Recommendation 8.4 More clinical research is needed to foster the development of rehabilitation science that can guide practice. This research must be equivalent in rigor, prestige, and funding to basic and other medical sciences. This includes but is not limited to more clinical outcomes studies. In particular, clinical research on functional limitations, disability, and the environment are needed to help guide clinical decisions.

Recommendation 8.5 The federal government should not allow payers to limit rehabilitation research conducted in the context of care. Such restrictions will impede the progress of medical research that is necessary to improve the health of the public and reduce the cost of care.

Recommendation 8.6 Clinical practice guidelines should be developed by the federal government that include not just diagnosis-related guidelines but also guidelines for rehabilitation of impairments, functional limitations, and disabilities.

Recommendation 8.7 University and federal researchers should seek partners in private industry to cooperate on the research and development of technologies that can ultimately benefit people with disabling conditions.

Recommendation 8.8 More rehabilitation-related research should be published in the peer-reviewed literature. Making material available on the Internet or directly to the public does not relieve rehabilitation scientists and engineers of their obligation to submit their work to peer-review.