Disclosures: Joel P. Castellanos, MD: No financial relationships or conflicts of interest

Objective: The purpose of this project was to institute interdisciplinary Trauma Spinal Cord Injury Clinical Practice Guidelines focused on collaborative care using a systems approach.

Design: A collaborative interdisciplinary team of stakeholders was assembled to create Guidelines for post-stabilized spinal cord injury patients. The Guidelines focused on cardiovascular, pulmonary, gastrointestinal, genitourinary, skin, turning and mobilization, pain management, glycemic management, psychosocial and spiritual care, and pertinent interdisciplinary collaboration. Educational materials were developed for medical staff, spinal cord injury patients, and nurses. The collaboration was completed to optimize patient knowledge and functional status prior to discharge. On occasion, spinal cord injury patients do not have sufficient funding for discharge to a rehabilitation setting and rehabilitation is completed in the inpatient setting. Setting : Academic Institution with Level 1 Trauma Center Participants : Collaborative team consisting of a physiatrist, clinical nurses, trauma surgery advance practice providers, and additional interdisciplinary team expertise.

Interventions: Application of interdisciplinary Guidelines focused on collaborative care using a systems approach for medical staff, nursing, and patient education.

Main Outcome Measures: Outcome tracking included pain scores, bowel movement frequency, pressure ulcers, urinary tract infections, indwelling catheter presence on discharge, and discharge location.

Results: Patient outcome tracking will be measured every 3 months to assess overall improvement in patient care after implementation of the Clinical Practice Guidelines. Conclusions: The spinal cord injury population is very vulnerable and requires vigilant care. Without proper protocols, spinal cord injury patients can develop complications including autonomic dysreflexia, respiratory decompensation, constipation, urinary tract infections, pressure ulcers, and unmanaged pain. The Trauma Spinal Cord Injury Clinical Practice Guidelines serve as an educational resource for advance practice provides, nurses, and patients to provide comprehensive evidence-based care.

Level of Evidence: Level V

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PM&R Meeting Abstracts - https://pmrjabstracts.org/abstract/initiating-standard-practice-guidelines-for-traumatic-spinal-cord-injury-at-an-academic-institution/