History made in Moldova: Physical Therapists provide the first PT treatment session in intensive care unit!!!!

Meryl Gersh, Professor of Physical Therapy from Eastern Washington University, and Irina Lyamin, a third year DPT student from the University of Washington worked with Dr. Oleg Pascal and physical therapists from the Institute of Neurology and Neurosurgery (INN) in Chisinau, Moldova to assist a patient in the ICU in gaining range of motion and mobility for the first time in an intensive care environment in  Moldovan medical history. Physical therapists in Moldova only recently received approval to work with patients in the acute care environment, and today was their first experience.  Dr. Gersh presented a talk on rehabilitation considerations in acute care to 50 physical therapists, physicians, nurses, ICU personnel as well as the Director of the Physical Therapy program from the Sport University in Chisinau.  Meryl and Irina were warmly welcomed by staff and patients at the INN.  Following the presentation, they instructed physical therapists in a hands-on clinical experience in the ICU, working with a 32 year old man who was diagnosed with Guillain Barre Syndrome.  The physical therapists were excited to learn how they could monitor the patient’s physiologic response to changes in position and even minimal levels of activity through the regular taking of heart rate and blood pressure.  We all look forward excitedly to this patient’s improvement in function through daily visits over the next two weeks.  Could sitting bedside be next?

Margaret Miller, MSOTR/L, an occupational therapist from Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane, WA, Beverly Kropp, LMT, a licensed massage therapist and special educator, and Janine Sing, a third year DPT student at the University of Washington worked in a pediatric outpatient setting with a young boy with arthrogryposis, and sensory hypersensitivity, which affected his tolerance to touch and facilitated movement.  They provided insight and treatment suggestions to the community clinicians and his mother on site.  Beverly offered guidance on structuring the home environment for cognitive development.  This team is also serving patients and clinicians at two other pediatric sites, a state-of-the-art pediatric rehabilitation center and a community youth center that supports recreational activities for youth with psychological and physical disabilities as well as healthy young people.  This team also toured a residential school for students with developmental delay.  They are excited to share their expertise and ideas in these settings over the next two weeks.

Sheri Mattson, PTA from Providence St. Vincent’s Hospital in Portland, OR and Cindy Robinson, PT MS, a faculty member at the University of Washington inventoried rehabilitation equipment that has been donated and shipped by container to Moldova during the past year.  As a result of their efforts, many of the facilities that we are working with will receive much needed equipment and supplies to their ability to deliver care.  In addition, they worked with a 2 ½ year old girl who sustained burns over 65% of her body in a house fire.  Her brother and sister were similarly injured.  The girl had spent 2 ½ months positioned prone on a mesh hammock in a crib at Republic Children’s Hospital and had undergone multiple debridement and skin grafting procedures.  Understandably, she suffers from severe scarring and contractures across most of her joints.  Cindy and Sheri instructed the parents, who are with her most of the time, in range of motion and therapeutic play activities.  They are excited about working with her similarly injured 1 ½ year old sister in the coming days.

All-in-all, it has been an exciting and most rewarding first day in our volunteer experience in Moldova through Medical Teams International. We are all looking forward to the development of lasting collegial collaboration and friendships here.  It has not been all work and no play, however.  We all enjoyed an excursion to Milisti Mici Winery on Monday afternoon. According to the Guiness Book of World Records, this winery houses the largest underground storage of wine the world – at this time almost 2 million bottles (and three ex-tourists from 2004) are stored along 55 km of underground tunnels.  Of course, we all had a great time.  Nothing like 7 women bonding underground over wine!

Hope you’ve enjoyed this update.  We’ll be back in touch soon.

Treating a patient in the ICU

Meryl and friends