How can we make care for persons with spinal cord injuries or diseases (SCI/D) more evidence-based? Since 1995, a group of 23 health professional, payer, and consumer organizations, funded and administered by Paralyzed Veterans of America, has made this question their mission.

It's a mission centered around evidence-based clinical practice guidelines: recommendations to health care providers based on current research findings that expert methodologists have graded for their scientific strength and validity.

Using scientific research and consumer input, the Consortium Steering Committee updates these guidelines and develops new ones, promoting a SCI/D research agenda that encourages scientific rigor and outcome evaluation.

The Consortium's clinical practice guidelines for health care professionals and companion consumer guides help people living with SCI/D put this information to use in their daily lives. These easy-to-understand publications provide guidance and address questions on SCI/D subjects ranging from pressure ulcers to bowel care to expected outcomes one year out from injury. Some consumer guides are available in Spanish. Printed and downloadable versions of the clinical practice guidelines and consumer guides are also available.

CLINICAL PRACTICE GUIDELINES FOR HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS

• Evaluation and Management of Autonomic Dysreflexia and Other Autonomic Dysfunctions
• Bone Health and Osteoporosis Management in Individuals with Spinal Cord Injury
• Management of Neurogenic Bowel Dysfunction in Adults after Spinal Cord Injury
• Management of Mental Health Disorders, Substance Use Disorders, and Suicide in Adults with Spinal Cord Injury
• Identification of Cardiometabolic Risk after Spinal Cord Injury
• Evaluación y tratamiento de la disreflexia autonómica y de otras disfunciones neurovegetativas: Cómo prevenir los altibajos
• Atención de trastornos de salud mental, trastornos por consumo de sustancias y suicidio en adultos con lesiones de la médula espinal
• Tratamiento del intestino neurógeno en adultos tras una lesión medular
• Prevention of Venous Thromboembolism in Individuals with Spinal Cord Injury
• Early Acute Management in Adults with Spinal Cord Injury
• Sexuality and Reproductive Health in Adults with Spinal Cord injury
• Bladder Management for Adults with Spinal Cord Injury
• Preservation of Upper Limb Function Following Spinal Cord Injury
• Respiratory Management Following Spinal Cord Injury
• Pressure Ulcer Prevention and Treatment Following Spinal Cord Injury, 2nd edition
• Outcomes Following Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury

CONSUMER GUIDELINES

• Sexuality and Reproductive Health in Adults with Spinal Cord Injury: What You Should Know
• Bladder Management Following Spinal Cord Injury: What You Should Know
• Respiratory Management Following Spinal Cord Injury: What You Should Know
• Preservation of Upper Limb Function Following Spinal Cord Injury: What You Should Know
• Autonomic Dysreflexia: What You Should Know
• Pressure Ulcers: What You Should Know
• Expected Outcomes: What You Should Know
• Depression: What You Should Know
• Neurogenic Bowel: What You Should Know

SPANISH CONSUMER GUIDES

• Ulceras por Decubito: Lo Que Usted Debe Saber (Pressure Ulcers)
• Intestino Neurog?nico: Lo Que Usted Debe Saber (Neurogenic Bowel)
• Reflejo Disfuncional Autonomo: Lo Qu? Usted Deberia Saber (Autonomic Dysreflexia)

CONTACT US

For more information:
Lindsay Perlman
Director of Research and Education
Paralyzed Veterans of America
1875 Eye Street, Suite 1100
Washington, DC  20006-3517
LindsayP@pva.org

To donate to the Consortium:
Mark Slaughter
Development Officer
202-416-7268
800-424-8200, ext. 268
Marks@pva.org

Mail:
Paralyzed Veterans of America
Attn: Mark Slaughter
1875 Eye Street NW, Suite 1100
Washington, DC 20006

The Consortium for Spinal Cord Medicine Steering Committee