Rehabilitation Institute Of Chicago

THE REHABILITATION INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO DBA SHIRLEY RYAN ABILITYLAB (SRALAB) IS DEDICATED TO PROVIDING THE BEST PATIENT OUTCOMES THROUGH THE HIGHEST-QUALITY CLINICAL CARE, TRANSLATIONAL RESEARCH, SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERY AND EDUCATION.

THE REHABILITATION INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO (RIC) WAS FOUNDED IN 1951 AS, AN ILLINOIS NOT-FOR-PROFIT CORPORATION. IN 2017 RIC WITH 182 BEDS, BEGAN DOING BUSINESS AS THE SHIRLEY RYAN ABILITYLAB (SRALAB) AND MOVED TO A NEW BUILDING WITH 242 LICENSED BEDS. THIS MOVE BROUGHT NOT ONLY A PHYSICAL CHANGE OF ADDRESS BUT A WHOLE NEW MODEL TO THE FIELD OF REHABILITATION. UPON OPENING THE 1.2-MILLION SQUARE FOOT BUILDING, SRALAB BECAME THE FIRST-EVER "TRANSLATIONAL" REHABILITATION RESEARCH HOSPITAL IN WHICH CLINICIANS, SCIENTISTS, INNOVATORS AND TECHNOLOGISTS WORK TOGETHER IN THE SAME SPACE, SURROUNDING PATIENTS, DISCOVERING NEW APPROACHES AND APPLYING (OR "TRANSLATING") RESEARCH IN REAL TIME. SRALAB'S VISION IS TO ADVANCE HUMAN ABILITY THROUGH SCIENCE AND RESEARCH. THE ORGANIZATION HAS EARNED THE DISTINCTION OF BEING NAMED THE NATION'S #1-RANKED PROVIDER OF COMPREHENSIVE PHYSICAL MEDICINE AND REHABILITATION CARE TO PATIENTS FROM AROUND THE WORLD EVERY YEAR SINCE THE DESIGNATIONS INCEPTION IN 1992 BY U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT - A RECORD FOR ANY U.S. HOSPITAL. IN ADDITION TO BEING A LARGE REHABILITATION HOSPITAL SRALAB IS THE NATION'S LARGEST REHABILITATION RESEARCH ENTERPRISE, ADVANCING THE FIELD GLOBALLY THROUGH INNOVATION OF THE MOST ADVANCED TREATMENTS AND TECHNOLOGIES. FOR 2021 SRALAB'S SYSTEM OF CARE INCLUDED A 262 BED HOSPITAL AND NUMEROUS OUTPATIENT PROGRAMS, LOCATED AT 355 EAST ERIE STREET IN CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, AS WELL AS A NUMBER OF OTHER FACILITIES AND JOINT VENTURES THROUGHOUT THE CHICAGOLAND AREA. THE CORPORATION OFFERS A COMPREHENSIVE RANGE OF INPATIENT, DAY REHABILITATION AND OUTPATIENT SERVICES. INPATIENT REHABILITATION SERVICES ARE PROVIDED USING AN INTERDISCIPLINARY APPROACH WITH A TEAM BRINGING UNIQUE SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE TO GET PATIENTS THE BEST POSSIBLE OUTCOME. DAY REHABILITATION THERAPY