TIRR Memorial Hermann Offers Pre-Driving Assessment Program

Six TIRR Memorial Hermann Outpatient Rehabilitation centers are now offering comprehensive pre-driving assessments for people experiencing functional vision changes due to a neurologic incident, trauma, surgery or the aging process.

“Physicians who were assessing their patients themselves reached out to us for our experience in helping people regain the skills they need to drive,” says Lisa Lewis, OTR, outpatient rehabilitation clinical coordinator at TIRR Memorial Hermann Adult and Pediatric Outpatient Rehabilitation. “Based on demand, we combined services we’ve offered at various locations across the city and expanded them into a comprehensive program that includes cognitive, physical and functional visual assessment as related to return to driving.”

During testing, licensed occupational therapists formally assess functional vision, spatial awareness, attention, problem-solving skills, sequencing, cognitive processing skills, reaction time, ability to read traffic signs, physical performance skills and sensation. They make appropriate recommendations, address any deficits that may affect safety and tailor driving rehabilitation programs to individual patient needs.

“An assessment provides an extra level of assurance for family members of patients with stroke, acquired or traumatic brain injury, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, macular degeneration, glaucoma, neuropathy, cardiac disease or other conditions that may affect driving skills,” Lewis says. “We can screen them before they get behind the wheel and address any deficits that may be barriers to a return to driving and independence.”

The two-hour assessment is conducted at six convenient locations: TIRR Memorial Hermann Outpatient Rehabilitation on the Campus of Memorial Hermann Memorial City, TIRR Memorial Hermann Outpatient Rehabilitation at the Kirby Glen Center, TIRR Memorial Hermann Outpatient Rehabilitation on the Campus of Memorial Hermann Northwest, TIRR Memorial Hermann Outpatient Rehabilitation-Sugar Land, TIRR Memorial Hermann-The Woodlands Outpatient Rehabilitation and Memorial Hermann Rehabilitation Hospital-Katy.

Interested patients and family members may ask their physicians for a referral for a return-to-driving screening. Physicians and other medical professionals who wish to refer a patient should call  (800) 44-REHAB (73422) toll free or (713) 797-5942.