Model Systems Researchers Author an Article Published in PLOS One

The MSKTC congratulates the Boston-Harvard Burn Injury Model System on their article: The Long-Term Impact of Physical and Emotional Trauma: The Station Nightclub Fire, which was reviewed by the Boston Globe and recently published in the open access journal PLOS One. This article addresses issues of employment, depression, post-traumatic stress and quality of life on the survivor population as well as, assesses outcomes of survivors with and without physical injury. Read the article here.

Consumer Input is Needed for Burn Injury Factsheet

The Model Systems Knowledge Translation Center and the Northwest Regional Burn Model System are preparing a new consumer factsheet on Itchy Skin After Burn Injury. We are looking for individuals with burn injury and family members in order to test the content in advance of publication. Contact msktc@air.org for information on how to participate.

Get Involved!

Are you the partner, family member, or caregiver of someone who sustained a SCI, TBI, or Burn Injury in the past five years? Would you like to share your experience in research to help others in the future?


The Model Systems Knowledge Translation Center (MSKTC) is recruiting individuals over 18 years old who are the primary caregivers of someone who sustained a SCI, TBI, or Burn Injury in the past five years. Participants will participate in an interview about caregivers’ health information needs. Participants will be compensated $20.


The study is funded by the National Institute for Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) and conducted by the American Institutes for Research and George Mason University. If you are interested, please call (202) 403-5127 or email msktc@air.org for more information.

MSKTC is recruiting consumers with burn injury for testing on our new factsheet

The MSKTC is delighted to announce that Gretchen J. Carrougher of the Northwest Regional Burn Model System (NWRBMS) and the MSKTC are collaborating on a new factsheet entitled Itchy Skin After Burn Injury. The MSKTC is recruiting consumers with burn injury to test the factsheet. Please email msktc@air.org if you would like to support this initiative or for additional information. Also, please take a look at the MSKTC website.

November 2012 is National Family Caregivers Month!

Are you the caregiver of a person with SCI, TBI, or Burn injury? Consider participating in the MSKTC Consumer Needs study. Learn more here.

Northwest Regional Burn Model System launches an updated website

The MSKTC is pleased to announce that the Northwest Regional Burn Model System (previously the University of Washington Burn Injury Model System) has updated its website. The new website contains educational materials such as fact sheets, FAQs as well as information on the research activities and links to outside information. View the new site here.

In Continued Support of National Disability Employment Awareness Month

The MSKTC would like to continue its support of National Disability Month by providing our factsheet titled "Employment after Burn Injury" we discuss how returning to work after a burn injury can be  accompanied by a confusing range of emotions, such as feeling both excitement and anxiety. It may be hard to deal with returning back into the workplace and interacting with people. To learn more view our factsheets on Employment after Burn Injury and Social Interaction after Burn Injury.

MSKTC would like to congratulate the newly funded Burn Model Systems

The National Institute of Disability and Rehabilitation Research recently reached a new fiscal year and selected four new model systems to fund. The four newly funded centers are: Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, University of Texas - Galveston, University of Texas - Southwestern - Dallas, and University of Washington - Seattle.

The MSKTC would like to congratulate all of the newly funded model systems as well as everyone committed to advancing the burn injury field.

Call for presenters for the 2012 National Employment Conference

The George Washington University National Technical Assistance Partnership (NTAP) and The Council of State Administrators of Vocational Rehabilitation (CSAVR) and The National Council of State Agencies for the Blind (NCSAB) proudly announce the 2012 National Employment Conference.

The New Economy: Rethink, Realign, Reinvent

DECEMBER 5-7, 2012

Marriott Renaissance Arlington Capital View Hotel Arlington, Virginia

CALL FOR PRESENTERS

The 2012 National Employment Conference, "The New Economy: Rethink, Realign, Reinvent" is now accepting proposals for presentations due no later than Friday, September 28, 2012. The conference includes the following five themes: 1) Collaborating with Business; 2) High Growth Fields; 3) Bridging Research and Practice; 4) Opportunities in "Middle Skills Jobs"; and 5) Employment for Specific Populations.

Please note that the Conference Committee has a strong interest in the following two themes:

• High Growth Fields: We invite presentations about industries or sectors currently experiencing or predicted to experience trends of high growth (e.g. healthcare; science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM); food and hospitality; and retail).

• Opportunities in “Middle Skills Jobs”: We would like to see presentations on jobs that require some postsecondary education or training but not necessarily a bachelor’s degree (e.g. electricians, accounting clerks, laboratory technicians, plumbers, and law enforcement personnel).

For a detailed description of the Call for Presenters and the online presentation submission form, please go to the following link:

http://gwntap.org/conferences.html

For additional information or questions, please contact Maureen McGuire-Kuletz, Ed.D., CRC, at 202-973-1550

Model Systems Project Director Co Authors a 36 year review on Burn Injury

Dr. Loren Engrav, project director of the University of Washington Burn Injury Model System, has co authored a 36-year review on burn injury conducted at Harborview Medical System. Included in the article titled Harborview Burns – 1974 to 2009 is a discussion on how the prevention and care for burn injury has changed throughout the years. Also in this article the authors also address the changing demographics of burn injury, differences in fluid resuscitation measures, surgical care and mortality. The article can be found here courtesy of PLos One free of charge.

Recruiting Caregivers of Individuals with Burn Injury for a Health Information Needs Study

The Model Systems Knowledge Translation Center (MSKTC) is recruiting individuals over 18 years old who are the primary caregivers of someone who sustained a spinal cord injury (SCI), traumatic brain injury (TBI), or burn injury in the past five years. Participants will engage in an interview to better understand caregivers’ health information needs and be compensated $20. The study is funded by the National Institute for Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) and carried out by the American Institutes for Research and George Mason University. Click here for additional information.


