TIRR Memorial Hermann's chief medical officer said in a statement that Rep. Gabrielle Giffords has been given the OK to return home and continue her therapy as an outpatient. Giffords has spent five months at the hospital, rehabilitating after she was shot in the head in January.
In its press release, the hospital writes:
Doctors treating the Arizona congresswoman say her cognitive abilities and physical strength have improved to the point where she no longer needs to remain a patient in the hospital.
"Congresswoman Giffords has shown clear, continuous improvement from the moment she arrived at TIRR five months ago," said Dr. Gerard Francisco, the hospital's chief medical officer.
"We are very excited that she has reached the next phase of her rehabilitation and can begin outpatient treatment. We have no doubt that she will continue to make significant strides in her recovery."
The news comes just days after the congresswoman's office released the first post-shooting pictures of Giffords.
The hospital said that as an outpatient, Giffords' therapy program will not change and will continue under the care of Dr. Francisco, who is also the chairman of the department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston.
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