title: The epidemiology of a specialist neurorehabilitation clinic: implications for clinical practice and regional service development.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the epidemiology of referrals to a specialist neurotrauma clinic and explore and highlight implications for clinical practice and service development for persons with head injury/traumatic brain injury (HI/TBI).
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective population-based cohort study of all referrals to a specialist neurotrauma clinic over a 9-year period. Data from a specialist head injury database (which included all persons presenting to hospital with traumatic brain injury) were analysed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In total, 1235 new patients of all ages, severities of injury, both admitted and non-admitted were referred. Referrals have increased due to successful integration with new service developments and resulting optimization of resources.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Data gathered from the cohort gives increased understanding of the characteristics and numbers of patients requiring rehabilitation and adds to the evidence-base. Integration with new and complementary service developments has optimized the function/aims of the clinic and enhanced its role in terms of patient service and outcome and as a research resource. The model provides principles which may be applied to planning, organizing and providing follow-up/rehabilitation services for HI/TBI.
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurosurgery, University of Cambridge , Cambridge , UK and.
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Seeley
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pickard
authors.forename: Judith
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Allanson
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hutchinson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020380:Needs Assessment; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014193:Trauma Centers / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: Head injury; neurorehabilitation; outcome; service development; service provision; traumatic brain injury