Why ACBIS? The Value of Certified Brain Injury Specialists in Post-Acute Rehabilitation Programs

Joanne Finegan, CEO and President of ReMed Recovery Care Centers, shares why ACBIS certification has been valuable tool for her organization.

The impact of brain injury has been featured much more prominently in the news over the past decade. The brain injury treatment field has evolved in a way that focuses on further reducing the lifelong issues for survivors of brain injury.

The Academy of Certified Brain Injury Specialists (ACBIS) grew from an early group of experts in the field who understood the importance of standardizing treatment through the development of staff training programs. They worked to establish best practices to highlight the education and training tools necessary to advance the knowledge and skill level of staff. These competency-based standards have continued to be upgraded from the initial set of standards that were developed and can be used to differentiate the quality of an organization through the certification of its staff.

ACBIS certification assists ReMed with recruitment and retention as it presents a pathway to learn skills and achieve a certification recognizing advanced knowledge. Offering staff the opportunity to obtain Certified Brain Injury Specialist (CBIS) certification provides ReMed with the confidence that its staff will fully understand brain injury and the impact the injury can have on families. As CBIS staff must complete ongoing continuing education requirements, their knowledge and skills continue to grow. Certified staff members can serve as mentors and trainers to new staff as they start their careers in brain injury treatment at ReMed. CBIS certification further develops the therapeutic intervention and support skills staff utilize with the individuals served, empowering them to be a key part of an individual’s treatment program.

Clinical expertise is critical for everyone who works with survivors of brain injury. At ReMed, it is our belief that better-trained and knowledgeable staff ensure a higher-quality experience for patients and their families in the journey they take on in rehabilitation and beyond. For ReMed, offering this certification is an investment that heightens interest in the field of brain injury rehabilitation and improves retention by giving staff the opportunity to acquire the skills and competence necessary for delivering high-quality services to the individuals we serve.

This article was contributed by Joanne Finegan, MSA, CTRS, FDRT, CEO, ReMed

We want to hear from you! Email us at communications@biausa.org to share how the CBIS certification has benefited you and your organization.