Research Studies & Projects
National SCI Model System – Equity and quality in assistive technology for individuals with SCI (EQuATe) 3.0
- Primary Investigators: David Rosenblum, MD
- Summary: This study explores how people with spinal cord injuries (SCI) access and use assistive technologies, such as wheelchairs and smart home devices, and whether factors like income, education, location, or training influence satisfaction and outcomes. Researchers aim to understand what technologies are being used, how often repairs occur, and what barriers people face in accessing or using these devices. The study also looks at how personal and social factors affect equity in assistive technology provision and long-term health and community participation. The goal is to identify disparities and better support individuals who may be at greater risk for poor outcomes.
- Recruitment Status: Active Recruitment, Inpatient and Outpatient
- Tags: #assistivetechnology #spinalcordinjury #healthequity #wheelchairaccess #disabilityinclusion
National SCI Model System – Physical and psychosocial trajectories as patients with SCI transition from inpatient rehabilitation to the community
- Primary Investigators: David Rosenblum, MD
- Summary: Spinal cord injuries (SCI) often lead to major life changes that can impact emotional wellbeing, social connection, and the ability to fully participate in daily life. This study uses an innovative smartphone research platform to track how life events relate to depression, anxiety, pain, and social engagement over time. By combining self-reported and passive data across several months, researchers aim to capture a more accurate picture of how these factors change in real time. The goal is to better understand how people with SCI adjust and reengage with their communities, insights that may help tailor more effective, personalized interventions in the future.
- Recruitment Status: Active Recruitment, Inpatients Only
- Tags: #spinalcordinjury #mentalhealth #communityparticipation #digitalhealth #psychosocialwellbeing
National SCI Model System – Traumatic SCI longitudinal outcomes database
- Primary Investigators: David Rosenblum, MD
- Summary: Living with a spinal cord injury (SCI) brings long-term physical and emotional challenges, including limited mobility, chronic pain, and reduced social participation. This observational study follows adults with SCI over time to better understand how life events relate to mental health, pain, social connection, and community mobility. By gathering data every five years through the national SCI Model Systems, the study offers valuable insights into quality of life, independence, and employment outcomes. The goal is to improve long-term rehabilitation care by identifying what works and what could be improved to better support individuals throughout their lives.
- Recruitment Status: Active Recruitment, Inpatient Only
- Tags: #spinalcordinjury #mentalhealth #communitymobility #rehabilitationoutcomes #qualityoflife
Clinical comparison of body-weight supported standard and balance-perturbation training regimens for rehabilitation of gait and balance impairments secondary to stroke: a multisite randomized-controlled trial
- Primary Investigators: Pete Grevelding, MSPT
- Summary: This study explores whether adding controlled balance challenges, called perturbations, to a robotic harness system (ZeroG) helps improve balance and walking ability more than the standard setup alone. Participants recovering from a recent stroke will use the ZeroG system during inpatient rehabilitation, either with or without these added balance challenges. Researchers will assess improvements in confidence, fall risk, and walking speed before and after therapy. The goal is to determine if the enhanced version of this body weight support system leads to better recovery of balance and mobility in individuals regaining independence after stroke.
- Recruitment Status: Recruitment Closed
- Clinical Trial Registration: https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05110300
- Tags: #StrokeRecovery #BalanceTraining #RehabilitationRobotics #GaitTraining #FallPrevention
Development of novel cutoff scores for the Burke Lateropulsion Scale to assess pushing behavior in the inpatient stroke population
- Primary Investigators: Stephanie Zanvettor, DPT
- Summary: This study focuses on improving recovery for patients who experience "pushing behavior" after a stroke, a condition where a person unintentionally pushes toward their weaker side using their stronger limbs. This behavior can make it harder for patients to regain independence and often leads to longer hospital stays. Researchers are evaluating a tool called the Burke Lateropulsion Scale (BLS) to better detect and classify the severity of pushing behavior. By analyzing BLS scores from 75 participants, the goal is to develop new guidelines that help therapists tailor treatments more effectively. Ultimately, the study aims to improve rehabilitation planning and outcomes for stroke survivors with this challenging condition.
- Recruitment Status: Active Recruitment, Inpatient Only
- Tags: #StrokeRehabilitation #PushingBehavior #PhysicalTherapy #BurkeLateropulsionScale #PostStrokeRecovery
Does Bioness Integrated Therapy System (BITS) touch screen technology improve field awareness to inpatients with neurological visual field deficits?
