Traumatic Brain Injury as a Chronic Health Condition

Growing evidence demonstrates brain injury can be a chronic, dynamic health condition with persistent health and psychosocial issues. Chronic brain injury requires a comprehensive model for proactive management encompassing health system modifications, professional education, self-management strategies for individuals and caregivers and community-based services and supports.

This presentation will discuss the findings of the TBIMS and the importance of support following a traumatic brain injury. A brain injury can be extremely complex and it is important for physical therapy professionals to understand impacts of such an injury on a patient as well as to be able to provide patients with resources nationally and locally to provide additional support in and outside of the clinic.

Upon completion of this course, attendees will be able to:
1. Discuss evidence supporting brain injury as a chronic health condition.
2. Describe chronic “disease management” models that have been developed for other health conditions.
3. Recount initial concepts developed for the BeHEALTHY project creating a proactive model for managing brain injury as a chronic health condition.