title: Development of a telephone follow-up program for individuals following traumatic brain injury.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the development of a telephone follow-up program that addresses the needs of survivors of traumatic brain injury (TBI) and their families in the year following injury. The process of developing the program is reviewed from the initial steps of identifying needs through final implementation of the program.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty-four TBI survivors with moderate to severe injuries and their families.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Descriptive statistics are presented including number of contacts, areas of concern for participants, and the types of interventions conducted. Case examples are provided to illustrate the impact of the telephone follow-up program.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This project demonstrated the feasibility of using the telephone as a means of providing information and support during the first year after moderate to severe traumatic brain injury. Telephone follow-up may enhance service provision for persons with TBI, especially those with a lack of transportation or geographic isolation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA. krbell@u.washington.edu
authors.forename: Kathleen R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Bell
authors.forename: Jeanne M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Hoffman
authors.forename: Jason N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Doctor
authors.forename: Janet M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Powell
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Esselman
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bombardier
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fraser
authors.forename: Sureyya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dikmen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care; D003663:Decision Trees; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020380:Needs Assessment; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D016730:Program Development; D013689:Telephone