Rehabilitation

Acute rehab services for

Life Rehabilitation is expanding its acute physical and Eastern Cape cognitive rehabilitation services to the Eastern Cape, with the opening of a new unit at Life St. Dominic’s Hospital in East by mid 2007.

“There is a huge demand for acute rehabilitation Eastern Cape to ensure that rehabilitation services in services in the Border area. Our new 16-bed unit will the region are streamlined and strengthened as much as significantly improve access to these services, and our possible,” he added. expertise and experience in this highly specialised field “The new development fits in well with Life will bring new hope for persons disabled by traumatic Rehabilitation’s structured expansion strategy to extend brain or spinal injury, stroke or other debilitating our services to regions and communities where these diseases. The new development underscores our are viable and most needed. We are well on our way to steady growth, from just 28 beds when we established providing a national network of quality, specialised our first unit in 1999, to over 150 beds currently in six rehabilitation units,” says Dr Patel. rehabilitation units in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and the Life Rehabilitation is also in the process of expanding Free State,” says Dr Nilesh Patel, national manager Life Entabeni’s rehabilitation facilities in to rehabilitation. probably double its existing size in the near future. A “The East London unit will accommodate a broad facility upgrade is also underway at Life New Kensington spectrum of rehabilitation services and will be staffed by Clinic in , while Life Pasteur Hospital in a comprehensive interdisciplinary team including a is expanding from 15 to 27 beds. rehabilitation doctor, nursing staff, therapy professionals Last year, Life Rehabilitation opened a specialised such as speech, occupational and physiotherapists, as stroke unit at Life Little Company of Mary and a well as psychologists, dieticians and a social worker. We neurological and spinal rehabilitation unit at Life Eugene will also work closely with various organisations in the Marais Hospital, both in Tshwane. Disabled team shines in business relay The KPMG-JHI Business Relay, held towards the end of 2006 in KwaZulu- Natal, was an excellent opportunity to expose the abilities of wheelchair- bound people to the business fraternity as well as the general public. The rehabilitation unit at Life Entabeni Hospital took advantage of this occasion by organising accessibility to the race for disabled athletes. Daniel Baijnath of Life Entabeni, left, and Martin Visagie of the company Mr Wheelchair, right, were the only disabled team to enter the relay. Sharon Rawlins, admissions consultant, back, captained the team. KPMG-JHI allocated a separate lane for them, and they were accompanied by Life Rehabilitation employees Lesley Vezi, Thabane Nxumalo, Zandile Sibiya, Dr Hugh Staub and Estelle Buys, who offered support and assistance. The team completed the 15km in good time, and was welcomed into King’s Park with enthusiastic applause.

Page 3 Page 6 Neuro CPD calendar for 2007/8 New Entabeni team ISSUE 7 autumn 2007 training and networking

NDT course Rehab teams sparkle enhances quality in National Quality Awards of rehab Two Life Rehabilitation teams were amongst the ten finalists in Life Healthcare’s National Quality Awards for 2006. Both teams excelled in presenting the outcomes of the projects to the company’s senior management during the awards event held early this year.

