Can Do! Spring 2014 by Kimberly Shrack

CAN DO!

News from Magee Rehabilitation hospital sPrING 2014

FLOWER POWER Exploring the Healing Effects of Nature Through Horticultural Therapy Introducing the Vector, the Latest in Rehabilitation Technology Now at Magee Coming Soon: Creative Therapy Center and Healing Garden

CAN DO! SPRING 2012

Cover Story: Horticultural therapy harnesses the healing power of nature, one flower at a time. “I used the flower as a metaphor for my recovery. As the flower got stronger and grew, I got stronger and grew with it. I was the flower, and by taking care of it, we both were getting stronger.” —Josh Crompton, former patient (Cover photo by Josh)

Table of Contents CAN DO! SPRING 2014

SAVE THE DATE! MaY 2, 2014 PAgE 8

Kimberly shrack, ms Public relations & social media manager 1513 race street Philadelphia, PA 19102-1177 Phone (215) 587-3363 mageerehab.org Please write to us at the address above, or call if you wish to have your name removed from the list to receive CanDo! or future fundraising requests to support Magee Rehabilitation Hospital.

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CHECKING IN…

FLOWER POWER

Catching up with former patients Jacqueline Gilbert and Diana Luscombe.

Learn more about magee’s Horticultural Therapy Program and the impact nature can have on patients’ health and well-being.

THE CHECK-UP WITH DR. HELENA LAX

INTRODUCING THE VECTOR

COMING SOON: CREATIVE THERAPY CENTER AND HEALING GARDEN

SHARING OUR EXPERTISE: CONCUSSIONS

meet Dr. Helena Lax, Director of magee’s General rehabilitation and Amputee Programs.

Thanks to the Vector, a new robotic gait training system, magee patients are able to get back on their feet sooner than ever before.

Through donor support, magee is planning to develop the Creative Therapy Center and Healing Garden on the Hospital’s sixth floor. The new space will serve as a center of activity for patients and their families.

magee is known across the region as an expert in concussions— and now we’re taking that expertise on the road. Learn how we’re working with schools to prevent concussions.

A LeTTeR fRoM ouR PReSIdeNT ANd Ceo JACK A. CARROLL

Dear Friends: with each spring edition of the Can Do, I usually end up talking about the welcoming of warmer weather, longer days, and the reassurance of renewal for everything growing green in the city and countryside. In this edition, I have the perfect backdrop for those thoughts as you are introduced, or hopefully reintroduced, to the many benefits provided to our patients as they participate in our Horticultural Therapy Program. Today, our rooftop greenhouse and container gardens provide real therapy and well-earned relaxation for our patients. future patients will benefit from a large expansion of our horticultural therapy initiatives when our major gift campaign to make a roof-top Creative Therapy Center and Healing Garden becomes a reality. Another special feature within this edition showcases one of our newest therapeutic tools, the Vector robotic gait-training system. simply put, it is a robotic, ceiling mounted, trolley-like hoist that runs 130 feet down the hallway near our 3rd floor gym. It safely holds a patient in a parachute-like harness and follows the patient as they walk. most importantly, the system prevents anyone from falling as they are getting their “sea legs” back under them! As you’ll read, the benefits are many—but strip away all the clinical talk, and it really means our patients are upright, getting their balance and walking sooner than we could ever accomplish before.

At magee, we strive for the perfect blend of high tech and high touch within all of our patient programming. This new system is an example of that credo in action. If you enjoy sports, either as a participant or as an enthusiastic spectator, and you have never been to one of our Night of Champions events, then you are missing out on one of the most motivating and fun-filled events that magee hosts. In this, our 14th year, the evening will be bigger and better than ever! It’s a casual evening featuring many of Philadelphia’s celebrity athletes and media personalities, plus the members from our own wheelchair sports teams. Add in some great food, live entertainment, a raffle and silent auction, and it all adds up to a fundraising event that supports not only wheelchair sports, but also the other patient programming at the Hospital that separates magee from all the others! Come join us, either again or for the first time, on may 2 at Penns Landing Caterers—you won’t be disappointed. I don’t want to give away all the surprises, so jump inside now and see for yourself that at magee, busy is as busy does. And thanks to your support throughout the year, we stay busy! enjoy the spring! sincerely,

Jack A. Carroll, PhD, MHA

CAN DO! SPRING 2014

Every now and then, a former patient drops us a line. Recently we heard from Jacqueline Gilbert and Diana Luscombe.

CHECKING IN WITH… Before her car accident, Jacqueline Gilbert was a member of the Military Police in the Army National Guard. You would expect a traumatic brain injury to impact her military career. And it did; now, she’s been promoted to sergeant.

