Shepherd Center Review

My husband suffered a TBI earlier this year and was transferred to the Shepherd Center from the ICU/hospital. I have nothing but wonderful things to say about this place from the cafeteria employees to the nurses, doctors, and therapists that we came into contact with during our stay. The care my husband was given was top notch, and the care and consideration that I was given helped me more than I could ever say. It was very obvious if you want a job there, you can't just have the teaching or experience, you also have to have a caring heart, because just about every single person went above and beyond. I am very thankful for this facility and its staff.

My 35 daughter suffered a SCI and small amount of brain damage in Feb...she was admitted into Shepherds early April...at that point everything was ok...as time went on the nurses started to convince my daughter to push away her family and make her own decisions...as per her evaluation she can make everyday decisions but not complex decisions...now my daughter has totally pushed away her family with the help of the nurses and her therapist and her case manager...YES THAT IS RIGHT...We choose this facility because we heard it was the best and we trusted in that...PLEASE do not make the same MISTAKE our family made....This has been the most horrible situation our family has experienced .....My daughter needs mental help and they are taking advantage of this...recently her case manager witnessed a legal document and she cannot sign the paper...she has no finger movement...she is paralyzed....she is not mentally stable because of her injury....Keep your loved ones away from this facility! There is nothing administration will do for anyone..they protect their own...

I love this place everyone is so happy to assist with a great positive attitude including security!!!

Great center with helpful nurses and a clean feel. Everyone I met was helpful and always had a smile.

Absolutely spot on diagnosis, follow through, professionalism, and definitely invested in us as patients from the moment they meet us until the moment we are released from their care. Strong physically independent people whose temples no longer respond the way they want can be quite difficult to endure during a tough time of transition and acceptance. I applaud all that I met during my Tough and Traumatic journey. Thank Goodness for Second chances to Live, Love, Adapt, Surmount Challenges, and to Ascend; AGAIN. Never Give Up on Yourself; the Shepherd Center team will be with you until the end. Peace Courage & Self-Love.

Man, do I want to sit down with and talk about how Shepherd didn t meet each one-star-reviewer s expectations or what!!!!!!! I am so fired up to prove each one-star-reviewer wrong!! This hospital is MAGICAL!!!!!! I am a recovering TBI patient, and I ve been a Shepherd patient for like nearly 4 years now, and I m always so so thankful for their consistent, committed, and bountiful service!!! This hospital DEFINITELY deserves 5 stars (if not more if it was possible lol)!!!!

Took 6 months for first appt another 6 months for tests doctor ordered. Then while waiting on my follow up after doing probably 15k in testing I ask for refill on simple meds and told my nurse I m suddenly undx with illness I was sent there for and told I can no longer see doctor. I am a pleasant person so they have no good reason to fire me as patient and I feel abandoning patients is bad medical practice. Never a letter or follow up visit or anything from doctor who last told me I likely had dx that sent there for but refuses to refill meds and told my rude staff I m fired as patient before I have chance to talk to doctor a second time. I feel like they used my insurance to make profit and didn t care about treating me or helping me at all. Saw Dr. Loring and she was nice be staff and nursing is horrible. This nurse made me give up all hope stop all meds and I m now worse off then when I went there. I have completely lost faith in doctors after going here and greatly saddened that other more vulnerable then I will suffer from their lack of compassion. I have never in my life had doctor who orders multiple testing then not so much as sends a letter in mail with results or bothers to have follow up visit to explain results I m shocked and frankly don t want to waste time begging for follow up with them.

I have a brother who has been a patient at this facility a few times and he has always made such tremendous progress while being at Shepherd. I love the staff there and they are so caring and very knowledgeable about what goes on and are always able to answer any questions that we may have. They are extremely nice and we never ever worry about my brother during his stay at the Shepherd Center. We always know that he will be in great hands!

