TBI Model System Researchers Publish Position Statement on Disorders of Consciousness in Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

TBI Model System researchers recently, in collaboration with the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine Evidence and Practice Committee (ACRM EPC), published a position statement, “Minimum competency recommendations for programs that provide rehabilitation services for persons with disorders of consciousness: A position statement of the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine and the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living and Rehabilitation Research Traumatic Brain Injury Model Systems,” in Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. The position statement discusses practice guidelines and minimum competencies of the clinical programs for the treatment and support of individuals with disorders of consciousness. The recommendations fall into several categories: diagnostic and prognostic assessment, treatment, transitioning care/long-term care needs, and management of ethical issues. Authors from the currently-funded TBI Model System centers include: Spaulding-Harvard Traumatic Brain Injury Model System (Joseph Giacino, PhD; and Ross D. Zafonte DO), Moss Traumatic Brain Injury Model System (John Whyte, PhD), Tampa Polytrauma Rehabilitation TBI Model System Center (Risa Nakase-Richardson, PhD), JFK Johnson Rehabilitation Institute TBI Model System (Brian Greenwald, MD), Indiana University School of Medicine / Rehabilitation Hospital of Indiana TBI (Flora Hammond, MD), and Rocky Mountain Regional Brain Injury System (Alan Weintraub, MD). View the article here.