Harvard Medical School Professor Addresses Arab Health Audience on RTA Trauma, Recovery & Rehabilitation

High incidence of RTA related trauma is a major issue in the region

Hosted by ProVita, Cambridge and Manzil, Dr. Ross Zafonte (fourth from right) addressed ‘Road traffic related severe traumatic brain injury: Enhancing recovery and improving outcome’ in a workshop at Arab Health 2014

UAE, January 28th 2014: Dr. Ross Zafonte, Harvard Medical School – Charlton Professor and Chairman of the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and Senior Vice President Medical Affairs Research and Education at Spaulding Rehabilitation Network, is visiting the UAE to address healthcare industry leaders on ‘Road traffic related severe traumatic brain injury: Enhancing recovery and improving outcome’.

Hosted by ProVita International Medical Center, Cambridge Medical & Rehabilitation Center and Manzil Health Care Services, the workshop took place today Tuesday January 28th, as part of the Arab Health exhibition.

ProVita International Medical Center and Cambridge Medical and Rehabilitation Center will provide world-class, individualised non-acute long-term care and therapies to patients who need post-hospital medical and rehabilitative treatment at an intensive or intermediate level. Manzil Health Care Services offers highly individualised home care for adult and paediatric patients who are able to return to the home environment but still require medical supervision. The three companies are affiliated with US-based Spaulding Rehabilitation Network, a Harvard Medical School teaching affiliate Hospital, which gives access to unrivalled experience, knowledge and best practice in the sphere of long-term care and rehabilitation therapies, helping to drive regional standards in the sector.

Andrew Escamilla, CEO of Cambridge Medical & Rehabilitation Center commented: “we are very pleased to welcome Dr. Ross Zafonte, one of the world’s leading experts on trauma and rehabilitation. His expert insights will help healthcare facilities and specialists improve the outcomes for trauma patients in the region, with particular focus on those involved in road traffic accidents. The UAE is actively working to reduce the number of RTAs and we aim to be the leaders in rehabilitation and recovery.”

“Road traffic accidents resulting in severe traumatic brain injury are common in this region, our dynamic lecture discusses prognosis, outcome and novel treatment innovation” said Dr. Zafonte.

Dr. Ross Zafonte hosted a second session in the afternoon ‘Biotechnology: transforming post-acute care’ with a special emphasis on recovery after stroke and spinal cord injury, as well as breakthrough training techniques and mechanisms. Attendees had the opportunity to discuss the issues involved with Dr. Ross Zafonte and the teams from ProVita International Medical Centre, Cambridge Medical & Rehabilitation Centre and Manzil Health Care Services after each session.

-ENDS- Notes to editor

Partners In Care

ProVita International Medical Center (Abu Dhabi & Al Ain), Cambridge Medical & Rehabilitation Center (Abu Dhabi & Al Ain) and Manzil Health Care Services partner to ensure patients receive care in the most appropriate environment, according to their needs, whilst guaranteeing a consistent level of quality care throughout their transition between care levels.

ProVita offers long-term care for ventilated patients and those requiring continuous medical and nursing intervention for serious medical conditions in a non-hospital setting. Cambridge will deliver highly individualized care for patients requiring short-term comprehensive rehabilitation on the road to recovery, or inpatient medical treatment for longer-term chronic disease management. Manzil provides medical, nursing and rehabilitation support in the comfort of the patient’s home. The three organisations are portfolio companies of TVM Capital MENA. TVM Capital MENA recently signed an affiliation with Spaulding Rehabilitation Network, which gives TVM Capital MENA and its portfolio companies’ access to unrivalled experience, knowledge and best practice in the sphere of long-term care and rehabilitation, helping to drive regional standards in the sector. Staff will also receive regular education and training by Spaulding representatives and the facilities will undertake auditing and evaluation procedures devised to promote clinical excellence.

More information please visit: www.provita-me.com; www.cmrc.ae; www.manzilhealth.ae

Spaulding Rehabilitation Network

The Spaulding Rehabilitation Network (www.spauldingrehab.org) is a recognised leader in rehabilitative medicine, long-term care and home care in Massachusetts, in the United States, and across the globe. Spaulding offers world-class inpatient and outpatient care through a network of six inpatient facilities and 23 outpatient centers, and home care through its sister institution. Its mission is to provide exceptional clinical care, promote medical education, and advance research.

Dr. Ross Zafonte

Dr. Ross D. Zafonte is Earle P. and Ida S. Charlton Professor and Chairman of the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Harvard Medical School. He also serves as chief of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Massachusetts General Hospital, as well as Vice President Medical Affairs Research and Education at Spaulding Rehabilitation Network. Dr. Zafonte’s textbook is considered one of the standards in the field of brain injury care. Dr. Zafonte’s work is presently funded by the NIH, DOD and NIDRR, and he is currently directing several large clinical treatment trials. His laboratory work has focused on understanding mechanisms of recovery after Brain and Spinal Cord Injury. Dr. Zafonte also serves on the Board of Governors for the International Brain Injury Association, as well as the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine. He has published extensively on traumatic brain injuries, spasticity, and other neurological disorders, as well as presented on these topics at conferences nationally and internationally. He is the author of more than 250 peer review journal articles, abstracts and book chapters. In addition, he is on the editorial board of the Journal of Neurotrauma, NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation, as well as PMR. In 2006, Dr Zafonte was selected to receive the Walter Zeiter award and lectureship by the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, and, in 2008, he was the recipient of the Association of Academic Physiatrists Distinguished Academician Award. In 2012, Dr. Zafonte received the William Caveness award for outstanding clinical care and research from the Brain Injury Association of America, and, in May 2013, he received the Joel DeLisa Prize from the Kessler Foundation.