Headquartered in Richmond, Virginia, VCU Medical Center is one of the country’s leading academic medical centers with five health sciences schools, the VCU Health System, the Massey Cancer Center, and Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU. As the region’s oldest Level 1 trauma center, the VCU Medical Center offers state-of-the-art care in more than 200 specialty areas, many of national and international note, including organ transplantation, head and spinal cord trauma, burn healing and cancer treatment. We are the only comprehensive trauma center in the state of Virginia with adult, pediatric and burn trauma verifications.
TSN Coordinator
Kira Shifflett
Kira.Shifflett
Email Coordinator
Address
VCU Medical Center Trauma Services, 401 N. 11th St, 2nd floor, Suite 204
Richmond, Virginia, 23219
Telephone
work: 804-828-6426
Email
[email protected]
Website(s) VCU Medical Center Trauma Center
Upcoming Programs and Events
Together We Can: Trauma Survivors Support Group
Third Thursday of Every Month • 5:30-7:00pm
Together We Can: Trauma Survivors Support Group provides peer support for trauma survivors and their families who may be having difficulty coping with recovery or just want to find strength in others who are walking in the same shoes. These support groups are facilitated by VCU Health and VCU team members in conjunction with the Trauma Survivors Network. We encourage you to take this time for yourself and be supportive of fellow trauma survivors who may be in different places in their healing journey. Free Onsite parking is available in the Visitor Lot at 529 N. 12th St. Richmond, VA 23298. For more information contact [email protected] .
Richmond Brain Injury Support Group
3rd Monday of the month • 6:00pm-7:30pm
This group is geared to adults with brain injury and families. For more information visit the website .
Richmond Supportive Survivors
1st and 3rd Wednesday of every month • 6:00pm – 7:30pm
This is for adults with TBI, family and friends and is a social group. The group meets in the food court of Regency Mall in Richmond. For more information visit the website .
Richmond Aphasia Support Group
Wednesday and Thursday, once a month • 2:00pm Wednesday informal, 6:00pm Thursday formal
In-person group, for individuals experiencing aphasia and family/support systems. At Libbie Mill Henrico Public Library, meets formally one Thursday a month at 6:00pm and informally one Wednesday a month at 2:00pm for coffee/conversation. For more information visit the website .
May is Trauma Awareness Month!
May 2024 – The entire month of May is focused on raising awareness for trauma survivors, their family/friends, and the trauma professionals who go above and beyond every day. Learn more here .
National Trauma Survivors Day!
May 15, 2024 – The 3rd Wednesday in May is National Trauma Survivors Day! We celebrate together the strength and resiliency of trauma survivors, their family/friends, and the trauma professionals who go above and beyond every day. Learn more here.
NextSteps Online
Ongoing – The NextSteps program is a free 6-week self management course designed to recognize that YOU play the most important role in your recovery. based on the principles of self-management. It uses techniques that have been scientifically proven to increase one’s self confidence and sense of empowerment. NextSteps teaches you the skills to become an active self manager of your health and your life. Learn more here.
Community Resources
Community Resources
Together We Can: Trauma Survivors Support Group
https://www.vcuhealth.org/events/events-results?tagname%20=%20support%20groups%20&keywords%20=%20%20&locationname%20=%20%20&date= Held at VCU Health Main Hospital on the third Thursday of each month from 5:30-7pm. Together We Can: Trauma Survivors Support Group provides peer support for trauma survivors and their families who may be having difficulty coping with recovery or just want to find strength in others who are walking in the same shoes. These support groups are facilitated by VCU Health and VCU team members in conjunction with the Trauma Survivors Network. We encourage you to take this time for yourself and be supportive of fellow trauma survivors who may be in different places in their healing journey.
https://www.christopherreeve.org/ Written by Patty Kunze, BSN, RNC, Roberta Palmer, RN and Laurie Pepitone, this booklet focuses on women and their mental health after a paralyzing injury. Ms. Kunze is a VCU Medical Center Trauma Survivor.
