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.