Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Resource of the Month

Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital Boston has "Moved Our Strength" to a beautiful new facility! Click here to learn more.

NEWS ON THE NATIONAL DATABASE: Click here to read an article in The Atlantic about the TBI Model Systems National Database. Click here to learn how you can become a part of this project.

SH-TBI Model System Team

The Spaulding-Harvard Traumatic Brain Injury Model System (SH-TBIMS) in Boston, MA has a diverse and active group of clinicians and researchers, specialized in patients with Traumatic Brain Injuries - including those with Disorders of Consciousness (DOC). Our goal is to provide the best possible care for patients with brain injury.

National TBI Database

The mission of the National Institute of Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) is to bring a high quality of care and improve the quality of life for people with disabilities. As part of their mission, the Traumatic Brain Injury Model System contributes to the TBI National Data and Statistical Center - gathering data from several national sites on Traumatic Brain Injury and health outcomes.

icon TBIMS - Brochure

Knowledge Translation Center

Connect with the Model Systems Knowledge Translation Center
The MSKTC has many resources available about the Traumatic Brain Injury Model System, including helpful flyers and handouts about injury - and also the contact information for Model System sites nationwide.

Current SH-TBIMS Research

Discover Magazine - Re-discovering Consciousness
Article with Dr. Giacino - what is the future for patients who are vegetative or minimally conscious?

Consciousness Study Update
Here you will find up-to-date information on our site-specific project on consciousness.

Interested in Volunteering for Research?
Please fill out our inquiry form to ask questions or to request to be contacted for research studies at SH-TBIMS

Disorders of Consciousness Program

The Spaulding Rehabilitation Network Disorders of Consciousness (DOC) Program provides a continuum of care specifically designed for individuals with severe acquired brain injury who have yet to regain the ability to follow instructions, communicate reliably or perform basic self-care activities.

This program is integrated with the SH-TBI Model System of Care. As part of the SH-TBI system, this program helps to tailor the treatment to the needs of the individual patient. The patient care team - made up of physicians, nurses, physical and occupational therapists and care liasons - aim to identify the physical and mental barriers that prevents these patients from communicating.

The care team maximizes the patient's capacity to perform their self-care activities - and also provides continuing education, support and informational resources for patients, family members and caretakers.

The DOC program brochure can be found below:

icon DOC Program Brochure

Center for Outcome Measurement in Brain Injury (COMBI)

The Center for Outcome Measurement in Brain Injury (COMBI) is a collaborative project of the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) funded Traumatic Brain Injury Model Systems. The COMBI is a project of the current funding cycle for NIDRR TBI Model Systems (2007-2012). The COMBI is coordinated at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center.

Coma Recovery Scale - Revised

The Coma Recovery Scale - Revised (CRS-R) is one of the main tools that clinicians use to assess patients who have a disorder of consciousness (ex. coma). Clinicians use this scale to look at patients' recovery in many different areas, including: hearing, sight, movement, speech, communication and arousal (wakefulness).

icon Coma Recovery Scale - Revised (CRS-R)
icon CRS-R DVD order form

To Reference: Giacino, J & Kalmar, K. (2006). Coma Recovery Scale-Revised. The Center for Outcome Measurement in Brain Injury. http://www.tbims.org/combi/crs

Spaulding-Harvard Traumatic Brain Injury Model System

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SH-TBI Research Initiative:

Improving the lives of people with severe traumatic brain injury

The Spaulding-Harvard TBI Model System program is looking at the effects of a multi-faceted approach to diagnosis of patients with disorders of consciousness. The researchers will be using functional neuroimaging combined with observations and input from the clinicians and families. The aim is to improve diagnostic accuracy in this sensitive population.