Overview
Nearly 18,000 individuals in the U.S. sustain a traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) each year. Additionally, while non-traumatic SCI can be difficult to track, it is estimated to be roughly the same amount as traumatic injuries per year. The care of persons with SCI requires an interdisciplinary approach across the continuum of care. Providers should be aware of current evidence and care techniques for both traumatic and non-traumatic SCI across the continuum from initial injury, medical complications, many phases of rehab, and community reintegration. The 8th Annual Current Concepts in Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation will introduce and review a variety of topics relevant to persons with SCI. Topics will focus on areas important to all team members, throughout the continuum of care. Current Concepts in Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation will address, through lectures and discussion, the treatments and strategies employed at the UPMC Rehabilitation Institute. Conference goals are in line with the missions of the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and the UPMC Rehabilitation Institute to advance health, expand knowledge, and improve care through research, teaching rehabilitation services, and medical care.
Learning Objectives
- Develop the clinical proficiency to identify, assess, and implement targeted interventions or facilitate specialty referrals for respiratory dysfunction following spinal cord injury.
- Analyze contemporary healthcare developments and "hot topics" to evaluate their specific implications for persons with spinal cord injury.
- Contrast the clinical requirements and care trajectories of patients with non-traumatic versus traumatic spinal cord injuries to provide tailored rehabilitation.
- Demonstrate competency in foundational power wheelchair skills essential for maximizing patient independence and community accessibility.
- Execute specialized positioning techniques across diverse care settings to optimize skin integrity and functional alignment unique to those with SCI.
- Critically examine personal biases, linguistic choices, and cultural assumptions to foster a more equitable and inclusive environment for patient-centered care.
- Integrate mental health surveillance into the multidisciplinary care model by equipping all team members to recognize clinical distress and implement supportive responses that optimize patient motivation and long-term coping strategies.
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Program Schedule
7:00 - 7:30 a.m. Sign-in (Continental Breakfast)
7:30 - 7:40 a.m. Introductions/Agenda Course Directors: Dr. A Harrington, Dr. R Hibbs, Dr. E Stanley
7:40 - 8:40 a.m. Multidisciplinary Management of Respiratory Dysfunction After SCI C Vail, J Gallagher, R Masterson, N Czolba
8:40 - 8:45 a.m. Break
8:45 - 9:45 a.m. Non-traumatic Spinal Cord Injury: Clinically Relevant Considerations K Stauffer, D Rivetti, N Nestor
9:45 - 9:55 a.m. Break
9:55 - 11:25 a.m. Hot Topics in SCI Care
1. Advocacy and Health care policy – M Berwick
2. Transcutaneous stim – R Gaunt
3. GLP-1's in SCI – D Redepenning
4. Airplane travel – R Hibbs
5. Language matters – J Harrison
11:25 - 12:00 p.m. Lunch (provided)
12:00 - 12:30 p.m. Rethinking Ableism L Worobey, C Speanburg, A Molinaro
12:30 - 1:00 p.m. Trauma Informed Care C DiBlasio
1:00 - 1:10 p.m. Break
1:10 - 2:50 p.m. Breakout/Rotating Sessions
1:10-1:40 Power Wheelchair Skills – R Russell, J Harrison, J Straatman
1:40-1:45 Rotation
1:45-2:15 Smart Technology – J Nicola, M Karavolis
2:15-2:20 Rotation
2:20-2:50 Positioning Considerations – P Morgan, C McGrane, E Stanley
2:50 - 3:00 p.m. Closing Remarks Course Directors: A Harrington, R Hibbs, E Stanley