News

June 2008

RELEASE UPON RECEIPT September 19, 2008

For more information, contact:     Anne Thomure, Director Hospital/Community Relations 618-257-5649

MEMORIAL HOSPITAL’S REHABILITATION SERVICES
PARTNERS WITH BIONESS ON BREAKTHROUGH TECHNOLOGY
FOR STROKE AND NEUROLOGICAL PATIENTS; COMMUNITY SCREENINGS SCHEDULED

          (Belleville, Illinois) Imagine technology so advanced that it helps stroke and other neurological patients regain hand control to grasp objects or lost mobility enabling them to achieve greater independence than they ever believed to be possible.

          This sophisticated technology is now a reality at Memorial Hospital’s Rehabilitation Services through two devices called the NESS H200TM and the NESS L300TM, distributed by Bioness, Inc.  Memorial Rehabilitation Services is among the first in the country to offer this breakthrough therapy and will serve as a regional assessment site for therapists and patients interested in trying out these new devices.

          Memorial Rehabilitation Services will launch the use of these new devices at two free community screenings scheduled for Thursday, October 9 and Thursday, November 13, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Memorial’s Rehab Services Department.  Patients who have experienced a stroke, traumatic brain injury, have cerebral palsy, MS or foot drop are potential candidates for this new technology.  To find out more about this breakthrough therapy and find out if you could benefit, plan to attend one of these screenings; appointments are needed and can be made by calling 618-257-5250.

          “We are very excited about incorporating this technology into both our acute rehab program and into our outpatient services,” said Heidi Hoskins, occupational therapist fro Memorial Rehab Services.  “There are substantial clinical studies pointing to the value of neuromuscular re-education early in a patient’s recovery.

          The NESS H200™ provides a major adjunct to traditional therapy for stroke, spinal cord and brain injured patients, she added.

          The NESS H200™ prosthesis consists of a soft polymer fitting that rests over the patient’s hand and forearm.  Embedded in the device are five surface electrodes that stimulate muscles in the hand and wrist.  A microprocessor allows the user to program the device with a series of exercises customized for each patient.  Clinical trials support the effectiveness of NESS H200™ in facilitating return of function for patients in the acute phase of recovery following stroke and brain injury, as well as for select patients whose injuries are years old.

          According to Debi Schneider, a physical therapist at Memorial Rehab Services, the L300 compliments and accelerates traditional therapy. 

          “We’re eager to integrate this technology into both our acute rehab program and into our outpatient setting,” she said. “By adopting this technology as a standard of care, we can maximize rehabilitation by using these devices between therapy sessions and even encourage patients to purchase the L300 and H200, or both and use them at home.”

          Central nervous system injuries often result in foot drop – leading to instability and difficulty walking.  The NESS L300TM neuro-rehabilitation system is a revolution in Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) technology, designed to help patients experiencing foot drop to regain mobility to help “normalize” walking and gait.  The L300 uses wireless communication to “talk” to its components, eliminating cumbersome wires and allowing the clinician the ability to fine-tune settings while the patient is actually walking.  This user-friendly system is appropriate for a broad range of conditions including stroke, traumatic brain injury, multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy and incomplete spinal cord injury.

          For more information about the use of this new technology, call Heidi or Debi at Memorial Rehabilitation Services at 618-257-5250.

         

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