PROGRAM IS SIMILAR TO INPATIENT IN THAT IT CONSISTS OF AN INTERDISCIPLINARY APPROACH FOR INDIVIDUALS. HOWEVER PATIENTS IN DAYREHAB NO LONGER REQUIRE THE 24-HOUR NURSING SERVICES PROVIDED IN AN INPATIENT SETTING. OUTPATIENT CARE IS TYPICALLY A SINGULAR DISCIPLINE (E.G., PHYSICAL THERAPY) AND OFFERS VARIOUS LEVELS OF THERAPEUTIC INTENSITY, DEPENDING ON THE PATIENT'S NEEDS AND GOALS. IN 2021 WE CONTINUED TO SERVE PATIENTS SAFELY THROUGH THE PANDEMIC. INPATIENT ADMISSIONS GREW 7% YEAR OVER YEAR. THE COMPLEXITY OF PATIENTS SERVED ALSO GREW AS WE TREATED PATIENTS WITH MULTIPLE MEDICAL AND REHABILITATION ISSUES, SOME AS A RESULT OF THEIR COVID INFECTION. TO DATE, WE HAVE ADMITTED OVER 200 PATIENTS WITH DISABLING CONDITIONS AS A RESULT OF COVID, INCLUDING PATIENTS WHO RECEIVED BILATERAL LUNG TRANSPLANTS. WE CONTINUE TO SERVE PATIENTS FROM ALL AROUND THE COUNTRY. OUTPATIENT AND DAYREHAB ALSO GREW. WE CONTINUED TO OFFER VIRTUAL VISITS IN ADDITION TO THE IN-PERSON SERVICES. ONCE OUR PROGRAMS RESUMED IN-PERSON VISITS MOST PATIENTS CHOSE TO RETURN TO IN-PERSON VISITS. DESPITE CONTINUED FOCUS ON MANAGING THROUGH THE PANDEMIC WE WERE SUCCESSFUL IN MOVING FORWARD IMPORTANT INITIATIVES. THE ABILITY QUOTIENT (AQ) IS A CLINICAL OUTCOME TOOL UNDER DEVELOPMENT FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS. SRALAB DEVELOPED THE AQ WITH THE EXPERTISE OF A MULTI-DISCIPLINARY GROUP OF CLINICIANS AND RESEARCHERS USING WELL ESTABLISHED ANALYTICAL TOOLS. THE AQ ALLOWS FOR ASSESSING PATIENTS AT ADMISSION, DURING INTERVALS DURING THE ADMISSION AND AT DISCHARGE. IT SERVES AS A WAY TO MEASURE PROGRESS, PREDICT PATIENT OUTCOMES AND GUIDE INTERVENTIONS BASED ON PATIENT PROGRESS (OR LACK OF PROGRESS). THIS YEAR THE AQ HAS BEEN FULLY IMPLEMENTED THROUGHOUT THE ORGANIZATION AND PRELIMINARY DATA SUGGESTS IT FACILITATES BETTER OUTCOMES FASTER. SRALAB FORMALLY LAUNCHED ITS DIVERSITY, INCLUSION AND EQUITY INITIATIVE BY DEVELOPING STEERING COMMITTEE REPRESENTING THE DIVERSE NATURE OF OUR PATIENTS AND STAFF. SOME COMPLETED ACTIVITIES INCLUDE ROLLING OUT ROBUST EDUCATION FOR OUR STAFF, DEVELOPMENT OF POLICIES AND PRACTICES WHEN FACED WITH DISCRIMINATORY INTERACTIONS, OR PRACTICES WITHIN THE ORGANIZATION AND BROADENING OUR RECRUITMENT EFFORTS TO PROVIDE FOR GREATER DIVERSITY WITHIN OUR COMMUNITIES.

