MDNews - Lower Hudson/Bronx

therapy or are interested in aquatic exer- cise programs. "Not many hospitals have pools now because of space and sta¢ng require- ments," Dr. Lent says. "However, it's a great tool for working through muscle control, and it can be motivating for patients who enjoy the water." Aquatic therapy is valuable for patients who have weak muscles or experience significant pain during other types of physical therapy. The temperature and buoyancy increase circulation, flexibility and balance. The pool at Helen Hayes Meet Dr. Lent V ICTORIA LENT, MD, was recently appointed Director of Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation at Helen Hayes Hospital and Assistant Clinical Professor of Rehabilitation and Regenerative Medicine at Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons. She completed her undergraduate degree at Yale University and received her medical degree from UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. She com- pleted a fellowship in spinal cord injury medicine at Stanford University and her internship and residency in physical medicine and rehabilitation at the University of North Carolina Hospitals in Chapel Hill. There, she was also a chief resident. Dr. Lent is a member of the Academy of Spinal Cord Injury Professionals, the Association of Academic Physiatrists, the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, and the International Society of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine. She has volunteered in locations including Haiti and Nicaragua. Performing social work during college helped lead Dr. Lent to the medical field. "It's important for me to focus on what people's goals are and help them achieve those goals," she says. "Spinal cord injuries are complex and multifac- eted, and it is gratifying to help patients not just manage the resulting disability, but move forward with their lives." Hospital has hydraulic lifts that can attach to special chairs and equipment to allow patients of any ability access to the water. Patients who want to regain the ability to drive after a spinal cord injury can take part in the Adapted Driving Program at Helen Hayes Hospital. Adaptive devices can be used to transform vehicles to meet their needs. "Our Adapted Driving Program is yet another service that sets us apart," says colleague Maria Boiano, DO, a physiatrist specializing in multi-trauma and spinal cord injury. "We first evaluate patients with a simulator a nd then introduce them to diœerent hand controls and other adaptations for steering, bra king and starting the vehicle." After a pre-driving assessment and an on-the-road evaluation in the hospital's specia l adaptive driving van, patients with driver's licenses can be referred to the Department of Motor Vehicles to receive final approval to drive. CENTER FOR REHABILITATION TECHNOLOGY Providing patients the means to be more independent is a central goal of the Spinal Cord Injur y Rehabilitation Program. An essentia l component of that is the hospita l's Center for Rehabi litation Technolog y (CRT), staœed by assistive technolog y experts who specia lize in wheelchair seating, computer access and job accommodations. "There aren't many hospitals that have the capabilities for patients to turn on the TV or call a nurse if they don't have use of their hands," Dr. Lent says. "The CRT staœ regularly meet with patients in their rooms to adapt the space so patients can be as independent as possible. They can a lso help people access their technol- og y and devices with services such as eye tracking and help wheelchair users identify the best chairs and cushions via pressure mapping." Staœ members of the CRT are trained in electronics and engineering and can fabricate custom solutions, such as cell phone mounts for electronic wheelchairs, often eliminating the need for patients to have someone by their side at all times. Francesca DeSimone, DPT, lead physical therapist, guides a patient through a session on the Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) bike. FES helps patients with spinal cord injury improve their strength and cardiovascular endurance for both upper and lower extremities. The screen on the FES bike provides the therapist and patient with information on the resistance, speed, distance and time expended during the therapy session. The parameters can be adjusted by the therapist to accommodate a wide range of patients with spinal cord injuries. 0 8❱❱❱❱❱ C O V E R F E A T U R E

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