Shepherd Center in Atlanta: What to Know About This Spinal Cord & Brain Injury Rehabilitation Hospital
If you live in Atlanta or you’re considering coming here for spinal cord injury or brain injury rehabilitation, you’ll hear the name Shepherd Center a lot. Many people still call it the “Shepherd Spinal Center Atlanta”, but today it’s more broadly known as a neurorehabilitation hospital that focuses on spinal cord injury, brain injury, stroke, multiple sclerosis, and other complex conditions that affect mobility and independence.
This guide walks through what Shepherd Center is, where it’s located, what kinds of services people commonly look for there, and how it fits into the broader healthcare landscape in Atlanta, Georgia.
Where Is Shepherd Center in Atlanta?
Main hospital campus
Address:
Shepherd Center
2020 Peachtree Road NW
Atlanta, GA 30309
Phone (main): 404‑352‑2020
The Center is in Buckhead/Midtown area along Peachtree Road, just north of Piedmont Hospital and a short drive from I‑75/I‑85 and GA‑400. For people traveling from outside the city:
- From Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport, it’s typically a 25–40 minute drive depending on traffic.
- Nearby neighborhoods include Buckhead, Midtown, Brookwood Hills, and Collier Hills, which many families use as a home base during longer rehab stays.
Parking is typically available in visitor parking garages on or near the main campus, and many families also use nearby hotels or short-term housing while a loved one is in treatment.
What Kind of Facility Is Shepherd Center?
Shepherd Center is often described as a:
- Specialty rehabilitation hospital
- Focused on spinal cord injury (SCI) and acquired brain injury (ABI)
- With programs for stroke, multiple sclerosis (MS), spinal and neuromuscular conditions, and some chronic pain and mobility issues
It is not a general emergency room or standard acute-care hospital. Instead, many patients:
- Experience an injury or medical event (for example, a car crash, fall, or stroke).
- Are first treated at an acute-care hospital such as Grady Memorial Hospital, Emory University Hospital, or Wellstar Kennestone.
- Then transfer to Shepherd Center for intensive rehabilitation and longer-term recovery support.
If you’re in Atlanta and dealing with a new serious spinal or brain injury, your first stop is usually an ER or trauma center. Shepherd Center typically becomes part of the plan soon after, once the person is medically stable and ready for focused rehab.
Key Services People Commonly Seek at Shepherd Center
Specific offerings may evolve over time, but patients and families in Atlanta often look to Shepherd Center for:
1. Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation
Spinal cord injury (SCI) rehab is one of Shepherd Center’s core areas. People may be referred there after:
- Car, motorcycle, or bicycle crashes
- Falls (including at work or home)
- Sports injuries
- Violence-related injuries
- Certain medical conditions affecting the spinal cord
Rehabilitation typically includes:
- Physical therapy (strength, mobility, wheelchair skills)
- Occupational therapy (daily activities, home adaptation strategies)
- Assistive technology evaluation (wheelchairs, mobility devices, seating)
- Support around returning to community life, school, or work when possible
Atlanta-area residents may also receive help coordinating home modifications, vehicle adaptations, or other practical supports as they prepare to return home.
2. Brain Injury Rehabilitation
Shepherd Center also treats many people with traumatic brain injury (TBI) and non-traumatic brain injuries (such as lack of oxygen injuries, certain infections, or strokes in some programs).
Rehab may focus on:
- Cognitive therapies (memory, attention, problem-solving)
- Speech-language therapy
- Behavioral and emotional support
- Community re-entry training, such as using MARTA, navigating Atlanta streets, or managing daily tasks safely
This can be especially relevant for Atlanta residents who want to return to work in local offices, schools, or service jobs, or resume independent living in neighborhoods across the metro area.
3. Stroke and Neurological Rehabilitation
While stroke care in Atlanta often starts at hospitals like Emory, Grady, or Northside, some stroke survivors come to Shepherd Center for post-acute rehabilitation focused on:
- Regaining mobility and coordination
- Improving speech and swallowing (if needed)
- Working on daily living skills and safety
For people with multiple sclerosis and other chronic neurological conditions, there may be outpatient services for symptom management, mobility support, and energy-conservation strategies, depending on the program.
4. Outpatient and Day Programs
Not everyone at Shepherd Center is an inpatient. Many Atlanta-area residents use Shepherd for:
- Outpatient physical, occupational, or speech therapy
- Follow-up visits after an inpatient stay
- Driving evaluations and training after an injury or diagnosis
- Wheelchair clinic or seating and positioning services
If you live within the metro area (for example in Decatur, Sandy Springs, Marietta, College Park, or Stone Mountain), you may drive in for scheduled visits while continuing to live at home.
Who Typically Goes to Shepherd Center?
People come to Shepherd Center from across Georgia, around the Southeast, and nationally, but many patients are Atlanta-area residents.
Common situations include:
- A college student injured playing sports at a local university
- A commuter involved in a crash on I‑285 or I‑75/I‑85
- A worker injured on a job site or in a fall
- An older adult with a fall-related spinal or brain injury
- A person living with MS or another neurological condition who needs specialized therapy
Patients may be:
- Inpatients (staying at the hospital for intensive rehab)
- Day program participants (coming in for full-day therapy but sleeping elsewhere)
- Outpatients (coming for scheduled therapy visits only)
How Referrals and Admissions Often Work
For most people in or around Atlanta, getting to Shepherd Center involves a few steps.