Nina Strydom, rehabilitation standards unit manager, all from Life Pasteur manager, and a team from Life Hospital, initiated the other finalist Entabeni Hospital launched the project project, focused on implementing a that championed the employment of user-friendly and effective method of disabled people in Life Healthcare managing functional risks in wards through a process that includes where patients are functionally Estelle Buys, physiotherapist at Life Entabeni’s rehabilitation unit, assisted with competency evaluation, workplace compromised. The system educates the presentation of an adult NDT course adaptation and employee education. staff, patients and families and ensures The project has already been high levels of awareness in managing A professional rehabilitation team instrumental in a number of successful the common risks in care, for example, treats many patients with similar appointments in the Life Healthcare slips and falls. diagnoses, but the patients are vastly network. Both teams reinforced the high different depending on their mental Corina Botha, therapy unit manager, standard and creative commitment to status, level of trauma, support Heleen van Wyk, physiotherapist, quality service delivery in Life systems, previous health status and Christina Fourie, nursing services Rehabilitation units, as well as to the personal circumstances. It is thus manager, and Nelia Fourie, nursing disabled community at large. essential that therapists have the skills and knowledge that equip them to evaluate the clinical challenges they are faced with, and to make individual decisions for each patient. One of the sets of skills that underpin the physical handling of patients is neurodevelopmental therapy (NDT) skills, and for this purpose, Life Rehabilitation in Durban hosted a three-week long adult NDT course on the evaluation and treatment of adults with neurological lesions. Mary Reilly, an The Life Entabeni team: Nadia Cozzi, hospitality manager (second from left), Nadia Vice, experienced trainer and HR practitioner (third from left), Bronwen Glaeser, unit manager trauma (fourth from right), Nina Strydom, rehabilitation standards manager (third from right), and Jill physiotherapist, was the instructor, Dunstone, theatre manager (second from right), seen here with Helene Clement, GM with Estelle Buys, a Life healthcare services (far left), Mike Flemming, managing director (fourth from left), Dena Rehabilitation physiotherapist who is van den Bergh, GM national healthcare functions (fifth from left), and Kathy Wundram, national standards manager (far right). currently training to become an instructor, assisting her. The course accommodated 15 The team from Life Pasteur, participants - nine occupational from left: Dr Michelle van Zyl, therapists, five physiotherapists and a rehabilitation doctor, Corina Botha, unit manager therapy, and speech therapist. Life Rehabilitation Heleen van Wyk, physiotherapist, ensures that a high percentage of its pictured here with Dr Nilesh Patel, national manager rehabilitation. professional staff is NDT-trained.

2 training and networking Neuro CPD events calendar for 2007/8 Life Rehabilitation has put together an exciting CPD programme, featuring topics for all rehabilitation professionals with a special interest in neurology. The events can be viewed on www.rehab.co.za. The focus will be on skills training and various one to CPD TOPICS: three day workshops will be hosted by different Life I Facilitation of breathing for speech intervention Rehabilitation facilities, featuring recognised experts. I Alternative and augmentative communication Each expert will cover theory and practical skills training I Splinting in neurological disability (including the use of as well as patient/equipment demonstrations. In addition, Botox®) participants will be able to practice within the structure of I Upper limb rehabilitation in spinal cord injury the event. I Sexuality in disability Should you be interested in further details, please contact I Using Brunnstrom and Rood’s neurotechniques in Leslene Pükke at [email protected] or on practical therapy 011 219 9620 for a brochure. I Upper limb therapeutic electrical stimulation and The joint congress of the Southern African Spinal Cord splinting Association (SASCA) and the Southern African I Implementing NDT principles for nurses Neurological Rehabilitation Association (SANRA) will be I Sensory integration in adults held at the International Convention Centre in Durban, from I Seating for neurological disability 4 to 7 September 2007. For further details please contact I Cognitive and visual perceptual rehabilitation in Alison Shaw at 031 539 3605 or [email protected]. neurology