RESEARCH PROGRAM: SRALAB'S RESEARCH PROGRAM IS THE WORLD'S LARGEST PHYSICAL REHABILITATION RESEARCH ENTERPRISE IN PURSUIT OF CLINICAL ADVANCEMENT THROUGH SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERY. THE RESEARCH PROGRAM HAS AT ANY GIVEN TIME APPROXIMATELY 130 RESEARCH PROJECTS UNDERWAY, FUNDED BY MORE THAN $130 MILLION IN DONATIONS FROM BOTH PRIVATE AND PUBLIC SOURCES. ITS EXPERTS REGULARLY PUBLISH RESEARCH IN THE WORLD'S FOREMOST MEDICAL JOURNALS, INCLUDING THE JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION (JAMA) AND ITS EUROPEAN EQUIVALENT, THE LANCET, AND IT IS HOME TO SIX FEDERAL RESEARCH DESIGNATIONS TO DEVELOP CUTTING-EDGE SOLUTIONS FOR PATIENTS. BIOLOGICS LAB AND APHASIA RESEARCH INTEGRATION: WE HAVE BEGUN TO INTEGRATE OUR BIOLOGICS LABORATORY WITH THE REST OF THE HOSPITAL IN THE APHASIA RESEARCH PROGRAM. WE ARE NOW GENETICALLY SEQUENCING PATIENTS IN THE STROKE REHABILITATION PROGRAM TO UNDERSTAND THE GENETIC BASIS (IF ANY) FOR RESPONSE TO THERAPY. THIS WORK WAS FUNDED BY NIDILRR. THE NIDILRR-FUNDED CENTER IS ESPECIALLY FOR PATIENTS WITH HEMISPHERIC STROKE - THE MOST DEBILITATING KIND. SEVEN STUDIES ADDRESS TWO ELEMENTAL QUESTIONS: WHEN IS THE OPTIMAL TIME TO USE ROBOTIC AND COMPUTER-BASED SYSTEMS DURING THERAPY, AND HOW DO THERAPISTS BEST INTERACT WITH ROBOTIC DEVICES DURING THERAPY, OFTEN WITH MINIMAL HANDS-ON TREATMENT COMING FROM THE CLINICIAN. TRAINING OF UNDERGRADUATE REHABILITATION ENGINEERS IS INCLUDED. MANIPULATION AND MOBILITY TECHNOLOGIES: A NIDILRR-FUNDED REHABILITATION ENGINEERING RESEARCH CENTER AWARD TO FUND SIX NEW PROJECTS RESEARCHING INNOVATIONS THAT ARE DIRECTLY USEFUL FOR PATIENTS, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED LIMB-LOSS OR STROKE. PROJECTS INCLUDE BODY-POWERED HAND PROSTHESES, USE OF POWERED EXOSKELETON FOR AFTER-STROKE PATIENTS, AND A NEW WHEELCHAIR TO ALLOW BOTH SITTING AND STANDING. RESEARCH WILL INCLUDE BOTH TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT AND CLINICAL TESTING. HEALTH AND FUNCTION IN PHYSICAL DISABILITY: THIS REHABILITATION AND TRAINING CENTER, FUNDED BY NIDILRR, WAS CREATED TO DEVELOP, EVALUATE, AND IMPLEMENT METHODS TO PROMOTE OPTIMAL HEALTH AND FUNCTION OF PEOPLE WITH PHYSICAL DISABILITIES. THROUGH A VARIETY OF RESEARCH, TRAINING AND DISSEMINATION ACTIVITIES, WE EXPECT TO GAIN A MORE COMPREHENSIVE UNDERSTANDING OF THE EFFICACY AND VALUE OF VARIOUS INTERVENTIONS FOR ACHIEVING AND MAINTAINING HEALTH AND FUNCTION FOR PEOPLE WITH A DISABILITY. SPINAL CORD INJURY RESEARCH: SRALAB OPERATES THE MIDWEST REGIONAL