If you are interested in participating, please call Deeza Mae Smith (202) 403-5127 or email msktc@air.org. Recruitment flyers are available for download, print, and posting here: Burn.

Consumer Information on Sleep Problems after Burn Injury

An evidence-based consumer factsheet titled Sleep Problems after Burn Injury is available on the Model Systems Knowledge Translation Center website at Sleep Problems. The factsheet covers causes of sleep problems after burn injury, behavioral treatment options, and, pharmacological treatment options.  It was developed by the Burn Injury Model Systems in collaboration with the Model Systems Knowledge Translation Center.  It has been reviewed by individuals with Burn Injury and endorsed by the Burn Injury Model System directors.

Mrs. Minnesota International and burn injury survivor, will compete for the title of Mrs. International 2012

Sarah Blazey, Mrs. Minnesota International and burn injury survivor, will compete for the title of Mrs. International 2012 in Chicago on July 20th-21^st.  To see the full story, click here.  Last year, Blazey used her platform to champion the efforts of The Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors, while also sharing her own story to win her title.  She showed how individuals with burn injury can overcome the obstacles often presented to survivors.  Learn more about Blazey’s story here. The Model Systems Knowledge Translation Center has expert information available for burn survivors, including a fact sheet on body image after burn injury.  Click here to learn more. 

BBC News highlights work of the University of Washington Burn Injury Rehabilitation Model System

A NIDRR Model Systems grantee, the University of Washington Harborview Burn Center, was featured in a January 31, 2011 BBC News article. The story highlighted SnowWorld, a “pioneering treatment” for burn rehabilitation created by Professors Hunter Hoffmann and David Patterson. SnowWorld is an immersive three-dimensional virtual-reality game set in an ice canyon; the game is highly effective at decreasing the perception of pain in patients recovering from severe burn injuries.

Click here to access the article.

For more information about the University of Washington Burn Injury Rehabilitation Model System, please click here.

To learn more about the Model Systems Knowledge Translation Center, please visit our homepage.

The Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Disability Statistics and Demographics will host the State of the Science Conference on April 23, 2012

The Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Disability Statistics and Demographics (StatsRRTC) will host the State of the Science Conference on April 23, 2012 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel (One Bethesda Metro Center, 7400 Wisconsin Avenue) in Bethesda, MD. This conference will appeal to all disability researchers, disability program staff, policy leaders, and community advocates. Conference participants will learn more about both the current state of disability statistics and the future advancement of the field.

The keynote address will be given by Dr. Charles Lakin, Director of the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research.

Please see the conference website and brochure for additional information.

For additional questions, please email disability.statistics@unh.edu or call 1-866-538-9521, extension 711.

The Center on Knowledge Translation for Employment Research will host a webcast discussing recent disability statistics on Wednesday, January 25, 2012

The Community of Practice on Employment Research of the Center on Knowledge Translation for Employment Research (KTER Center) will host a webcast titled What Counts? Latest Disability Statistics from Federal Surveys and Resources from 3:00 pm – 4:30 pm (EST) on Wednesday, January 25, 2012. This webcast will appeal to all researchers, particularly those interested in employment-related disability research.

The 90-minute webcast will be hosted by Dr. Andrew Houtenville, Research Director of the Institute on Disability at the University of New Hampshire. Dr. Houtenville will discuss the November 2011 Annual Disability Statistics Compendium published by the Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Disability Statistics and Demographics.

Click here for registration and here to test your computer prior to the webcast.

If you cannot attend this webcast, please visit this page for the post-webcast archive.

White House Hosts Monthly Call to Discuss Disability Issues

Each month, members of the White House Domestic Policy Council and Office of Public Engagement who work on disability issues host a public, live-captioned conference call to keep citizens better informed of important disability issues and to connect them to the leaders who work on disability policies in the federal government.

Following is information for the January call:

Date of Call:  Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Start Time: 2:00 p.m. EST (dial in 5 minutes early). This call will probably last 1.5 hours.

Dial in: (800) 762-4758

Code: “White House Disability Call”        

Note: This call is off the record and not for press purposes.

Email disability@who.eop.gov with your name, organization, city and state to be added to the White House Disability Group email distribution list.

Click here to learn more about the White House monthly disability calls.

Visit http://www.disability.gov/ for information on federal disability programs and services.

Burn Model Systems Program to Participate in the 44th Annual Meeting of the American Burn Association

Burn Model Systems (BMS) researchers will participate in the American Burn Association’s 44th Annual Meeting April 24-27 in Seattle, Washington.  BMS members will present on topics such as wound care, reconstruction, rehabilitation, pain management, nutrition, public health, and psychosociology.  Click here for a list of presentations involving BMS members.

Several BMS researchers were recognized at last year’s ABA meeting for their outstanding work. G.M. Lewis, MD; Shari E. Honari, RN; Tam N. Pham, MD; Matthew B. Klein, MD; and Nicole S. Gibran, MD of the University of Washington Burn Center earned the first-place award for their poster Pressure Ulcers in Burn Patients: Truly a Never Event? Radha Holavanahali, PhD of the North Texas Burn Rehabilitation Model System with James A. Fauerbach, PhD of the Johns Hopkins University Burn Injury Rehabilitation Model System and Gretchen J. Carrougher, RN; Radha Holavanahali, PhD; Peter C. Esselman, MD; and Loren H. Engrav, MD of the University of Washington Burn Injury Rehabilitation Model System earned the third place award for the poster Employment Outcomes After Burn Injury: Impact of Race/Ethnicity.

Click here for more information on the Burn Model Systems.

Click here for ABA conference details and registration.

Click here for the list of 2011 poster winners.