Baylor Institute for Rehabilitation Named a Partner in Multiple Sclerolis Care
11/20/2014 1:00:00 AM
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Baylor Institute for Rehabilitation has been named a Partner in Rehabilitative MS Care by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, becoming the first such partner in the country's South Central region (New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana and Arkansas) and one of only 26 in the U.S. Baylor Rehab and the National MS Society will celebrate the designation Friday.
Partners in MS Care is a national program that recognizes and supports quality MS care, encouraging strong collaboration between MS clinics and the society to create optimal care and support for people living with multiple sclerosis.
"Baylor Rehab is dedicated to providing quality care for individuals with multiple sclerosis," said Dr. Katherine Meredith, neuropsychologist and program director for Baylor Rehab's Multiple Sclerosis Center of Rehabilitation and Treatment (MS-CoRT). "Becoming a Partner in Care is an exciting opportunity to build on the quality care we currently provide and work toward further increasing availability of resources for individuals with MS and their caregivers."
The announcement brings attention to the Institute's comprehensive treatment of individuals with MS. Earlier this month, Baylor Rehab formally established the multidisciplinary MS-CoRT program, which is aimed at providing wide-ranging, evidence-based clinical care to patients, as well as education to patients, caregivers and the community.
A unique component of the program is its link to the Multiple Sclerosis Treatment Center of Dallas, with hopes of collaborating with other MS-treating neurology clinics. This close collaboration with the neurologists allows for improved continuity of care and increased communication between providers to optimize treatment.
The MS-CoRT program was created to coordinate the range of medical and rehabilitation needs for individuals with MS in one setting. The goal is to minimize the complexities of managing appointments and help improve the quality and consistency of care.
The range of services includes physical therapy, women's and men's health, occupational therapy, speech language pathology, neuropsychology, health psychology, physiatry, and an option for in-home care through the Real Life Rehabilitation program. The clinic also provides an educational series for patients with MS and their caregivers, covering topics such as the basics of MS and managing daily activities with MS.
"It took a great deal of vision and planning by our key clinicians to pull this together, especially Dr. Meredith, but that effort will now pay off for those affected by MS in the north Texas area," said PJ Gillard, PT, vice president of outpatient services. "Baylor Rehab can now be the answer to many of the questions that those living with MS may have."
Friday's ceremony unveiling the MS partnership designation will be at the Baylor Tom Landry Fitness Center, 411 N. Washington Ave., Dallas.
About Baylor Institute for Rehabilitation
Since 1981, Baylor Institute for Rehabilitation (Baylor Rehab) has helped people overcome serious disabilities and return to full, productive lives. Baylor Rehab's interdisciplinary clinical teams – made up of physicians, nurses, therapists and other rehabilitation professionals – partner with patients and their families to design and implement treatment plans to achieve each patient's unique goals. Baylor Rehab has received repeat recognition as one of the country's top rehabilitation hospitals in U.S. News & World Report's annual "America's Best Hospitals" report, and been designated by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research as a model system for the treatment and care of patients with traumatic brain injuries. Baylor Rehab is a joint venture partnership between Baylor Institute for Rehabilitation and an affiliate of Select Medical and includes four freestanding hospitals – Baylor Institute for Rehabilitation at Dallas, Baylor Institute for Rehabilitation at Northwest Dallas, Baylor Institute for Rehabilitation at Frisco and Baylor Institute for Rehabilitation at Fort Worth. Baylor Rehab also manages acute inpatient rehabilitation units at Baylor All Saints Medical Center and Baylor Medical Center at Irving. In addition, Baylor Rehab operates 49 outpatient therapy centers throughout north Texas, as well as offering home health services. For more information visit:
www.BaylorHealth.com/Rehab
About Baylor Scott & White Health
Baylor Scott & White Health, the organization formed from the 2013 merger between Baylor Health Care System and Scott & White Healthcare, is today the largest not-for-profit health care system in the state of Texas. With total assets of $9 billion* and serving a population larger than the state of Virginia, Baylor Scott & White Health has the vision and resources to provide its patients continued quality care while creating a model system for a dramatically changing health care environment. The organization now includes 49 hospitals, more than 800 access points, more than 5,800 active physicians, 35,000 employees and the Scott & White Health Plan. For More Information visit:
* based on unaudited 2014 fiscal year statements
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Kristine Hughes
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office: (214) 820-7556
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