Jacqueline Gilbert

But there was a lot that happened in between. on may 5, 2012, Jacqueline was in a horriﬁc car crash. she was in a coma for 15 days, and sustained dozens of fractures in her ribs, a broken collarbone and blood clots in her brain. The clots were successfully removed, but the surgery left her with a traumatic brain injury. when she arrived at magee, she had to relearn everything—and we do mean everything. “Basically, I was being rebuilt,” she said. “I had a feeding tube, a tracheotomy—I had to relearn how to walk, how to talk, how to eat… I had to start over.” And relearn she did. she went through therapy with the same focus and drive she brought to military training. she was not only determined to get back to where she was before—she wanted to be even better. “I wouldn’t accept that I had any limitations, or that I couldn’t accomplish certain things,” she said. And one of those things was getting back to the military. while her time as an inpatient and outpatient prepared her for life in the real world, she had a long way to go before she was National Guard ready. Not only did she

need to meet physical requirements to be cleared for active duty, but she also had to relearn skills and procedures she had down before her injury. “I went to the gym every day to get my strength back,” she said. “But I also reread all my military manuals, and retaught myself everything I could. when I was allowed to go back for drills, I practiced with my team. I was determined.” Her hard work paid off. In January 2013, she was cleared to return to the National Guard on a limited basis and promoted to sergeant. she was officially and fully medically cleared by military personnel in November 2013. But after all her hard work to leave magee, Jacqueline did something that made everyone at the hospital smile: she came back. Not as a patient, but as a volunteer. she started in dining services (which, she points out, is a LoT more than preparing and serving food—it involves a great deal of one-to-one patient interaction) and was so loved by the staff and patients that she was offered a parttime position. But she didn’t stop there. she also serves as a peer mentor, sharing her knowledge and experiences with newly brain injured patients, and encouraging them to believe in a way back. “when I tell people I was a patient at magee, they never would have guessed,” she said. “You think, ‘who am I to help anybody?’ But just something as simple as sharing your experiences gives people hope. They can take that little bit of information and do great things with it.” so what’s next for Jacqueline? she is currently working toward a career in rehabilitation with soldiers and other military personnel. she wants to provide others with the same support that was provided to her—and everyone at magee agrees there’s no one better suited for that role than her.

CAN DO! SPRING 2014

CHECKING IN WITH…

Diana Luscombe Most people don’t remember the immediate moments of a life-changing injury. At best, many describe a blur with snapshots of scenes and sounds. But for people who have sustained this type of injury, one thing remains etched on their memory: the date.

For Diana Luscombe, it was June 16, 2007. she was driving with her two small children, one only three and a half weeks old, when she was in a horriﬁc rollover car accident. miraculously, neither of her children were injured in the crash. But Diana was. she sustained a C5/C6 incomplete spinal cord injury leaving her paralyzed from the chest down. she spent several weeks in the ICU until she was stable enough to begin her rehabilitation at magee. “when I ﬁrst arrived at magee, I was in a halo and had a lot of anxiety,” she said. “The therapists helped push me through it. They kept me motivated with Locomotor Training and helped me push expectations for myself.” while she had an excellent recovery (she can stand and now walks at least 600 feet every day), she found herself feeling depressed every year around the anniversary of her injury.

“my son was born on may 21 and my accident was June 16—it was a very emotionally charged time of year,” she said. “I wanted to be excited for my son’s birthday, but I was always very down.”

“my dad was a private pilot, so I had been in planes a lot as a kid,” she said. “I reached out to a friend of mine, Cory, who is also a private pilot and told him I wanted to learn—he said he would make it happen.”

In 2011, everything changed—and it was all thanks to an impromptu motorcycle ride. That year on the anniversary of her injury, a close friend suggested she take a ride with him on his bike. It took a LoT of convincing, but she eventually agreed. And two miles of road later, she had a whole new outlook on her injury and her life.

And make it happen he did. with her dad in tow, Diana ﬂew around upstate New York. By the end of the lesson, she was taking oﬀ and landing almost completely independently. Her plan for reclaiming the Day 2014? Horseback riding with her daughter and mom.

“I was so pumped that I was able to stretch myself so far out of my comfort zone that I decided to make it an annual tradition,” she said. “I decided that every year on or around the anniversary of my injury, I would do something life-aﬃrming to focus my energy on living rather than on almost dying. I’m taking back the day.” And Diana is taking back the day in big ways. for reclaiming the Day 2012, she took a hot air balloon ride. she kept with the ﬂying theme in 2013 and took to the skies for a piloting lesson.

“with the help of my family and friends, I am ﬁnding I am way more capable of doing things than I ever thought I would be,” she said. “I attribute the beginning of that attitude to the people at magee. They wouldn’t let me stay down. They pushed me to live up to my potential, and that’s what I am doing.” Does she have anything on her wish list for future reclaiming the Days? she smiles. “I’m open to suggestions.”

