Tulsa World: OSU to lead brain-injury effort

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OSU to lead brain-injury effort
The university's Center for Health Sciences will coordinate state services for kids with brain injuries.

By KIM ARCHER World Staff Writer
Published: 6/4/2009 2:27 AM
Last Modified: 6/12/2009 1:59 PM

Learn more about the national plan or about pediatric acquired brain injury.

The Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences is taking the state lead in a national plan to improve care for children with brain injuries.

"It really means we will be the coordinator of services for the state," said Dr. Kayse Shrum, who leads the Pediatric Department. "We will be coordinating care throughout the lifetime of a child."

The Sarah Jane Brain Foundation will unveil the National Pediatric Acquired Brain Injury Plan on Friday in Washington.

OSU is one of 52 institutions selected — one from each state plus the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico — to form a nationwide network to make sure that children with traumatic brain injuries are provided care throughout their lives.

Dr. Stanley Grogg, interim president of the Center for Health Sciences, said an acquired brain injury refers to someone who was born with a normal brain but something happens to it, such as a brain tumor, meningitis or shaken baby syndrome.

Patrick Donohue of New York founded the Sarah Jane Brain Foundation in 2007 after his 5-day-old daughter sustained traumatic brain injury two years earlier when she was shaken violently by a nurse.

Sarah Jane will turn 4 years old Friday. She still is unable to walk, crawl or speak words as a result of her injury.

Since its founding, the group has quickly become a national voice for pediatric acquired brain injury.

More than a million children are hospitalized every year in the U.S. because of an acquired brain injury, with 17,000 suffering permanent disability, the foundation said.

Some 5,000 children die from their injuries.

"Right now, there are not a lot of guidelines or a standard of care past diagnosis," Shrum said.

As a state leader in the national effort, the OSU Center for Health Sciences will work to ensure that Oklahoma children with brain injuries are provided appropriate care, from medical treatment to various therapies.

"Presently what happens is a patient is referred to social services or occupational therapy and there is no follow-up," Grogg said. "Parents won't have to be involved with finding services to meet their child's needs."

OSU brings its rural telemedicine program to the table, which will allow children with brain injuries to be monitored without leaving home, he said.

"The main goal is to create a standard for kids across the continuum of care throughout their life," Shrum said. "It's sharing information, sharing resources and connecting families with resources."

OSU also will provide research, prevention and education about pediatric acquired brain injury, Grogg said. The national effort's reach will depend on the amount of federal stimulus funds and other funding it receives.

St. Francis Children's Hospital is the region's primary hospital for children, and Grogg said OSU has a teaching service at the hospital that will allow them to connect with doctors and patients there.

"We're trying to establish a place that can be called a medical home, from which patients can be referred to other needed services," he said.

About pediatric traumatic brain injury

It’s the leading cause of death and disability for children and young adults from birth through 25 years of age in the United States.

It includes all brain injuries caused by trauma including falls, motor vehicle accidents, being struck by an object, violence or assault, brain tumors, strokes, sports injuries, gunshot wounds and bicycle accidents.

Because most brains aren’t fully developed until age 25, many military veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan with traumatic brain injury are actually considered to have pediatric acquired brain injuries.

Source: The Sarah Jane Brain Foundation

Kim Archer 581-8315
kim.archer@tulsaworld.com By KIM ARCHER World Staff Writer

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	Report Comment rememberme?, (6/4/2009 8:02:42 AM) I think most OU fans will agree that OSU leads in the brain injury dept.
	Report Comment 52favoriteteacher, Washburn--used to be Broken Arrow (6/4/2009 9:40:42 AM) OSU leads in national champonships OSU is taking the lead in many areas Take a good look at ole Boone Pickens stadium
	Report Comment TBD, (6/4/2009 9:45:45 AM) Rememberme? How can you take a great story about health care advancement for the entire state and turn it into a joke? Not funny. Congratulations OSU on this honor!
	Report Comment rememberme?, (6/4/2009 11:44:11 AM) because I can.
	Report Comment ken7, (6/4/2009 1:02:20 PM) rememberme? is just a punk gooner
	Report Comment Charley, (6/4/2009 2:26:56 PM) Congratulations OSU on this honor! QUESTION; Is it too late to examine our city government, for possible brain damage? Maybe they would find some of these people lacking a brain.
	Report Comment Jacky, (6/4/2009 7:50:49 PM) rememberme? Nope - nothing to remember. How lame this forgotten poster is...obviously not smart enough to understand what the story is about anyway. Just reads the headlines and stops there...

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