Technology solutions Private/public sector networking issues and for rehabilitation opportunities to network. There are probably less than 20 medical practitioners who practice full-time in the field of rehabilitation As part of our commitment medicine in and to networking and sharing currently there are no ideas, Life Rehabilitation’s postgraduate training team of rehabilitation programmes available for A full-day seminar on the latest low to high technology doctors recently visited the medical practitioners who solutions to rehabilitation challenges was held at Life new Western Cape want to specialise in the field Riverfield Lodge in November. Guest speakers covered Rehabilitation Centre in of neurological and spinal augmentative and alternative communication, software Lentegeur, Mitchell’s Plain. rehabilitation. Featured options for cognitive rehabilitation, therapeutic electrical The WCRC is a customised, here, front from left to right, stimulation, treadmill-based unweighing and gait state-of-the-art facility with are Dr Hugh Staub, retrainers, pressure mapping for seating and general 156 beds. The unit is an rehabilitation neurologist at assistive devices. Therapists from all over the country amalgamation of the Life Entabeni Hospital, Dr attended and used the opportunity for networking and rehabilitation services Helen Sammons, WCRC, discussion. Gillian Coetsee, occupational therapist in previously offered by the and Dr Anna Marx from Life private practice, is seen here demonstrating the use of Western Cape Department Eugene Marais Hospital. functional/therapeutic electrical stimulation on patient Mr of Health at Karl Bremer and Back from left are Dr Krys Pieter Bothma. In the background is one of Life Riverfield Conradie Hospitals. Mon from Life Riverfield Lodge’s physiotherapists, Philip Avraam, standing next to Rehabilitation doctors from Lodge, Dr Stefan Erasmus, patient Mrs Leonora Barnett, who also kindly allowed the both the private and public WCRC, and Dr Elana van speakers to demonstrate treatment techniques on her. sectors discussed several Brakel, WCRC. 3 programme enhancements NKC therapy pups boost patient and staff morale

therapy pets was formed while the arms by both patients and staff. His unit’s case administrator, Charlene immediate impact on morale was so Kruger, watched a television overwhelming that the team decided programme on animal assisted to introduce his brother, named therapy. Realising that patients get Bobby, a few weeks later. This has lonely and often have pets at home worked well, as the dogs have that they miss terribly, the team different personalities, which together decided to start a pilot project based accommodate a wide variety of loosely on the concept in the television patient needs. programme, as well as on international The puppies now join Charlene on therapy dog programmes to add value her daily care rounds to dish out their during their patients’ stay in the special brand of cuddle therapy, which rehabilitation unit. is eagerly awaited by patients. The innovative therapy dog Firstly, Life Healthcare’s safety, Charlene is a registered judge with programme at Life New Kensington health, environment and quality the Kennel Union of Southern Africa Clinic – featured in the previous issue (SHEQ) principles were implemented and a member of the SA Board for of our newsletter – was recently with regards to the introduction of Companion Animal Professionals. She publicised in the Sunday Times and in animals in the unit. Following that, will be writing her final exam in animal Beeld. A film crew from Kyknet’s Kwêla Charlene experimented with a few behaviour in March with Professor programme also visited the unit to breeds before approaching a top Odendaal from Onderstepoort, where capture the interaction between breeder of Golden Retrievers, who she is also enrolled in an animal patients and the dogs, and get first donated a puppy. ‘Benjamin’ was assisted activities course. Charlene hand comments from patients and introduced into his future workplace in has done several courses in animal staff on the value of the programme. October 2006, at the age of eight psychology, training, movement and The concept of using resident weeks, and was welcomed with open temperament.

Power Plate – adding value to physical rehabilitation

Many therapists, biokineticists and fitness fanatics are exercise routine. The duration and intensity of the vibration currently using the Power Plate Advanced Vibration is selected carefully for each individual’s needs and Technology© to enhance their treatment sessions and capabilities. training programmes. Several studies have been The Power Plate operates on the principle of generating conducted to confirm the positive effects achieved. a continuous special stretch reflex called the tonic Life Pasteur’s unit has trialed Power Plate in their vibration reflex in all involved muscles. For most people in programmes. Former Springbok flank Andre Venter, who conventional training situations, a maximum of 40% of was an inpatient in the unit, had a daily training session on available muscle fibres per muscle are recruited. The the Power Plate to complement his rehabilitation Power Plate vibrations claim to recruit between 95% and programme. Andre was very impressed with the machine 97% of muscle fibres. This also means that the deeper and this intervention clearly contributed to his improvement. posture and stabilizing muscles, such as the spinal Other patients in the unit have also used the Power Plate muscles and the pelvic basin muscles that are normally with positive results. hard to train, can be stimulated. The device is designed to The Power Plate is a vibrating platform on which the increase metabolism, muscles strength, flexibility, patient positions himself in order to perform a certain circulation and fitness.