CAN DO! SPRING 2014

MAGEE HIGHLIGHTS HUMANITARIAN AWARDS DINNER 2013 The 26th Annual Humanitarian Award Dinner was held on Tuesday, November 19, 2013 at the four seasons Philadelphia where Dan Hilferty, President and Ceo of Independence Blue Cross, was honored with the Humanitarian Award for his outstanding work in the community. A new, all-time high amount for this event was raised, $250,000! The money raised will be used for magee’s new Creative Therapy Center and Healing Garden project on the 6th floor rooftop. At the event, Independence Blue Cross announced a $50,000 challenge gift for the project. for more information about this exciting initiative, contact (215) 587-3090 or healinggarden@mageerehab.org. NEW ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY IN PATIENT RESOURCE CENTER If you haven’t visited magee’s 6th floor Patient resource Center recently, now is a great time! The Center has recently acquired three new 23-inch touchscreen computers with specialized adaptive accessories, including remote controlled touch pads, foot mouse devices, large computer keyboards, and Dragon speech software complete with headset and microphone for our users with special needs. By upgrading the technology in our Patient resource Center, we can enable patients and visitors who are physically and cognitively disabled to access computers and health information resources available online, offering everyone more accessibility. This project has been funded in part with federal funds from the National Library of medicine, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human services, under Contract No. HHs-N-276-2011-00003-C with the University of Pittsburgh, Health sciences Library system.

CAN DO! SPRING 2014

Magee President and CEO Jack Carroll (left) and Magee Chairman of the Board Fred D’Angelo, Jr. (right) congratulate Humanitarian Award winner Dan Hilferty, President and CEO of Independence Blue Cross (center).

Magee Art Therapist Lori Tiberi (left) and Laura Torchin, Magee patient and Art Heals Committee Member

ART HEALS FUNDRAISING EVENTS The Philadelphia foundation will host an exhibit of artwork by magee art therapy participants may 1-August 22, 2014. The Philadelphia foundation is located at 1234 market street, suite 1800. for more information about the exhibit or events that support magee’s Art Therapy Program, contact (215) 587-3090 or giving@mageerehab.org.

New Outpatient Location we’re moving! magee at Yardley will be relocating to the oxford Valley Professional Park in may. This new location is near oxford Valley mall in Langhorne and will be easily accessible from I-95 and route 1. we will continue to oﬀer physical therapy at magee rehab at oxford Valley, and hope to provide additional services in the future. Please call (215) 860-2140 if you would like additional information or directions to the new location.

NIGHT OF CHAMPIONS 2014 On May 2, 2014, Magee will host the 14th Annual Night of Champions. This event supports Magee’s patient and community programs, such as wheelchair sports, art therapy, recreational therapy, the Facility Dog Program, Patient Resource Center and the gaspar Center Outpatient Clinic. There will be special appearances by Magee’s wheelchair tennis, basketball, rugby and racing teams. During the evening, guests will enjoy dinner and have the opportunity to participate in live and silent auctions, a raﬄe and live entertainment. Tickets start at $125. For tickets or more information, contact (215) 587-3090 or giving@MageeRehab.org.

UPCOMING 2014 EVENTS 14th annual night of Champions Friday, May 2, 2014 Penns Landing Caterers Philadelphia, PA (see above)

25th annual Jerry segal Classic Friday, september 19, 2014 ACe & Green Valley Country Clubs Lafayette Hill, PA

4th annual adam taliaferro Foundation & Magee Rehabilitation hospital golf outing Monday, october 20, 2014 Green Valley Country Club Lafayette Hill, PA

27th annual humanitarian award Dinner tuesday, november 18, 2014 four seasons Philadelphia

Visit MageeRehab.org/giving.php for more details. CAN DO! SPRING 2014

fLoWeR POWER Exploring the Healing Effects of Nature Through Horticultural Therapy

There’s just something about spring that makes everything a little brighter. sure, it could be the warmer weather. or even the Josh Crompton participates in horticultural therapy in Magee’s Greenhouse. While a patient, Josh kept the flower pictured below in his room, tending it and watching it grow throughout his recovery.

promise of a (hopefully) successful Phillies season. But for most people, spring is when nature blooms out of its winter hibernation. The colors, the fragrance, the serenity—it seems like there’s something in the plants that makes us all a little more cheerful. A little more hopeful. It seems that way because it’s true. several studies have shown that engaging with nature improves mood and reduces stress. There is power in plants just waiting to be harnessed. And that’s the idea behind magee’s Horticultural Therapy Program. Horticultural therapy uses plants, gardens, nature crafts and gardening activities to provide patients with emotional and physical benefits. Tending a plant not only offers physical benefits, such as increasing strength, improving range of motion and honing fine motor skills, but it also helps relieve the pressures and stresses of everyday life. “Nature has no expectations,” said Jeanette Glennonmorrissey, msw, magee’s Horticultural Therapist. “The plants aren’t judgmental. They don’t put any pressure on you. If you spill your food in the dining hall, you might be a little embarrassed. But if you spill soil, the plants don’t care.” Like everything at magee, horticultural therapy doesn’t occur in a bubble. Jeannette works closely with patients’ physical and occupational therapists to use the time in the greenhouse to help patients achieve their goals—but in a way that’s very different than what they’re used to. That was certainly true for Josh Crompton, a magee patient rehabilitating from a stroke. The first time he was brought to the greenhouse, he wasn’t totally sure what to do. “At first, I didn’t know what to think about it,” he said. “I was never really into gardening, and I didn’t understand how playing in dirt would help me. But Jeannette was very inviting and caring—she made it fun. It was therapy, but it didn’t feel like therapy.” And that’s the idea. “In my experience, people feel freer when working with plants than they do in traditional therapy,” said Jeannette. “even if you’ve never gardened before, working with plants is normalizing. It’s a hobby and could be part of your normal routine.”