1. Initial Emergency or Acute Care
If an injury or stroke occurs in the Atlanta area, emergency care often starts at:
- Grady Memorial Hospital (Level I trauma center)
80 Jesse Hill Jr. Drive SE, Atlanta, GA 30303 - Emory University Hospital (and its associated facilities)
- Northside Hospital Atlanta
- Wellstar hospitals (such as Kennestone in Marietta)
- Other local emergency departments
These facilities typically stabilize the patient first.
2. Referral to Shepherd Center
After the person is medically stable, physicians, case managers, or social workers may discuss rehabilitation options, including Shepherd Center. The process often includes:
- Clinical review of the person’s medical records
- Determining whether Shepherd Center’s programs match the person’s needs
- Insurance authorization and financial review
Families can usually call Shepherd Center directly to ask about admissions or to get general information:
- Main phone: 404‑352‑2020
(Ask to be connected to admissions or patient access for current details.)
3. Transfer and Arrival
If accepted, the person may be transferred by specialized transport from the acute-care hospital to Shepherd Center. Many families from the Atlanta metro area choose to be near the hospital during this time, using:
- Nearby hotels
- Short-term rental housing
- Occasionally, extended-stay or medical lodging options in the Buckhead/Midtown corridor
What to Expect if You’re an Atlanta-Area Family
Being local can make some aspects easier, but there are still practical issues to plan for.
Visiting and Family Involvement
Family members are often involved in:
- Training to help care for their loved one at home (transfers, equipment, safety)
- Family education sessions on spinal or brain injury
- Planning for discharge, including home setup and community resources
If you live in Atlanta, you may drive in for visits; those farther out may stay nearby short-term.
Transportation & Access
Common options for local travel to Shepherd Center:
- Driving and parking in hospital garages
- Rideshare services
- MARTA: While there is not a station directly at the hospital, nearby stations such as Arts Center or Lindbergh Center can be paired with bus routes or rideshares for the last leg of the trip.
For people with mobility limitations, Atlanta-area paratransit and accessible ride options may be part of the discharge planning process.
How Shepherd Center Fits Into Atlanta’s Healthcare Landscape
If you’re trying to understand “where Shepherd Center fits” among Atlanta hospitals, it can help to think in stages:
| Stage of Care | Typical Atlanta Provider Types | Possible Role of Shepherd Center |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency & trauma | ERs, trauma centers (e.g., Grady, Emory) | Not usually the first stop; patient is stabilized elsewhere |
| Acute medical / surgical care | Full-service hospitals | May consult, but primary care is at acute hospital |
| Inpatient rehabilitation | Shepherd Center and other rehab hospitals | Shepherd Center often handles complex spinal/brain injuries |
| Outpatient therapy & follow-up | Hospital outpatient centers, private clinics, Shepherd Center | Ongoing rehab, equipment, follow-up visits |
For spinal cord injury and significant brain injury, people in Atlanta often view Shepherd Center as one of the primary local options for focused rehabilitation, particularly for more complex cases.
Insurance, Costs, and Practical Planning
Details vary depending on your situation and change over time, but Atlanta families commonly:
- Work with hospital case managers and Shepherd Center admissions staff to understand:
- Whether their insurance plan is in-network
- What rehabilitation services are covered
- Whether any co-pays, deductibles, or out-of-pocket costs apply
- Coordinate family leave, work responsibilities, and child care during a loved one’s inpatient stay
- Plan for equipment and home modifications (ramps, bathroom adaptations, accessible vehicles) with help from rehab staff and, in some cases, local contractors
Because financial and insurance details are highly individual, families usually contact:
- Their insurance provider (using the number on the insurance card), and
- Shepherd Center’s financial counseling or admissions team at 404‑352‑2020
to get the most up-to-date, situation-specific information.
Other Atlanta Resources That Often Connect With Shepherd Center
If you live in Atlanta and are navigating a spinal cord or brain injury, you may also interact with:
- Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency (GVRA) – for help with work or retraining
- Georgia Department of Community Health – for Medicaid-related questions
- Local disability and independent living organizations in the metro area – for peer support, advocacy, and community integration
- Atlanta-based mental health providers – for counseling and emotional support for both patients and family members
These organizations can sometimes work alongside a rehabilitation program to support return to school, work, driving, or community life.
When Might You Consider Calling Shepherd Center?
People in and around Atlanta often reach out to Shepherd Center when:
- A loved one has experienced a new spinal cord or significant brain injury, and the family wants to understand rehab options.
- A person with a neurological condition (like MS or a spinal disorder) is looking for specialized therapy or rehab.
- Someone is moving to Atlanta and already has a history of spinal or brain injury and wants to establish care or find local rehab resources.
For current program details, admissions questions, or directions, you can contact:
Shepherd Center
2020 Peachtree Road NW
Atlanta, GA 30309
Main phone: 404‑352‑2020
Being informed about what Shepherd Center is and how it operates in Atlanta can make it easier to ask the right questions, coordinate with your existing medical team, and plan the next steps in rehabilitation and recovery.