RORC REAP to Co-Sponsor Clinical Epidemiology and Outcomes Research Retreat

The RORC REAP is co-sponsoring a clinical epidemiology and outcomes research retreat with the North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System (NF/SGVHS) Geriatric Research Education & Clinical Center (GRECC) and the University of Florida Emerging Pathogens Institute (EPI).

The retreat, to be held at the University of Florida Lake Wauburg Cypress Lodge on April 11, 2008, will provide an opportunity for Department of Veterans Affairs and University of Florida researchers to share ideas and develop a focus group on clinical epidemiology, health services and outcomes research.

The half-day event, from 12 Noon - 4:30 p.m., will include lunch, followed by informal 5-10 minute presentations on current research or research interests.

If you would like to attend, please RSVP by April 9th, to Jini Hanjian at 352.376.1611 x.4933 or by email, Jini.Hanjian@va.gov.

For directions to the Lake Wauburg Cypress Lodge (North Park), please CLICK HERE.

RORC TO INCLUDE FOCUS ON RETURNING VETERANS WITH NEUROLOGICAL IMPAIRMENTS

Rehabilitation Outcomes Research Center for Veterans with Neurological Impairments Gainesville, FL

A neurological impairment is not something that is easily recognizable, but can affect almost every part of a person’s life, including their speech, motor skills, vision, memory, muscle actions and learning abilities. On October 1, 2007, the Rehabilitation Outcomes Research Center for Veterans with Neurological Impairments (RORC) became the first Department of Veterans Affairs Research Enhancement Award Program (REAP) to include Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation Enduring Freedom (OIF/OEF) veterans in its research focus. Located at the North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System (NF/SGVHS) in Gainesville, the RORC REAP will evaluate rehabilitation programs and interventions that result in optimal outcomes for veteran patients with neurological impairments.

Paul M. Hoffman, MD, RORC Director, is a neurologist and the Associate Chief of Staff for Program Development at the NF/SGVHS. Associate Director Diane Cowper Ripley, PhD, is one of the VA's leading experts in Geographical Information Systems (GIS). Together they are leading the mission of the RORC REAP to conduct interdisciplinary research to improve the health, function and community reintegration of veterans with neurological impairments. Center projects will be addressing veterans' rehabilitation outcomes and their health, function, independence, quality of life, community integration, access to rehabilitation services, and the quality and cost of rehabilitation care. With its new focus on returning OIF/OEF veterans, RORC researchers will be investigating rehabilitation outcomes specific to traumatic brain injury (TBI) and blast injuries, as well as post-deployment health issues such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), transition/readjustment to civilian life, independent living, and caregiving. The RORC will also continue its studies on the rehabilitation of veterans with chronically disabling conditions such as stroke, and Parkinson’s disease and Multiple Sclerosis.

"We are very excited about adding post-deployment health to our focus and the opportunity to serve the newest generation of veteran," said Dr. Hoffman. "Though the VA has been treating Gulf War veterans since the early 1990s, this is a new era. As technology has changed in both warfare and medicine, the injuries and trauma we are seeing in today's veterans are different than those of previous generations. We will be researching state-of-the-art rehabilitation therapies and interventions, and their outcomes, and work to implement the very best of those in the VA healthcare system."

A recent study completed by Dr. Cowper Ripley on geographic access to VHA rehabilitation services demonstrated an unmet need for these services in veterans returning to Puerto Rico. The VHA is responding by upgrading the services provided to polytrauma victims to the Caribbean territories. Similarly, Dr. Connie Uphold determined that there was a lack of educational materials written in Spanish for returning veterans and has subsequently developed “Education Materials for Puerto Rican Veterans and Their Families.” This material may be disseminated more widely to other areas of the United States where large numbers of Hispanic veterans are returning for rehabilitation and medical care. Future studies will focus on issues such as the diagnosis and differentiation of TBI from PTSD and other mood disorders, defining patterns and degree of brain trauma by neuropsychological testing and blood biomarkers, and utility of tele-rehabilitation for TBI, particularly in rural areas. Dr. Hoffman noted that the large number of OIF/OEF veterans returning to the North Florida area and seeking care at the NF/SGVHS was a major factor in the decision to study post-deployment health and rehabilitation issues with support from both national programs in health services and rehabilitation research and local support from the NF/SGVHS.

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