Trauma Resilience & Recovery Program
About the Program
The Trauma/Telehealth Resilience and Recovery Program (TRRP) focuses on patients’ emotional recovery after they have experienced a traumatic injury. More than 20 percent of traumatic injury patients may experience depression or anxiety in the first year post-injury. Our program provides education, screening, assessment, referrals, and mental health treatment or “behavior therapy” to support patients through the process of managing these symptoms. We are primarily telehealth based, meaning you can access the majority of our services from anywhere, with a phone, tablet, or computer.
In addition to our services for patients, we also offer consultation to hospitals and trauma centers looking to provide trauma informed mental health resources to patients.
We provide several levels of care for traumatic injury patients served through our level-I trauma center at MUSC, as follows:
- Hospital Visit
We meet with you during your stay in the hospital to discuss emotional health and answer your questions about emotional recovery - Text Messaging Check-ups
After you leave the hospital, we send you texts checking in about stress and mood. We also send you tips and strategies to help you during your recovery - Recovery Assessment
Next, we call to check in with you to see how you are doing. We provide feedback and support to help you with emotional challenges or needs you may have after being injured. - Counseling Services
If you are struggling with symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder or depression, we can help. Our clinic can provide services in person or through telehealth.
Our Recovery Assessment can be done at any time, even before or after the one month mark from your or your family member’s hospital stay. If you feel you or a family member are struggling with depression, anxiety, or have any mental health concerns, feel free to reach out to our program at 843-792-0979.
Most patients in the US never receive mental health screening or follow-up care after traumatic injury. In fact, few hospitals offer adequate mental health screening and follow up after injury and hospitalization. Patients could live with symptoms for up to ten years before receiving treatment. This program therefore improves access to care by bringing education and best-practice mental health treatment directly to patients at several stages of recovery after traumatic injury. Our goal is to accelerate mental health recovery by identifying and treating symptoms of depression and posttraumatic stress disorder early in the recovery process after injury.
Many of the patients we serve live more than 25 miles away from MUSC, and many others are not yet sufficiently mobile due to their physical injuries to attend face-to-face treatment sessions. With TRRP, patients can attend appointments from anywhere via telehealth. This telehealth treatment option allows patients to start mental health treatment regardless of where they are in their physical recovery or where they live. We can also provide referrals for patients with mental health needs that are not addressed by our services.
To learn more about emotional recovery and telemental health treatment, please visit our website at www.trrphealth.org
TRRP, funded by the Center for Telehealth at MUSC, represents a multidisciplinary partnership between MUSC’s Department of Surgery (General Surgery, Trauma, and Surgical Critical Care), Department of Pediatrics (Emergency Medicine), College of Nursing (Technology Applications Center for Healthful Lifestyles), Center for Telehealth, and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (National Crime Victims Research and Treatment Center).
Meet the TRRP Team
Kenneth Ruggiero, Ph.D.
Director, Digital Health Solutions Program, MUSC South Carolina Clinical & Translational Research Institute
South Carolina SmartState Chair, Technology Applications Center for Healthful Lifestyles, Medical University of South Carolina
Professor, College of Nursing, Medical University of South Carolina
South Carolina SmartState Chair, Technology Applications Center for Healthful Lifestyles, Medical University of South Carolina
Professor, College of Nursing, Medical University of South Carolina
Research Interests: Dr. Ruggiero is a licensed clinical psychologist whose work focuses on the development, evaluation, implementation, and dissemination of digital mental health interventions to improve access and quality of care for a wide range of trauma-affected and high-risk populations.
Tatiana Davidson, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Co-Director of TRRP
Co-Director of TRRP
Leigh Ridings, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Margaret Anton, Ph.D.
Dr. Anton is a Postdoctoral Fellow with TRRP. She is a clinical psychologist and supports research and clinical initiatives.
Jennifer Winkelmann, LPC
Ms. Winkelmann is the Program Manager of TRRP and a licensed professional counselor. She leads the program data management and supports research initiatives.
Olivia Eilers, BS
Ms. Eilers is the Program Coordinator and Training Manager of TRRP. She coordinates patient care and trainings through the clinic. She also leads daily operations.
Meagan Mack, MA
Ms. Mack is a program coordinator with TRRP. She supports daily operations including screening, treatment, coordinating patient care, and research initiatives.
Partner Sites
TRRP is expanding to other locations in South Carolina! Find a program coordinator at our partner sites below:Prisma Health, Columbia, SC (formerly Palmetto Health)
Program Coordinator:Jeannie Fuller, BSN
803-434-6230
Trident Medical Center
Program Coordinator:Jesse Walker, BS
843-996-0414
