Summer Fare: Benefit extensions for stroke, Telemedicine rehabilitation, and NVC widens the tent
Reporting in from the western regional task force meeting
of the American Stroke Association there are a couple of lights at the end of
the tunnel that are worth keeping our eyes on. As we well know after 36 years
of providing long term rehabilitation, you can and will show improvement if you
keep working at it no matter how long it has been since your last stroke.
Practice, repetition and the will to keep trying along with the support that
helps you to greet every new day as an opportunity makes all the difference.
The group brought a revised time line from the investigating stroke physicians
not stating that improvement can be documented for the first five months
following a stroke. This extends the time from the earlier three months time
frame. While we still do not agree with this, it may pave the way for some
extension of benefits which will help all survivors and their families get more
and better treatment.
The second item of interest was the report of the trials
for telemedicine rehabilitation that are taking place at University of
California Irvine. This is a computer based system that can be placed in the
home and the patient can use it to encourage use of the limbs. This program
could impact numbers of those unable to travel or without access to programs
like what exist here in Palm Springs. We will be watching this very carefully
to see if it is something that we can build on to help those who fall outside
the easily driveable radius to partake in person at our facility.
Keep your eye on the web site for the new programs for
Multiple Sclerosis and for Parkinson’s. We have a support group meeting here
for Parkinson's and for caregiver’s of people with Parkinson's every Tuesday. We hope to continue
that into the fall and will be introducing a menu of programs and services to
help those who need extra rehabilitation.
Enjoy the summer – keep cool and remember to hydrate.
