Polytrauma/TBI System of Care

Welcome to the Palo Alto Polytrauma Rehabilitation Center

The Palo Alto Polytrauma Rehabilitation Center (PRC) is one of 5 facilities in the country designed to provide intensive rehabilitative care to Veterans and Servicemembers who experienced severe injuries (including brain injuries) to more than one organ system. Palo Alto also houses a Polytrauma Network Site (PNS)- one of 23 facilities designed to provide long-term rehabilitative care. For more information about Polytrauma, visit the national Polytrauma System of Care page.

VA Palo Alto Polytrauma Network Site is a DVBIC Partner Site.

Find out more about the Women’s Trauma Recovery Program at Palo Alto.

Mental Health Support/Veterans Crisis Line

Many Veterans with Polytrauma injuries also need mental health support. If you or someone you know is having trouble readjusting to civilian life, is having trouble sleeping, or is experiencing mood swings, depression, or other signs of extreme stress, we can offer free or low-cost assistance and care.

Veterans Crisis Line.

For immediate help, call the National Veterans Crisis Line at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). Your call is confidential and can also be anonymous. Or, you may have a confidential online conversation with a professional on the National Veterans Crisis Line Web Chat site 

Readjustment Counseling Service (Vet Centers)

National Center for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

VA Mental Health Program

VA Palo Alto Health Care System
3801 Miranda Ave
Palo Alto, CA 94304
(650) 493-5000
Toll Free: 800-999-5021

Transition Care Management Program Coordinator
Laura Gomez
(650) 444-7114
Palo Alto PRC

Polytrauma Admissions Coordinator
Sandy Stafford-Cecil
(650) 493-5000 Ext. 66764

Rehabilitation Social Work Case Manager Supervisor
Laura Gomez
(650) 444-7114

Palo Alto PRC
Polytrauma Admissions Coordinator
Victoria Faria
(650) 493-5000 Ext. 66764

Polytrauma Case Manager:
Scott Skiles
(650) 444-9064

Polytrauma Director
Pawan Galhotra
(650) 493-5000, Ext 67271

Palo Alto PTRP
PTRP Director
Susan Ropacki, PhD
(650) 493-5000, Ext. 69808

Palo Alto PNS
PNS Director
Esmeralda Madrigal
(650) 493-5000, Ext. 65053

Polytrauma Case Manager
Esmeralda Madrigal
650-493-5000, Ext. 62768

DVBIC Site Director
Odette Harris, Polytrauma ACOS
(650) 493-5000, Ext. 62212

VA Palo Alto Health Care System is a proud member of the Sierra Pacific Network – Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) 21.

Additional Information

If you are interested in more information about admission to the Palo Alto Polytrauma Rehabilitation Center or want to schedule an evaluation, please contact Sandy Stafford-Cecil, our Polytrauma Admissions Coordinator, at (650)-493-5000, Ext. 66764.

Returning Servicemembers

Veterans returning from Operation Enduring Freedom and/or Operation Iraqi Freedom (OEF/OIF) should contact their local OEF/OIF Coordinator for information about benefits and health care enrollment.

• Points of contact for Veterans and returning Servicemembers throughout the Northern California and Northwestern Nevada region.

Rehabilitation Tools

The Memory Book: One unique tool developed by the TBI team that helps patients acquire the skills of normal daily life is a memory book. In the book, patients keep a schedule and write down reminders for themselves. As one former patient, Alec Giess, describes it, "You teach yourself something, then the next day you've got to teach it again. And again. And again." He wore a rubber band around his wrist to remind him to look in his book.

Driving Simulator: If the patient is cognitively and physically able to drive, the simulator helps the patient get ready for the road before actually going through on-the-road driver training.

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