CAN DO! SPRING 2014

If you would like to learn more or lend support to Magee’s Horticultural Therapy Program or the Creative Therapy Center and Healing Garden, please visit MageeRehab.org/giving.php or contact the Magee Rehabilitation Hospital Development Department at healinggarden@MageeRehab.org or at (215) 587-3090.

But make no mistake: horticultural therapy is a whole lot more than gardening. Like all therapy at magee, it is hard work. The activities are individualized, designed to help patients work on their specific rehabilitation goals. for example, potting a plant helps build strength in arms and hands. Creating an arrangement develops fine motor skills. standing while working and reaching for tools improves balance and stamina. The process of seeding and caring for a plant requires patients to recall steps and instructions, helping them exercise their mind alongside their body. And the greatest part of all this? Patients are working on their rehabilitations goals without even realizing it. “It was challenging, but didn’t feel like therapy,” said Josh. “I knew I was taking away a lot I could apply to life, but it didn’t feel like work. The muscles I built potting a plant were the same I use to carry a bag of groceries or take out the trash. In occupational therapy, if I was told we were going to practice taking out the trash, I’m not interested. But working without feeling like you’re working… well, that’s always a winner to me.” Believing in a way back is not just about the end result; it’s also about the journey. when you’re focused on how far you have to go, it can be easy to forget how far you have come. That’s why Jeannette starts all her patients out with the same thing: a teeny, tiny plant. “when you come to rehab, you’re starting with a blank slate,” said Jeannette. “I ask patients to repot a small plant, something they can nurture throughout their stay. They bring the plant to their room. They care for it, and watch it grow. It mirrors their own experience.” “I had a plant that I kept in my room, and would water and watch it grow,” said Josh. “It sounds cheesy, but I used the flower as a metaphor for my recovery. As the flower got stronger and grew, I got stronger and grew with it. I was the flower, and by taking care of it, we both were getting stronger.” Plants aren’t the only thing growing in magee’s Horticultural Therapy Program. with the help of donor support, magee is expanding the program with the addition of the Creative Therapy Center and Healing Garden, an oasis on the Hospital’s 6th floor roof deck designed to serve as a center of both activity and solace for patients and their families. The project will provide patients with more opportunities to engage with nature, including new gardens and spaces, as well as a renovation of the existing greenhouse. Progress is being made, but more support is needed to make this dream a reality. while traditional therapies are certainly an important part of rehabilitation, the impact of nature in the recovery process cannot be understated. “In my opinion, horticultural therapy was just as important to my recovery as PT, speech or oT,” said Josh. “while I am not always potting plants or making flower arrangements in my daily life, the skills I learned and practiced while working in the greenhouse, I use every single day. who knew playing in dirt could do all that?”

The Horticultural Therapy Program and Greenhouse at Magee have been generously supported since 1994, in part, through grant funding from the Philadelphia Committee of the Garden Club of America.

we had a feeling.

CAN DO! SPRING 2014

The CheCk uP WITH DR. HELENA LAX Each issue, we like to introduce you to someone from Team Magee. Today, meet Dr. Helena Lax, Director of Magee’s general Rehabilitation Unit and the Amputee Clinic. The Can Do! editor sat down with Dr. Lax to talk about her experiences at Magee, and her thoughts on some of the most pressing issues in amputations today.

we provide our patients with a broad spectrum of services for their whole well-being, including social, legal and psychological support in addition to lifelong care. CD: What are your areas of expertise?

Can Do! (CD): Tell us a little about yourself and your background. Dr. Helena Lax (HL): I am a graduate of Charles University in Prague, Czechoslovakia, and am board certified in physical rehabilitation medicine. In addition to serving as the medical Director for magee’s General rehabilitation and Amputee Programs, I am also a diplomat of the American Academy of Physical medicine and rehabilitation and a clinical assistant professor of rehabilitation medicine at Jefferson medical College. CD: Why did you choose to practice at Magee? HL: I spent several years at Chestnut Hill Hospital, and when the opportunity arose at magee, I took it. I considered magee the best rehabilitation hospital in the area, and still do. what I always say about magee is that we offer services beyond just medical help.

CAN DO! SPRING 2014

HL: one of my areas of expertise is amputation. Losing a limb is traumatic at any age, and the amputation program at magee is designed to ease that trauma by helping our patients adapt both physically and emotionally to necessary lifestyle changes. we work with our amputees in two phases. The ﬁrst is acute rehabilitation, either as an inpatient or outpatient. During this time, we’ll work with the patient on pain management, proper healing and strengthening. In the second phase, we introduce patients to the Amputee Clinic. During this phase, we introduce patients to a prosthetist and begin working on therapy with the prosthetic limb. we also have a great amputee support group, which is partially grant-funded by the Anapol schwartz foundation. Through the Amputee Clinic and support group, we host education meetings for amputees and their families on a wide variety of topics, like pain management, yoga, sports and more.

