National President Kenneth C. Huber. The guidelines were issued by the Spinal Cord Medicine Consortium, a group of 17 health professional and payer organizations representing physicians, therapists, nurses, psychologists and social workers. The Consortium, organized and financially supported by PVA, develops and disseminates clinical practice guidelines using available scientific evidence for professionals and consumers. Other CPGs currently being developed by the Consortium include Depression in Spinal Cord Injury, Neurogenic Bowel Management , Pressure Sores and Expected Outcomes Management .
More guidelines addressing other conditions associated with paralysis are in the planning stage.
Paralyzed Veterans of America, a veterans service organization chartered by Congress, has for more than 50 years served the needs of its members, all of whom have catastrophic paralysis caused by spinal cord injury or dysfunction.