- Primary Investigators: Heidi Fagan, MS, OTR/L
- Summary: This study investigates whether an interactive touchscreen device called BITS can better improve visual field awareness than traditional vision exercises during inpatient rehabilitation. BITS combines visual, motor, and cognitive challenges in a game-like format. Adults recovering from a recent neurological event who also have visual field impairments will be randomly assigned to either a conventional therapy group or a group using BITS technology. Both groups will undergo the same visual field tests before and after six therapy sessions. The goal is to see if the interactive and engaging nature of BITS leads to greater improvements in vision awareness compared to standard pen-and-paper exercises.
- Recruitment Status: Recruitment Closed
- Clinical Trial Registration: https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04930822
- Tags: #NeuroRehabilitation #VisualFieldRecovery #AssistiveTechnology #OccupationalTherapy #StrokeRecovery
Efficacy of the Barrett Upper Extremity Robotic Trainer (BURT®) for improving upper extremity strength and function during inpatient rehabilitation following stroke
- Primary Investigators: Jaclyn Lavigne, MS, OTR/L
- Summary: This study explores whether a robotic device called the Barrett Upper Extremity Robotic Trainer (BURT®) can enhance upper arm strength and function during inpatient stroke rehabilitation. Participants will either receive standard occupational therapy or standard therapy plus up to 10 sessions using BURT®, which supports both passive and active arm movements with adjustable resistance. Researchers will also assess whether patients and therapists find the robot-assisted sessions valuable and enjoyable. The goal is to better understand how robotic therapy fits into stroke recovery and whether it offers added benefit over traditional rehabilitation methods.
- Recruitment Status: Recruitment Closed
- Clinical Trial Registration: https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05401799
- Tags: #StrokeRehabilitation #RoboticTherapy #UpperExtremityRecovery #OccupationalTherapy #AssistiveTechnology
External validity and reliability of the Gaylord Occupational Therapy Cognitive Screen (GOT-Cog™)
- Primary Investigators: Emily Meise, MS, OTR/L
- Summary: This study will evaluate how well the Gaylord Occupational Therapy Cognitive Measure (GOT-Cog™) works in outpatient settings, and whether it provides consistent results when used by different types of therapists. Researchers will compare GOT-Cog™ scores to an established cognitive test to see how accurate it is (validity) and assess how similarly occupational therapists and speech-language pathologists score the same patients (reliability). By involving about 200 participants across two parts, the study will help determine whether GOT-Cog™ can be confidently used to guide outpatient treatment planning for people with cognitive challenges.
- Recruitment Status: Recruitment Not Yet Started
- Tags: #CognitiveAssessment #OccupationalTherapy #InpatientRehabilitation #GOTCog #BrainHealth#GOTCog
GOT-Cog™ as a predictor of inpatient falls: Investigating the role of cognitive function in fall risk
- Primary Investigators: Michelle Saunders, DPT; Emily Meise, MS, OTR/L, Henry Hrdlicka, PhD
- Summary: Falls are one of the most common and serious safety concerns in hospitals. This study explores whether early cognitive screening can help identify which patients are more likely to experience a fall during their hospital stay. Researchers are reviewing past data from the GOT-Cog™ cognitive screen, which assesses areas like memory, attention, and executive function, to see if lower scores at admission, and the need for speech therapy, are linked to increased fall risk. By analyzing records from nearly 280 patients, the team hopes to build a predictive model that flags patients at high risk sooner, allowing staff to implement preventive strategies and improve patient safety.
- Recruitment Status: n/a, retrospective review only
- Tags: #FallPrevention #HospitalSafety #CognitiveScreening #ExecutiveFunction #InpatientCare#GOTCog
NIH StrokeNet – ASPIRE, CAPTIVA, SATURN, SISTER
- Primary Investigators: Alyse Sicklick, MD
- Summary: The NIH StrokeNet is a nationwide research network created to improve stroke care—from emergency treatment to long-term recovery. Comprising 27 regional centers and involving around 500 hospitals across the U.S., and internationally with sites in Canada, Germany, the U.K., Spain, and Japan. This network supports clinical trials focused on stroke prevention, acute treatment, and rehabilitation across the lifespan. Working with regional StrokeNet centers, Gaylord serves as a pass through site for various StrokeNet studies, supporting administration of investigational new drugs to patients after they leave short-term acute hospitals.
- Recruitment Status: Active Recruitment by regional partners only
- Tags: #stroke #clinicaltrials #strokePrevention #neurorehabilitation #NIHStrokeNet
Validity and reliability testing of a novel functional cognitive measure – the Gaylord Occupational Therapy Cognitive Screen (GOT-Cog™)
- Primary Investigators: Emily Meise, MS, OTR/L
- Summary: This study aims to validate a new tool, the Gaylord Occupational Therapy Cognitive Measure (GOT-Cog™), designed to better assess thinking skills that are critical for daily life and recovery in hospitalized patients. Current cognitive screens often miss areas like problem-solving and task sequencing, which are essential for rehabilitation planning. The study includes two phases with a total of 300 participants. Researchers will compare GOT-Cog results to an existing cognitive test and analyze how reliably different clinicians score it. They’ll also examine how well the tool tracks cognitive changes over time. If proven effective, GOT-Cog could lead to more personalized and effective therapy for patients with cognitive challenges.
