BNR’s mission is to develop and facilitate daily skills performance for individuals whose functional autonomy has been compromised by acquired neurological disorders. BNR recognizes and respects the needs, desires and the rights of those whom we serve, their families, and those agencies providing financial support. BNR serves individuals with a wide range of needs in several program locations, as well as individuals who live in their own homes in the community. BNR provides supports for living and services for individuals served in community residential, vocational, and outpatient programs.
BNR’s Transdisciplinary Teams focus on functional skills development that enables the persons served to actualize the greatest degree of autonomy, dignity and quality of living. BNR provides a full range of transdisciplinary services including Cognitive Rehabilitation, Health and Nutrition Services, Physical Rehabilitation, Occupational Therapy, Supported Employment Services, Neuropsychological Services, Structured Day Services, Communication Services, Life Skills, Recreational Services and Case Management.
BNR serves people who have experienced brain injury, who also may experience a full range of life problems now made even more difficult by cognitive and physical impairments. This includes people injured in car crashes, work accidents, falls, assaults, soldiers injured in war, as well as injuries to the brain that occur as a result of stroke, tumor, seizure disorder, anoxia, or electrocution. These causes of brain injury may result in mild, moderate, or severe disabilities. Some of people served live in their own homes in the community and some live in Beechwood’s 12 Community Residences. BNR serves roughly 100 residential participants while serving roughly 35 outpatient participants. Life problems include dealing with emotional problems, such as anxiety and depression, interpersonal difficulties, such as spousal, peer, and family relationship problems, as well as difficulties with being successful in work or school. Thus, the trainee will get a well-rounded training and experience, not just in neuropsychological assessment and intervention, but in how to intervene clinically in any area of life functioning, using a neuro-rehabilitation based, systems approach.
The Neuropsychology Internship Training Program is housed within the BNR Clinical Department. The Clinical Department includes Neuropsychology, Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Speech Pathology and Cognitive Rehabilitation services. Beechwood offers one, full-time training Intern position, that includes training on site 4 days per week and training at the Consortium one day per week.
Neuropsychology trainees have the opportunity to develop assessment and intervention skills within a context that hinges upon the transdisciplinary approach. Training activities include neuropsychological assessment, neurocognitive assessment, providing feedback to those after providing such assessments, cognitive rehabilitation therapy, brain injury counseling and education, cognitive behavioral therapy, and structured day program groups. These skills may be developed in BNR’s Community Residential, Clubhouse Structured Day, Outpatient, or Vocational programs. Additional training occurs through participation in weekly Clinical Department Meetings and weekly Neuropsychology Section Meetings. Didactic training at BNR will focus on brain-behavior relationships and cognitive rehabilitation, and didactic training is also offered one day a week through the Consortium. Opportunities exist to learn from the entire BNR team, including Neuropsychologists, Physical Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Speech and Language Pathologists, Cognitive Rehabilitative Therapists, Vocational Specialists, Care Coordinators, Recreational Therapists, Life Skills Trainers, Medical Director, Neurologist, Psychiatrist, and Physiatrist. There are opportunities to learn from a wide variety of medical rehabilitation specialists and allied health professionals using a transdisciplinary model. Opportunities also exist for developing pediatric skills in a school based brain injury classroom in BNR’s Connect NeuroEd Program.
Administrative, Clerical, and Technical Support:
Each intern is provided with either individual office space and/or shares an office with a Staff Neuropsychologist. Beechwood NeuroRehab has a Main Campus, Community Group Homes, Apartments, and outpatient services. Space and equipment is provided to conduct professional services at each different site. The main building, the Stabler Center, has an office with a one-way mirror allowing supervisor(s) to observe when a trainee is conducting interventions and assessments. Each intern undergoes Orientation Training with the Parent Organization, WOODS, as well as an Orientation geared specifically to Beechwood NeuroRehab. After training is completed with the Parent Organization, interns and trainees are given identification badges, a computer email address, and each trainee/intern is included in the Clinical Department’s Group email list. All interns/trainees have access to the same computer, software, internet, and research resources available to Staff Neuropsychologists. Each intern/trainee has access to clerical supplies, but most chose to use their own laptops or the computers found in the offices they occupy. Interns/trainees are able to gain knowledge of Adaptive Prosthetic Equipment through the other branches of the Clinical Department and our Assistive Technology Department. The site provides any and all clerical and mechanical supports required so each intern/trainee is treated no differently than an employee, with the exception they do not have direct access to billing technology or support.
COVID-19 Considerations
During the COVID-19 pandemic, interns are considered essential personnel and we are asking that in-person services are conducted. PPE will be provided as needed. Outside of the pandemic, interns are on-site Monday-Thursday and hours are flexible/negotiable. Interns will have a Beechwood phone number/extension/voice mailbox and a Beechwood email account. Interns are strongly encouraged to utilize the benefit time to which they are entitled, and are strongly encouraged to model and practice reasonable self-care. Interns receive weekly individual supervision (2 hours/week) with a licensed psychologist.
Beechwood Neuro Rehab mandates that interns are able to provide proof of receiving the COVID vaccine prior to their start date.
Beechwood Neuro Rehab has a strict safety protocol for all in-person services, including the requirement of mask-wearing, distancing, and thorough cleaning after each session. PPE is provided for in-person sessions, including masks, gloves, hand sanitizer, and cleaning supplies.
Criminal Convictions and Peaceful Protests
Before interns start at Beechwood Neuro Rehab, they must provide all relevant clearances (criminal background check, FBI clearances, and PA Child Abuse clearance) and human resources-related paperwork. Early in the internship, the intern must attend Beechwood’s orientation and First Aid/CPR training. Interns will be required to successfully pass a drug test before the start of their internship. Applicants whose criminal background and/or FBI clearance indicate that an Intern has been convicted of a crime will have their clearance reviewed by human resources to determine if the internship can proceed ; however, those applicants who have exercised their constitutional right to engage in peaceful protests which may have resulted in a conviction may be eligible for placement at BNR.