[Federal Register: June 8, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 109)]
[Notices]
[Page 31319-31321]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr08jn98-114]
[[Page 31319]]
_______________________________________________________________________
Part III
Department of Education
_______________________________________________________________________
National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects:
Proposed Funding Priorities, Fiscal Years 1998-1999; Notice
[[Page 31320]]
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research;
Notice of Proposed Funding Priorities for Fiscal Years 1998-1999 for
Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects
SUMMARY: The Secretary proposes funding priorities for two Disability
and Rehabilitation Research Projects (DRRPs) under the National
Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) for fiscal
years 1998-1999. The Secretary takes this action to focus research
attention on areas of national need. These priorities are intended to
improve rehabilitation services and outcomes for individuals with
disabilities.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before July 8, 1998.
ADDRESSES: All comments concerning these proposed priorities should be
addressed to Donna Nangle, U.S. Department of Education, 600 Maryland
Avenue, S.W., room 3418, Switzer Building, Washington, D.C. 20202-2645.
Comments may also be sent through the Internet:
comment@ed.gov
You must include the term ``Burn and Traumatic Brain Injury--
RRTC's'' in the subject line of your electronic message.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Donna Nangle, Telephone: (202) 205-
5880. Individuals who use a telecommunications device for the deaf
(TDD) may call the TDD number at (202) 205-5516.
Internet: Donna__Nangle@ed.gov
Individuals with disabilities may obtain this document in an
alternate format (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, or computer
diskette) on request to the contact person listed in the preceding
paragraph.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice contains proposed priorities
under the Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects and Centers
Program for two Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects related
to: coordinating burn data and collaborative Traumatic Brain Injury
(TBI) research.
These proposed priorities support the National Education Goal that
calls for every adult American to possess the skills necessary to
compete in a global economy.
The authority for the Secretary to establish research priorities by
reserving funds to support particular research activities is contained
in sections 202(g) and 204 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as
amended (29 U.S.C. 761a(g) and 762).
The Secretary will announce the final priorities in a notice in the
Federal Register. The final priorities will be determined by responses
to this notice, available funds, and other considerations of the
Department. Funding of a particular project depends on the final
priority, the availability of funds, and the quality of the
applications received. The publication of these proposed priorities
does not preclude the Secretary from proposing additional priorities,
nor does it limit the Secretary to funding only these priorities,
subject to meeting applicable rulemaking requirements.
Note: This notice of proposed priorities does not solicit
applications. A notice inviting applications under this competition
will be published in the Federal Register concurrent with or
following the publication of the notice of final priorities.
Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects
Authority for Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects
(DRRPs) is contained in section 202 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973,
as amended (29 U.S.C. 761a). DRRPs carry out one or more of the
following types of activities, as specified in 34 CFR 350.13-350.19:
research, development, demonstration, training, dissemination,
utilization, and technical assistance. Disability and Rehabilitation
Research Projects develop methods, procedures, and rehabilitation
technology that maximize the full inclusion and integration into
society, employment, independent living, family support, and economic
and social self-sufficiency of individuals with disabilities,
especially individuals with the most severe disabilities. In addition,
DRRPs improve the effectiveness of services authorized under the
Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended.
Priorities
Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(3), the Secretary proposes to give an
absolute preference to applications that meet the following priorities.
The Secretary proposes to fund under this competition only applications
that meet one of these absolute priorities.
Proposed Priority 1: Burn Data Coordinating Project
Background
In 1994 NIDRR established the Burn Injury Rehabilitation Model
Systems of Care (Burn Model Systems) by awarding three 36-month
projects. In 1997 NIDRR reestablished the Burn Model Systems with the
award of four 60-month projects. These projects develop and demonstrate
a comprehensive, multidisciplinary model system of rehabilitative
services for individuals with severe burns, and evaluate the efficacy
of that system through the collection and analysis of uniform data on
system benefits, costs, and outcomes. The projects study the course of
recovery and outcomes following the delivery of a coordinated system of
care including emergency care, acute care management, comprehensive
inpatient rehabilitation, and long-term interdisciplinary follow-up
services.
The Burn Model Systems projects serve a substantial number of
patients, allowing the projects to conduct clinical research and
program evaluation. In addition, the Burn Model Systems projects
utilize a complex data collection and retrieval program with the
capability to analyze the different system components and provide
information on project effectiveness and benefits. The projects are
intended to establish appropriate, uniform descriptors of
rehabilitation care. Information is collected throughout the
rehabilitation process. Systematic burn injury care permits long-term
follow-up on the course of injury and the identification of continuing
needs and results in areas such as functional outcome, health and
rehabilitation services, procedures for cost-reimbursement and billing
and community integration. The Burn Model Systems projects serve as
regional and national models for program development and as information
centers for consumers, families, and professionals.
In order to take full advantage of the data collected by individual
Burn Model System projects, there is a need for a project to assist the
projects in their research efforts and establish and maintain a
combined database for short-and long-term outcome evaluations
(functional, health, psycho-social and vocational status measures) and
financial assessments (rehabilitation, professional and hospital
charges) for various burn care and injury rehabilitation strategies.