- Recruitment Status: Recruitment Closed
- Tags: #CognitiveScreening #OutpatientRehabilitation #OccupationalTherapy #SpeechTherapy #GOTCog
Analysis of dysphagia recovery regarding patients with surgically placed feeding tubes
- Primary Investigators: Stefanie Gaidos, MS, CCC-SLP
- Summary: This study explores how patients who cannot swallow and rely on feeding tubes recover during their stay at a long-term acute care hospital. Many of these patients receive feeding tubes surgically placed into their digestive system, but often continue to have the tube even after they are ready to eat by mouth again. Keeping the tube longer than necessary can affect their quality of life and increase the risk of serious infection. By reviewing past patient records, this study aims to understand which factors, like health status, therapy progress, or type of feeding tube, are linked to a patient’s ability to return to normal eating. The goal is to help guide better, more personalized care in the future.
- Recruitment Status: n/a, retrospective study
- Tags: #Dysphagia #FeedingTubes #LTACH #NutritionRecovery #SwallowingDisorders
Refining, validating, and testing the reliability and responsiveness of a COPD specific patient reported outcome health-related quality-of-life questionnaire for pulmonary rehabilitation
- Primary Investigators: Laurie Jano, MSOL, RRT
- Summary: This multi-site study is working to validate a new questionnaire designed specifically for people with COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) who are participating in pulmonary rehabilitation. Until now, no single patient-reported tool has captured the full experience of people in these programs. This new questionnaire will be compared against established tests of lung function, walking distance, and quality of life to ensure it accurately reflects patients’ health and experiences. Researchers also want to understand how satisfied participants are with their rehab program and how much they trust their care team. Gaylord Specialty Healthcare is one of the locations contributing to this important research.
- Recruitment Status: Active Recruitment, Outpatient Wallingford Clinic Only
- Tags: #COPD #PulmonaryRehabilitation #PatientReportedOutcomes #ChronicLungDisease #QualityOfLife
Comparative analysis of serum biochemical markers, age, and functional independence in COVID-19 and Guillain-Barré Syndrome Patients: a single-site retrospective study
- Primary Investigators: Peter Rogol, MD (retired); David Rosenblum, MD; Jerry Kaplan, MD
- Summary: This study explores whether a simple blood marker, serum creatinine, can help predict recovery outcomes in patients with COVID-19 or Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) who require care in long-term acute care hospitals (LTACHs). These patients often face serious medical and mobility challenges, making it hard to foresee their functional progress. By reviewing past cases at Gaylord’s LTACH, researchers aim to understand if creatinine levels, which relate to muscle health, are linked to how well patients regain strength and mobility. Finding this connection could help doctors better guide patients and families through recovery and ensure that intensive care resources are used where they make the most difference.
- Recruitment Status: n/a, retrospective review only
- Tags: #GuillainBarreSyndrome #COVID19Recovery #MuscleMass #LTACH #SerumCreatinine
Development and characterization of a COVID-19 database of the LTACH inpatient population
- Primary Investigators: Jerry Kaplan, MD; Henry Hrdlicka, PhD
- Summary: This study is creating a detailed database of patients who were treated at Gaylord Hospital following a COVID-19 infection. By gathering and organizing information from these past hospitalizations, researchers aim to build a valuable resource that can be used to explore long-term recovery trends in patients with complex medical needs. Once the database is complete, it will support future studies that look for patterns and insights, especially those unique to long-term acute care settings that may not have been captured in earlier COVID-19 research.
- Recruitment Status: n/a, retrospective review only
- Tags: #COVID19Recovery #LTACHResearch #LongTermCare #DataAnalytics #PostAcuteCare
HOUDINI: Reduction in catheter days through implementation of nurse-driven protocol
- Project Leads: Stephanie Cubero-Pellot, RN; Faith Okuwne, RN; Tyana McCain, RN; Latoya Dale
- Summary: The HOUDINI protocol (e.g., Hematuria, Obstruction, Urology, Decubitus sacral ulcer, Input/output, Nursing, Immobility) is a nurse-led approach designed to help evaluate and decide when urinary catheters can be safely removed. Implemented by Nurse Residents at Gaylord, this evidence-based program empowers nurses to act quickly and confidently, reducing catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) and improving patient outcomes. By giving nurses more autonomy in these decisions, the protocol supports safer, more efficient care and enhances overall patient wellbeing.
- Tags: #patientcare #nursing #urinarycatheters #infectionprevention #healthcareinnovation
Recovery After Transfer (RAFT) from hospital to long-term acute care hospital for COVID-19
- Primary Investigators: Henry Hrdlicka, PhD
- Summary: This collaborative study brings together the National Association of Long-Term Hospitals (NALTH) and the University of California at San Francisco (UCSF) to better understand how older adults recover from COVID-19 in long-term acute care hospitals (LTACHs) across the country. By using federally required patient data at admission and discharge, along with interviews up to six months after hospitalization, researchers will observe the recovery process over time. The goal is to gain deeper insights into the clinical journey of older patients, helping improve care strategies and outcomes for this vulnerable group.
- Recruitment Status: Recruitment Closed
- Tags: #COVID19 #longtermacutecare #olderadults #patientrecovery #clinicalresearch
Reducing device-associated infections: a quality improvement journey targeting CLABSI and CAUTI prevention
- Project Leads: Sonnia Belcourt, BSN, RN, CIC; Lisa Kalafus, MSN, RN, CENP; David Rosenblum, MD; Megan Panico, MD
- Summary: This project focuses on reducing hospital-acquired infections, specifically central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs), catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs), and hospital-acquired pressure injuries (HAPIs), at Gaylord Hospital, a long-term acute care facility. An interdisciplinary team including infection prevention, nursing, quality and safety, IT, and clinical staff collaborates to closely monitor and manage the use of central lines and urinary catheters. Through regular rounding, education, and accountability at every level, the team has successfully decreased device use and infection rates, improving patient safety and outcomes. This focused, team-based approach highlights the power of collaboration in preventing infections and enhancing quality care for vulnerable patients.
- Tags: #hospitalacquiredinfections #CLABSI #CAUTI #patient safety #longtermacutecare
Assessing the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of grounding techniques in alleviating pain among long-term acute care hospital inpatients
- Primary Investigators: Lea Grimaldi, BA, CRMT; Allison Greco, MS, CCC-SLP; Socheata Morley, PhD
- Summary: This study explores whether grounding, a technique that connects the body to the earth, combined with mindfulness training, can help reduce physical pain in patients staying in long-term acute care hospitals (LTACHs). Since pain medications can lead to dependence and high costs, finding alternative ways to manage pain is important. Patients will participate in one of three groups: mindfulness training indoors, mindfulness outdoors with shoes on, or mindfulness outdoors with grounding (bare feet on the ground). Researchers will look at how these approaches affect pain, anxiety, and depression in patients with acute, chronic, neuropathic, or phantom pain. The goal is to discover if grounding adds extra benefits to mindfulness for pain relief.
- Recruitment Status: Active Recruitment, Inpatient only
- Tags: #painmanagement #mindfulness #groundingtherapy #longtermacutecare #patientwellbeing
Assessing the impact of continuous visual monitoring to decrease institutional falls in a long-term acute care hospital setting
- Primary Investigators: Lisa Kalafus, MSN, RN, CENP
- Summary: Patient falls are a major safety concern, especially in Long-Term Acute Care Hospitals where patients stay longer and have varied mobility levels. Since 2013, Gaylord’s Falls Team has used 1:1 Sitters, staff who closely watch patients to prevent falls and other risks. However, growing demand and costs have led to a new approach: the TeleSitter program. Using mobile telemonitors, TeleSitter Technicians can watch multiple patients remotely, interact with them to calm agitation, and help prevent risky behavior before a nurse arrives. This study tracks the program’s rollout and effectiveness, aiming to reduce falls while easing staffing and financial pressures.
- Recruitment Status: n/a, observational study
- Tags: #patientsafety #fallsprevention #telesitting #longtermacutecare #healthinnovation
Immunometabolic mechanisms of blood flow restriction training after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction
- Primary Investigators: Kelsey Cognetta, DPT (Gaylord); Rachel J. Perry, PhD (Yale)
- Summary: Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) Therapy is a growing method used in rehabilitation to help rebuild muscle after surgery while reducing pain and exercise strain. This study focuses on patients recovering from ACL surgery who will complete two physical therapy sessions, one with BFR and one without. By collecting blood samples before and after therapy, researchers aim to uncover how BFR affects pain, inflammation, and muscle repair at a biological level. Understanding these effects could lead to better predictions of who will benefit most from BFR and improve rehab outcomes. The study takes place at Gaylord’s North Haven Clinic in partnership with Yale University.
- Recruitment Status: Active Recruitment, Outpatient North Haven Clinic only
- Clinical Trial Registration: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05012982
- Tags: #BloodFlowRestriction #rehabilitation #ACLrecovery #musclerepair #physicaltherapy