Spring 2026 Edition

TIRR Memorial Hermann cares for patients with some of the most complex disorders in physical and rehabilitation medicine. This comprehensive capability is reflected in our case mix index (CMI), a measure that assesses the severity and complexity of patients treated in a health care facility.

At TIRR Memorial Hermann, the mission is clear: Redefine rehabilitation and set new standards for patient outcomes. For decades, the hospital has been recognized as one of the nation’s leading rehabilitation institutions. What sets us apart today is how we leverage the framework of a Learning Health System (LHS) to deliver excellence in care, especially for patients with the highest levels of medical complexity.

TIRR Memorial Hermann is proud to recognize our academic partner UTHealth Houston for being recognized as No. 9 in the nation and No. 1 in Texas in National Institutes of Health (NIH) rehabilitation research funding, as tallied by the Blue Ridge Institute for Medical Research (BRIMR). This recognition is based solely on objective data and is a true marker of research excellence.

A recent study led by researchers at TIRR Memorial Hermann, and published in the PM&R Journal, a publication of the American Academy of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, provides strong evidence that the Overt Behavior Scale–In Session (OBS-INS) is a valid and reliable tool for systematically assessing challenging behaviors (CBs) following acquired brain injury (ABI) in the inpatient rehabilitation (IPR) setting.

Over the past year, TIRR Memorial Hermann has deepened its commitment to community inclusion by expanding recreational partnerships that empower patients and community members with disabilities to connect, participate and thrive. What began with pilot outreach efforts has grown into a calendar of recurring programs that bring people together through sports, art and shared experience.

Last fall, a coalition of leading brain injury organizations, clinicians, individuals with lived experience and researchers, including Angelle Sander, PhD, and Shannon Juengst, PhD, both clinical investigators in TIRR Memorial Hermann’s Brain Health and Rehabilitation Research Center (BHRRC), released Communicating About Brain Injury, a joint statement highlighting the importance of clear, consistent and hopeful language when discussing brain injury—a condition that can affect anyone, at any time.