I have no doubt that this place could be great.unfortantly i have not seen any of it. I have been trying to see a doctor for several months & keep getting the run around. Every time i have to speak to an actual person its like pulling teeth. The attitudes! I have MS & most days im lucky to just know my name. The attirude is NOT needed then EVERYTIME ask for a supervisor i get more attitude. Supervisors never get on the phone. I just moved here & had to completly ween off ALL my meds even tho i came with a years supply of refills that Georgia will NOT recognize. My symptoms are getting worse & no1 but me wants to help. I asked for a sup & no1 came to the phone. If this is just to make an appointment. My health, time & patience deserve more thab rudeness & no questions answered. Now i am being told that i CAN only come here due to my type of MS. It's sad when you can't even get common courtesy. You should teally train those girls better. This was my 1st impression for months. Its bull

Everyone says Shepherds is the best, which I don't doubt that Shepherds would be the best. My problem is, my husband suffered severe brain damage and we asked for my husband to be sent to Shepherds once released from the hospital. Shepherds Center refused to take my husband due to his injury being from a suicide attempt. It seemed like he was being judged without even trying to help him first. They then referred us to another place that I wouldn't even send a plant or a stray animal to. It felt like a slap in the face. Do I think that Shepherds could have been the best to treat him, absolutely, but they didn't even give him a chance.

Worse place ever. It has been more than 3 weeks to set a new appointment. They send you a recording but no one return the call.

So sad that I have to post this in agreement with other 1 star reviews. If your patient has had a visit to a psychologist, or god forbid has been proactive in helping themselves and had a prescription for something like Zoloft to help them live their life, then Shepherd Center will turn you away at the door. Unwilling to help you, despite an injury that had nothing to do with anything in your past.

I was a patient here a while back and I can't even think of a time when they weren't perfect. I absolutely love this place and I recommend it to anybody

Amazing place. Great staff, great doctor's, great environment.

It was a ok place to recovery from but i feel there is or should deffenitly be better places. Half of the staff was nice and had humor. And half of them was stuck up and acted like there to good or couldn't put thereself in somebody elses shoes and see how to treat somebody with a bad injury. They came in way to early every morning just to write there name and walk out, which woke me up everyday for no reason. And the whole time I went i only left the facility once, it got boring fast and wasnt doing near as much as stuff and learning how to do things publicily. It could have been alot better of an experience, some of the staff should try to put thereself in your shoes and maybe they would act differently.

Had a SCI a few years ago. I don't know where I would be without having gone to the shepherd center.

SON TURNED AWAY FROM SHEPHERD CENTER

MY son has a anoxic brain injury, was in Kennestone hospital for 6 weeks,
Hospital stated my son was what they call vegetative state, wasn t doing much, but at the same time he was always sedated.
Discharged MAY 27 2020
Now June 2020 in 3 weeks my son has been, trying to get out of bed, he has a grip, he does get some words out a few quite clear, he s been breathing on his on long before discharged from hospital, sits up in wheelchair on his own without slouching, and holds head up, follows commands, it s a slow recovery but he is doing a lot, and very determined, my sons a fighter and definitely improving.

THE SHEPHERD CENTER DID NOT EVEN GIVE HIM A CHANCE, BASICALLY TURNED DOWN, WITHOUT LETTING US KNOW WHY.

I have read other reviews some say people turned away because of a suicide attempt by the patient causing
Their medical situation.
Not our case my son has a 3 year old daughter which is his pride and joy and a good job and loving family
From what I seen he was determined to make a great life for him and his daughter.

Advice to shepherd center; if hospital gives a long term prognosis that somebody won t get much better, or they can t do any thing more at Hosp. That s fine that s where you are supposed to step in and do what Hosp. Can t do, such as all that the shepherd center has in specialty care/rehab.
If no beds available I understand, but at least give the family a reason why, show a little respect, I gave the Hosp. The idea because they didn t think about y all, I did, I ve heard many more good things than bad, about your services but ?? Y all didn t even give my son a chance, or tell us why.
I have private health insurance under the company I work for and we have Medicaid pending, so if how will we get paid for our services was the issue, he was covered.

Rep at front desk is horrible. Totally unwelcoming the several times I have visited this location. Literally no hello, no smile, just a blank look and no thanks or have a nice day. A greeting should have none of these characters, especially when dealing with I'll individuals.

