Neuro Weekend working

My physio department has just started exploring the possibility of treating in-patients with neurological conditions on a weekend. These would include strokes, head injuries and MS amongst others if it was to happen.
A common question in our team meetings seems to be are there any such neuro weekend lists already up and running in other hospitals in the UK?
It would also be helpful to know if treatment is for maintainance e.g. positioning, passive movements etc. or more pro-active, and which grades of staff cover it?

Any information would be appreciated

Thanks

Vickie

Hello Vickie,
sorry, i read ur post only today about neuro week end working.
If u still r planning this idea of week end work on stroke and head injury it is truly a brilliant idea.
i work on week ends for stroke and cerebral palsy children, for not passive movement, or maintenance but for functional return from the paralysed side.
I evaluate the patient based on the vasa concept and direct them with exercise programme which are short term goal oriented plans that they must meet before they can get my next appointment.
If, they do not meet the short tems goal, they are asked to work for one more week till they meet the goal.
Those who r dedicated and disciplened workers they are seen to set next goal with the aim to meet larger goal in few weeks to months.
Therapist only works as a director directing the actors(the patients) and if need be one can take help of physio assistants or the nursing staff or any family member who is willing to be around the patient just to make the patient feel secure for balance while patient is actively carrying out the exercise designed only for that patioent.
This is one way to make therapy cheaper and patient more responsible and answerable instead of therapists remaining in the answerable position when it is not a pill that works on his problem that he gulps with water and goes to sleep and gets
cured, in rehab it is his active participation that is mandatory and it is always a joint operation between patient and therapist combined.Even after 10 years of stroke one can make a new beginning and certainly get good results.
Rehab actually is a joint operation where in there is no anesthesia, patient is not receiving passively any surgical technique one time by lying on the operation table and skill of surgeon unilaterally can get good results as there is no interference of the patient's mind, preconceived ideas, negative feed back about the condition from neurologists. GPs, rehab doctors etc.for therapist to handle single handedly for weeks and months.
Toast to our unique position as the only professional who can do such marathon job under almost unfavorable conditions.
Cheers.


rajul vasa
www.brainstrokes.com