CD: What do you think is a pressing issue in amputations today? HL: There are two major issues impacting people with amputations, and both involve getting the care they need. As it stands, insurance companies have many rules about who can and cannot receive inpatient rehabilitation for an amputation. Those who do not quality for inpatient rehabilitation are sent to nursing homes or other similar centers to heal. I see many people who now have complications because they did not have the opportunity for rehab— it can cause problems down the road. rehab allows patients to be ﬁtted with a prosthetic as soon as possible, and helps them return to work and active life sooner rather than remaining disabled. Another major issue is that people do not get the level of prosthesis they need. many insurance companies will approve prosthetics at a lower level. I spend a lot of time ﬁling appeals on behalf of my patients to ensure they get the best equipment so they can achieve their maximum functional return.

Adam Taliaferro & Magee A WINNING TEAM Far left: Adam talks with spinal cord injury patient Lisa Smith before her Locomotor Training session. Left: Adam and his primary physical therapist Amy Bratta in the 5th floor gym where he received his therapy.

On September 23, 2000, Penn State football player #43 ran into the stadium, ready to face his team’s rival, Ohio State University. Unbeknownst to him, his whole world was about to change in the blink of an eye. During only his ﬁfth game as a true freshman at Penn State University, #43 sustained a severe spinal cord injury while making a tackle against an Ohio State player. Unsure if he would ever walk again, he spent three grueling months at Magee overcoming many obstacles. Only one year later, a massive crowd in Penn State’s Beaver Stadium saw jersey #43 run onto the ﬁeld once again, leading his team. #43 was Adam Taliaferro.

Adam Taliaferro may have walked out of Magee Rehabilitation Hospital in December of 2000, but he never walked away from his personal mission to motivate and serve other individuals with spinal cord injuries. since being discharged from magee almost 14 years ago, he has kept a close relationship with the Hospital and continues to motivate and support patients to get the most they can out of the rehabilitation process. The Adam Taliaferro foundation was founded in 2001 to provide emotional, ﬁnancial and educational support for those who suﬀer catastrophic spinal cord injuries. The Adam Taliaferro foundation and magee rehabilitation partner on a number of events and initiatives. The 3rd Annual Taliaferro foundation & magee rehabilitation Golf outing was a success on monday, october 21, 2013 at Green Valley Country Club. Clear skies started the day while everyone enjoyed brunch and an afternoon of golf, followed by dinner, cocktails, and an auction. over $56,000 was raised to support the work of magee and The Adam Taliaferro foundation. mark your calendar for the 4th Taliaferro & magee Golf outing on monday, october 20, 2014!

It’s more than just golf that the Taliaferro foundation does for magee! on December 22, 2013, Adam Taliaferro and members of the Adam Taliaferro foundation hosted a holiday party for patients at magee, where santa Claus himself made a special visit. food, presents, and music ﬁlled the room with holiday spirit, making magee feel a little bit more like home for its patients and their loved ones. The Adam Taliaferro foundation has raised over $100,000 for magee and the Hospital’s spinal Cord Injury Program. That alone is an inspiring feat; however, an even greater service has been the hundreds of hours that Adam has spent with countless patients, one-on-one at magee. Adam has also visited injured athletes at hospitals throughout the region. Adam’s inspirational words still reside in the minds of the patients here at magee as they ﬁght to overcome the many obstacles they are faced with. “This is not a sprint, it’s a marathon.”

CAN DO! SPRING 2014

INTRoduCING The

VECTOR

Robots. exoskeletons. Touchscreens. You could say the folks at Magee Rehabilitation are a bit tech-crazy—and you wouldn’t be wrong.

when it comes to the care and success of patients, magee doesn’t compromise or settle for second best. so when the therapy team discovered the Vector, the latest and greatest in robotic gait training, they immediately thought of all the good it would do our patients— and they knew they had to have it.

Because the system can support up to 200 pounds, patients can begin gait training much earlier in the rehabilitation process than would be possible otherwise. In short, the Vector can help patients get better faster.

“when we ﬁrst saw this technology in action, we were blown away,” said Deb Kucera, PT, msPT, Director of Therapies at magee rehabilitation Hospital. “we knew it would be an incredible boon to our patients relearning to walk.” so what is it? The Vector Gait & safety system is a robotic gait training system designed to provide patients a safe environment to practice standing and walking without an assistive device. It allows orthopedic, neurologic and amputee patients to practice walking and balancing on solid ground, which is much diﬀerent than walking on a treadmill.

Occupational therapist Alexis Traynor sets the Vector’s parameters for body weight support to allow patient Deborah Strickland to practice sitting and standing—without the risk of falling.

“Unlike systems over a treadmill, the Vector can assist a patient through real world environments, including up and down stairs, curbs and getting on and oﬀ the ﬂoor,” said Alex Kobb, PT, CCCe. “The robot provides dynamic support, which means it allows for the little ups and downs that occur naturally during walking— other systems can’t do that. It can also provide up to 200 pounds of support, which is much greater than other systems over a treadmill.”

of course, a primary concern with gait training on solid ground is the fall risk—but with Vector, the risk isn’t there. That means patients and therapists can be much more aggressive in their treatment without the risk of falls or injuries.

