Development of a telephone follow-up program for individuals following traumatic brain injury

Objective: To describe the development of a telephone follow-up program that addresses the needs of survivors of traumatic brain injury (TBI) and their families in the year following injury. The process of developing the program is reviewed from the initial steps of identifying needs through final implementation of the program. Participants: Eighty-four TBI survivors with moderate to severe injuries and their families. Results: Descriptive statistics are presented including number of contacts, areas of concern for participants, and the types of interventions conducted. Case examples are provided to illustrate the impact of the telephone follow-up program. Conclusion: This project demonstrated the feasibility of using the telephone as a means of providing information and support during the first year after moderate to severe traumatic brain injury. Telephone follow-up may enhance service provision for persons with TBI, especially those with a lack of transportation or geographic isolation.