Authors

1. Dahdah, Marie N. PhD
2. Barisa, Mark T. PhD
3. Schmidt, Kathryn MPH
4. Barnes, Sunni A. PhD
5. Dubiel, Rosemary MD
6. Dunklin, Cynthia BS, CCRC
7. Harper, Caryn BS
8. Callender, Librada BS, CCRC
9. Wilson, Amy MD
10. Diaz-Arrastia, Ramon MD, PhD
11. Shafi, Shahid MD, MPH

Abstract

Objective: To measure patient functional outcomes across rehabilitation centers.

Setting: Traumatic Brain Injury Model System (TBIMS) centers.

Participants: Patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) admitted to 21 TBIMS rehabilitation centers (N = 6975, during 1999-2008).

Design: Retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data.

Main Measures: Center-specific functional outcomes of TBI patients using Functional Independence Measure, Disability Rating Scale, and Glasgow Outcome Scale-Extended.

Results: There were large differences in patient characteristics across centers (demographics, TBI severity, and functional deficits at admission to rehabilitation). However, even after taking those factors into account, there were significant differences in functional outcomes of patients treated at different TBIMS centers.

Conclusion: There are significant differences in functional outcomes of TBI patients across rehabilitation centers.