SPINAL CORD INJURY CARE SYSTEM AS DESIGNATED BY NIDILRR. ONE OF ONLY 14 SCI MODEL SYSTEMS NATIONWIDE, SRALAB ADVANCES SPINAL CORD CARE THROUGH CLINICAL RESEARCH THAT IDENTIFIES NEW STANDARDS OF CARE FOR THE INDUSTRY. IT LEADS MULTIPLE INDEPENDENT AND COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH PROJECTS EXPLORING WALKING THERAPY TECHNOLOGIES THAT DELIVER THE MOST EFFECTIVE TREATMENT TO ADVANCE ABILITY. WE HAVE ALSO ADDED A SOPHISTICATED NEUROPHYSIOLOGICAL TESTING DIVISION THAT IS DEDICATED TO THE MEASUREMENT AND TREATMENT OF OUR INPATIENT SPINAL CORD INJURED PATIENTS. ENGINEERING RESEARCH: THIS PROJECT ESTABLISHED A NEW NIDILRR-FUNDED REHABILITATION ENGINEERING RESEARCH CENTER, COLLABORATIVE MACHINES ENHANCING THERAPIES (COMET), FOCUSING ON ADVANCING TECHNOLOGIES THAT WORK IN PARTNERSHIP WITH PATIENTS AND CLINICIANS TO ENHANCE GAIT AND DEXTERITY OUTCOMES FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH STROKE AND SPINAL CORD INJURY (SCI) AND OTHER PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES IN A REAL-LIFE REHABILITATION SETTING. THIS PROJECT IS BASED AT SRALAB AND LEADS FOUR OTHER MAJOR RESEARCH UNIVERSITIES AROUND THE UNITED STATES. WEARABLE AND MOBILE SENSORS: THIS NEW CENTER ESTABLISHED THE, "CENTER FOR SMART USE OF TECHNOLOGIES TO ASSESS REAL WORLD OUTCOMES (CSTAR). THIS CENTER SERVES AS A NATIONAL RESOURCE FOR REHABILITATION PROFESSIONALS ATTEMPTING TO MEASURE PATIENT FUNCTION IN OBJECTIVE MANNERS OUTSIDE OF THE TRADITIONAL CLINICAL ENVIRONMENT. OUR PARTNERSHIP ALLOWS US TO LEVERAGE THE COLLECTIVE EXPERIENCE OF OUR CLINICIANS, SCIENTISTS, ENGINEERS, AND PATIENTS TO PROVIDE THE EXPERTISE, INSTRUCTION, AND MENTORING TO SUPPORT THE SMART USE OF TECHNOLOGY. RAPID NON-INVASIVE SCREENING FOR COVID-19: CONTROLLING THE SPREAD OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC LARGELY DEPENDS ON SCALING UP THE TESTING INFRASTRUCTURE FOR IDENTIFYING INFECTED INDIVIDUALS. THIS PROJECT ESTABLISHES A NOVEL PARADIGM BASED ON RECORDING THE PHYSIOLOGICAL RESPONSES ELICITED BY A SHORT (~2 MINUTES) SEQUENCE OF ACTIVITIES (I.E. "SNAPSHOT"), TO DETECT SYMPTOMS ASSOCIATED WITH COVID-19. WE ARE EMPLOYING A NOVEL BODY-CONFORMING SOFT WEARABLE SENSOR PLACED ON THE SUPRASTERNAL NOTCH TO CAPTURE DATA ON PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, CARDIO-RESPIRATORY FUNCTION, AND COUGH SOUNDS. EARLY RESULTS, ALTHOUGH PRELIMINARY, SUGGEST THAT A SENSOR-BASED SNAPSHOT PARADIGM MAY BE A PROMISING APPROACH FOR NON-INVASIVE AND REPEATABLE TESTING TO ALERT INDIVIDUALS THAT NEED FURTHER SCREENING.

