Mount Sinai Spinal Cord Injury Model System

The Mount Sinai Spinal Cord Injury Model System (MSSCIMS) was established as a Spinal Cord Injury Model System (SCIMS) in 1986 as a regional multidisciplinary system of care in the New York City metropolitan area and Long Island for persons who sustain traumatic spinal cord injuries. It supports persons from the time of injury, through rehabilitation, and throughout life.

The comprehensive clinical program consists of:

• NYC Emergency Medical Services, ensuring the early and safe extrication of individuals with SCI from the injury site, pre-hospital care, and rapid transport to a trauma center
• Emergency department and acute medical/surgical care units within the Mount Sinai Health System, including the Mount Sinai St. Luke’s Trauma Center
• Comprehensive CARF-accredited SCI acute inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation services taking place within a 25-bed SCI inpatient rehabilitation unit (serving 60 patients with traumatic SCI each year) and a large outpatient area at The Mount Sinai Hospital. Core rehabilitation services include physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech-language pathology, social work, peer mentoring, outreach coordination, rehabilitation psychology, therapeutic recreation, and vocational rehabilitation.

The research program of the Mount Sinai Spinal Cord Injury Model System aims to improve the quality of life for SCI survivors by developing effective treatments of post-SCI secondary conditions.