I had a SCI in 2003 & was an in-house patient for 8-10wks(Over 2 months!) I do not have the skill or talent to properly express in words not only the excellence in care I received but the care I witnessed so many others & OUR FAMILIES received at the Shepherd Center Spinal Cord & Brain Injury Rehabilitation Hospital!
...Its impossible to explain the RAW FEAR & CRUSHING ANXIETY one feels to anyone who has never gone through the horrible nightmare of a SCI...With one huge exception, the staff at the Shepherd Center! You want to close your eyes & give up but they won't let that happen! The compassion & true dedication to their profession shown by the techs, nurses, rehab specialist, doctor's & literally everyone else that works there from case workers to security is so HEART WARMING!!!
...Since my discharge as an in-house patient in 2003 I've been a regular patient at the Shepherd Center's Multi-Specialty, Urology & the Pain Institute. I cringe at the thought of what shape I would be in w/o everyone doing what they do at the Shepherd Center!!
...About the 1-2 STAR REVIEWS...When a family member is a patient at the Shepherd Center then their loved one is going through the worst nightmare of their life & the family is forced to witness it! There isn't a more helpless feeling one could experience I know my wife had TBI prior to my SCI. Some can handle these horrible times better than others while others need someone or something to place blame, be mad at, etc., as a way to cope. Might not explain each of the few 1-2 Star ratings but Im sure it explains many!
...Or Shepherd Center would not be ranked as one of the Top 10 hospitals in the nation for the last 20yrs.

No matter how I feel. Everyone there makes me smile and happy! Amazing Doctors, Nurses, and just all around people in general at the Shepherd Center!

I been here on two different occasions...2007 my friend was in a major car wreck... They help him ...2013 my cousin was in a ATV wreck .. Major head trauma.. When he got there... He couldn't breathe on his own...after few months...They nurses and Doctors had him rolling his wheel chair... To some thats not much... But after seeing him on his death bed... To our family thats major
.... No he is walking, talking and driving cars only.... No more ATV'S

I am a current patient in the MS department and will not be leaving due to needing a MS specialist. The doctors are fine but the nurses' line is not the best. #1 they do not seem very knowledgeable or friendly and #2 it is only available 9am - 3pm. If I have a question or emergency due to my disease, I should be able to reach a nurse much easier than this. This isn't even a typical work day. Upsetting to me that I cannot get quality care unless my illness strikes 9am - 3pm (not even normal business hours). Shepherd, you should work to fix this.

The absolute best! I can only say positive accolades about the quality of everything about this facility, emphasizing the thorough level of care that is always provided. It's a level above all else!

Hi, i am brenda johnson, my newphew, steven bailey was in a horrific accident on Aug 18th 2015 . my sister Judy Bailey has been by his side non stop. She is Steven's mother. when Steven started out he was in Florence, S.C., the DRS. said Steven would never make it through the weekend, well he did, THank you, GOD. weeks went by,Steven's eye's were fixed like that was it, but his body didn't listen, it was still showing sign of life. well. they then sent him to Charleston, S.C.. Where he stayed for a month or more. He was sent there for therapy,Well that hospital did not do therapy what, that was our question. what was he there for ? Well the DRS there didn't have any hope for Steven either. Someone call Sheperd Center,well they came in and wanted Steven to go there for his therapy. i don't think the DRS expected much from Steven either but, with in a week Steven was on a bike,eating small amounts of solid foods and now he can talk to you on the phone lol thank GOD ! .Mind you, Steven has a long way to go yet but, HE IS ALIVE . This is why My Sister needs our help, so She can continue to stay with her,son, STEVEN BAILEY HE LIVES BECAUSE GOD WAS READY FOR HIM YET. Please, feel free to follow steven from now on . So please will you help us help Judy so she can stay in Atlanta? Steven Bailey roon 228-B address 2020 Peach Tree Rd. Atlanta, Ga. 30309 o/o of Judy Bailey. GOD BLESS YOU ALL ! Now let me tell you how i feel about Sheperd and i haven't even been there yet. These people are so wonderful. They never once gave up on Steven. They work with him everyday. They help him eat, get dressed,help him walk, joke with him, bathe him,anything you could imagine they do. I am not a great writer but, I thank GOD for Sheperd and People like YOU !!!!!!!! Thank you so much !

What an incredible place. My son has been there a few weeks and the progress he's making is staggering. Like any large hospital, a few minor things get overlooked occasionally, but overall you can just tell when an organization has got it down, and this place has it down. If you wealthy types are looking for a worthwhile place to donate, the Shepherd Center is a good choice. Or if you just want to donate a few bucks, it all helps.

We love this place while going to the shepherd center at MS center to get infusions every month but now we are going somewhere closer to home. Thank you for being there for Brian Childress. Love to all the MS department staff.

