Hackensack Meridian JFK Johnson Rehabilitation Institute achieved a global milestone in brain injury care, becoming the first healthcare facility in the world to earn official accreditation for its Disorders of Consciousness (DoC) Specialty Program.
The international designation was awarded by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) International, recognizing specialized excellence across both JFK Johnson’s Acute Inpatient Rehabilitation Program and its skilled nursing Extended Recovery Unit.
For decades, patients emerging from moderate to severe traumatic brain injuries or non-traumatic brain events faced severely limited access to specialized inpatient rehabilitation. The new CARF accreditation standards address this critical gap by establishing rigorous, person- and family-centered benchmarks for treating individuals with complex disorders of consciousness.
“HMH JFK Johnson Rehabilitation Institute should be commended on receiving the first Disorders of Consciousness Specialty Designation in the world in both their Acute Inpatient Rehabilitation Program and their skilled nursing Extended Recovery Unit,” Terrence Carolan, managing director of Medical Rehabilitation and Aging Services at CARF International said. “Their commitment to enhancing the lives of individuals with Disorders of Consciousness and their family/support systems is admirable.”
JFK Johnson’s medical leadership highlighted the landmark achievement as a validation of the institute’s long-standing research and clinical focus on neurorehabilitation.
“Being the first program in the world to achieve this specialized CARF accreditation is a testament to the unparalleled dedication and expertise of our entire clinical team,” Dr. Sara Cuccurullo, chair, vice president, and medical director at HMH JFK Johnson Rehabilitation Institute, said. “For decades, we have been committed to pushing the boundaries of brain injury rehabilitation. This designation validates our transdisciplinary approach and, most importantly, ensures that our patients and their families receive the most advanced, compassionate, and specialized care available when they need it most.”
To meet the rigorous CARF standards for the DoC Specialty Designation, JFK Johnson demonstrated a comprehensive infrastructure tailored to patients experiencing altered states of consciousness, including:
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Transdisciplinary Diagnostic Evaluation: Utilizing validated, standardized assessment tools (such as the Coma Recovery Scale-Revised) to establish diagnostic clarity, implement evidence-based protocols, and minimize medical complications.
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Family-Centered Engagement: Active inclusion of caregivers in care planning, offering structured educational resources, support networks, and guidance to help families navigate prognostic uncertainty.
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Specialized Pre-Admission Pathways: Streamlined intake protocols designed to assist acute care hospital providers across New Jersey and the region in making timely referrals.
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Proactive Payer & Patient Advocacy: Dedicated efforts working alongside acute care facilities and insurance providers to demonstrate the medical necessity and long-term value of specialized DoC care.
“Achieving this first-of-its-kind designation from CARF International reflects our continuous investment in providing world-class rehabilitation services,” Anthony Cuzzola, vice president of the Rehabilitation Service Line at Hackensack Meridian Health, said. “This milestone reinforces our mission to ensure that patients and families facing the most challenging brain injuries have access to an optimal environment designed to maximize their potential for recovery.”
Consistently ranked among the nation’s top rehabilitation hospitals by U.S. News & World Report, the 94-bed Edison facility has partnered with CARF as an accredited rehabilitation provider since 1972. In addition to its new DoC accreditation, JFK Johnson holds CARF accreditations across general inpatient rehabilitation, stroke, spinal cord injury, amputation, concussion, and vocational rehabilitation.
The institute also serves as the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department for both the Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine and Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, continuing to drive medical education and neuroscience research within central New Jersey.
