External Resources
American Association of Neuroscience Nurses (AANN)
AANN has developed Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPG) to provide an overview on caring for adults with severe TBI as well as to provide nurses with a tool that will assist them in delivering the optimum quality-focused patient care:
Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA)
Founded in 1980, the mission of the BIAA is "Creating a better future through brain injury prevention, research, education and advocacy." Includes extensive resources and links to related websites.
BrainLine.org
BrainLine.org is a new national multimedia project offering information and resources about preventing, treating, and living with TBI. BrainLine.org is a service of WETA, the public TV and radio station in Washington, DC and is funded by the Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center through a contract with the Henry M. Jackson Foundation.
Brain Trauma Foundation (BTF)
In the past, healthcare professionals have had difficulty in assessing the effectiveness of various diagnostic and treatment options for TBI. To meet this critical need, BTF has developed scientific evidence-based Guidelines. These Guidelines give medical personnel the ability to develop effective protocols that can improve the survival and outcomes of TBI patients. These guidelines are available only to registered users of www.braintrauma.org. To register, click on the "Register" link on the left of the page and create a login & password. Also, all Guidelines may be viewed online or downloaded, but none may be printed. If you need to obtain a hard copy of the Guidelines, please order them using the "Order Materials" link on the left side of the page.
CENTCOM Clinical Practice Guidelines
For military use only. Requires Joint Patient Tracking Application (JPTA) username and password.
- Management of Patients with Severe Head Trauma (25 May 2007): in-theater management recommendations for severe TBI.
- mTBI/concussion Screening and Management with Alternative MACE Scores: in-theater management of concussion.
ClinicalTrials.gov
ClinicalTrials.gov is a registry of federally and privately supported clinical trials conducted in the United States and around the world. ClinicalTrials.gov gives you information about a trial's purpose, who may participate, locations, and phone numbers for more details. It is a service of the U.S. National Institutes of Health.
Deployment Health Clinical Center (DHCC)
DHCC launched its web site in 2001 to assist busy clinicians in the delivery of post-deployment healthcare. It represents a comprehensive source of deployment-related health information for both healthcare providers and service members, veterans, and family members.
The Journey Home - the CEMM TBI Web Site
This site provides an informative and sensitive exploration of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), including information for patients, family members, and caregivers. Topics include types and symptoms of brain injury, TBI treatment and recovery, and helpful insights about the potential long-term effects of brain injury. Animation is used to help patients clearly understand the brain, and the results of injuries to different parts of the brain. Survivors and their caregivers share courageous stories about their own experiences, providing down-to-earth facts along with inspiration and hope.
Medline Plus
A service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health. Includes extensive resources and links to related websites.
National Association of State Head Injury Administrators (NASHIA)
Established in 1990, NASHIA provides information and education for State Agency employees who are responsible for public brain injury policies, programs, and services. It operates the TBI Technical Assistance Center which publishes related fact sheets (2-page pdf files):
- Children and Youth: Provides the medical and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act definitions for traumatic brain injury (TBI), describes the causes and consequences of TBI for children and youth, and describes the educational supports available for students with TBI and their families.
- Emergency Medical Services: Lists the possible symptoms that individuals should look for after sustaining a brain injury. Designed for pre-hospital providers to distribute to individuals who have sustained a brain injury.
- Employment and Vocational Rehabilitation: Provides an overview of TBI for vocational rehabilitation counselors, and offers strategies for improving employment outcomes after a brain injury.
National Center for Injury Prevention and Control (NCICP)
NCICP, at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), supports data collection and follow-up studies in more than 15 states to track and monitor TBI in the United States, to link people with TBI to information about services, and to find ways to prevent TBI-related disabilities.
- Facts about Traumatic Brain Injury (2-page pdf file): Includes information on the problem, consequences, causes, cost, groups at risk, collaborating organizations, and references.
- Heads Up: Brain Injury in Your Practice, 2007 Edition (series of pdf files): This tool kit provides physicians with specific information on mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI)/concussion prevention, early diagnosis, and medical management.
National Guideline Clearinghouse (NGC)
NGC is a comprehensive database of evidence-based clinical practice guidelines and related documents.
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Created in 1950, the mission of NINDS is to reduce the burden of neurological disease — a burden borne by every age group, by every segment of society, by people all over the world. Its TBI information page includes extensive resources and links to related websites.
National Resource Directory
An online partnership of “shared care” providing information on, and access to, services and resources for wounded, ill and injured service members and veterans, their families and families of the fallen, and those who support them from recovery and rehabilitation to community reintegration. It is maintained by the Departments of Defense, Labor and Veterans Affairs. The information in the Directory is from federal, state and local governmental agencies; veteran service and benefit organizations; non-profit community-based and faith-based organizations; academic institutions, professional associations and philanthropic organizations.
North American Brain Injury Society
NABIS is a society comprised of professional members involved in the care or issues surrounding brain injury. The principal mission of the organization is moving brain injury science into practice. Whether it is in the area of clinical care, research, policy or litigation, the organization stands behind the premise that advances in science and practices based on application of the scientific evidence will ultimately provide the best outcomes for those with brain injuries and the community as a whole.
NEUROSURGERY://ON-CALL®
Neurosurgical information for patients and the healthcare professional presented by the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) and the Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS).
- Penetrating TBI Guidelines: recommendations based on civilian casualties regarding treatment of penetrating TBI (43 page pdf file).
Real Warriors Campaign
The Real Warriors Campaign is an initiative launched by the Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury (DCoE) to promote the processes of building resilience, facilitating recovery and supporting reintegration of returning service members, veterans and their families. The Real Warriors Campaign combats the stigma associated with seeking psychological healthcare and treatment and encourages service members to increase their awareness and use of these resources.
US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA),
Veterans Health Administration (VHA)
Its mission is "to serve the needs of America's veterans by providing primary care, specialized care, and related medical and social support services."
Veterans Health Initiative Traumatic Brain Injury Independent Study Course, January 2004 (177-page pdf): Developed in collaboration with DVBIC, this is one in a series of Veterans Health Initiative courses published by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Employee Education System, and is made available to VA, Department of Defense, and other interested medical providers.
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