Acute inpatient rehabilitation unit - Care is transferred from neurosurgeons and or neurologists to a physiatrist, or specialist in physical medicine and acute rehabilitation. Acute inpatient rehabilitation utilizes a large, multidisciplinary team of therapists and nurses to facilitate physical and mental recovery from a severe TBI. This team includes rehabilitation nurses, physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, psychologists and neuropsychologists, social workers, case managers, recreational therapists, respiratory therapists, rehabilitation counselors, and vocational rehabilitation specialists.

Theoretically, treatment is continued in this program until significant progress is no longer being made. Treatment in acute rehabilitation may last from weeks to months. Discharge from acute rehabilitation can go in several different directions depending upon many factors.

Postacute residential facility - Is designed to provide residentially-based, 24-hour rehabilitation, improving cognitive, physical, emotional, and psychosocial abilities to facilitate better independent living skills. These facilities include treatment staff who are often non-licensed individuals called life-skills trainers or rehabilitation assistants, who provide "hands-on" daily training and assistance to clients in such programs. These facilities provide the full spectrum of clinical therapies, such as occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech therapy, counseling, etc. Treatment time can vary from weeks to years. Discharge is optimally made when the individual is ready to function in society with minimal assistance in activities of daily living, but this goal is often not met and continuing, sometimes lifetime, supportive services are needed.

Outpatient services - This is usually physical, occupational, and speech therapy with medical supervision done on a follow-up appointment basis after the individual is living at home. Psychological and vocational services are sometimes provided as well.

Day treatment - This is a type of service where the individual is given therapy and assistance throughout the day but lives at home. Treatment can vary from supportive therapy for severe impairments, to vocational training for higher functioning individuals.