Jf. Malec et al., MAXIMIZING VOCATIONAL OUTCOME AFTER BRAIN INJURY - INTEGRATION OF MEDICAL AND VOCATIONAL HOSPITAL-BASED SERVICES, Mayo Clinic proceedings, 70(12), 1995, pp. 1165-1171
Objective: To describe a medical and vocational case-management system
that has been implemented at the Mayo Medical Center in Rochester, Mi
nnesota, to decrease the time between onset of brain injury and succes
sful community reintegration. Design: Barriers to employment are ident
ified and targeted as part of a system that integrates medical center-
and community-based services. Material and Methods: The success of th
e project will be determined by several sources, including the Mayo-Po
rtland Adaptability Inventory, a vocational rating scale, and traditio
nal measures of vocational success (for example, level of independent
living, job type and setting, rate of pay, and the type and cost of vo
cational supports being used). Overall study outcomes will be compared
against benchmarks derived from the literature on vocational outcome
after brain injury. Results: Preliminary data are encouraging that pro
ject goals are attainable. The medical case-management system has decr
eased the amount of time between injury and initiation of vocational a
nd other rehabilitation services. During the first year, 67 persons wi
th brain injury began receiving vocational services through the projec
t, and 34% are in community-based nonsheltered work or training progra
ms. Second-year data will reveal whether the goal of 70% placement wit
hin 9 months after admission to the project can be maintained.