The University of Alabama at Birmingham proposes to provide rehabilitation services specifically designed for individuals with traumatic brain injury (TBI) through its multidisciplinary, comprehensive TBI Model System (UAB TBIMS). Since program inception in 1998, we have: extended our system of care; developed new partnerships with service providers and advocacy organizations; improved outcome measurement techniques; and successfully developed innovative interventions. Consumer involvement, emphasis on community-based rehabilitation, relevance, and active dissemination to consumer and professional audiences have been cornerstones of program development and implementation. The goal of this project is to improve the lives of people with TBI and their family members by identifying trends in recovery and predictors of outcome while developing interventions to improve outcome. The objectives and outcomes are to: 1) Maintain our high volume of enrollment and high rate of follow-up for the TBIMS National Database; 2) Complete one site-specific research project, aimed at validating a driving simulation assessment to provide an efficient and safe alternative to assess skills related to returning to drive. We anticipate that the simulation assessment will identify specific weaknesses related to driving, allowing for development of highly personalized interventions; 3) Complete a module project to quantify and characterize the nature of geriatric syndromes in older adults with TBI, such as polypharmacy, frailty, multi-morbidity, cognitive impairment, fall risk, and impaired mobility. A linkage between TBIMS and Medicare data will facilitate efforts to improve care for older adults. Specific products expected to result from our program include clinical guidelines for return-to-driving decision making and dissemination of project outcomes through established methods for professional publications, presentation, along with consumer-focused knowledge translatio
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