MEDICAL EDUCATION: THE DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICAL MEDICINE AND REHABILITATION AT NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY'S FEINBERG SCHOOL OF MEDICINE (DEPT OF PM&R) IS HOUSED WITHIN SRALAB, WHICH HAS ONE OF THE LARGEST AND MOST HIGHLY RESPECTED RESIDENCY PROGRAMS IN PHYSICAL MEDICINE AND REHABILITATION IN THE COUNTRY. RESIDENT PHYSICIANS SPEND THREE TO FOUR YEARS ROTATING THROUGH THE DEPT OF PM&R, TAUGHT BY SRALAB PHYSICIANS WHO ARE EXPERTS IN THIS SPECIAL, IN FY 2022, SRALAB TRAINED 52 RESIDENTS. THE SRALAB MEDICAL EDUCATION PROGRAM ALSO PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES FOR FOURTH YEAR MEDICAL STUDENTS FROM NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY FEINBERG SCHOOL OF MEDICINE TO ROTATE IN A REHABILITATION SETTING TO GAIN EXPERIENCE WITH SPINAL CORD INJURY, BRAIN INJURY, AMPUTEE REHABILITATION, CANCER REHABILITATION, MEDICALLY COMPLEX REHABILITATION, AND PEDIATRIC REHABILITATION. THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY 180 MEDICAL STUDENTS FROM NORTHWESTERN THAT ROTATE WITH US AND ADDITIONAL 40 MEDICAL STUDENTS FROM OTHER MEDICAL SCHOOL NATIONALLY THAT ROTATE WITH US. FELLOWSHIPS: SRALAB OFFERS 6 PHYSICIAN SUB-SPECIALTY FELLOWSHIPS, FUNDED PRIMARILY BY DONATIONS, IN SPORTS MEDICINE, PAIN MEDICINE, PEDIATRIC REHABILITATION, BRAIN INJURY REHABILITATION, SPINAL CORD INJURY REHABILITATION AND PARKINSONS/MOVEMENT DISORDERS.. IN FY 2021, 14 PHYSICIAN FELLOWS WERE NAMED AT SRALAB, 2 IN SPINAL CORD MEDICINE, 4 IN SPORTS MEDICINE, 3 IN PEDIATRIC REHABILITATION, 2 IN BRAIN INJURY, 2 IN PAIN MEDICINE, AND 1 IN PARKINSONS/MOVEMENT DISORDERS. SRALAB ALSO SUPPORTS RESIDENCIES FOR THERAPISTS, NURSES AND OTHER NON-PHYSICIANS. PROSTHETICS AND ORTHOTICS (P&O) RESIDENCY: EACH YEAR, SRALAB'S PROSTHETICS AND ORTHOTICS CLINICAL CENTER (POCC) SELECTS THREE PROSTHETIST AND THREE ORTHOTIST RESIDENTS FOR THESE HIGHLY SOUGHT AFTER POSITIONS. THE ORTHOTICS RESIDENCY IS A 12-MONTH PROGRAM AND THE PROSTHETICS RESIDENCY IS AN 18-MONTH PROGRAM TO ALLOW ADDITIONAL HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE IN RESEARCH THROUGH OUR CENTER FOR BIONIC MEDICINE. THROUGH THESE TRAINING PROGRAMS, P&O RESIDENTS ARE MENTORED BY SRALAB'S CERTIFIED, LICENSED PROFESSIONALS AND GET EXPOSURE TO A VARIETY OF CLINICAL PRESENTATIONS AND PATHOLOGIES, CLINICAL EVALUATION, PRESCRIPTION RECOMMENDATION, DOCUMENTATION, THE ACTUAL FABRICATION OF DEVICES, AND FORMAL RESEARCH. ACADEMY: THE ACADEMY HAS OFFERED CONTINUING EDUCATION AIMED AT HELPING HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS STAY AT THE FOREFRONT OF THEIR FIELD FOR 60 YEARS. IN FY 2022, OVER SIX THOUSAND STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN ACADEMY PROGRAMS WHICH ARE TAUGHT BY INTERDISCIPLINARY TEAMS OF RECOGNIZED SPECIALISTS FROM SRALAB AND VISITING EXPERTS FROM AROUND THE WORLD. THESE PROGRAMS WERE OFFERED IN A VARIETY OF FORMATS INCLUDING WEBINARS, COURSES, AND WORKSHOPS, EXCLUSIVELY DELIVERED ONLINE IN RESPONSE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. IN ADDITION, WE EXPANDED OUR OUTREACH TO INTERNATIONAL PARTICIPANTS WHO WERE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN ASYNCHRONOUS AND LIVE PROGRAMMING THAT FIT WITH THEIR TIME ZONE.

