Advancing Spinal Cord Injury Care in Ukraine

Over the last year, we have been working to establish a spinal cord injury (SCI) unit at the Territorial Incorporation Multidisciplinary Hospital for Intensive Care (TMU) in Lviv. Our activities have focused on several key areas:

• Providing guidance on implementing SCI clinical guidelines
• Advising on the department’s structure, including floor plan, management protocols, and the composition of a skilled multidisciplinary team consisting of physical therapists, occupational therapists, nurses, doctors, and peer mentors
• Developing a list of essential specialized equipment to ensure the best possible care
• Building the capacity of the newly formed multidisciplinary team to ensure they have the knowledge and skills necessary to excel in their roles

Norway Learning Visit

As part of our effort to establish a dedicated SCI unit at TMU, our Ukraine team spent three weeks at the Sunnaas Rehabilitation Hospital in Oslo, Norway this summer. Participants included technical, management, and leadership representatives from our Ukraine team and TMU.

Highlights of the learning visit include:

Universal Design Insights: The first week of the learning visit was focused on the accessible design of an SCI department. Our team and representatives from TMU’s SCI Department of Architectural Bureau learned about principles of universal design and the importance in creating an accessible space to optimize the provision of rehabilitation services and outcomes.

Clinical Training: The second and third weeks focused on clinical training, covering key topics for SCI care, including management and rehabilitation pathways, assistive technology maintenance, urodynamics, and the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration. Participants were exposed to a wide array of clinical sessions, including pressure ulcer management, hand function for PT/OT, addressing sexuality concerns, nutrition, respiratory care, hospital procurement, and patient and relative training.?

“This training has been an incredible opportunity to gain experience from colleagues in the rehabilitation and treatment of patients with spinal cord injuries…We now have a broader vision of rehabilitation, and a large percentage of what we saw at Sunnaas we can implement in our institution."— Dr. Maria Zubova, neurologist at TMU

This invaluable learning visit will be reinforced by continued on-the-job training and mentorship from rehabilitation professionals from the International Spinal Cord Society (ISCoS) and Momentum Wheels for Humanity. The TMU team will also continue to receive guidance on the design and management of the SCI unit.?

This learning visit builds on relationships developed during a previous visit to Norway in March, which has informed the development of AT cabinets in eight hospitals.

We’ve already made a big impact in the lives of Ukrainians with disabilities, but our work is far from over. As the war continues, the need for vital physical rehabilitation services and assistive products grows. With your support, we can continue this life-changing work. You can donate today at: ?https://momentum-4-ukraine.raisely.com?

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