I've volunteered at the hospital before and I can't stress enough how amazing everyone is. From the therapists to the security staff, everyone is always ready to help and is patient as well. They have the state of the art medical equipment and great gyms to ensure people leave feeling better than before. I've witnessed many miraculous discoveries that I know would not have happened if it was not for the large amount of staff that made the patient fell good. Volunteering was the best experience of my life and Shepherd Center is definitely 10/10.

Best place to get treated, all the members of this Center go out of their way and beyond to help you in any way they can!!

Suffered a severe TBI. Was minimally conscious when they first got me there. Walked out on my own two feet 3 months later. Great doctors and therapists.

My husband was in the hospital here with a central spinal cord injury. This hospital and employees are absolutely amazing! We were very blessed to have Dr. Elmers and she is the best. Great personality and amazing doctor. I just can't express how blessed we were to have went to Shepherd's Center. I would highly recommend to anyone.

Sheppard did everything possible to help me in a very difficult time in my life, I do not know where I would be today we're it not for their help

I have Multiple Sclerosis and Crohn's Disease. I'm so lucky to have been able to get in to Shepherd MS Clinic.
After an hour long meeting with my Doctor there, he prescribed a MS Maintenance Med Tysabri Infusions has stopped my Flares with BOTH Diseases!
I can't say how nice it is to go in and feel like you're welcome and with family.
There is a family room where the kids can go play games etc as well.
And it's not just for MS Patients.
They are top's in the World for Head Trauma Patients including our USA Military Veterans with PTSD

I was involved in a bad accident in 2011 and was fortunate enough to get accepted to this wonderful place! I would still be in a wheelchair if it wasn't for 99% of the staff at the Shepherd Center. I would've given them 5 stars if it wasn't for a pain management doctor named Erik Shaw.

The best that we have known, my husband and I, in medical care, in the intensity and quality of the therapies, creativity, among many other things.
A wonderful staff in its entirety.
Congratulations

[Copied from my Yelp review of April 2016, with update addendum below.]

Tried to get a new patient to see a physician at the Shepherd Spine and Pain Institute for treatment of degenerative disc disease (DDD) and serious problems in the lumbar area, including herniated disc, which has caused the patient to be virtually bedridden for just under two years. Sent in all the paperwork, sent over a copy of the area's MRI, had the primary care physician send all recent blood work and imaging records. The documentation was extensive. Was told that they would get back to us.

Almost a month later, no response; called to find out what was going on. Admissions coordinator said that the paperwork was "rejected by the physician". No name of physician given. No reason for rejection given. When asked, admissions coordinator said they "notified [our] doctor's office two weeks ago and shredded all the paperwork". Their policy is apparently *not* to call the patient back about it when this happens, only to leave a message for the primary care doctor.

Primary care doctor's office has no record of a call from Shepherd Center concerning the rejection, much less the actual reason for it. So now we're left scratching our heads and wondering why a new patient, seriously in need of getting spinal pain under control rather than taking more and more pills, was summarily tossed to the curb with no direct notification.

Durr-what?

Until this incident happened, our doctor thought the MDs at Shepherd Center could almost walk on water. That perception has *seriously* changed.

I'm a reasonable person. I'm willing to amend this review if Shepherd Center wants to re-evaluate the patient's paperwork (we still have it all digitally scanned, of course) and, if they can't take the case for a reasonable clinical reason, are willing to provide that reason. I can understand if they believe they can't help because they are lacking [insert some necessary therapeutic service here]. Heck, I could even understand if they didn't want to take on another patient via our insurance provider. Just tell us the truth, eh?

But being left completely in the dark is totally unprofessional and unacceptable. And, in my personal opinion, unethical and grossly negligent. Especially for a facility that it otherwise considered a godsend to patients who have gone there.

*By definition*, I can't provide more than a 1-star rating, as they simply would not allow the patient to make use of any of their services!

[Update, December 2017, follows.]

Over the next year, the patient -- my husband, not mentioned here previously to avoid adding emotional taint to the review -- became less and less ambulatory and more confined to bed. Mobility was only possible by increasing the dosage of a long-acting opioid painkiller. A year after this review, in April 2017, he was admitted to hospital for sepsis due to an abdominal infection, as well as a blood clot (deep vein thrombosis) in the leg from being bed-bound almost all the time.

He died in September 2017.

I can't attribute his death directly to the incompetence and snobbery of Shepherd Center. However, I can't help but wonder if he would have been in much better shape, if he had the chance to recover and be able to move around independently again. I will never be able to find out.

