The United States National Spinal Cord Injury Data Research Centre

The National Spinal Cord Injury Data Research Center has been established at Godd Samaritan Hospital, Pheonix, Arizona by the Department of Health, Education and Welfare to develop information related to spinal cord injury in the United States. The research questions to be addressed by the project have been designed to define the magnitude and composition of the spinal cord injured population. How well does the spinal cord injured person cope with his disability? How much and what kind of services does he consume? How much does it cost? What does he produce? The project should add to our knowledge of the optimal methodology for delivery of proper services at the proper time at minimal cost to reduce the disability created by this catastrophic injury. Following the presentation of the above paper, 16 international spinal cord injury centers expressed their desire to participate in the United States Data Center Project.