SRALAB'S HENRY B. BETTS LIFE CENTER IS A VIRTUAL AND MULTIMEDIA EDUCATION CENTER PROVIDING PATIENT EDUCATION AND CONSUMER HEALTH INFORMATION FOR PATIENTS, FAMILIES, STAFF AND THE COMMUNITY. EVERYTHING IN THE COLLECTION RELATES IN SOME WAY TO PEOPLE LIVING WITH A WIDE RANGE OF COGNITIVE AND PHYSICAL IMPAIRMENTS, CHRONIC CONDITIONS OR DISEASES AFFECTING FUNCTION. THE WEBSITE ENABLES INDIVIDUALS ACROSS THE GLOBE TO HAVE ACCESS TO CURRENT, PEER-REVIEWED PATIENT EDUCATION AND CONSUMER HEALTH RESOURCES WITH REAL-TIME UPDATES, PRINTING ON DEMAND AND A DASHBOARD TO SAVE FAVORITE RESOURCES FOR EASY ACCESS. RESOURCES SUCH AS THE LIFE CENTER HELP INDIVIDUALS AND THEIR FAMILIES NAVIGATE THE INTRICACIES OF HEALTH CARE AND MINIMIZE THE COMPLEXITY OF RELEVANT HEALTH INFORMATION. HAVING ACCESS TO INFORMATION EMPOWERS PEOPLE TO PARTNER WITH THEIR HEALTH CARE TEAM IN ORDER TO MAKE THE BEST CHOICES FOR THEMSELVES, THEIR FAMILIES AND ENGAGE IN LIFE-LONG LEARNING. THE CENTER'S RESOURCES ARE ORGANIZED ACCORDING TO EIGHT TOPIC AREAS: MEDICAL INFORMATION AND CARE, CAREGIVING AND EQUIPMENT, HOUSING AND TRANSPORTATION, EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT, SUPPORT AND WELLNESS, RECREATION AND LEISURE, FINANCE AND LAW AND INSPIRATION AND HOPE. LIFE WEB TRAFFIC IN FY 2021 AVERAGED 12,349 PAGE VIEWS PER MONTH WITH 148,198 PAGE VIEWS ANNUALLY FROM MORE THAN 173 COUNTRIES. THIS PAST YEAR, THE HIGHEST INTERNATIONAL WEB ACTIVITY OCCURRED IN THE UNITED STATES, AUSTRALIA, CANADA, PHILIPPINES, INDIA AND MALAYSIA. IN FY 2021, TOTAL OUTREACH AND SERVICE EFFORTS REPRESENTED 6,490 PERSON CONTACTS SERVED WHICH INCLUDES PROGRAMS, CLASSES, SPECIAL EVENTS, RESOURCE REQUESTS, TEACHING ACTIVITIES AND TOURS FOR PATIENTS, FAMILIES, STAFF AND THE COMMUNITY. SPORTS AND FITNESS PROGRAM: THE SRALAB ADAPTIVE SPORTS AND FITNESS PROGRAM PROVIDES WELLNESS OPPORTUNITIES TO PEOPLE WITH PHYSICAL DISABILITIES THROUGH SPORTS AND RECREATION AS WELL AS A FULL-SERVICE ACCESSIBLE HEALTH CLUB. ALL SERVICES OFFERED IN THE ADAPTIVE SPORTS PROGRAM, WHICH MARKED ITS 40TH YEAR IN FY 2021, ARE FREE OF CHARGE. THE FITNESS PROGRAM, WHICH CELEBRATED ITS 25TH ANNIVERSARY, PROVIDES ACCESS TO A HEALTH CLUB THAT OPERATES FROM 6:15 AM TO 7 PM FIVE DAYS PER WEEK FOR A NOMINAL ANNUAL FEE. THE SPORTS AND FITNESS PROGRAM IS FUNDED PRIMARILY BY GRANTS AND GENEROUS COMMUNITY DONATIONS AND IS OPERATED BY ELEVEN FULL TIME EQUIVALENT STAFF. ADDITIONALLY, VOLUNTEERS LOGGED NEARLY 5200 HOURS IN FY 2021. THE SHIRLEY RYAN ADAPTIVE SPORTS AND FITNESS PROGRAM IS CONSIDERED A NATIONAL LEADER IN HEALTH PROMOTION FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. IN FY 2021 WE RESUMED PROGRAMMING, AFTER ALMOST A YEAR HIATUS FROM PROGRAMMING DUE TO THE PANDEMIC. WHILE RESTARTING PROGRAMMING WAS SLOW THE SPORTS PROGRAM HAD RECORDED OVER 1800 VISITS BY 100+ REGISTERED PARTICIPANTS, AND THE FITNESS PROGRAM BEGAN SERVICES SLOW BUT SOONER THAN SPORTS BUT ONLY PROVIDED SERVICES VIRTUAL FOR A FEW MONTHS THEN TRANSITIONED SOME PARTICIPATION BACK TO IN PERSON RECORDING 4,875 ONE-ON-ONE VISITS BY ITS 200 REGISTERED PARTICIPANTS IN ADDITION TO 248 VIRTUAL CLASS VISITS. A SEPARATE PROGRAM FOR YOUTH, THE TENGELSEN FAMILY FOUNDATION SPORTS FOR KIDS PROGRAM, RECORDED 185 VISITS BY 42 CHICAGO AREA CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES. VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION PROGRAM: BEGINNING A CAREER OR RETURNING TO WORK FOLLOWING AN ILLNESS OR INJURY IS IMPORTANT TO A PATIENT'S FINANCIAL SECURITY AND EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING. IT CAN CONTRIBUTE TO THE ACHIEVEMENT OF A PRODUCTIVE, INDEPENDENT AND FULFILLING LIFE. FOR MORE THAN 50 YEARS, THE SRALAB HAS BEEN PROVIDING COMPREHENSIVE VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION SERVICES TAILORED TO MEET THE NEEDS OF EACH CLIENT. SERVICES INCLUDE INITIAL ASSESSMENT, VOCATIONAL COUNSELING AND GUIDANCE, DIAGNOSTIC EVALUATION, WORK TRIAL ASSESSMENTS, JOB ANALYSIS, RETURN-TO-WORK EVALUATIONS, JOB PLACEMENT, RESUME WRITING, JOB INTERVIEW WORKSHOPS AND INTERNSHIP COORDINATION. THE SRALAB COVERS THE COST OF INITIAL ASSESSMENTS, WHICH ARE NOT COVERED BY MOST THIRD-PARTY PAYERS. PATIENTS RECEIVE VOCATIONAL SERVICES AT NINE SRALAB FACILITIES OR VIA TELEHEALTH, ENSURING THAT EMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE IS CLOSELY TIED TO COMMUNITY REINTEGRATION. DURING FY 2021 THE PROGRAM SERVED 1054 CLIENTS. IN THE LAST YEAR, WE PLACED 68 INDIVIDUALS IN JOBS. WE CONTINUE TO PROVIDE NO COST GED PROGRAM FOR PATIENTS WITH SPINAL CORD INJURIES TO OUR LIST OF SERVICES. ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY PROGRAMS: THE TECHNOLOGY CENTER AND THE WHEELCHAIR & SEATING CENTER, COMPRISE SRALAB'S ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY PROGRAMS. IN FY 2021, THE ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY PROGRAMS SERVED APPROXIMATELY 1,900 UNIQUE PATIENTS. THE SRALAB TECHNOLOGY CENTER PROVIDES COMPUTER ACCESS TRAINING, AUGMENTATIVE COMMUNICATION DEVICES AND ELECTRONIC AIDS TO DAILY LIVING, INCLUDING RECOMMENDATIONS FOR HOME AUTOMATION AND MODIFICATIONS, FOR PEOPLE WITH DIFFERENT ABILITIES. OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS