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Professionals TBI Toolkit:

 

  C a l e n d a r   o f   E v e n t s

C a l e n d a r  

This is my ONLY opportunity for useful FREE therapy for my brain injury from those who really know; the others living with our mental glitches and the people who care for them.   If you know of others, tell them or bring them, please.

TOPIC:  This month, I have spent most of my time thinking of my caregivers and the hell I put them through and a little bit of hell still today.  As always, I will ask what each of you attending have faced and worked out or would like to talk about.   This format has led to the most informative meetings when attendees are defeat their bashfulness. 

WHERE: St. Joseph Hospital South Campus Rehab Center.  LOWER LEVEL
                  809 East Chestnut Street
                  Bellingham, WA  98225
                  (Where Brain Injury people have met for a over a decade)

CONTACT:  I am Gary Nelson, the facilitator of this TABI support group and you can contact me with any other questions about the Wednesday’s meeting can be answered by me at 360- 656-6195 my home number or on my cell 360-739-3300 or email me at PeglegTBI@gmail.com

“Concussion, The Invisible Injury”

A lively, brand-new look at a common, sports-related injury. Everyone knows someone who has suffered one or more concussions. Find out when to seek medical care, what’s important to watch for, when you can return to play, and how to avoid more serious complications. Q&A

Plus the world premier of “Help! My Bell Just Rang” video featuring local athletes From Chimicum, Sequim, and Port Angeles

Win Mariners tickets! Three sets of (2) tickets for summer games. Pick up your free raffle ticket at the door. Drawing after the video, must be present to win. One per person.

Plus:

  • Coaches receive coaching hours and CDC* “Heads Up” clipboards

  • Athletic Directors take home CDC* “Heads Up” toolkits (2/district)

Special Thanks to: Brain Injury Assoc. of WA (BIAWA), Seattle Mariners and Olympic Medical Center

Questions? Call Dave Ditlefsen, SHS AD 360-582-3600 or Jean Rickerson 360-452-6765

*CDC (Center for Disease Control & Prevention)

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New UW Study to Focus on Mood Swings and Irritability

Have you noticed changes in your behavior since your brain injury? If your brain injury occurred at least 6 months ago, you are between the ages of 18 and 65, and you have experienced irritability since your brain injury, then you may be eligible to participate in a new research study conducted by the Traumatic Brain Injury Model System at the University of Washington. For more information please contact Aaron Scrol at 206-616-0334 ascrol@u.washington.edu

Documentary chronicles the lives of four patients living with traumatic brain injury

The Film:

The University of Washington TBI Model System in cooperation with the Trauma Foundation at Harborview, and the Washington State Department of Social and Human Services has recently produced a 30 minute documentary on Traumatic Brain Injury titled "Living With a Traumatic Brain Injury." The documentary chronicles the lives of four patients living with traumatic brain injury and shares information from experts at Harborview Medical Center and the University of Washington about the effects of brain injury. People with traumatic brain injuries may experience physical, cognitive or personality changes that affect their work and relationships. Hear stories of people who are rebuilding their lives and readjusting to family, careers and everyday life.

 What Need Does it Fulfill?

“Traumatic brain injuries affect thousands of people every year,” said Dr. Peter Esselman, chief of Rehabilitation Medicine at Harborview. “In 2006, 54 percent of all patients who received inpatient rehabilitation at Harborview were involved in trauma, and more than half of these patients had traumatic brain injuries. Our team works to guide, educate and support these patients as they return to maximum independence in their life activities.”

Traumatic brain injuries can result when the head suddenly and violently hits an object or when an object pierces the skull and enters brain tissue. The injuries can be life threatening. About half of severely head-injured patients will need surgery to remove or repair ruptured blood vessels or bruised brain tissue.

Disabilities resulting from the injury can include problems with thinking, memory, reasoning, sensory processing, communication, as well as behavioral or mental health problems, including depression, anxiety, personality changes, aggression, acting out and social inappropriateness.

The Centers for Disease Control estimates that at least 3.17 million Americans, or about 1 percent of the United States population, currently have a long-term or lifelong need for help performing the activities of daily living as a result of a traumatic brain injury. Traumatic brain injuries contribute to a substantial number of deaths and permanent disability annually.

As a recognized regional and national leader in Rehabilitation Medicine, it is a paramount goal of the UW TBI Model System to disseminate information about TBI to survivors of brain injury and their families, the local community and government, and health care professionals. To accomplish these goals we use a variety of mechanisms including publication in relevant journals, presentations at local, regional, and national conferences, local informational campaigns and newsletters, continuing education coursework, training of allied health and rehabilitation professionals, and the use of Internet and video technology to disseminate information locally and nationally, in a variety of media, through relationships that allow us to connect and network with many different end-users (consumers and providers). "Living With a Traumatic Brain Injury is our latest effort to educate the general public on the issue of traumatic brain injury. 

How was the Washington State Department of Social and Human Services involved?

In co-sponsoring the event with the Department of Social Health Services, Aging & Disabilities Service Administration, Lead Agency-Washington State Traumatic Brain Injury Grant, the UW TBIMS was able to assist that agency in meeting one of its primary goals of providing TBI education to the entire state of Washington. This is a collaborative dissemination effort that includes multiple stake holders, service providers and advocacy groups in the planning and dissemination of TBI education materials to a large and diverse audience. This project is a continuation of a long standing collaboration between the Department of Social Health Services, Aging & Disabilities Service Administration and the UW TBI Model System.

Past collaborative efforts have included a video conference TBI Education Series that presented nationally recognized speakers covering topics on traumatic brain injury research, education and prevention. The events were open to anyone with an interest in the treatment and care of TBI survivors, and included a question and answer session following each presentation. Community-based providers, state agency personnel, family members, and the general public who work with or have an interest in traumatic brain injuries were targeted to attend. The presentations were broadcast live via a two way video link to ten remote sites around Washington State and British Columbia. Remote sites included both urban health centers and rural community health venues in order to reach a broad audience and to make the series accessible to individuals with limited access to local TBI resources. Select sessions were also available at 8 sites in Idaho through the Idaho Virtual Grand Rounds. Copies of the series are available for viewing or free download by the National Clearinghouse of Rehabilitation Training Materials (NCRTM). The National Clearinghouse of Rehabilitation Training Materials is sponsored by the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) and hosted by Utah State University (http://ncrtm.org/). You can also visit our website at http://depts.washington.edu/uwtbi/Education/tbiedseries.htm to watch these informative sessions.

How To View or download a free copy of this film:

This film is currently available for viewing on the regular UWTV programming schedule. UWTV is an award-winning television channel brought to you by the University of Washington, which offers original, non-commercial educational programming—24 hours a day, seven days a week. Since its inception in 1994, UWTV has received numerous regional and national awards for excellence in production and programming content. UWTV provides TV viewers with a unique educational resource: direct access to world-renowned scientists and researchers presenting the latest innovations in their respective fields, without interruption. Beginning with Wenatchee in 1997, UWTV has expanded its broadcast coverage to include communities throughout Washington state. Remote communities across the state can also broadcast UWTV through a free satellite downlink. Webcasting of the channel began in 1999, offering Internet viewers around the world the opportunity to watch UWTV. In 2002, UWTV became available on DISHNetwork, providing its exceptional programming to satellite subscribers across the United States. For more about UWTV, visit their website at http://www.uwtv.org/. To view or download a free copy of "Living With a Traumatic Brain Injury," please visit our website at www.tbi.washington.edu

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