Casa Colina Hospital and Centers for Healthcare Launches Specialized Center for Disorders of Consciousness

New Program Addresses Critical Need for Patients with Severe Brain Injuries 

POMONA, Calif. – June 24, 2025 – Casa Colina Hospital and Centers for Healthcare is proud to announce the opening of its new Casa Colina Center for Disorders of Consciousness (C³DoC), now accepting patients into this specialized program. C³DoC expands Casa Colina's comprehensive continuum of care, providing crucial, evidence-based clinical management and innovative therapeutic interventions for individuals with acquired brain injuries resulting in Disorders of Consciousness (DoC). 

A Disorder of Consciousness occurs when a person experiences severe impairment in their awareness of themselves or their environment, typically following a major brain injury such as traumatic brain injury, stroke, or anoxia. Common types include Vegetative State (VS) or Unresponsive Wakefulness Syndrome (UWS), where patients exhibit sleep-wake cycles but no signs of awareness; Minimally Conscious State (MCS), characterized by intermittent signs of awareness; and Acute Confusional State (ACS), a recovery stage marked by confusion and disorientation. Patients with DoC often require long-term, specialized care due to the complexity of their condition, which can persist for months or even years. 

C³DoC stands as one of only a few dedicated programs nationwide and is the sole center in Southern California providing specialized services and an interdisciplinary approach to care for people in low-level states of consciousness caused by brain injury. This intensive four-week program is designed with several key goals: 

• Determining the level of consciousness using specialized behavioral assessments, neuroimaging, and/or electrophysiology. 

• Preventing and treating secondary complications, such as contractures and infections. 

• Maximizing arousal, alertness, and response consistency through behavioral and pharmacological interventions, alongside the latest neuromodulation techniques. 

• Identifying barriers and assessing the need for augmentative communication and environmental control systems. 

• Providing comprehensive education, support, and information resources for caretakers. 

• Offering opportunities for patient participation in research involving novel diagnostic and treatment approaches. 

Upon admission, each patient is assigned to a dedicated C³DoC treatment team, ensuring consistency of care throughout their inpatient hospital stay. The interdisciplinary team comprises a physician, case manager, nurses, therapists (physical, occupational, respiratory), psychologist/neuropsychologist, speech-language pathologist, clinical scientist, and clinical pharmacist. 

This expert team works closely to facilitate each patient's recovery through an individualized plan of care that integrates medication management, behavioral therapy, neuromodulation technology, augmentative and alternative communication methods, and environmental stimulation. Patients also have the unique opportunity to participate in innovative clinical research led by the Casa Colina Research Institute. Trained staff utilize specialized scales, such as the Coma Recovery Scale-Revised, to monitor weekly progress in arousal, responsiveness, and communication, helping to track improvements and determine transition to a fully conscious state. 

Recognizing that a brain injury affects the entire family, C³DoC provides emotional and psychological support through individualized counseling. The program offers education, guidance, and training to ensure families feel confident and prepared to care for their loved one after discharge, regardless of their level of function. 

The C³DoC program is proudly led by Caroline Schnakers, PhD, Associate Director of the Research Institute at Casa Colina Hospital and Centers for Healthcare. Dr. Schnakers brings 20 years of experience as a clinical scientist in the neurorehabilitation field. Her extensive research focuses on severe acquired brain injuries, with a particular emphasis on assessing brain activity and cognitive function using behavioral, electrophysiological, and neuroimaging techniques. She has published more than 130 articles in prestigious international peer-reviewed journals such as Neurology, Annals of Neurology, Nature Reviews Neurology, and Lancet, boasting an impressive H-index of 62. Additionally, Dr. Schnakers serves as the Chair of the Special Interest Group on Disorders of Consciousness for the International Brain Injury Association. 

"We are incredibly proud to launch C³DoC, a truly specialized program that addresses a critical gap in care for individuals with disorders of consciousness," said Dr. Schnakers. "Our comprehensive, evidence-based approach, combined with cutting-edge research, offers a pivotal pathway for patients and their families, guiding them on the complex journey of recovery and enhancing their quality of life." 

To learn more about C³DoC, please contact Dr. Caroline Schnakers at cschnakers@casacolina.org or call 909/596-7733, ext. 3038.