Generosity benefits patients at Providence Care

Thanks to the generosity of donors, through the University Hospitals Kingston Foundation, Providence Care was recently able to purchase two new pieces of equipment. The equipment utilizes functional electrical stimulation (FES) which is an adaptive and customized technology that targets specific muscle groups to facilitate coordinated muscle patterns.

What does this mean for the people we serve? The equipment will be used to help patients recover from a variety of neurological conditions, including stroke, traumatic brain injury, or spinal cord injury.

The first piece of equipment is a leg and thigh cuff which can help to improve gait speed, stability, symmetry and stride, and prevent and/or reduce falls. The second piece of equipment is an orthosis which incorporates flexion, extension, and opposition of the thumb. Both pieces of equipment help patients to regain natural function and mobility.

A few years ago a representative from Bioness visited St. Mary’s of the Lake Hospital. As part of their presentation, several patients were able to trial the equipment. Mary Jo-Demers, Professional Practice Leader for Physiotherapy, recalls one stroke survivor testing the equipment and being amazed at the changes to her gait. Following her stroke “she had not been able to run at all, and even walking was a challenge. Following the trial she was able to keep a much more efficient gait pattern for several hours which made it easier for her to walk” said Demers.

Kathi Colwell, Program Manager for the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation units at Providence Care Hospital, said that staff are ready to be trained on the new equipment are looking forward to implementing it into their daily practice.

Both pieces of equipment will greatly help our patients with their activities of daily living, which is an important part of rehabilitation and recovery. It is because of the support and generosity of our donors that state-of-the-art technology such as this can continue to be purchased to deliver state-of-the-art care.

Visit the University Hospitals Kingston Foundation website to learn how you can become a donor and make a difference in the future of the Kingston hospitals.