4 going the extra mile Wheels for Recreation part of rehabilitation Huyiberto Life New Kensington Clinic came to the aid of a man who crawled into church on his hands and knees, where Jabu Mnanzana, rehabilitation ward clerk at the unit noticed his plight. Jabu, with many years of experience in the rehabilitation environment, was so moved by Huyiberto Mahlalela that he approached the unit for assistance. His request resulted in the donation of a wheelchair to Huyiberto, who now gets around much easier. Back, left, are Jabu Mnanzana, Erina Steyl, occupational therapist, and Huyiberto Mahlalela. An outing to the Umgeni River Bird Park, to mark the National Day of the Disabled, provided patients from Life Entabeni’s rehabilitation unit with a welcome break from their daily routine. “Outings form part of the rehabilitation programmes and are essential in exposing patients to experiences outside of the safe hospital environment. This is an important part of pre-discharge preparation,” says Leanne Arlow, recently appointed practice manager at the unit. The group was transported to the park courtesy of the QuadPara Association and had the opportunity to enjoy the huge variety of birds in the park and attend the bird show, before sharing lunch together. Back, from left, are staff members Rassool Khan, Crystal Moosajie, Dusti Booysen, Tracey Bruce, Raymond Davisworth, René Erasmus and Vash Woompath, with patients, front from left, Vernon Nyembe, Musa Vumase, John Clapperton, Bezile Mokoqama and Mbongwa Nhlangulela. Kneeling with the unit’s youngest patient, Fezile Dludla, is staff member Lesley Vezi. Surprise visits for Pasteur patients Stroke Services Seminar

Life Little Company of Mary recently held a breakfast seminar, which also presented a great opportunity for visitors to see the new facility and to gain understanding of the services being offered. LCM’s dedicated stroke service, which is unique in this country in its ability to deliver The new year got off to a great start for some of Life Pasteur’s rehabilitation services throughout the continuum of patients when they received unexpected visits from the Minister of Defence, care – from acute care to acute Mr Patrick Lekota, as well as coach Rassie Erasmus, and Naka rehabilitation to outpatient therapy – Drotske, captain of the Cheetahs who won the in 2005. Rassie and are delivered by specialised teams. Naka brought the cup with them as a special surprise for patient and staunch The need for this service is illustrated Cheetahs supporter, Alwyn Nel, insert, on request of former Springbok flank by the fact that patients are traveling Andre Venter, also a patient at the time. From left to right are minister Patrick from throughout Gauteng and much Lekota, Sarah Koahela, enrolled nurse, Andre Venter and Alrina Boom, further afield for the services. hospitality attendant. 5 updates Riverfield team’s wealth of experience featured on TV

