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0 7 M D N E W S . C O M /// M D N E W S L O W E R H U D S O N / B R O N X ■ 2 017 combined therapy, though the sessions are broken up to ensure patients have time to rest and recuperate. Physicians are available around the clock, and providers respond nimbly to anything that may impede treatment. "For example, if a patient is having certain skin issues, it can be di¢cult for him or her to focus on physical therapy, so we may send in our wound care specialist," Dr. Lent explains. "Maybe a recent surgery is limiting movement in some way. We gather these facts from the team and adjust care as needed." Occupational therapists work one-on- one with patients on activities of daily living, while recreational therapists may reintroduce patients to activities they enjoyed before their injury or expose them to new activities. The hospital's hugely successful Adapted Sports & Recreation Program utilizes adapted equipment so patients can learn to fish, ski, play video games, sail and more. Vocational rehabili- tation is also available for patients who plan to resume or pursue employment. THERAPEUTIC TECHNOLOGIES Therapists at Helen Hayes Hospita l are well-versed in a range of advanced technologies and equipment that enhance therapy. Among those technologies is ReWalk, a motorized robotic exoskeleton that manipulates limbs into a walking pat- tern. Only a few rehabilitation facilities in the United States oœer this technology. " In addition to wa lking, there a re psychological benefits of the ReWalk as well as positive eœects on the bowel and bladder and improvements in spasticity from being upright," Dr. Lent says. O t her t e c h nolo g ie s , s uc h a s t he TheraStride system, which is used for body weight-supported gait training, retrain neural pathways to help restore mobility. A harness holds patients upright while physical therapists move patients' legs in a walking motion. Software moni- tors patients' progress. The Armeo device, though typically used for stroke patients, can a lso help patients with spinal cord injuries regain hand and arm function. Armeo targets multiple muscle groups in the arm and hand, including the shoulder, elbow, wrist and fingers. Patients' arms are placed in an adjustable, spring-loaded support while they participate in virtual reality simulations of real-world activities, such as grocery shopping. O t h e r k e y t e c h n o l o g i e s i n c lu d e Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES), which uses electrodes to stimulate muscle groups in specific patterns to aid neural pathway recovery. Dysphagia, a swallow- ing disorder, can be treated with a form of neuromuscular electrical stimulation ca l led Vit a l S t i m T herapy. Speech- language pathologists with specialized training in breathing, swallowing and cognition oversee this therapy and can also use a variety of speaking valves to help patients communicate. A WEALTH OF RESOURCES Spinal cord injury patients have access to an abundance of additional resources at Helen Hayes Hospital as well. A warm- water pool is available for inpatients and outpatients who can benefit from aquatic Framework for Success THE SPINAL CORD INJURY REHABILITATION PROGRAM at Helen Hayes Hospital is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF), which sets guidelines to ensure that rehabilitation programs meet rigorous benchmarks for care and services. Only five spinal cord systems of care in the state of New York have earned CARF accreditation. "It's important for us to meet the toughest stan- dards," says Victoria Lent, MD, Director of Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation at Helen Hayes Hospital. "We strive to ensure we're providing the best possible care for our patients." Once a facility earns accreditation, rehabilitation programs must submit quality improvement plans and additional annual reports to CARF to track their quality of care, patient outcomes and array of services during the accreditation period. Maria Boiano, DO, a physiatrist specializing in multi-trauma and spinal cord injury, and Dr. Lent meet at the nursing station on the spinal cord injury unit to confer on the progress of the service's inpatients. Dr. Lent and Tammy Goedken, DPT, ATP, Assistive Technology Specialist with the Center for Rehabilitation Technology (CRT), review the custom and other extensive options available for power wheelchair mobility. The CRT showroom showcases a wide-ranging selection of wheelchairs.