In Canada, specialized care centers for spinal cord injuries (SCIs) are located in major urban areas. In rural areas or smaller cities, access to this expertise is difficult for people living with spinal cord injury and clinicians. This often leads to people living with spinal cord injury having to self-advocate for specialized care when requiring clinical and medical attention inside hospital, community, and healthcare settings.
Our goal is to eliminate this gap and provide person-centred care by increasing the knowledge and confidence of regional clinicians to provide better health outcomes to and for individuals living with SCI in Canada. To accomplish this, we work with our partners such as SCI BC and Accessible Okanagan and have developed a series of clinical workshops in regional areas across British Columbia bringing together clinicians and persons with lived experience (PLEX). By increasing clinicians’ confidence in their understanding of SCI we can reduce the need for self-advocacy and the incidence or severity of secondary health complications.
We utilize Integrated Knowledge Translation Guiding Principles (IKT) so that our PLEX participants can contribute to the understanding and development of SCI realities and provide person-centred care.
Workshop Objective:
To increase the knowledge and confidence of regional clinicians in order to provide better health outcomes for those living with SCI.
Workshop Topics:
Several two-hour workshops support education on various SCI topics, including:
- SCI 101: A high-level overview of SCI and the various secondary complications and healthcare supports for those living with SCI.
- PLEX panel of community members presenting the realities of living with SCI.
- Pressure Injury Prevention: This workshop covers the unique differences of pressure injuries for SCI, preventative measures and specialized equipment needs. A PLEX panel is also invited to inform clinicians of the realities of pressure injuries for SCI.
- Family PLEX panel: An SCI not only impacts those who sustained the injury, but also their family and friends. Family and close friends are invited to share their stories of supporting and coping with a loved one with SCI.
- Specialized Equipment: PLEX participants provide a show and tell of equipment that they find most beneficial. Equipment needs are essential for prolonging health, maximizing independence and quality of life. This workshop showcases many options and innovative products that can assist with maximized independence, personal safety and physical health preservation.
- Adaptive Recreation and Vehicle Modifications: Community members and local disability organizations showcase and inform clinicians of the many adaptive equipment options and local services that support adaptive recreation. They also showcase vehicle modifications that support accessible transportation.
These workshops have also been incorporated into a full two-day workshop for regional areas that are more remote.
If requested, a full one-day workshop is also achievable depending on participants’ time restraints.