|
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
||
|
||
UCLA Program Uses Team Approach to Help Neurological Patients Regain Lives Patients with neurological conditions such as stroke, spinal cord or brain injuries, multiple sclerosis or peripheral nerve disease often experience problems walking, talking or performing other tasks necessary to complete daily activities. The UCLA Neurological Rehabilitation and Research Program integrates disciplines ranging from neurology and psychology to physical, occupational and speech therapy to improve the cognitive or physical abilities of these patients as a complement to the management of their underlying diseases. “The field of rehabilitation is really a team sport,” says Bruce H. Dobkin, M.D., director of the UCLA Neurological Rehabilitation and Research Program. “We rely on many people with deep expertise in specific areas, and then focus their collective knowledge and skills on collaborating to solve problems.” For people with neurological injuries, he says, one of the problems is that services are often fragmented into disease-related categories. “Most patients just desperately want to get better,” Dr. Dobkin explains. “We try to cut across all neurological diseases to figure out the nature of each patient’s underlying problem and to help them aggressively practice skills that will improve the quality of their lives.” An important goal of the program is to facilitate continuity of care as patients move from inpatient to outpatient rehabilitation settings. “Through our dedicated team, we try to help our patients become independent enough to walk at least short distances and take care of themselves before they leave our acute rehabilitation unit,” says Dr. Dobkin. “As patients transition to outpatient rehabilitation, our team works to coordinate care based on our understanding of the patients’ needs.” Approximately one-third of neurological rehabilitation inpatients continue to receive outpatient therapy at UCLA, while the remainder access care through providers closer to their homes. For more information, visit the website at http://neurorehab.neurology.ucla.edu
|