Rollin’ RNs
https://www.rollinrns.com/ As The Rollin’ RNs, we look forward to using our nursing experience as health care professionals who live our lives with a spinal cord injury (SCI) to write articles that pertain to health topics of most interest for the SCI community and those with other disabilities. Patty Kunze has been a Registered Nurse for over 30 years and has accumulated a wealth of healthcare information and experience she wishes to share with others. Graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, she has worked in Spinal Cord Injury Unit, Neonatal ICU Transport team, Labor & Delivery/Newborn Nursery management, and as a nursing instructor for nursing students. In 2009, she was in an auto accident leaving her a T4 complete paraplegic. So not only is she a nurse, but she also lives her life in a wheelchair. Roberta Palmer has been a Registered Nurse for over 20 years. She has experience in Family Practice, Allergy and Immunology, Specialty Pharmacy, and as an RN Health Coach and Case Manager Specialist. In 2014, she was involved in an ATV accident which left her a T3 complete paraplegic from the chest down. She also lives her daily life in a wheelchair. Patty and Roberta are both experienced and knowledgeable nurses who live life from the sitting position daily. Their goal is to share information with readers that is evidence-based, timely, and easy to understand.
National Center for PTSD
https://www.ptsd.va.gov/ A national resource for trauma survivors, which includes information about PTSD, resources such as the PTSD Coach Online, and videos from other survivors and professionals.
AMPOWER
http://www.empoweringamputees.org/ The mission of AMPOWER is to empower and strengthen those affected by amputation or limb difference through peer mentorship, educational resources, and community events.
Amputee Coalition
https://www.amputee-coalition.org/ The mission of the Amputee Coalition is to reach out to and empower people affected by limb loss to achieve their full potential through education, support and advocacy, and to promote limb loss prevention.
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/ The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is a 24-hour, toll-free, confidential suicide prevention hotline available to anyone in suicidal crisis or emotional distress. Your call is routed to the nearest crisis center in the national network of more than 150 crisis centers. For assistance, call 1-800-273-TALK (8255), TTY: 1-800-799-4889.
National Institute of Mental Health
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/post-traumatic-stress-disorder-ptsd/index.shtml This website provides mental health education about Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Information includes signs and symptoms of PTSD as well as professional treatment of PTSD. Call 1-866-615-6464 (toll-free) or visit http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/post-traumatic-stress-disorder-ptsd/index.shtml
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration National Helpline (SAMHSA)
www.samhsa.gov/ This helpline provides 24-hour free and confidential treatment information about mental and/or substance use disorders, prevention, and recovery in English and Spanish. The SAMHSA website also offers a treatment locator to identify local mental health providers. For assistance, call 1-800-662-HELP, TTY: 1-800-487-4889, or visit www.samhsa.gov/
Paralysis Resource Guide
http://s3.amazonaws.com/reeve-assets-production/English-PRG-2017_Smaller.pdf From the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation
Military & Veterans Program for Spinal Cord Injury
http://s3.amazonaws.com/reeve-assets-production/MVP-Brochure_bi-fold_FINAL.pdf From the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation
Autonomic Dysreflexia
http://s3.amazonaws.com/reeve-assets-production/AD-Guide-Adult-5-18.pdf From the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation
Deep Vein Thrombosis- spinal cord injury
http://s3.amazonaws.com/reeve-assets-production/DVT-Guide-web-5-16.pdf From the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation
Sepsis- spinal cord injury
http://s3.amazonaws.com/reeve-assets-production/Sepsis-Guide_web-5-16.pdf From the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation
Bladder Management- spinal cord injury
http://s3.amazonaws.com/reeve-assets-production/2016BladderMgmtToolkit.pdf From the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation
Bowel Management- spinal cord injury
http://s3.amazonaws.com/reeve-assets-production/Bowel-Mgmt-Brochure_FINAL.pdf From the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation
Pressure Injuries and Skin Management- spinal cord injury
http://s3.amazonaws.com/reeve-assets-production/Skin-Care-Booklet-FINAL-2017.pdf From the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation
Managing Spasticity- spinal cord injury
http://s3.amazonaws.com/reeve-assets-production/Managing-Spasticity_-FINAL.pdf From the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation
Parenting with a Disability: Know Your Rights
http://s3.amazonaws.com/reeve-assets-production/Parenting-Booklet-Digital_Finalv2.pdf From the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation