The Southern California Spinal Cord Injury Model Systems (SCIMS) Program at Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center (Rancho) is designed to optimally leverage the enhanced clinical and research capacities at Rancho that have evolved from the fusion of a long legacy of clinical excellence and dedication to patient-focused research. The overarching objective of the Southern California SCIMS is to generate new knowledge that will directly contribute to improving health and function and community participation for persons with spinal cord injury (SCI). Rancho continues to serve a large SCI population with over 250 new admissions each year and a long tradition of serving individuals who are often from underserved populations including individuals from racial and ethnic minorities (80% of our SCI population) and those from economically-disadvantaged backgrounds (over 50% of our SCI population). Information from his group of patients makes a unique contribution to the SCIMS regarding the specific rehabilitation trends and needs of these under-served groups.
