NeuroRehabilitation
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NeuroRehabilitation · Jan 1997
Utilization of a comprehensive sensory stimulation program with a comatose tetraplegic patient.
To date, there has been a relative absence of studies which have examined the utility and effectiveness of sensory stimulation procedures in comatose, spinal-cord-injured patients. This report describes the interdisciplinary utilization (within an acute care setting) of a comprehensive sensory stimulation programme with a 21-year-old, comatose, tetraplegic male patient. To promote behavioural arousal, multiple sensory stimulation sessions were conducted with the patient daily. ⋯ There was also a non-significant trend of increased behavioural arousal during the post- as compared to the pre-treatment baselines (i.e. carry-over effect). By termination of this programme, the patient exhibited an overall increased level of arousal/behavioural responsiveness (i.e. decreased coma) as compared to his level at the initiation of this programme. These findings are discussed in light of factors that may affect the effectiveness and implementation of such sensory stimulation programmes with comatose, tetraplegic patients in acute care settings.
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NeuroRehabilitation · Jan 1997
The role of emergency medical services for children (EMSC) in the care of children with traumatic brain injuries.
This article highlights the role that Emergency Medical Services for Children (EMSC) can play in the continuum of care for children with traumatic brain injuries. Through national efforts by the EMSC, several initiatives and recommendations are proposed regarding the development of a coordinated system of care for children with special healthcare needs that includes children with traumatic brain injuries. In particular, EMSC is addressing the need for expanded emergency and trauma care services for children and methods of improving continuity among emergency, acute, rehabilitation, and community services to enhance better long-term outcomes for these children and their families. Other identified needs include: training and education of providers; resolving differences in language and philosophy that exist across disciplines; developing standards for family-centered care; and improving communication and service coordination for children with special healthcare needs.
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NeuroRehabilitation · Jan 1997
Fostering effective team cooperation and communication: Developing community standards within interdisciplinary cognitive rehabilitation settings.
Cognitive rehabilitation is a promising and necessary component of interdisciplinary treatment for brain injured patients, but it remains an area that lacks universal definitions, empirically validated constructs, or standards of practice. This situation leads to difficulties for interdisciplinary teams in cognitive rehabilitation settings, since definitions, conceptions, and labels of cognitive constructs can differ across team members and disciplines. ⋯ Such a project was undertaken by a task force at the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Medicine, Rusk Rehabilitation Center. The process of establishing such a task force and the need for establishing community standards are described and outlined.