The skilled therapist team at Life Riverfield Lodge recently shared their first-hand experience of the impact and potentially devastating results of motor vehicle accidents on camera for an Arrive Alive TV campaign. The footage, which included short documentaries on patients at the unit, was aimed at educating the general public on safe driving practices. Life Riverfield Lodge, reflecting the model in Life Rehabilitation, has a core team of experienced therapists who have been at the unit for a number of years. Their wealth of experience and team cohesion ensure that patients are receiving intensive, comprehensive and individualised treatment. Seen here are, back, Dean Donaldson, therapy manager Another huge advantage that an experienced core team at Life Riverfield Lodge, front, left to right, Philip Avraam, creates is the establishment of an ideal environment for physiotherapist, Lynne van Zyl, dietician, Liliena Geyser, younger therapists who are interested in rehabilitation, physiotherapist, Sulice Pietersen, speech therapist and to develop and learn sound rehabilitation knowledge Rolene Hovsha, psychologist. Insert: Monica Dube, and skills. social worker. New staff New Entabeni management team A new management team has been put in Sonja Wright is a place at the rehabilitation unit at Life clinical psychologist Entabeni Hospital in January. This forms who has wide and part of a restructuring strategy to varied experience in a accommodate the expansion of the unit to number of different double its current size. areas, including private Heading the unit as rehabilitation practice practice, foreign affairs, correctional manager is Leanne Arlow, centre, who will manage the full interdisciplinary services and corporate employee team. Leanne previously worked in Life Entabeni Hospital’s general high care assistance. She recently joined the unit where she was involved with neurological, orthopaedic and surgical rehabilitation team at Life Eugene patients. Her organisational skills, high level of motivation and passion for Marais Hospital. patient care adds huge value to this very dynamic unit. Sr Ashika Kaliyan, right, has been appointed as nursing services co- Sello Matona is the newest recruit ordinator. She has been with the unit since its inception, and has gained within the therapist team at Life New extensive skills and insight into dealing with the unique challenges of the Kensington Clinic. He qualified as a rehabilitation process. Ashika has experience in intensive care, neurology and physiotherapist at Medunsa and was rehabilitation nursing. previously employed at AngloGold Dusti Booysen, left, occupational therapist, is the unit’s new therapy services Ashanti and in government. co-ordinator. She enjoys the field of neurological rehabilitation and is currently completing her third year of Masters in Public Health through the Faculty of Life Rehabilitation at Health Sciences at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. Entabeni welcomed Romy Perkins to the team as clinical RFL goes underground psychologist. She completed her first Life Riverfield Lodge’s clinical team recently visited AngloGold Ashanti’s Tautona mine, year Masters at the University of to experience first-hand the working Durban Westville, and has worked at environment of mine workers who are Addington, King Edward and RK referred for rehabilitation post-injury. Seen Khan hospitals, Ilembe District Health here are staff members from AngloGold Office and in private practice. Ashanti and Life Riverfield Lodge. 6 professional profiles OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS Essential and valued members of Life Rehabilitation

One of the biggest shocks that people experience after a disabling illness or injury is the loss of function – whether of a physical, emotional, communicative, social, and/or self care nature. There are so many things that active able-bodied people achieve in a day, without a second thought – making a cup of tea, buying a loaf of bread, brushing teeth, climbing out of bed, getting dressed – that it’s difficult to imagine the change in one’s life should these skills be compromised. Occupational therapists are trained to manage the well as assessing the challenges that patients are likely challenges brought about by compromised function, and to encounter in their home and work environments, to teach patients to compensate for the losses in function, and facing these challenges together with the patient be they physical or psychological, or to adapt and retrain and family. some functions that have changed due to disability. Occupational therapists are essential and valued In the rehabilitation environment, occupational therapists members of rehabilitation teams employed at Life focus on therapy relating to activities of daily living Rehabilitation, working closely with other professionals to (ranging from simple tasks like washing and dressing, to ensure optimal independence and a return to productive advanced tasks like budgeting, shopping, getting around life for all of our patients. and interacting appropriately in a social environment), Occupational therapy assistants (OTAs) are responsible mobility and general emotional adjustment related to daily for assisting occupational therapists in providing the function. occupational therapy service, including support with Another important facet of their contribution is the wheelchair mobility and maintenance, cognitive and significant amounts of time they spend in educating perceptual groups and craft groups. They also play a large families regarding function and adaptation of function, as part in patient education and teaching self-care activities.

Elma Heyns (OT) Marethe Erasmus (OT) Marista Snyman (OT) Riaan du Toit (OT) Life Pasteur Hospital Life Eugene Marais Hospital Life Eugene Marais Hospital Life Riverfield Lodge

Kläre Heine (OT) Sharize Lategan (OT) Rowena Voss (OT) Julie Neil (OT) Life Riverfield Lodge Life Riverfield Lodge Life New Kensington Clinic Life New Kensington Clinic.

