The Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center Care Coordination Program: Assessment of Program Structure, Activities, and Implementation

Abstract

Many consider traumatic brain injury (TBI) to be the "signature wound" of operations Enduring Freedom (OEF) and Iraqi Freedom (OIF). Although the majority of individuals with TBI can expect a full recovery, others require additional support services in a system that can be difficult to navigate, particularly through transitions across systems of care or changes of station. In 2007, several reports emphasized the need for care coordination services specific to TBI. In response, the Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center (DVBIC) launched the regional Care Coordination Program (CCP) to provide services to active duty service members and veterans with ongoing symptoms associated with a TBI incurred while serving in OEF and OIF. The DVBIC viewed CCP as a natural extension of its ongoing work to support active duty service members and veterans with TBI, as well as their beneficiaries, through clinical, research, and educational programs. Launched in 2007, CCP provides education and care coordination services to individuals with unresolved TBIs. Regional care coordinators work closely with individuals to assess their unique needs and provide recommendations for local program resources that will help to meet these needs. By design, individuals are followed for up to 2 years, with scheduled contacts at 3, 6, 9, 12, 18, and 24 months after program enrollment, to assess problem resolution and the need for additional or different services. The purpose of this report is to assess CCP's program structure, activities, and implementation. We conducted this assessment between April and July 2012. During this assessment, we spoke with program leadership and 11 of the 14 regional care coordinators. These discussions included the following topics: program services, eligibility criteria, outreach activities, caseloads, work environments and staffing structure, barriers and facilitators of successful care coordination, perceived program benefits, and opportunities for improvement.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 2013
Accession Number
ADA585265

Entities

People

  • Andrew M. Parker
  • Caroline Epley
  • Coreen A. Farris
  • Laurie T. Martin

Organizations

  • RAND Corporation

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Afghanistan Conflict
  • Brain Injuries
  • Department Of Veterans Affairs
  • Employment
  • Geographic Regions
  • Health Care
  • Health Services
  • Iraqi-War
  • Lessons Learned
  • Medical Personnel
  • Military Medicine
  • National Security
  • Rehabilitation
  • Therapy
  • Unified Combatant Commands

Readers

  • Defense Technology Research and Development.
  • Rehabilitation and Prosthetic Care for Military Service Members and Veterans with Limb Loss or Disability.
  • Trauma or Military Medicine