By HFT Staff

Casa Colina Hospital and Centers for Healthcare is proud to announce the opening of its new Casa Colina Center for Disorders of Consciousness (C3DoC), now accepting patients into this specialized program. C3DoC expands Casa Colina's comprehensive continuum of care, providing crucial, evidence-based clinical management and innovative therapeutic interventions for individuals with acquired brain injuries resulting in Disorders of Consciousness (DoC).  

C3DoC stands as one of only a few dedicated programs nationwide and is the sole center in Southern California providing specialized services and an interdisciplinary approach to care for people in low-level states of consciousness caused by brain injury. This intensive four-week program is designed with several key goals:  

• Determining the level of consciousness using specialized behavioral assessments, neuroimaging and/or electrophysiology.  
• Preventing and treating secondary complications, such as contractures and infections.  
• Maximizing arousal, alertness and response consistency through behavioral and pharmacological interventions, alongside the latest neuromodulation techniques.  
• Identifying barriers and assessing the need for augmentative communication and environmental control systems.  
• Providing comprehensive education, support and information resources for caretakers.  
• Offering opportunities for patient participation in research involving novel diagnostic and treatment approaches.  

Upon admission, each patient is assigned to a dedicated C3DoC treatment team, ensuring consistency of care throughout their inpatient hospital stay. The interdisciplinary team comprises a physician, case manager, nurses, therapists (physical, occupational, respiratory), psychologist/neuropsychologist, speech-language pathologist, clinical scientist and clinical pharmacist.  

This expert team works closely to facilitate each patient's recovery through an individualized plan of care that integrates medication management, behavioral therapy, neuromodulation technology, augmentative and alternative communication methods and environmental stimulation. Patients also have the unique opportunity to participate in innovative clinical research led by the Casa Colina Research Institute. Trained staff utilize specialized scales, such as the Coma Recovery Scale-Revised, to monitor weekly progress in arousal, responsiveness and communication, helping to track improvements and determine transition to a fully conscious state.  

Recognizing that a brain injury affects the entire family, C3DoC provides emotional and psychological support through individualized counseling. The program offers education, guidance and training to ensure families feel confident and prepared to care for their loved one after discharge, regardless of their level of function.