News StoriesSexuality and Reproductive Health in Adults with SCI Dallas Meeting of Minds: 2009 Congress on Spinal Cord Medicine and Rehabilitation New Clinical Practice Guideline on SCI Respiratory Management Congress TV and Radio: Live from the Congress on Spinal Cord Medicine and Rehabilitation Sexuality and Reproductive Health in Adults with Spinal Cord Injury: A Clinical Practice Guideline for Health-Care ProfessionalsAfter a spinal cord injury, people often have questions about their attractiveness, relationships, and their ability to conceive and have children. Life does not end after a spinal cord injury and neither does the ability to have fulfilling intimate relationships and a satisfying sexual life. It is important that people with SCI and their partners are able to have open dialogue regarding sexuality with a knowledgeable and supportive health care provider. This guideline addresses a wide range of topics related to sexuality. It includes recommendations that address physical, interpersonal, emotional and medical concerns. It also addresses the importance of privacy and individuality as well as the practical needs of individuals with spinal cord injuries. It is our hope that the availability of this guideline will help ensure that an increasing number of knowledgeable professionals are available to support people reclaiming their sexuality after injury. New Academy to Improve Health Care for the Spinal Cord InjuredSupported by Paralyzed Veterans of America Dallas, TX—A new interdisciplinary force for quality health care for people living with spinal cord injury (SCI) officially launched earlier in September, bringing together physicians, nurses, psychologists, social workers, and therapists. The new organization is supported by Paralyzed Veterans of America, the veterans service and disabilities rights organization. With the tagline Many Minds, One Vision, the new Academy of Spinal Cord Injury Professionals is a merger of the American Association of Spinal Cord Injury Nurses, the American Association of Spinal Cord Injury Psychologists and Social Workers, the American Paraplegia Society, and the Therapy Leadership Council in Spinal Cord Injury. The new Academy has one vision: a world where people with spinal cord injury are healthier, more independent, and more empowered through a comprehensive lifetime of care to take on all the challenges that life presents. The Academy is composed of public and private health care professionals:
The Academy aims to be the world's premier, interdisciplinary organization dedicated to advancing the care of people with SCI. "We are proud to support the creation of the new Academy of Spinal Cord Injury Professionals. We are excited about its interdisciplinary approach to improving the quality of health care for all people with spinal cord injury and dysfunction," said Maurice L. Jordan, Deputy National Executive Director of Paralyzed Veterans of America. Clinicians ConferenceThe 2009 Congress on Spinal Cord Medicine and Rehabilitation The Congress on Spinal Cord Medicine and Rehabilitation, the nation's premiere conference for spinal cord injury professionals, took place September in Dallas, Texas. And this year's Congress was a truly unique, must-attend meeting of minds. Copresented for the first time by the American Association of Spinal Cord Injury Nurses (AASCIN), the American Association of Spinal Cord Injury Psychologists and Social Workers (AASCIPSW), the American Paraplegia Society (APS), the Therapy Leadership Council in Spinal Cord Injury (TLCSCI), and the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA)-and supported by Paralyzed Veterans of America-the Congress brought together more than 800 leaders, the "best and the brightest," in spinal cord injury/dysfunction (SCI/D) healthcare and research. This year's Congress topics included: Pain Management, Secondary Complications Associated with Aging and Evidence-Based Practice. AASCIN, AASCIPSW, APS, TLCSCI and ASIA have long track records respectively of providing excellent annual scientific meetings. By combining their resources, this year's Congress was a world-class venue for SCI/D professionals to network, share ideas, and to integrate the disciplines of medicine, nursing, psychology, social work, behavioral health and rehabilitation therapy-leading to better treatments, therapies and cures for people who live with SCI/D. New Clinical Practice Guideline on SCI Respiratory ManagementA new clinical practice guideline Respiratory Management Following Spinal Cord Injury is designed to meet the needs of persons with recent onset spinal cord injury who are in or potentially in respiratory distress. The new guideline, published by Paralyzed Veterans of America on behalf of the Consortium for Spinal Cord Medicine, includes recommendations for assessment, management, monitoring and education. Click here to download a free pdf of the new guideline. Yes, You Can! OnlineNew Interactive Web Edition of Popular SCI Self-Care Guide Paralyzed Veterans of America’s (Paralyzed Veterans) Yes, You Can!, A Guide to Self-Care for Persons with Spinal Cord Injury is now available online in an expanded, updated, and interactive fourth edition. Click here to view. “Information is power, and making vital self-help information available to millions of people with disabilities, their families and their caregivers is a core part of our mission,” said Randy L. Pleva, Sr., National President of Paralyzed Veterans. “Yes, You Can! helps people with disabilities help themselves. Now this essential resource can be accessed by anyone who has a computer with an Internet connection.” The first few months after a spinal cord injury (SCI) are a stressful and uncertain time. Yes, You Can! is written expressly for the newly injured and is also an invaluable lifelong reference for all people with disabilities, helping them gain knowledge and confidence to address the important issues related to living with SCI. With the new online version of Yes, You Can! you’ll be able to:
For over two decades, Yes, You Can! has been compiled and edited by Stephen P. Burns, MD, and Margaret C. Hammond, MD, and more than 40 experts from the Seattle VA Health Care System. Having answers is central to personal care and independence for people who have SCI and the new fourth edition contains the most up-to-date information available. The popular publication is organized into four main topic areas:
Each section covers several subtopics and concludes with a list of print, online or community resources for obtaining additional information. Yes, You Can! equips people with disabilities with essential information on how they can lead healthy, productive lives and reintegrate fully into the community. To order a print version of the new fourth edition of Yes, You Can! click here or call toll-free 888-860-7244. Price: $20 plus shipping and handling; Paralyzed Veterans members $6 plus shipping and handling. Congress TV and Radio:
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Administrative and financial support provided by the Paralyzed Veterans of America