The National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center (NSCISC) coalesces data from the Spinal Cord Injury Model Systems Centers (SCIMS), a network of combined research and care teams that specialize in spinal cord injury (SCI). The statistical center generates national SCI demography, published in their annual full report and "facts and figures" summary. In this summary, a variety of experts will tell us about their use of the NSCISC and their experience with SCIMS, including a history of these important national services and the importance of continuing them into the future.

Importantly, this episode was planned and hosted in conjunction with INside the OUTcomes: A Rehabilitation Research Podcast, with their producer-host Sharon Parmet.

Join us this episode for a conversation with Stephen Burns, MD, physiatrist, Professor of PM&R at University of Washington School of Medicine in Seattle, and Director of SCI Service at VA Puget Sound. In this conversation we discuss the process of shortening, or expediting, the International Standards for the Neurological Classification of Spinal Cord Injury (ISNCSCI) exam. Most people know this exam, which assigns a level and grade to their injury, as their "ASIA" exam. The paper explaining the process is titled "“Development and validation of an algorithm for item reduction of the International Standards for Neurological Classification of Spinal Cord Injury examination to determine level and severity of SCI" which was recently accepted for publication in Topics in Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation." In this paper Dr. Burns and their team discuss the process by which this rather long exam can be reduced to less than half the items with acceptable accuracy for some, but not all, types of spinal cord injury. We invite you to listen in as Dr. Burns gives an insider perspective on the new E-ISNCSCI, and trust you will enjoy this episode on making an important but long exam quite a bit shorter.

Other resources:

• ASIA's webpage on the E-ISNCSCI: https://asia-spinalinjury.org/expedited-isncsci-exam/
• Upcoming webinar on the E-ISNCSCI: https://asia-spinalinjury.org/tscir-webinars/

Join us this episode for a conversation with Stephen Burns, MD, physiatrist, Professor of PM&R at University of Washington School of Medicine in Seattle, and Director of SCI Service at VA Puget Sound. In this conversation we discuss the process of minting a shortened, or expedited, version of the International Standards for the Neurological Classification of Spinal Cord Injury (ISNCSCI) exam. The paper explaining the process is titled "“Development and validation of an algorithm for item reduction of the International Standards for Neurological Classification of Spinal Cord Injury examination to determine level and severity of SCI" which was recently accepted for publication in Topics in Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation." In this paper Dr. Burns and their team discuss the process by which a 134 item physical exam can be reduced to 42 +/- 10 exam items with acceptable accuracy for some, but not all, neurological levels and impairment scales. We invite you to listen in as Dr. Burns gives an insider perspective on the E-ISNCSCI-V2, and trust you will enjoy this episode on the second iteration of shorting the ISNCSCI.

Other resources:

• ASIA's webpage on the E-ISNCSCI: https://asia-spinalinjury.org/expedited-isncsci-exam/
• Upcoming webinar on the E-ISNCSCI: https://asia-spinalinjury.org/tscir-webinars/