Balgrist Spinal Cord Injury Center

The Spinal Cord Injury Center at the Balgrist University Hospital is an internationally acknowledged rehabilitation center for patients with spinal cord injury (SCI). It comprises a 40 beds clinical unit and is linked excellently with its research facilities, located in the same building.

The focus of our research is the optimization and further development of existing and new interventions for patients with a spinal cord injury (SCI). Patients with SCI report that their priorities for recovery are bladder and bowel management and hand function in patients with high cervical lesions. Both also the recovery of walking function is highly appreciated. Indeed, besides other interests, these topics are covered by our research groups.

Our research is in general focussed on how the central nervous system reacts to the condition after SCI by investigating plastic changes in the sensory – motor and autonomic nervous system within the brain and spinal cord. Furthermore, we are interested how training interventions could exploit this plasticity to improve the functional outcome and independence of the patient. One focus of our lab is, in collaboration with the SMS Lab (ETHZ) and Hocoma AG, to develop and/or improve rehabilitation robotics for the upper and lower extremity and investigate their effect on the functional independence of our patients. We are also involved in clinical studies investigating safety of the anti-NOGO antibody, which should increase plasticity and regeneration of the damaged spinal cord (more information).

Improvement in training strategies can only be performed if adequate and sensitive outcome measures are available. Therefore, we develop and test the ability of neurological, neuro-physiological and functional outcome measures to detect small changes in our patients, which is required for clinical studies, but also the relevance of these changes for the functional status of the patient. Indeed, we are the leading center in an international collaboration evaluating outcome measures (www.emsci.org).

The Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital - UK

"RNOH is the largest orthopaedic hospital in the UK and regarded as a leader in the field of orthopaedics both in the UK and world-wide.

We provide a comprehensive and unique range of neuro-musculoskeletal healthcare, ranging from acute spinal injuries to orthopaedic medicine and specialist rehabilitation for chronic back sufferers.

RNOH also plays a major role in teaching. Over 20% of all UK orthopaedic surgeons receive training at the RNOH. Our patients benefit from a team of highly specialised consultants, many of whom are nationally and internationally recognised for their expertise.

We enhance our clinical effectiveness by working in partnership with University College London and in particular UCL’s Institute of Orthopaedic and Musculoskeletal Science, based on the Stanmore campus. The IOMS, together with the RNOH, has a long track record of innovative research leading to new devices and treatments for some of the most complex orthopaedic and musculoskeletal conditions.

The Spinal Cord Injury Centre at the RNOH is one of only 11 in the UK designated to receive and treat spinal cord injured patients. The Centre currently has 24 beds comprising of eight acute beds and 16 rehabilitation beds. However there is the capacity to treat up to 40 patients within the RNOH at any one time.

Patients are admitted predominantly from the south east of England on an urgent referral basis. The aim is to admit all patients as soon as possible following their injury. The centre consists of a team of multi-professional specialists who work towards a patient focused service and rehabilitation is based around patient centred goals.

Children and adolescents with spinal cord injury can be admitted to the RNOH. They are initially managed on the Alan Bray Unit (Intensive Care/High Dependency Unit) and subsequently on the paediatric/adolescent units by the Spinal Injuries Team".

Aktios elderly care unit

I really high quality elderly care unit specialized in people with dementia. I did my first internship in there and I can say that everything they promise is true! You can read my reflection report here (which was graded with an 8/10).

Located in Athens, Greece.

"Aktios Elderly Care Unit complies to international standards, and aspires to become a ‘home’ for people who desire a more relaxed way of living, for people in rehabilitation, from various health problems, for people suffering from chronic diseases, Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia, and for older people who are in need of medical or nursing attendance and special care.

Our main concern is to provide a care setting where residents and guests feel as safe and comfortable as they would at home, while at the same time enjoy hospitality, and specialised psychogeriatric services.

Aktios started operating on November 2007, remodelling an existed elderly care unit and creating another one, specialised in people suffering from dementia and Alzheimer’s disease in the same building.

Since then, we encountered numerous challenges. We improved the quality of care, refurbished our facilities and equipment, further trained, and continuously train, our employees. Furthermore, we developed numerous new services that guarantee our harmonic coexistence with the local community, and our collaboration with health and social services, for the benefit of our residents and their families.

We managed to create, what may be considered, the most suitable and appropriately staffed centre of long term hospitalisation for patients suffering from dementia in our country. The services we provide are based on scientific background, and are oriented towards the elderly residents, their supportive environment, and the professional carers.

The quality of care is ensured through investing in human capital, in knowledge and specialisation and in a dignified living environment. Through our dynamic approach, our residents enjoy the right to participate in the functions or the unit and social activities".

Source: Aktios Elderly Care Unit

Rehab Station Stockholm

"Rehab Station Stockholm is an affiliate to Praktikertjänst - the largest private health care provider in Sweden. The first rehabilitation programme at Rehab Station started in 1987. Since then we have been expanding both nationally and internationally.

Rehab Station Stockholm offers a scientific and forward thinking approach to spinal cord injury rehabilitation. We are proud to have created a positive and friendly atmosphere, enabling clients to reach their full potential. Our goal is for patients to regain or maintain an active role in society, with a high degree of autonomy and quality of life.

The multidisciplinary team at Rehab Station Stockholm offer expertise within rehabilitation medicine, neurology, sexology/ fertility and pain management. Consultants in a number of other areas are also available".

Swiss Paraplegic Centre

"Swiss Paraplegic Centre is Europe's leading centre for paraplegia, spinal cord injuries and diseases. We have a common objective of delivering holistic, lifelong care for patients. We claim to be the "best in class" in all important disciplines, as well as acute and long-term treatment.

To this end:

as a unique centre, we offer our patients services which are geared towards their specific needs, meeting high ethical, scientific and practical demands. The GZI's Research Team makes a central contribution towards achieving the desired targets.
on the one hand, we wish to deploy our special departments as an integrated part of the holistic care we give our patients; on the other hand, they are establishing themselves in the external market both regionally and nationally as important service providers in medical provision.
we run the SPC with highly skilled, enthusiastic employees who put their patients first, taking responsibility for the extraordinary satisfaction of our patients and their relatives. This creates a sense of purpose and personal fulfilment and creates the energy that it takes to contribute towards the development of the SPC, in the service of the patient.
we nurture a corporate culture which is characterised by common values and shared objectives, namely commitment, leadership, a humane approach, cooperation, and openness and fairness in our dealings with one another.
Innovation, cost efficiency and enhanced quality are important prerequisites for the implementation of this vision and for sustainable success. In order to maintain our freedom to make decisions and our control, we feel that it is imperative to be on a sound financial footing".

Source: Swiss Paraplegic Centre