Research, prevention, and quality assurance in traumatic brain injury: a public hospital perspective

The following recommendations are made: increased Medicaid reimbursement for head injury patients to public hospitals that provide care to disproportionately large numbers of these unemployed, uninsured patients, develop comprehensive federal control legislation concerning gun control, develop violence prevention programs such as curricula to combine public health and criminal justice approach, develop trauma registry for neurologic injuries (brain and spinal cord), enforce the use of seat belts and cycle helmets, develop practice guidelines for traumatic brain-injured patients, continue research into the mechanisms and management of brain swelling, neuronal regrowth and transplantations, and other mechanisms to overcome neurologic deficits as well as continue research on post-traumatic syndrome, which results from minor head injuries yet causes significant morbidity and costs, and establish comprehensive rehabilitation and habilitation programs to include physical, cognitive, and behavioral approaches and support systems (eg, "halfway house").