Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) Provincial Network

The Network hosts monthly virtual ABI lunch and learn sessions on a range of topics for clinicians. They occur on the 4th Wednesday of the month from September to June from 12:15-1:00. Check out the slides and recordings from previous Lunch & Learns:

The Brain Repair Centre at Dalhousie University supports an ABI Journal Club that meets in the Central Zone on the 3rd Tuesday of the month from October to May each year. The goal of the journal club is to foster interest in research, build critical thinking skills, and improve comfort in presenting. Check out the articles presented, as well as the slides and a copy of the recordings:

The Network maintains a Library Subject Guide on Stroke Care, which is an access point for practical, evidence-based information for health care professionals working with stroke survivors. It’s a one-stop place to learn about best practice guidelines and practical information for health care providers working with individuals living with stroke.

The GRASP is a self-directed arm and hand exercise program developed by Janice Eng, PhD, PT/OT and Jocelyn Harris, PhD, OT with Andrew Dawson, MD, FRCP and Bill Miller, PhD, OT, based on a previous community-based group exercise study for chronic stroke by Marco Y Pang, Jocelyn Harris and Janice Eng. It has been shown to improve arm and hand function and strength after stroke. It can be run as an individual or group program. Resources such as the instructor and client manuals are available on the UBC website.

The Occupational Therapy Department at the Nova Scotia Rehabilitation and Arthritis Centre have developed additional resources to implement the GRASP including equipment lists and where to find equipment, a level selection guide, how to set up a GRASP group, videos of each level, and a handout for clients with the video links.

With an increasing number of stroke patients being admitted to hospital there has been a rise in the number of patients are being admitted to non-neurological units. We recognize the need for improving clinicians’ comfort and skill level in providing best practice care. To this end, informal information sessions were held where experienced stroke care clinicians reviewed how to complete an initial assessment and shared practical tips to provide the best care possible.

Check out the slides and recordings of these sessions:

The following videos are recordings of the information sessions held for Central Zone Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy staff in May 2023. They reflect best practice at that time. They serve as an informal resource to clinicians within Nova Scotia Health to improve their comfort in providing stroke care. We ask that these resources not be shared outside of Nova Scotia Health.

The Network maintains a Library Subject Guide on Moderate to Severe ABI, which is an access point for practical, evidence-based information for health care professionals working with brain injury survivors. It contains best practice guidelines and practical information to support clinicians working with individuals living with brain injury.