Congresswoman Giffords' doctor speaks on important of rehabilitation

PHOENIX - One of the doctors who treated Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords met with members of Congress Thursday to stress the importance of rehab in the recovery of patients who suffer brain injuries.

Dr. Gerard Francisco said he has helped rehabilitate many patients who have suffered severe brain trauma.

“I am pretty sure you have encountered somebody with a brain injury but did not even know,” he said.

Francisco praised the progress Giffords has made and cited significant amounts of rehab work as one of the reasons. Francisco said only a small percent of brain injury patients get the care they need.

“Fortunately, there is hope,” he said. “But unfortunately, that help is not available to everyone yet.”

Francisco blamed cost-cutting as one of the reasons many don’t get the proper care. He also cited a larger focus on treating the physical problems as another reason rehabilitation can be pushed aside.

“The problems that we see on the first month after the injury [are] not the same as what we will see six months down the road,” he said.

The best way to correct that problem is to invest in rehabilitation, not how long it takes each patient.

“We have to pay for quality,” Francisco said. “Quality comes at a price.”