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It is another gray day in Northern Michigan, with
the leaves finally falling and the cold weather setting
in for the next few months. It is a sure signal that
the end of another year is approaching, and it is natural
to reflect on all that has transpired.
After the constant news of world unrest, it is exciting
and inspiring to hear a story like Christopher Reeve's.
The news of his continued successes with nerve regeneration
as a result of new and intense rehabilitation gives
hope to people with spinal cord damage and to the many
clinical providers who work with them every day.
Each day, the nurses and therapists who are a part
of Reeve's care team direct and provide the most vigorous
and intense therapy that I have ever heard provided
to an individual. It gives me hope that if everyone
who needs this level of rehabilitation could get it,
we might make monumental strides in returning function
to many people with nerve injuries.
We now have new knowledge of treatment modalities that
can make a difference. It will be equally important
to drive changes in reimbursement to support the additional
services. We will have to prove to the insurance companies
that the investment in intense rehabilitation can result
in substantial recovery for these patients.
Discussion of this type of intense rehab therapy for
stroke and brain injury patients has been growing and,
increasingly, the research is supporting the improved
outcomes.
So as I look back over the year, this is a medical
breakthrough that I am excited about. With the new technologies
and clinical knowledge, there is so much for us to look
forward to seeing in our lifetimes. It is easy to get
bogged down in the day-to-day problems, but it is these
new discoveries that will be a part of our nursing care
tomorrow. We will be the ones to carry the new discoveries
forward and to make a difference to our patients. The
success of Reeve's therapies created hope for many people.
And that is half the battle in a long process of rehabilitation.
NURSEWEEK was welcomed into Reeve's home for this
story because of the tremendous respect he has for
nurses. I will remember this story as a highlight of
2002.
Discuss this and other topics with your colleagues
at www.nurseweek.com/rnvillage
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