Member Spotlight: Success Rehabilitation Inc.

Patient Testimonial-“A lot has happened to me and they have been teaching me how to recover,” said Chappy Mattola, a Success Rehabilitation Inc. client.

As individual as finger prints, so are clients nurtured, cared for and sustained by Success Rehabilitation Inc., located in East Rockhill Township.

For nearly three decades Success Rehabilitation Inc. has been caring for those with traumatic brain injury. “We care for individuals with brain injury with an emphasis on safety and quality of life,” said Ronnie Pozzi, corporate executive for Success.

Whether by accident at work or at home, car or vehicular crash, or illness compassionate, skilled care is vital to helping patients recover a sense of themselves, improve the quality of their daily live and move on with their lives. Injuries may be caused by falls, violence, sports, combat or explosions.

Traumatic brain injury, typically caused by a blow or jolt to the head may be temporary or more long lasting. Success deals with both types of injuries.  

Success began in Bensalem, Lower Bucks County, and moved to its present location in rural Upper Bucks in 1996, according to Pozzi.

“We needed room and space to accommodate growth in the number of clients seen,” said Padraig Tangney, Success COO. In fact, clients come to rural Upper Bucks County for Success treatment from across the United States including Colorado, Texas and Virginia but the vast majority of clients hail from the tri-county area.

Pozzi said Success is the “premier provider of brain injury services, in part because of the variety of service options available. We listen to their needs and have a diverse staff,” Pozzi said.

When patients come to Success, they are assessed and an individualized care plan is crafted specifically for them. “What makes us unique is we offer all services on site, from physical (PT) and occupational therapy (OT) services to speech, psychology and psychiatry,” Tangney said.

And because Success works with the entire person, all aspects of care are addressed. “We do things like yoga and meditation, as well as physically, to get me working again,” Mattola said.

Tangney said transitional rehab, which might be for a mild injury could take up to six months, while long term care is indicated for more severe injuries or problems.

Pozzi said Success has the additional advantage of employee retention- maybe have been with the practice since it came to East Rockhill Township. This staff continuity provides a cohesion and quality of care that is a benefit to both short and long-term clients.

In addition to one-on-one care, group breakout sessions are popular and help clients learn about themselves and others dealing with similar issues.

Groups typically run for 8 weeks, although Pozzi said one group in particular has run longer because of its popularity. “One of our break-out groups, Brain Injury Education, is a favorite among our clients due to the interest of our clients in how their injury has affected their lives,” Pozzi said, while Tangney added, “they are invested in their care.”

“Neuroplasticity helps to get the brain making connections again,” Mattola said.

Neuroplasticity is the function which helps the brain “retrain” itself to restore function after illness or injury damages or destroys established neural pathways.

Pozzi said Success also treats high school and college athletes, who suffer from contact injuries such as a concussion.
“Brain injury education is very important to our practice,” Tangney said.

Pozzi and Tangney said stigma remains for those struggling with brain injury and that education is critical because a lot of people still don’t understand what brain injury is, or how personally devastating it is.

Outwardly, brain injury symptoms can be very subtle and missed by the casual observer. “If you break your leg, there is a physical manifestation but an individual with a brain injury may look fine to the casual observer. That is why brain injury is often called the Silent Epidemic,” Pozzi explained.

For more information on Success Rehabilitation, call 215.538.3488 or log onto www.successrehab.com.