Findings from the Spaulding-Harvard TBI Model Systems Summit

On November 22, 2024, the Spaulding-Harvard Traumatic Brain Injury Model System (SH-TBIMS) hosted a virtual summit, “Improving Access to Post-Acute Care for People with Severe Traumatic Brain Injury: A Call to Action.” This pivotal summit brought together leaders in healthcare, research, and policy to address critical gaps in access to rehabilitation for people with severe TBI and work toward solutions for equitable care.

Currently, fewer than 15 percent of individuals with severe TBI receive vital inpatient rehabilitation, often due to policy restrictions that exclude those with the highest needs. The summit fostered dialogue and action toward health equity, ensuring that all individuals with TBI have a pathway to recovery.

“The Spaulding-Harvard TBI Model Systems Summit shines a light on a grossly under-served subgroup of persons who have had traumatic brain injuries––those who experience prolonged recovery of consciousness,” said John Corrigan, PhD, National Research Director for the Brain Injury Association of America. “Care for these patients is fragmented, at best, and harmful at worst. If competent, coordinated care is provided, these patients can make remarkable recoveries. But right now we are failing all but the most privileged.”

SH-TBIMS Summit presentations highlighted:

• The State of the Science in TBI Recovery: Reviewing current research on recovery and outcome after severe TBI.
• Barriers to Care: Examining policies, like the “three-hour rule,” that limit access to inpatient rehabilitation, especially for individuals with disorders of consciousness.
• Pathways to Change: Showcasing effective partnerships and advocating for policy adjustments to increase rehabilitation access and improve long-term outcomes.

Click here to view Summit proceedings and access presentation materials.