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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
Thilo Kroll, PhD, Center for Health and Disability Research, National Rehabilitation Hospital, 1016 16th Street, NW Suite 400, Washington, DC 21403, 202-466-1915, thilo.kroll@medstar.net and Melissa J. McNeil, MS, MSW, Center for Health and Disability Research, National Rehabilitation Hospital Washington DC, 1016 16th Street, NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC 20036.
Introduction. Violence is the second leading cause of spinal cord injuries in the United States. While homicide and injury rates have been decreasing, violently-acquired spinal cord injuries (VASCI) continue to present a costly challenge for society, especially since most victims of violence have little economic resources. Our aim is to describe the rehabilitation experience of VASCI survivors in and outside the rehabilitation hospital.
Method. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 10 clinician and 20 VASCI survivors after their discharge from the National Rehabilitation Hospital (NRH) in Washington, DC. Questions addressed rehabilitation needs, housing, community reintegration, and relationships with family and friends.
Results. Respondents highlighted difficulties in the transition from the hospital into nursing homes, finances, transportation barriers, difficulties with obtaining suitable equipment and relationship issues. Several VASCI survivors noted difficulties in carrying out parental caregiver duties. Clinicians were mostly concerned with increasingly shorter rehabilitation inpatient stays, the lack of effective prevention of complications (e.g. pressure sores), and insufficient return to education/work programs for VASCI survivors. In many cases economic hardship prevented timely access to needed services. Co-morbidity, such as substance abuse pose specific challenges in the rehabilitation process
Discussion. VASCI survivors face tremendous challenges upon their return into the community. Peer-to-peer based re-entry programs constitute an important link between the rehabilitation hospital, and the community. More community-oriented programs need to be developed to more effectively meet the multiple needs of people with VASCI.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Underserved Populations, Access and Services
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Handout (.pdf format, 293.0 kb)