Michael F. Shaughnessy

Eastern New Mexico University

Portales, New Mexico

1)      David, first of all, what is your exact title, and what would you say you DO at your organization?

I am the Director of Operations for the Brain Injury Association of New Mexico. My role is to supervise; assist, coordinate and train support staff on our background and philosophy, office procedures and equipment, and work with staff to continue their education on brain injury. I also maintain our database, computer networks, and website to ensure that we are able to effectively support brain injury survivors. I ensure that data reports are submitted timely and accurately to present contractors and participate on committees to help support and expand services and supports to survivors, families, and professionals.

2)      How big a problem is open and closed head injury in your state? In the United States?

In the Unites States it is estimated that 1.7 million people sustain a traumatic brain injury every year of which 75% of those are due to concussions or other similar forms of mild TBI. The CDC’s data shows that annually 52,000 deaths, 275,000 hospitalizations, and 1,365,000 emergency room visits occur every year due to some form of TBI. In New Mexico around 9,000 hospital admissions occur annually due to brain injury of that 1,150 die. In 2004 NM was ranked 2^nd for the highest fatality rate when compared to 34 others states.

3)      Is there any cure ?  Any medication that will help or heal?

Unfortunately, there is no cure for a brain injury. People who sustain a TBI will continue to made strides throughout their life on how they cope with daily life and how the injury has affected their cognitive and physical functioning. In many cases a brain injury survivor may have lost the ability to eat, drink, or walk when coming out of a coma. Those skills are often regained with the help of the physical, occupation, and speech therapists. What does not typically recover fully is the cognitive impairment caused by the TBI itself. Many survivors work to find new strategies or devices to assist such as a Personal Data Assistant to remind them important dates and times. In other cases the brain injury may have affected the individual’s mood, sleep pattern, or onset of seizures so medications may be prescribed but that does still not cure the injury.

4)      What types of needs do survivors have ?

Because TBI differs from person to person the needs that each person will have are very diverse. In most cases in the early months following a brain injury many survivors will need to have access to physical, occupational, and speech therapy. If they can go out of state they often will have a better recovery if they can access long-term cognitive rehabilitation services. After that many survivors may need to have a therapist, psychologist, or psychiatrist and a primary physician to follow their cognitive, physical, and medical needs. Often it is very helpful to TBI survivors if they can access a local support groups so that they can gain knowledge and resources from other survivors. This is a very brief summary of some of the needs as I see it but there are many, many more than I have not discussed.

5)      How are they being met?

Many of these needs are not being met because a large number of TBI survivors do not have medical insurance to access the services that are often needed. The Brain Injury Association of New Mexico keeps a listing of all support groups around the state so that TBI survivors can network with others locally. We also have expert staff who can help assist and identify services that may be available to survivors and family members such as the TBI Trust Fund program, Mi Via Waiver program, Social Security, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, etc.

6)      Now, you send out a newsletter about brain injury in New Mexico. What kinds of information do you make available?

The newsletter we send out often contains stories from other brain injury survivors so that it gives others an opportunity to share experiences. This also provides an opportunity for questions to be sent in that families, professionals, or other TBI survivors may want to ask. We also cover legislative efforts that may be important for the brain injury community to be aware of during the session. Inform TBI survivors of changes to programs that may affect services they are receiving. We also include information on new medical technology that is available to or benefit brain injury survivors.

7)      What type of information seems to be needed ?

More information is needed on TBI for schools that provide supports to children and youth with brain injury. There is also a greater need for professionals to better identify and diagnose brain injuries. Often times TBI is missed and is treated as a mental health disorder. In cases with individuals I have worked with they end up having multiple ICD codes for various mental disorders, therefore they were not being treated appropriately for the TBI.

      Do you have  a web page, or can you refer us to a web page where others can get more information?

Sure you can visit our website at www.braininjurynm.org.

9)      What have I neglected to ask ?