Miriam Krawitz (OT) Erina Steyl (OT) Alison Camp (OT) Deshni Naidoo (OT) Life New Kensington Clinic Life New Kensington Clinic Life Entabeni Hospital Life Entabeni Hospital

Janine Muller (OT) Emily Coetzer (OT) Lesley Vezi (OTA) Nelly Ntuli (OTA) Life Entabeni Hospital Life Little Company of Mary Life Entabeni Hospital Life New Kensington Clinic

7 Jan Sibiya – a picture of positivity Contact Jan Sibiya, a 45 year-old bus driver, was us involved in a bus accident in July 2006, and was admitted to Life Eugene Marais Hospital with Life Entabeni Hospital 148 South Ridge Road, Berea polytrauma including extensive fragmented Durban 4001 fractures of both lower legs. The extensive Tel: 031 204 1300 nature of the fractures ultimately forced doctors Fax: 031 261 3439 E-mail: [email protected] to perform bilateral amputations, directly below his knees. Once medically stabilised, Jan was Life Eugene Marais Hospital transferred to Life Rehabilitation at the hospital. 696 5th Avenue, Les Marais Tshwane 0084 From his first day of admission, Jan launched Tel: 012 334 2504 himself into his rehabilitation programme with Fax: 012 334 2508 great enthusiasm. His attitude was so E-mail: [email protected]

overwhelmingly positive that staff initially Life Little Company of Mary suspected that he wasn’t accepting his condition 50 George Storrar Drive, Groenkloof or coming to terms emotionally with his loss. Jan Tshwane 0181 Tel: 012 452 9440 continued though with his daily programme, Fax: 012 346 0562 working up a sweat in the gym and in group E-mail: [email protected] exercises, rapidly increasing his physical Life New Kensington Clinic strength and endurance. 23 Roberts Avenue, Kensington Very soon, Jan was able to perform all physical and functional activities Johannesburg 2001 independently and was zipping around in his wheelchair faster than any able- Tel: 011 614 7125 Fax: 011 614 3037 bodied person could walk. His rehabilitation was lengthy, as it took a long time for E-mail: [email protected] his stump wounds to heal enough to allow for prosthetic fitting. Jan finally received his prosthetic limbs in December and could stand on his Life Pasteur Hospital 54 Pasteur Drive, Hospital Park own two feet for the first time in over four months. He has since been Bloemfontein 9301 discharged, determined to resume his life and vowing to go back to work as soon Tel: 051 520 1230 as possible. We remember him for his pragmatic outlook and indomitable spirit, Fax: 051 520 1231 E-mail: [email protected] and his positive approach to life. Life Riverfield Lodge Wedding bells for spirited couple Southernwoods Road, Nietgedacht Johannesburg 2001 Tel: 011 460 1970 (or 082 563 4041 The rehabilitation team at Life Pasteur Hospital when the lines are down) Fax: 011 460 1977 was privileged to witness the recovery of two E-mail: [email protected] young people who were determined not to become the victims of their disabling injuries. Life St Dominic’s Hospital (opening in mid 2007) In January 2004, Alan James and his 45 St. Mark’s Road, Southernwood, fiancée, Anescka Henning, were involved in a East London, 5201 motor vehicle accident which left them with Tel: 043 743 4303 Fax: 043 722 3250 significant injuries. It was never thought that E-mail: [email protected] they would ever have the capacity to get married and live independently. However, their Life Rehabilitation National Office physical limitations did not stand in the way of Oxford Manor, 21 Chaplin Road their happiness and they got married in November 2006. The rehabilitation team Illovo 2196 was not only actively involved in their rehabilitation process, but some team Tel: 011 219 9620 Fax: 086 686 0441 members were also present on their wedding day. E-mail: [email protected] Alan was left with impaired upper limb function and Anescka has no active movement in her legs. He has managed to find employment and the couple is living in a townhouse, managing well with all the domestic challenges, and www.rehab.co.za complementing each other, even from a functional perspective.

Review is published by Life Rehabilitation for distribution to rehabilitation stakeholders. Editor: Marietjie Shelly, communications manager, Life Healthcare • E-mail: [email protected] • Tel: 011 219 9000 Life Healthcare • Oxford Manor, 21 Chaplin Road, Illovo 2196 • Private Bag X13, Northlands 2116