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Federal Register
/Vol. 62, No. 134/Monday, July 14, 1997/Notices
NIDRR also has supported a center onmedical rehabilitation services that haslooked at factors such as supply anddemand for rehabilitation facilities andpractitioners, financing, and evaluationof the outcomes of rehabilitationmedicine. This center has alsoaddressed the changing context for thedelivery of medical rehabilitation andaccess to medical rehabilitation byvarious population groups. Both of thesecenters have made contributions to thematuring of the field of medicalrehabilitation and its ability to evaluateand document its interventions andoutcomes.However, it is now clear that the fieldneeds a larger and more integrated effortto refine measures of functional ability,changes in ability over the lifespan or inresponse to medical rehabilitationinterventions, and to apply themeasurement system in the changingenvironment in which medicalrehabilitation is delivered. NIDRRtherefore is proposing a large-scale effortto involve significant leaders in theclassification and measurement of function, the evaluation of rehabilitationinterventions, and the broaderapplication of knowledge to theorganization and management of medical rehabilitation services intoday’s environment.
Priority:
The Secretary will establishan RRTC for the purpose of examiningthe impact of changes in the field of rehabilitation medicine and developingimproved measures for assessingindividual function and the impact of medical rehabilitation services. TheRRTC shall:(1) Identify and evaluate validatedfunctional outcome measures that canbe used or modified for assessing theimpact of medical rehabilitationservices in a wide range of rehabilitationsettings, with particular emphasis onmeasures that can be adapted for use inoutpatient and community-basedsettings, including those that usetelemedicine and multimediatechnology;(2) Develop or improve measures toassess the impact of the social andphysical environment in achievingquality rehabilitation outcomes,including the use of assistive technologyin attaining functional outcomes; (3)Identify or develop uniform databaseelements and standards based onvalidated individual measures at theperson level for determining the cost-effectiveness and functional impact of specific rehabilitation interventionsused by medical rehabilitation andallied-health disciplines across multiplesettings and disability populations;(4) Identify obstacles to the use of validated functional outcomes measuresin a wide range of settings in whichmedical rehabilitation services areprovided, and in decisions to provideand assess the effectiveness of medicalrehabilitation treatments, and developand evaluate strategies to overcomethose obstacles;(5) Identify strategies for determiningthe long-term results of medicalrehabilitation care, including use of assistive technology;(6) Analyze how models for theorganization of medical rehabilitationservices affect outcomes and costs, andhow the demographic, economic, andpresenting conditions of consumersaffect their utilization of rehabilitationservices and the outcomes that areachieved;(7) Analyze the impact of newconfigurations of medical rehabilitationservice delivery and financing, such ascapitated managed care and risk adjustment strategies, on access toquality medical rehabilitation services;and(8) Develop an informationdissemination and training program toenable consumers, providers,researchers, policy makers, and relevantothers in health and rehabilitationsettings to assess the quality of medicalrehabilitation services.In carrying out the purposes of thepriority, the RRTC shall:
•
Coordinate with rehabilitationmedicine research and demonstrationactivities sponsored by NIDRR,including the RRTC on Health Care forIndividuals with Disabilities—Issues inManaged Health Care, the NationalCenter on Medical RehabilitationResearch, Veterans Administration, andthe Health Care FinancingAdministration; and
•
Support two national conferencesas follows: (1) a conference on the useof functional outcome measures toimprove medical rehabilitation practicesand interventions, and (2) a conferenceon improving validity and reliability inthe measurement of rehabilitationoutcomes.
Applicable Program Regulations:
34CFR Parts 350 and 352.
Program Authority:
29 U.S.C. 760–762.(Catalog of Federal Domestic AssistanceNumbers: 84.133B, Rehabilitation Researchand Training Center Program)Dated: July 9, 1997.
Judith E. Heumann,
Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services.
[FR Doc. 97–18418 Filed 7–11–97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
[CFDA No.: 84.133B]
Office of Special Education andRehabilitative Services; NationalInstitute on Disability andRehabilitation Research; NoticeInviting Applications Under theRehabilitation Research and TrainingCenter (RRTC) Program for Fiscal Year(FY) 1997
Purpose of Program:
RRTCs conductcoordinated and advanced programs of research on disability and rehabilitationthat will produce new knowledge thatwill improve rehabilitation methods andservice delivery systems, alleviate orstabilize disabling conditions, andpromote maximum social and economicindependence for individuals withdisabilities. RRTCs provide training toservice providers at the pre-service, in-service training, undergraduate, andgraduate levels, to improve the qualityand effectiveness of rehabilitationservices. They also provide advancedresearch training to individuals withdisabilities and those from minoritybackgrounds, engaged in research ondisability and rehabilitation. RRTCsserve as national and regional technicalassistance resources, and providetraining for service providers,individuals with disabilities andfamilies and representatives, andrehabilitation researchers.The final priority for this award,entitled ‘‘Medical RehabilitationServices and Outcomes,’’ is publishedin this issue of the
Federal Register
.Potential applicants should consult thestatement of the final priority publishedin this issue to ascertain the substantiverequirements for their application.This program supports the NationalEducation Goal that calls for allAmericans to possess the knowledgeand skills necessary to compete in aglobal economy and exercise the rightsand responsibilities of citizenship.
Eligible Applicants:
Institutions of higher education and public or privateagencies and organizations collaboratingwith institutions of higher education,including Indian tribes and tribalorganizations, are eligible to apply forawards under this program.
Applications Available:
July 15, 1997.
Application Deadline:
August 28,1997.
Maximum Award Amount Per Year:
$950,000.
Notes:
The Secretary will reject withoutconsideration or evaluation any applicationthat proposes a project funding level thatexceeds the stated maximum award amountper year (See 34 CFR 75.104(b)). The
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