ABSTRACT
The Bridging Advanced Developments for Exceptional Rehabilitation (BADER) Consortium began in September 2011 as a cooperative agreement with the Department of Defense (DoD) Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs Peer Reviewed Orthopaedic Research Program. A partnership was formed with DoD Military Treatment Facilities (MTFs), U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Centers, the National Institutes of Health (NIH), academia, and industry to rapidly conduct innovative, high-impact, and sustainable clinically relevant research. The BADER Consortium has a unique research capacity-building focus that creates infrastructures and strategically connects and supports research teams to conduct multiteam research initiatives primarily led by MTF and VA investigators.BADER relies on strong partnerships with these agencies to strengthen and support orthopaedic rehabilitation research. Its focus is on the rapid forming and execution of projects focused on obtaining optimal functional outcomes for patients with limb loss and limb injuries. The Consortium is based on an NIH research capacity-building model that comprises essential research support components that are anchored by a set of BADER-funded and initiative-launching studies. Through a partnership with the DoD/VA Extremity Trauma and Amputation Center of Excellence, the BADER Consortium's research initiative-launching program has directly supported the identification and establishment of eight BADER-funded clinical studies. BADER's Clinical Research Core (CRC) staff, who are embedded within each of the MTFs, have supported an additional 37 non-BADER Consortium-funded projects. Additional key research support infrastructures that expedite the process for conducting multisite clinical trials include an omnibus Cooperative Research and Development Agreement and the NIH Clinical Trials Database. A 2015 Defense Health Board report highlighted the Consortium's vital role, stating the research capabilities of the DoD Advanced Rehabilitation Centers are significantly enhanced and facilitated by the BADER Consortium.
Subject(s)
Orthopedics/trends , Rehabilitation Research/organization & administration , Research Support as Topic/organization & administration , Humans , Orthopedics/methods , Public-Private Sector Partnerships/organization & administration , Public-Private Sector Partnerships/trends , Rehabilitation Research/methods , United States , United States Department of Defense/organization & administration , United States Department of Defense/trends , United States Department of Veterans Affairs/organization & administration , United States Department of Veterans Affairs/trendsABSTRACT
PURPOSE: The purpose of this project was to update the 1987 competencies for physical therapists who work in schools and their content to reflect present practice, legislation, and terminology. METHODS: A review of the literature and competencies for professionals working in schools was completed. Four focus groups of school physical therapists were formed to ascertain their perspectives of the roles and responsibilities of school therapists and what knowledge and skills enabled them to be effective. This information was integrated into a listing of competencies. The competencies were reviewed regionally and nationally by experts in the field. RESULTS: Nine content areas with specific competencies were identified for physical therapists working in schools. These competencies reflect an expanded role of school-based therapists compared with previous competencies. CONCLUSION: Physical therapists who work in schools require specific skills and knowledge to effectively serve children with disabilities. Competencies help guide professional development.