C2 quad, I'm hesitant to talk about my progress b/c one cannot and should not compare their progress with that of ANYONE else, but it needs to be said that they will push and encourage you to work as hard as you can to make the best out of the worst thing that will hopefully ever happen to you.

Shame on Dr. Vox! What kind of doctor goes on national television and diagnosis's our president without ever doing an examination. I've supported the Shepard Center through donations but not anymore.. SHAME on this establishment. You've lost my support.

My 15 year old daughter was there and amazing staff they do great work.

5 stars because I cant give TEN. These people are amazing. They truly gave us our life back after a spinal cord injury that almost took it. I am still in touch with several of our nurses to this day.......... almost 3 years after our graduation back home. Pray you never need them, THANK GOD daily they are there if you do!!

This is the worst center that I have ever had to deal with in my medical career. You can not get any records from them ever if you are the referring office. Medical records request are constantly getting lost. Whom ever is working in medical records is getting over like a fat rat. Its amazing how many people are occupying jobs and not doing the work. I wish I could sit around all day telling people that reports are not ready and that they don't have the request after you have sent it to them 5-6 times and this is after the patient has been seen back in January. If getting a report from them for patient care is this hard I can only imagine how the treatment of patient care goes. I hope no one else has to deal with this level of neglectfulness.

Love my doctor. The nurses are wonderful. The call center never stops being a problem. I have never had an experience with the call center that isn t incredibly frustrating.

ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!! Dr. Ben Thrower is an absolute godsend! The best. As is every one in his office. These people are truly angels in earth. There are not enough wonderful words to truly express the gratitude and respect we have for Dr. Thrower & his team.

The worst customer service in the cafeteria I ordered a spinach wrap the Young Man in there was so rude, impatient and with an attitude he basically threw the sandwich at me. I was so close to ask for his supervisor. I'm a visitor, but also an RN. I'm glad he works there, because where I came from our customers are our priority. I'll keep him in prayers.

Thanks for taking care of me Thank God for The Shepherd Center Amen

My father was in shepherd last summer(2017). He was in a car accident that rendered him unable to walk or use his arms. He was beginning to have movement in all four limbs!
He had a surgery and was in the best of hands
We could go home every evening KNOWING that he was cared for in a compassionate, caring and professional manner Unfortunately the next
Recovery rehab ( nursing home) after Shepherd dropped the ball. I will always be extremely grateful to Shepherd for the wonderful care of my father . Thank you 3rd floor staff. We are forever grateful. My son is a disabled Veteran and we hope to soon donate to the Veterans program. Thank you Jane Woodruff
Much love , Dee Dinsmore Spivey

I have been a patient for almost 3 years now and I love everything I absolutely love it. I started out as inpatient then went on to outpatient. I highly recommend this place. I was strongly considering moving back to Los Angeles but am now going to stay here in Atlanta because Shepherd is here.

They do not accept innocent gunshot victims even with the situation leaves zero threat to the center. Not impressed in the least

I've been coming here for my MS since 2011 I love this place!

The Shepherd Center is absolutly amazing. My nephew was hit by a train and has been recovering very quickly in this facility. The staff is amazing and informative, they have answers for any question and really seem to care for your loved one. I have never been in such a great hospital enviroment.

Transitioning from an acute care to Shepherd was wonderful.

We live in South Georgia and come 3 or 4 times a year and we absolutely love the place! The staff is so friendly and helpful and the Doctors are some of the best in the world! We're so thankful for the Shepard Center!

After my 27 year old daughters diving accident left her quadriplegic thou she had an incomplete spinal cord injury .i was so blown away by every thing they covered not only for her recovery but also for me its a devastating time. Its not the end but a new beginning. tThis is what they teach. Twice we have been there. Two years ago we went to Panama for stem cell treatment at the Stem Cell Institute and she is beginning to walk Shepard gave us so much hope

This facility has misinformed us on the proper care and hospitality for our son. We were excited to continue our son's recovery with the Shepherd Center but only until we arrived. We got the impression that they did not even care to a try to accommodate us. The staff was misinformed on lodging and proper hospitality for an out-of-state patient. Miscommunication was the main factor.

place is a joke. get some help at first then it goes down hill real fast.

We have been so very pleased with the staff, doctors & care given by Shepherd Center. Everyone is so friendly, remember us & our situation each time we visit. Our family certainly would recommend them to anyone. A+