April 19, 2010
Glenrose Hospital - Virtual Reality Rehabiltation
Edmonton’s Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital has acquired a new virtual reality system for rehabilitation. The CAREN (Computer-Assisted Rehabilitation Environment) will be installed over the next near, and will be ready for use in early 2011.
The product of Dutch company Motek Medical, CAREN consists of a large cylindrical screen and sophisticated projector system that creates a virtual environment. The user stands on a moving platform facing the screens that simulates motion in the virtual environment.
The Department of National Defence will cover $1.5 million of the $1.75 million price tag, with the Government of Alberta covering the additional $250,000.
Here’s a video of the CAREN in action:
July 17, 2009
ReJoyce Workstation in Australia
The University of Melbourne has released information about a spinal cord injury study in Australia. the study, funded by the Victorian Neurotrauma Initiative and lead by Mary Galea, has placed ReJoyces in the homes of subjects with spinal cord injury. You can read and watch more about the Australian ReJoyce Workstation Study here.
July 6, 2009
CTV Runs ReJoyce Therapy Story
Here’s a story about a scientific study using ReJoyce to treat SCI that ran nationally in Canada on CTV on July 4.
June 23, 2009
ReJoyce for Spinal Cord Injury (SCI)
Last week we had some press coverage regarding a joint Canadian-Australian spinal cord injury study. Here are some videos from aired nationally in their respective countries.
Australian Telerehab News Story
CBC National News Story
June 17, 2009
More from the Press Release
The AHFMR (Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research) has posted the press release on their website. Here are some more videos:
Arthur Prochazka explains several ReJoyce functions
Ginny Bockman uses the ReJoyce before Press Conference
ReJoyce Press Release at the University of Alberta
Today, University of Alberta researchers Arthur Prochazka and Jan Kowalczewski released the results of their recent ReJoyce clinical trial involving people who have suffered a spinal cord injury. Also present at the conference via video Skype was Mary Galea, head of several ReJoyce-based clinical trials currently underway in Australia funded by the Victoria Neurotrauma Initiative. Here are some videos of the event:
Jan Kowalczewski, co-inventor of ReJoyce, gives an interview for CBC in French
Mary Galea talks about Australian Study for Spinal Cord Injury
June 2, 2009
Arkansas Telerehab and Medicaid Reimbursement
Here’s a great video story from last year about a telerehabilitation program going on in Little Rock Arkansas. This hospital has implemented a simple two-way video chat into a patient’s home. Here are the highlights:
- patient suffered a broken hip as the result of a fall
- audio/video link from a hospital into a patient’s home
- both physical and occupational therapists are interacting with the patient over the link
- the patient is very happy with the service
- the clinic administrators see tremendous potential for at-home rehab to be far more convenient for patients and financially competitive for hospitals
- other devices can be hooked up to the computer to be used with a telerehab system (our ReJoyce Telerehabilitation System is a great example)
Arkansas is one of a number states that leaves decisions regarding reimbursement of telemedicine programs, including telerehabilitation, up to the state Medicaid director. Take a look at this 2004 study regarding Medicaid telerehabilitation reimbursement throughout the United States.
May 15, 2009
Telemedicine and Stroke Care
Here’s the latest from the American Heart Association.
A Review of the Evidence for the Use of Telemedicine Within Stroke Systems of Care
- Few patients receive treatment benefit with evidence-based and FDA-approved tissue plasminogen activator, partly due to lack of access to this treatment.
- Stroke Telemedicine (Telestroke, Teleconsultation) provides an opportunity to increase access to specialist expertise (neurological) in areas where disparities exist for stroke care (urban and rural).
- Telemedicine is an important care modality in the stroke systems of care model.
Recommendations for the Implementation of Telemedicine Within Stroke Systems of Care
- Telemedicine technology provides specialists with the data necessary to assist clinicians at the bedside in stroke-related decision making for patients presenting at distant or under-equipped facilities.
- The reported numbers of telestroke consultations overall and those that lead to thrombolysis show that the use of telemedicine is feasible and has already impacted local stroke care.
- Barriers to effective telestroke implementation include licensure and liability laws, technology assessment and deployment, community outreach/education, assuring confidentiality of information shared, and processes of requesting and delivering telemedicine consultations.
May 1, 2009
New Hampshire Senate passes Telecare Bill
The N.H Senate has passed a bill requiring insurance companies to reimburse certain medical appointments whether they happen face-to-face or not.
“…This is vastly going to reduce the costs of health care and help with early detection,” said Sen. Debbie Reynolds, D-Plymouth. Telemedicine would help with early detection and “access to specialty care that would reduce the severity of diseases…”
Read the full article here.
Proposal for More Telemedicine Coverage
California Congressman Mike Thompson has introduced legislation to screen returning soldiers for PTSD and to expand access to telemedicine. This bill is a companion to one introduced in the Senate by Montana Senator Max Baucus. Here’s an excerpt from the article:
“…The telemedicine legislation would provide $30 million in grants to help health facilities pay for telehealth equipment and expand telehealth support services… The Medicare Telehealth Enhancement Act would expand Medicare reimbursement to urban and suburban areas and include more families…”
You can read the rest of the article here.
