Defense Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Program

In peacetime, over 8,000 Americans with traumatic brain injury (TBI) are admitted to military and veterans hospitals. In times of combat, traumatic brain injury accounts for at least 14% of surviving casualties -- a disproportionate amount of acute and long-term combat casualty care resources.

Established in 1992, the Defense Brain and Spinal Cord Injury Program (DBSCIP) is an integrated disease management system and represents a unique collaboration between the Department of Defense (DoD), the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA), and the Brain Injury Association of America. The underlying goal of the DBSCIP is to ensure that military and veterans personnel with brain injury receive the best evaluation, treatment and follow-up. At the same time, the DBSCIP collects and compiles standardized outcome data allowing comparison of the relative efficacy and cost of various brain injury treatments and rehabilitation strategies. These clinical findings assist the DBSCIP in defining optimal treatment methods for individuals with brain injury.

In its initial phase, the program has a three-fold mission: 1) to identify and register military personnel and veterans with brain injury; 2) to treat, follow-up and monitor participating individuals; and 3) to conduct detailed periodic evaluations for those with moderate and severe brain injury. Recognizing the special needs of military personnel and veterans, DBSCIP also provides vital information about available resources and services for individuals with brain injury. To date, seven regional military and veterans specialized brain injury centers have been established.

Walter Reed Army Medical Center - Washington, DC
James A. Haley Veterans Hospital - Tampa, FL
Naval Medical Center of San Diego - San Diego, CA
Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Medical Center - Minneapolis, MN
Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System - Palo Alto, CA
Hunter McGuire Veterans Affairs Medical Center - Richmond, VA
Wilford Hall Medical Center - Lackland Air Force Base, TX

In the spirit of "learning as we treat," DBSCIP has also developed several model brain injury rehabilitation programs to evaluate the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of specific brain injury treatment strategies. Providing "state of the art" care, these model treatments are being developed in the context of controlled multicenter clinical outcomes research studies.

As the United States stands at the brink of a new millenium, great strides are being made in the fields of medicine, pharmaceuticals and scientific research. DBSCIP is in a unique position to help prevent and treat this "silent epidemic" and to lead efforts to better the lives of all active duty and retired military personnel affected by brain injury.