Telerehab could be key in stroke recovery – study
Telerehab may have a greater effect on stroke patients than those who attend sessions in person, a new study has suggested.
Research has found that stroke patients who engage in rehabilitation via video at home may recover their motor skills better than those who have to attend outpatient facilities. The Chinese study, published in Neurology, also finds that the convenience of telerehab being done at home could be a significant factor in helping patients stick to their programmes through a greater ability to increase patient participation and compliance, alongside increased opportunities for patients to benefit from completing their rehab in a family and social environment.
Care provider makes significant investment to grow neuro offering
Specialist care provider Sue Ryder is making significant investment in neurological care as it continues to develop its offering.
The group has four specialist neurological care centres across England and Scotland, one of which is newly-built to increase provision in its area, and another doubling capacity in recent months to accommodate growing demand. In addition to ongoing investment in its centres, Sue Ryder is looking to increase support for outpatients with expansion of its Care at Home service being considered, building on the success of its outreach home care model in Scotland.
‘I lost my sense of smell through brain injury – I’m grateful COVID has shone a light on its impact’
Having been in a near-fatal car accident, Sally Smith has recovered physically, but a brain injury resulted in the permanent loss of smell. Here, she discusses how the once-tricky subject has now become much more accessible through its association with COVID-19.
I used to love the smell of Christmas. I honestly think that was my favourite part. The mulled wine, the spicy fragrances, the turkey dinner cooking - that really made Christmas for me.
MND treatments could be developed following new research
Pioneering treatments could be developed for people with motor neurone disease (MND) after a new study shed light on how the damage to nerve cells can be repaired by improving the energy levels in mitochondria.
Researchers have discovered that, in human stem cell models of MND, the axon - the long part of the motor neuron cell that connects to the muscle - is shorter than in healthy cells.
New body created to shape future of case management
The Institute of Registered Case Managers (IRCM) is in the process of setting a host of stringent technical and professional standards to enable the organisation to be accredited by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA).
The IRCM will hold a register of case managers who demonstrate they comply with the standards. The creation of the IRCM is a highly significant move within case management, and aims to bring more transparency and clarity into the profession, giving greater confidence and protection to clients and fellow professionals alike. Having been in the planning stages for several years, the IRCM - which has been developed and supported jointly by BABICM, CMSUK and the VRA - is set to launch in the coming months. It is currently being presented to industry stakeholders, with a series of awareness-raising initiatives planned for case managers in the coming months.
New breakthrough in assessing potential outcomes for brain injury patients
Assessing the ability of unresponsive patients with severe brain injury [...]
How art unlocked a new future for brain injury survivor
Artist and art therapist Carl Arroyo, from therapy provider Chroma, shares the story of brain injury survivor Ricky, whose interest in tattoo art began a path towards a life with more possibilities.
I’ve been an art therapist for more than a decade now, and it’s an incredible way of drawing people out and allowing them to express themselves.
I started working with Ricky (not his real name) in the Spring of 2020, about a year and a half after his injury. He already had a multidisciplinary team around him, and it was felt that he needed something else to support him in adjusting to his experience and his injuries.
To be honest, Ricky wasn’t particularly interested in art as a whole, but he had a specific desire to design some tattoos based on his experience of his injury.
Taking time to look back – so the way ahead is clearer
Reflective practice within healthcare settings is widely talked about, but not always so easy to implement in the workplace. NR Times speaks to one neurological centre about how it benefits patients and staff there.
Reflective practice and discussion in healthcare settings is a professional requirement for nurses, as laid out by the Royal College of Nursing revalidation requirements as part of their continuous professional development.
It allows professionals to take time to pause and reflect, communicate and plan, which undoubtedly leads to better outcomes for patients and staff.
Tackling the self-report shortfall
How new technology could revolutionise the way patients self-report their symptoms - improving outcomes and research capabilities in neuro-rehab and other fields.
‘Patient-centred’ has become a well-worn phrase in neuro-rehab in recent years. In fact, so often is it mentioned by care and therapy providers, that it is starting to mean different things to different people, running the risk of becoming meaningless.
Of course, in healthcare the patient should, indeed, be at the heart of everything. If self-report mechanisms are flawed, however, can we really say that this is the case?
