Organised rehabilitationRehabilitation engineering (RE) is a topic that IFMBE has attempted to embrace on several occasions in the past, however, without much success. In the early 1990's together with UN's Economic Commission for Europe and WHO's European Office, three workshops where given on rehabilitation engineering. One of the conclusions of this exercise was that IFMBE should set up on umbrella under which all the different organisations concerned with RE could assemble. However, nothing ever materialised. The field is still disorganised, with clinical and biomedical engineers continue working in this field together with a large number of other professionals. During my recent trip to Australia I had the opportunity to visit a number of places. One of these was REHAB Tech. I was quite impressed. Its 'business idea' is quite simple and yet so difficult to achieve. Similar organisations exist in many countries. They are bringing together the fragmented information about products that are available. The main task is, however, to deliver that bundle of information to the hands of those that need it and in a format that can be readily used. From what I saw REHAB Tech is doing a good job. I also liked the formula that they have for funding. Main part of it comes from the Commonwealth and is based on a very detailed services contract and annual plan. This forces the unit to be close to their customers and to plan well ahead. REHAB Tech - The Monash Rehabilitation Technology Research Unit, was created by Monash University, the Alfred Group of Hospitals and Commonwealth Department of Veterans' Affairs three years ago and it is situated at the Caulfied General Medical Centre in Melbourne. Its origins however were as a small research and teaching unit set up by the Commonwealth in the aftermaths of the Second World War when the Australian veterans were in great need of prosthetic and orthotic devices. The Department of Veterans' Affairs continues to fund the Unit and Caulfield General Medical Centre provides accommodation and a clinical interface. The integration of Monash University's Centre for Biomedical Engineering and the Alfred Hospital Group has enhanced REHAB Tech's previous function as a vital Australian resource centre for the disabled, particularly amputees, including veterans. The Caulfield General Medical Centre's strong commitment to the provision of rehabilitation services makes it an ideal location for a rehabilitation engineering facility as it provides an excellent clinical base for REHAB Tech to develop its clinical and R&D role. Monash University's Faculty of Engineering is now offering specialist undergraduate and postgraduate courses in Biomedical Engineering covering both clinical engineering and rehabilitation engineering. Services that unit provides to health professionals include:
For further information contact: Bill Contoyannis, Manager REHAB Tech 260-294 Kooyong Road, Caulfield Vic 3162, Australia. Telephone: +61 3 9528 1960, Facsmile: + 61 3 9528 1077 e-mail: bill.contoyannis@eng.monash.edu.au Internet: http://www.monash.edu.au/rehabtech/ REHAB Tech REHAB Tech provides a resource and expertise to the Australian prosthetic, orthotic and clinical rehabilitation engineering industry in the area of research, development, evaluation, education and treatment of unique clinical cases for the enhancement of quality of life of musculo-skeletal disabled patients (including veterans). (The unit has an advisory role in the above areas to the Department of Veterans' Affairs.) Its activities include: Advice and information resource to industry and the community regarding prosthetic/orthotic and rehabilitation technology matters:
Research and development:
Evaluation:
Education:
Unique clinical cases:
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