AND SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGISTS EVALUATE AND RECOMMEND EQUIPMENT FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL'S NEEDS. THROUGH A LENDING LIBRARY, PATIENTS CAN TRY ITEMS BEFORE PURCHASING THEM OR BORROW THEM FOR SHORT-TERM USE DUE TO CHANGING NEEDS. STAFF MEMBERS SPEAK TO UNIVERSITIES, SCHOOLS, ORGANIZATIONS FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, SENIOR CENTERS AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC. THE CENTER PROVIDES 1 TO 2 HOME VISITS IF THE CLIENT CAN NO LONGER COME TO SRALAB FOLLOWING THEIR EVALUATION. WE HAVE ALSO INTEGRATED THE USE OF TELEHEALTH APPOINTMENTS OVER THE PAST YEAR. STAFF RECOMMEND APPLYING FOR SRALAB CHARITY FUNDS IF PATIENT'S INSURANCE IS MAXED OUT. THE TECHNOLOGY CENTER SAW 620 INPATIENTS, 290 DAY REHAB CLIENTS, AND 370 OUTPATIENTS IN THE PAST FISCAL YEAR. REHABILITATION ENGINEERING STAFF COLLABORATE WITH ALLIED HEALTH CLINICIANS TO PROVIDE CONSULTATION, EVALUATION, AND DESIGN OF INDIVIDUAL SOLUTIONS TO AID PERSONS WITH DIFFERENT ABILITIES TO COMPLETE ACTIVITIES OF DAILY LIVING WITH INCREASED INDEPENDENCE AT HOME, WORK, AND IN THE COMMUNITY. THE TEAM FABRICATES CUSTOM EQUIPMENT AND MODIFIES COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE EQUIPMENT AND OBJECTS TO CREATE UNIQUE, INDIVIDUALIZED SOLUTIONS TO HELP PATIENTS NAVIGATE OBSTACLES ENCOUNTERED IN DAILY LIFE. SRALAB PROVIDES FREE CARE FOR SERVICES AND PRODUCTS, AND PROVIDES REAL-LIFE DESIGN EXPERIENCE TO STUDENTS THROUGH NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY'S ENGINEERING DESIGN PROGRAM. THE WHEELCHAIR & SEATING CENTER STAFF EVALUATE AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR COMPLEX WHEELCHAIRS AND CUSTOMIZED SEATING SYSTEMS FOR PATIENTS WITH SIGNIFICANT MOBILITY AND POSTURAL NEEDS. THIS INCLUDES MANUAL WHEELCHAIRS; POWERED WHEELCHAIRS; CUSTOM-MADE AND CUSTOMIZED SEAT AND BACK CUSHIONS TO RELIEVE PRESSURE, PREVENT PRESSURE SORES, AND MAINTAIN POSTURE; ALTERNATIVE DRIVE CONTROLS LIKE SIP AND PUFF AND HEAD ARRAY SYSTEMS; THAT HELP CLIENTS MAINTAIN OR INCREASE THEIR MOBILITY AND INDEPENDENCE, AT HOME, WORK, OR IN THE COMMUNITY. DURING FY20 THE WHEELCHAIR & SEATING CENTER INTEGRATED THE USE OF TELEHEALTH APPOINTMENTS TO CONTINUE TO SERVE SOME OF OUR PATIENTS DURING THE GLOBAL PANDEMIC. WE SERVED A TOTAL OF 1,731 PATIENTS INCLUDING 791 INPATIENTS, 23 DAYREHAB CLIENTS, AND 917 OUTPATIENTS. WE ALSO PARTICIPATED IN A HOSPITAL WIDE QUALITY IMPROVEMENT PROJECT TO IMPROVE THE TURNAROUND TIME FROM INITIAL EVALUATION TO DELIVERY OF THE DEFINITIVE CUSTOM WHEELCHAIR.