Newswise — Today, Kennedy Krieger Institute's brain injury program celebrates 30 years of advancing research and patient care. The program, one of the nation's leading brain injury rehabilitation programs, is known for its pioneering “continuum of care” model that provides for coordinated care across the inpatient, day-hospital, home and community settings and emphasizes re-integration of children into their home, school, and community.
“Our ongoing dedication to translational research means that we are able to swiftly transfer research advancements into the clinic, ensuring our patients receive the most innovative care possible," said Dr. James Christensen, Director of Pediatric Rehabilitation at Kennedy Krieger Institute. “Our program truly dedicates itself to turning hope into reality and providing the best possible care to patients and their families.”
Leaders in brain injury rehabilitation will attend today’s 30th anniversary celebration. Jean A. Langlois, ScD, MPH, Scientific Program Manager for Brain Injury Rehabilitation, Research and Development Services at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, who started her career in brain injury as a speech and language pathologist at Kennedy Krieger, will serve as the guest lecturer for the event. Her lecture is entitled Turning Hope into Reality: Advances in Brain Injury Rehabilitation. Remarks will also be made by Dr. Christensen, Dr. Gary Goldstein, President and CEO of Kennedy Krieger Institute and Dr. Jeffrey Palmer, Director of the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Johns Hopkins Hospital.
Established in 1979, the program was the first pediatric brain injury program in Maryland to receive accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF). The program has built a significant record of patient success and satisfaction over the past three decades. Overall, 99 percent of families report satisfaction with the care received, 96 percent of patients are able to return to their homes and communities following treatment, and 94 percent of patients meet or exceed their treatment goals.
Kenned Krieger’s researchers and clinicians have also played a crucial role in advancing our understanding of brain injury. Their contributions to the field include imaging research that has advanced knowledge of the relationship between the brain and behavior after an injury; the development of new ways to measure outcomes after an injury; and contributions to acute intervention studies to improve treatment outcomes.
About the Kennedy Krieger InstituteInternationally recognized for improving the lives of children and adolescents with disorders and injuries of the brain and spinal cord, the Kennedy Krieger Institute in Baltimore, MD serves more than 13,000 individuals each year through inpatient and outpatient clinics, home and community services and school-based programs. The Institute provides a wide range of services for children with developmental concerns mild to severe, and is home to a team of investigators who are contributing to the understanding of how disorders develop while pioneering new interventions and earlier diagnosis. For more information, visit www.kennedykrieger.org.
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