CAN DO! SPRING 2014

Here’s how it works. Like Locomotor Training, patients are strapped into an overhead harness to support their body weight, and receive varying degrees of assistance from therapists to practice walking. what makes the Vector much diﬀerent than LT is that the patient doesn’t stay in one place. The harness is attached to an overhead track that wraps around magee’s third ﬂoor gym. Unlike other track systems, the Vector uses a robotic trolley on a conductive rail that senses the patients’ movement and follows along—there is no pulling required. And because the system allows the user to turn all directions (instead of straight forward like traditional tracks), patients can practice stepping, jogging, dancing, grapevining, whatever.

what’s even cooler is that it’s totally programmable based on the individual patient. Therapists can set the parameters for body weight support (the Vector would support less and less as the patient progressed) and fall limitations. Throughout the training process, the Vector system tracks patient data, allowing for analysis, session comparison and electronic medical record documentation. “The technology is amazing and beneﬁts so many of our patients,” said Alex. “we can get them standing and walking sooner and with better mechanics. All of us at magee are in the business of getting people better, and the Vector allows us to do this more eﬀectively.

magee is the first facility in Pennsylvania to have the Vector system—but that’s not our only claim to Vector fame! magee also has the longest Vector track in the entire world. You read that right. No one has a track longer than magee’s, giving patients more opportunities and space for practice. All of this is thanks to former magee patient and loyal benefactor Jerry segal. Through the annual Jerry segal Classic, Jerry raised and donated $600,000 to magee, some of which was allocated for the express purpose of purchasing a Vector. Not only was Jerry instrumental in allowing magee to acquire this great new piece of equipment, but he was also one of the first patients to use it. “when I first heard about the Vector from magee staff, I knew it would be invaluable to patients and I wanted to help,” said Jerry segal. “Little did I know that I would be using it as a patient! It allowed me to stand up and start walking sooner than I would have been able to without it. In no time, I was doing laps around the 3rd floor gym. It was an incredible feeling, knowing that I had a part in enabling those patients in wheelchairs today to walk out of magee tomorrow.” since its installation in November, the Vector has been in constant use. It has already benefitted countless patients, and will benefit countless more. In fact, you know someone is training on it when the sounds of clapping, laughter and excitement begin spreading through the floor. This reality proves once again that sometimes technology can generate the most human reactions.

Deborah works on walking with therapist Alexis Traynor and the Vector.

to learn more about this system, visit bioness.com. CAN DO! SPRING 2014

WHEELCHAIR SPORTS uPdATe

Volunteer Spotlight Some mornings in Magee's dining services don’t just begin with our staff. A few days a week, we welcome in the day with two of our most dedicated volunteers—Rubin Axelrod (above right) and Leroy Kean. for the past six and a half years, rubin Axelrod has volunteered in the dining room, giving more than 2,750 hours. rubin arrives every monday and Tuesday at 5 a.m., no matter the weather or holiday. He also works in patient care, talking to patients and taking their orders. "rubin has been very consistent over the years, and when dining services changed from the tray line to our new al a carte menu system, rubin was excited about learning the new system and was totally open to it," said stephanie rivera, Guest relations and Volunteer services support Coordinator. “rubin always takes his time with the patients' orders to get them just right.” rubin’s counterpart is Leroy Kean. Leroy Kean has been involved with magee for a number of years as a member of the Jerry segal Classic executive Committee. In 2012, his relationship with the hospital deepened. Leroy came to magee for rehabilitation after a stroke, and shortly after his recovery came back—this time as a volunteer in Dining services. A few days a week, Leroy runs the morning coffee cart for patients and staff. Leroy always has a smile for everyone—even at 7 a.m. when he sets up the cart and takes it up to the patient floors. He has even introduced some new items on the cart based on customer suggestions! To date, he has given more than 470 hours. "These two dedicated volunteers have given more than 3,220 hours to our patients at magee," said meg rider, Guest relations and Volunteer services manager. “with their energy and dedication, they both are super examples of magee volunteers’ can-do attitude, and we appreciate all they do for the patients and families."

CAN DO! SPRING 2014

magee athletes have enjoyed another successful year in wheelchair sports. The start of spring begins a transition for our sports programs as our basketball and rugby seasons end, and our tennis season begins. Here are some highlights of what has happened, and an update on what is coming up. • The wheelchair basketball team played at half time of the sixers game on January 15, 2014. • Two rugby chairs were purchased, allowing more athletes to participate. • The tennis team is traveling to Baton rouge, Louisiana and Pensacola, florida to compete in tournaments this upcoming season. • sean Johnson and Tom mcNaughton were elected to represent magee at the NBA wheelchair All-star Game. For more information about Magee’s Wheelchair Sports Program, please contact Keith Newerla, Wheelchair Sports Coordinator at knewerla@MageeRehab.org or (215) 587-3412.

