International Research Foundation For Rsd-Crps Inc

Programs: The organization recruits participants with crps to carry out its mission to support research on crps. Participants from around the world pay a fee to participate in tax-exempt program activities at the organization's leading center for excellence in crps. Such fees are applied toward the diagnosis and treatment of crps. This activity forms the basis for the organization's research and education initiatives, including the creation of multimedia educational material on crps that documents each participant's care provided by the organization. Thus, undergoing the treatment and receiving a fee-for-service is core to the organization's education mission. Proceeds from these services (that is, diagnosis and treatment) are allocated toward operating costs of the organization and toward the creation of an endowment to benefit the organization. The diagnosis and treatment of crps is performed by dr. Kirkpatrick. Participants fill out a questionnaire and each participant meet with dr. Kirkpatrick for at least one hour. Dr. Kirkpatrick evaluates the condition of each participant, including his assessment of their forms, medical history, medical records and physical examination. Dr. Kirkpatrick then formulates his assessment of the participant and presents the participant with treatment options appropriate to the situation (such as medications, nerve blocks and implantation of a spinal cord stimulator). This also includes research on the efficacy and safety of 3-day and 4-day ketamine infusions on an outpatient basis to evaluate crps. One such project during 2014 included the tabulating and analyzing of a coma study performed in mexico. On december 17, 2014, president obama made a commitment on behalf of the united states to normalize the relationship with cuba. Since the time of that announcement, the foundation has been facilitating research through consultation with cuban doctors on the treatment protocols for crps. See form 990, page 2, part iii, line 4. B. For further explanations in this area. Fees for these services are based on usual and customary rates for the local market place. However, children (13 years or younger) are not denied evaluations based on the inability to pay. All fee arrangements are published on the organization's healthcare website (www. Rsdhealthcare. Org). This website also provides research protocols, travel information and driving directions for the surgery center. A list of affiliated institutions, patient information (such as medication instructions) and administrative information for private insurance reimbursement. Billing arrangements are made through private u. S. Insurance and through workers' compensation claims. Billing arrangements also are negotiated through the canadian government for canadian participant referrals. After the one-time fee for service, research subjects are not charged for the rest of their life for any continuing evaluations. There is not denial of essential services (such as emergency services) to residents of the service area based on the inability to pay. Approximately 85% of all services provided by the organization are from persons working for the organization pro bono. The organization maintains two full-time employees and one full-time volunteer to assist dr. Kirkpatrick with the administration of the organization's program activities. Approximately 104 participants received care at the organization during the year.

once the organization creates enough endowment, it will fund clinical investigation and medical research projects throughout the world. One type of project is a multicenter ketamine coma study. To qualify for a ketamine coma study, the research protocol mandates and the institutional review board require that participants have failed all reasonable treatment options. These treatment options are performed by the organization as described on form 990, page 2, part iii, line 4. A. A study or project will not receive funding from the organization unless one or more physicians of a united states university hospital, medical (continued on schedule o) (continued from part iii, line 4. B. ) research organization, or medical school is a co-investigator of such a study or project. The organization intends to disclose the results of any such study or project to the extent the organization is permitted to do so by the researchers. The organization will form a scientific advisory committee to review proposed and ongoing clinical investigations and research projects that will be used by the board of directors to determine eligibility for funding. Thus far, 132 research subjects have been enrolled in a clinical study aimed at determining the safety and efficacy of doses of ketamine in treating severe, intractable crps. The first results of the study have been published by the american society of anesthesiologists. The organization will continue this policy, i. E. , the results of medical research aimed at curing crps will be made available to the public in a timely manner. A study is in progress to determine the safety and efficacy of ketamine in treating crps on an outpatient basis. Patients travel thousands of miles from as far away as australia, new zealand, europe, china, etc. , in unbearable pain to participate in the organization's state-of-the-art treatments and research. Government agencies throughout the united states and abroad recognize the organization as an authority on crps. In 2002, the social security administration of the united states invited dr. Kirkpatrick to assist the agency in writing the first standards for the diagnosis and management of cdrps. The agency published ssr 03-2p in the federal register on october 20, 2003 (68 fr 59971) and became effective as of that date. Also, the website for the national institute of health lists the international research foundation for rsd/crps as an authoritative source of information on rsd/crps.

the organization uses case studies from its fee-for-service activities (discussed at form 990, page 2, part iii, line 4(a)) to educate physicians, insurance companies, government agencies, patients and others regarding the disease and to increase public awareness. This includes the preparation and distribution of informational brochures, videos and dvds that describe the disease (including its symptoms, possible causes and available treatments) and explain the need for funding to find a cure. Numerous emails are distributed to educate and inform doctors and patients on topics such as prescribing opioids; preventing hyperalgesia after (continued on schedule o) (continued from part iii, line 4. B. ) surgery; postoperative pain control in patients with crps; stress and crps; and the "national institute of mental health's" publication on ketamine: "a new and faster way to treat depression. " the organization presently operates a website (www. Rsdfoundation. Org) that provides this information and provides updates as research progresses. For example, educational videos with patient interviews are posted on this website. The videos produced by the organization are filmed using a 4k camera. Other research includes a comparison study done between male and female pain thresholds. Additionally, the organization will continue to provide this information through local, national, and international media outlets (including television appearances and magazine articles). During 2011, 4 televised news broadcasts were made featuring the treatment and results for one of the organization's patients, jessica stevens. In 2015, the organization had 2 doctors attend continuing medical education programs. In addition, the john hopkins school of medicine will be adopting the organization's protocol for crps. Furthermore, the v. A. In north carolina requested the assistance of the organization to establish a program for the treatment of crps with ketamine. The journal of anesthesiology news asked several academic physicians to evaluate the organization's website. According to robert b. Steinberg, phd, md, chief of pain management services, tufts university: "its most compelling strength is that there's not anything else close to this website in terms of quality and comprehensiveness. " the organization also established a continuing education program for physicians at its headquarters in tampa, florida. In 2015, anthony kirkpatrick, m. D. , ph. D. Was invited to present a 1-hour lecture on complex regional pain syndrome at cuba's national hotel in havana. The lecture focused on how to measure pain objectively in patients with this neurological disorder. This video is both in english and spanish. Http://rsfoundation. Org/en/cuba-rsd. Htm a video and transcript were published on the website regarding the use of ketamine as a treatment for severe and intractable depression. This video is in english and spanish. Http://rsfoundation. Org/en/depression- ketamine. Htm the organization is seeking irb review in analyzing data for more than 300 patients after their treatment with ketamine. The organization plans to publish this treatment protocol in a peer-review journal soon. Assist health care professionals to become familiar with using ketamine for crps and conscious sedation in patients with chronic, intractable depression. The director of the national institutes of mental health in the united states refers to ketamine as the world's first anti- suicide drug. In a recent nature article by dr. Carlos zarate, he notes that ketamine's fast action is particularly promising for suicide prevention. His research suggests that ketamine seems specifically to affect the desire to attempt suicide, whether a person is clinically depressed or not.