spinal cord injuries, stroke, and other neurological conditions. This comprehensive program provides around-the-clock medical and nursing care and features coordinated therapy from a team of doctors, nurses, physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, neuropsychologists, and other experts.

Who is a good candidate for outpatient neuro-rehabilitation?

Inpatient neuro-rehabilitation can help individuals with neurological changes that significantly impact daily life, such as difficulties or changes in movement, self-care, communication, cognitive function, and other essential functions. These patients require continuous medical supervision and intensive, daily therapy to restore functions and rebuild crucial skills.

How intensive is the therapy schedule?

Therapy services in the acute, inpatient setting are provided up to seven days a week, for an average of three hours per day. The goal of inpatient neuro-rehabilitation is to help participants achieve their goals after they leave the hospital setting. The frequency and intensity of sessions may be adjusted based on your tolerance and progress.

What is the typical length of stay?

The average length of stay is 16.5 days, with 86% of patients being discharged to their home or community following their stay.

Resources

American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

Medically Reviewed by Christina Kwasnica, MD on December 15, 2025