COMING SOON:

Creative Therapy Center and Healing Garden how can you help? • giFt pRospeCt Connect us to someone who can help in a signiﬁcant way • DooR openeR Introduce us to a foundation trustee (family or private foundation) or company who would like to be involved in the project • Join our campaign steering committee

for more than half a century, magee has strived to deliver the best possible outcomes for patients and their families. Patient care starts with our deep commitment to providing top-tier rehabilitative medical treatment to each patient. But our story does not end there. Catastrophic medical conditions demand an array of resources to create an optimal healing environment. To enhance patient care, magee is building a Creative Therapy Center and Healing Garden on our sixth ﬂoor. This combination of new indoor space and outdoor rooftop improvements will improve patient care and comfort, as well as provide dedicated space for all patients and their families. features of the Creative Therapy Center and Healing Garden include: • Art therapy studio • spirituality Center • revised and improved segal street • revised and improved Greenhouse • outdoor spaces for patients, families, and staﬀ • New portholes to view Center City from a wheelchair For more information, contact the Magee Development Department at (215) 587-3090 or healinggarden@MageeRehab.org.

“I’ve been here for seven weeks. Being outdoors, working with the plants, and being able to carve hiking sticks, was such a great feeling. It will be beneﬁcial for patients in the future to have their occupational and physical therapy outside.” —Phil McGrath, Magee Patient

CAN DO! SPRING 2014

SPoTLIGhT oN RESEARCH

Using Technology to Prevent Pressure Ulcers Magee Rehabilitation Hospital and Drexel University School of Bioengineering, Science and Health Systems are preparing to initiate a unique new research project combining the use of technology with the clinical assessment of a patient at high risk for developing pressure related wounds. Drexel University’s school of Bioengineering has been developing a device that allows a noninvasive method of assessing tissue damage at multiple depths under the skin. Use of this device may allow clinicians to assess deep tissue injury within and under the skin. Clinicians can then warn patients of potential tissue damage, which, if left unattended could develop into a more severe and debilitating open skin pressure ulcer (or wound). Pressure ulcers are one of the leading secondary complications following major catastrophic illnesses and for those living with chronic physical disabilities, and are the focus of state, national and international attention because of the devastating impact on health, function, quality of life and ﬁnancial resources. To ﬁnd out more about the research projects that Magee is involved with, or to see if there are any research projects that you could participate in, contact Mary Schmidt Read, Spinal Cord Injury Program Director and Research Coordinator for Magee Rehab & Regional Spinal Cord Injury Center of the Delaware Valley at mschmidt@MageeRehab.org.

magee is dedicated to educating patients and consumers, and preventing secondary complications that could lead to further debilitation and possibly prolonged health problems, making the Hospital a perfect clinical environment to pilot the new device! while the device will ﬁrst be tested with healthy subjects, the second phase will be piloted on patients in magee’s spinal Cord Injury Program. following the data collection and analysis from this pilot study, we hope to produce results that could lead to a larger scale project to further evaluate validity, reliability and responsiveness of this measurement device on a larger population. If this device proves eﬀective, it could augment early detection and intervention for one of the most unwelcome complications in our healthcare environment today. magee’s spinal Cord Injury and wound ostomy teams are happy to be partnering with Drexel’s faculty on such a worthwhile project!

CAN DO! SPRING 2014

SHARING OUR EXPERTISE:

Concussions

Magee Rehabilitation Hospital is proud to be home to some of the rehabilitation field’s finest clinicians. Our staff receives requests to speak on topics at national and international conferences, and is also called upon to publish papers and recommendations in top clinical trade publications. And thanks to support from Magee’s Staff Excellence Fund, members of Team Magee are given opportunities to share their expertise in person across the world. Here are just a few of the things our staff has been up to. In recent years, concussions and their long-term effects have been a major topic of conversation on the football field, hockey rink, baseball diamond and beyond. while sports are certainly not the only cause of concussions, they are a major contributing factor. As home to the Philadelphia Concussion Center, magee is dedicated not only to the treatment of concussion, but also to its prevention. To aid in the prevention of concussions in sports across our region, Team magee travels to local schools to educate coaches, teachers, administrators, students and their parents. The presentations are catered to the audience, and address the following topics: • Definition of a concussion • Causes of concussions • why adolescents are at high risk • signs and symptoms • Diagnosis and treatment • Typical recovery patterns • return to play guidelines • Prevention • Importance of baseline testing • related federal and state legislation since october, the team has presented at six schools, as well as the school District of Philadelphia. Presenters include Brian Kucer, mD and Todd Lewis, PhD, co-directors of the Philadelphia Concussion Center; Carol owens, PT, GCs; Lane Brown, PhD; and marci ruediger, PT, ms. For more information on how to bring Magee to your school or organization, please contact Marci Ruediger at mruediger@MageeRehab.org or (215) 587-3454.

CAN DO! SPRING 2014

GIVERS CORNER:

For months after his injury, Paul’s friends and family were asking how they could help him. He finally came up with an answer: donate to Magee so patients have access to equipment and services their insurance will not provide.

