By Mahmood Saberi, Senior Reporter - Gulf News
Published: June 17, 2009, 23:06
Dubai: With cases of people being left severely impaired after traffic accidents, Rashid Hospital has set up a special unit to provide rehabilitation to severe trauma cases such as patients with spinal cord and brain injuries.
"Spinal cord injuries usually occur to people between 18 to 45 years. These are productive and young people. If you do not provide rehab services to them, they will stay at home and become a burden to their families and the society. Our goal is to give them a meaningful life," Dr Suad Trebinjac, head of physical medicine and rehabilitation, said.
Qadi Saeed Al Muroshid, Director General of Dubai health Authority (DHA) said the eight-bed unit is the first of its kind in-patient rehab facility to be set up in a government hospital.
Across the world, developed countries are facing a growing demand for rehabilitation services and we have responded to that demand."
Dr Trebinjac said medical costs rise if the injured person is not rehabilitated.
The unit has five staff and 21 nurses to treat eight in-patients. Every day they get three hours of treatment by speech therapists, psychologists, psiotherapists and medical doctors.
Physical functions, includes
standing, walking, and to some extend improving body balance. Improving
cognitive functions include memory, space disorientation and concentration.
"We have to take into consideration their physiological needs because many of
these patients suffer from depression and aggressive behaviour," Dr Trebinjac
said