The Centegra Driver Rehabilitation program focuses on helping individuals who may have experienced a traumatic injury or serious illness return to driving safely by providing a comprehensive assessment and training that will help determine if it is safe to drive again.
Centegra Health System employs an Occupational Therapist who is certified as a driving rehabilitation specialist. Driving Rehabilitation Specialists have unique skills necessary to address the need of driving in a wide array of clients. They are able to understand disabilities of all types and have a background in vision and visual problems, an in-depth understanding of cognition and how it affects the skill of driving and the physical requirements for driving when working with the elderly or people with disabilities.
What to Expect
The program consists of a two-part evaluation and takes approximately 3 hours (2.5 hours of evaluation time and 30 minutes to discuss the results).
Part I: Clinical
This portion is approximately one hour and assesses the skills an individual needs for driving and will determine if the patient meets the visual requirements set by the state of Illinois for driving. Patients begin by taking several tests so we can assess their vision, perception, thinking skills, motor function and reaction time. After successful completion of the clinical assessment, a behind-the-wheel evaluation will be recommended.
Part II: Behind-the-Wheel
Approximately one and one-half hours behind-the-wheel testing will be completed with a driving rehabilitation specialist. To assess behind-the-wheel skills, a car has been adapted with safety equipment, hand controls and other assistive devices to meet the needs of patients. This will assess the patient’s driving ability on all types of roads, including interstate. Adaptive equipment is used, if indicated by the clinical assessment.
Results
The information learned from both assessments will be shared with the patient. The evaluation determines if the patient is safe to drive (with or without adaptive equipment), not safe to drive, or would benefit from training to try and improve his/her on-the-road safety for driving.
Physician Involvement
The results will be sent to the ordering physician. Patients who pass the driving evaluation are instructed to talk with their physician before they resume driving to obtain medical clearance. If further training is needed, it can be scheduled by calling the Centegra Neuro-Rehabilitation Center at 815-356-2700 to speak with the Driver Rehabilitation Specialist.
Patients who do not pass the evaluation are instructed to contact their physician. The physician is able to call 815-356-2700 to schedule another evaluation should he/she feel the patient would benefit from a re-evaluation at a later date. If a physician feels that a patient should not drive based on the results of the evaluation, the physician should notify the Secretary of State of Illinois.
Additional training needed?
If the patient needs additional training*, flexible scheduling is offered by calling Centegra Neuro-Rehabilitation at 815-356-2700 to make an appointment. *Out-of-pocket costs may be incurred.
Program and Testing Location:
Centegra Neuro-Rehabilitation Center
A Division of Centegra Hospital-McHenry
500 Coventry Lane
Suite 170
Crystal Lake, IL 60014
815-356-2700
What to Bring
- Order required from your physician
- Current driver’s license
- List of current medications
- Form of payment (credit card, check or cash)
Occupational Therapy for Driver’s Evaluation and Recommendations (must be stated on the order)