CAN DO! SPRING 2014

Paul Clegg

Like many former patients, Paul Clegg remembers what it was like when he arrived at Magee in March of 2010. The good news was that he had survived a pretty bad motorcycle accident. The bad news was that he had sustained a C5 incomplete spinal cord injury and wasn’t able to move or walk. His therapy was intense, with a mixture of physical and occupational sessions, as well as Locomotor Training. To get a break, he would visit the 6th ﬂoor rooftop. It was a place “where you could hang out with family and friends that didn’t look like a hospital,” said Clegg. He also enjoyed using segal street, a city streetscape on the roof where he could practice navigating uneven cement, diﬀerent curb cuts and other outdoor, real life terrain. After time as an inpatient and outpatient at magee’s riverfront, Paul’s determination was as strong as ever. He was able to return to his

job at susquehanna International Group. He is truly a magee success story. And while Paul’s success at magee is not uncommon, the fact that his treatment needs were covered by insurance is a rarity. He knew that many of his fellow patients were not in the same situation. for months after his injury, Paul’s friends and family were constantly asking how they could help him. He finally came up with an answer: donate to magee so patients have access to equipment and services their insurance will not provide. Paul sent out an email to friends, family members and co-workers telling them about his great and lucky experience at magee, and asked them to join him in making a donation. This first effort raised almost $10,000 and helped to purchase new equipment for the spinal cord injury gym where he spent so much time.

Paul Clegg (conter) with members of Magee’s Day Rehab team.

“This is a very important project. The 6th ﬂoor is a place where patients and families can connect, take a break and enjoy the beauty of the city.” —Paul Clegg

Paul continued to be an annual donor to magee, and when he heard about the plans for Creative Therapy Center and Healing Garden being planned for the 6th ﬂoor, he decided he wanted to help again.

“I think this is a very important project,” he said. “The 6th floor is a place where patients and families can connect, take a break and enjoy the beauty of the city.” Paul communicated via email and social networks, once again sharing his personal story. In the span of six weeks, gifts of $25, $50, $100 and more were received. many of the gifts were matched by his employer's matching gift program. And, once again, Paul Clegg, his family and friends raised another $10,000 to help magee. He hopes that other people will read this story and see that they can do the same thing. “If you believe in magee, share your story and success with others, and you will find they are happy to help,” he said. “There are always ways to help and give back, and I find it to be pretty simple: people help you, and you do what you can to pay it back.” everyone at magee is grateful to Paul, his family and friends for all of their generous support. The funds they raised will support our Creative Therapy Center and Healing Garden on the 6th floor.

If you would like information about how you can raise funds to support Magee’s mission, please contact the Magee Development Department at (215) 587-3090.

are you interested in helping Magee, just like paul did? Paul Clegg is just one of many former patients, family members and volunteers who have helped raise funds for magee’s programs and services. And remember: magee’s Development team is here to help make it as easy for you as possible. Here are a few ways you can help raise funds to support magee! • we can help create a webpage where you can tell your story of how magee helped you or a loved one, and how you’d like to help magee. This page can then be emailed to your friends and family members, and they can make gifts online with the click of a button. It’s quick, easy and effective! • You can also volunteer to help with our upcoming Night of Champions committee by selling raffle tickets, securing items or experiences for the silent auction, or buying/selling tickets or obtaining sponsorships. • A former patient who loved to cook and do things around the kitchen wanted to help by collecting donations and kitchen items to be used in occupational therapy. she worked with our therapists to create a wish list, opened a registry at a local store, and then mailed letters and sent emails to family, friends and business associates. They could either buy an item online for magee, or send a donation that was then used to purchase the items to improve our kitchens in each of our gyms. • Put your talents and hobbies to use for a great cause! Last fall, a former patient made custom purses, bags, and other items, and sold them at magee. she then donated all of the proceeds to the Art Therapy Program. • secure items for our wheelchair sports tournaments that can be used as giveaways, or secure donations of water, snacks and drinks for all of our wheelchair athletes. These are just a few ideas, and we are happy to work with you to bring your idea to life! for more information or to get started, please call our Development Department at (215) 587-3090 or email giving@mageerehab.org. we will do all we can to help you, and you can rest assured that every dollar you raise will make a difference for our patients!

CAN DO! SPRING 2014

1513 Race Street Philadelphia, PA 19102-1177 Phone: (215) 587-3000 MageeRehab.org BELIEVE

Non-Profit organization u.S. Postage PAId Philadelphia, PA Permit No. 2269

Address Service Requested

We know, we know. Updating your will isn’t always at the top of your to-do list. But as everyone at Magee Rehabilitation Hospital knows, everything can change in an instant. By planning ahead, you can help ensure our patients have access to the highest quality therapies, the latest technology, and cutting-edge programs and services. But most of all, your generosity will give patients what they need most: the ability to believe.

Here is some sample language to include Magee in your will: “I give, devise and bequeath to the Magee Rehabilitation Hospital Foundation, a charitable corporation existing under the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the sum of ______ dollars (or ______% of my residuary estate), or (description of securities, property, etc.).”

For more information about the Anna Magee Society and planned giving, please contact the Development Department at (215) 587-3090 or email plannedgiving@MageeRehab.org.