Proposed Priority 1
The Secretary proposes to establish a Burn Data Coordinating
Project for the purpose of maintaining a common database of burn care
and injury rehabilitation information compiled by the Burn Model
Systems projects supported by NIDRR. The project shall:
(1) Establish and maintain a common database through the data
collection, entry, transfer, editing, quality control, issues
resolution, and integration efforts of NIDRR's Burn Injury
Rehabilitation Model Systems' projects;
[[Page 31321]]
(2) Provide technical assistance to the Burn Model Systems projects
in the compilation of common data values from each Burn Injury Model
System into a single quality information database for both joint and
site specific management reporting, center evaluations and research
analyses;
(3) Develop management reports on each Burn Injury Model System
project's database-related activities and on trends that can be
combined with and compared to other national data systems for
evaluation of burn injury outcomes;
(4) Provide technical assistance to the Burn Model System projects
in the preparation of scientific articles by providing statistical and
analytical support;
(5) Provide technical assistance to the Burn Model Systems projects
in the design, implementation, and analysis of specialized clinical
studies that assess new burn injury rehabilitation methodologies; and
(6) Provide technical assistance to the Burn Model Systems projects
in the clinical and systems analysis studies by collecting and
analyzing data on patient characteristics, diagnoses, causes of injury,
interventions, outcomes, and costs within a uniform standardized
database.
In carrying out these purposes, the project must:
* As appropriate, collaborate with other model systems (such
as spinal cord and traumatic brain injury model systems) data
collection activities; and
* Link Burn Injury Model Systems, NIDRR Staff, and the
project as required to facilitate database interactions and information
dissemination opportunities.
Proposed Priority 2: Collaborative Research for Traumatic Brain
Injury Model Systems
Background
In 1987 NIDRR funded four research and demonstration projects to
establish the Traumatic Brain Injury Model Systems of Care (TBI Model
Systems) for individuals in need of comprehensive, multidisciplinary
rehabilitative services. At present NIDRR supports five TBI Model
Systems projects to study the course of recovery and outcomes following
the delivery of a coordinated system of care including emergency care,
acute neuro-trauma management, comprehensive inpatient rehabilitation,
and long-term interdisciplinary follow-up services. The TBI Model
Systems projects collect and analyze uniform data from projects on
system benefits, costs, and outcomes.
The TBI Model Systems projects serve a substantial number of
individuals, allowing the projects to conduct clinical research and
program evaluation, and maximize the potential for project replication.
In addition, the systems have a complex data collection and retrieval
program with the capability to analyze different system components and
provide information on cost effectiveness and benefits. Information is
collected throughout the rehabilitation process, permitting long-term
follow-up on the course of injury, outcomes, and changes in employment
status, community integration, substance abuse and family needs. The
TBI Model Systems projects serve as regional and national models for
program development and as information centers for consumers, families,
and professionals.
On January 21, 1998, NIDRR published a notice in the Federal
Register inviting applications to establish 10 additional TBI Model
Systems projects (63 FR 3240). In conjunction with the establishment of
these new TBI Model Systems projects, NIDRR is proposing to establish
collaborative research projects to broaden knowledge and encourage
multi-institutional studies of outcomes, rehabilitation interventions
and service delivery system innovation for individuals with traumatic
brain injury. The following are examples of collaborative research
topics that the proposed project could carry out: evaluation of
emerging pharmacologic interventions; examination of the effects of
specific type and intensity of rehabilitative treatments; aging with
TBI; secondary conditions of TBI; assessment and treatment in mild
traumatic brain injury; impact of environmental factors on long term
outcomes; impact of substance abuse on memory; and implications of
managed care on availability and type of care for persons with TBI.
Proposed Priority 2
The Secretary proposes to establish collaborative research projects
for the purpose of improving the knowledge about rehabilitation
outcomes in order to improve the lives of persons with TBI, their
families, and caregivers. A collaborative research project shall:
(1) Investigate rehabilitation interventions or service delivery
issues; and
(2) Disseminate information based on that investigation to TBI
Model Systems projects and other appropriate rehabilitation settings.
In carrying out the purposes of the priority, the project must:
* Collaborate with one or more of NIDRR TBI Model Systems
projects; and
* Once a year, participate in the TBI Model Systems project
directors' meeting.
Electronic Access to This Document
Anyone may view this document, as well as all other Department of
Education documents published in the Federal Register, in text or
portable document format (pdf) on the World Wide Web at either of the
following sites:
http://ocfo.ed.gov/fedreg.htm
http://www.ed.gov/news.html
To use the pdf you must have the Adobe Acrobat Reader Program with
Search, which is available free at either of the preceding sites. If
you have questions about using the pdf, call the U.S. Government
Printing Office at (202) 512-1530 or, toll free at 1-888-293-6498.
Anyone may also view these documents in text copy only on an
electronic bulletin board of the Department. Telephone: (202) 219-1511
or, toll free, 1-800-222-4922. The documents are located under Option
G--Files/Announcements, Bulletins and Press Releases.
Note: The official version of this document is the document
published in the Federal Register.
Invitation to Comment
Interested persons are invited to submit comments and
recommendations regarding these proposed priorities. All comments
submitted in response to this notice will be available for public
inspection, during and after the comment period, in Room 3424, Switzer
Building, 330 C Street S.W., Washington, D.C., between the hours of
9:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday of each week except
Federal holidays.
Applicable Program Regulations
34 CFR Part 350.
Program Authority: 29 U.S.C. 760-762.
Dated: June 3, 1998.
(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number 84.133A, Disability
and Rehabilitation Research Projects)
Curtis L. Richards,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative
Services.
[FR Doc. 98-15165 Filed 6-5-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P