New and Noteworthy

The Neurology Section is seeking volunteers for a task force to develop PT outcome measure recommendations for use with patients with spinal cord injury.

The Section will initiate a task force of 8 Section members to develop these recommendations with a face-to-face meeting the Wednesday prior to CSM 2012 in Chicago, IL hosted at Northwestern University. A streamlined process established by two prior task forces will guide task force work. The sequence of activities used by the StrokEDGE group (see description at http://neuropt.org/go/healthcare-professionals/neurology-section-outcome-measures-recommendations) and currently underway by a group addressing MS outcome measures will be followed.  Sample “products” of task force work will be shared with the task force (also available on neuropt.org website).

Through a new partnership with rehabmeasures.org <http://rehabmeasures.org> , an outcome measure repository project funded by NIDRR, the task force work will be significantly  streamlined.  The rehabmeasures group has just completed full psychometric summaries of multiple SCI measures that have not yet been posted on their website. Task force members will perform peer review of these completed summaries, ensure that a full complement of measures are included, create new summaries of any measures that have been omitted, and formulate recommendations of tools for use in PT clinical practice and entry-level education.  

Volunteers for the task force must have the following qualifications:

• Working knowledge of outcome measure psychometrics (reliability, validity, responsiveness, etc) and the ability to read and interpret literature that describes test development, validation and interpretation
• Clinical or research experience with the use of common clinical measures for patients with SCI to inform recommendations
• Planned attendance of CSM 2012, with ability to arrive a day early (one day hotel, per diem, and cab fare to meeting reimbursement provided) to attend a full day Wednesday task force meeting at Northwestern University
• Ability to work collaboratively with task force members via email and conference calls (beginning late 2011 through early 2013)
  Willingness to adhere to agreed-upon task force deadlines.
• Time availability to work on outcome measure summary reviews beginning following CSM of 2012 through early fall of 2012
• Availability to participate in modified Delphi process (electronic) in fall of 2012
• Contribution to recommendations to be shared at CSM 2013

Interested individuals should forward a brief statement that describing qualifications, including  clinical or research perspectives you can provide AND a copy of your CV. Task force members will be selected to represent practice area and geographic diversity. All members must be able to attend the meeting prior to CSM to be considered for inclusion.

Please send notification of interest and CV directly to Sue Perry, PT, DPT, MS, NCS at perry@chatham.edu by November 1, 2011 to be considered for invitation.