Medical Care opens new rehabilitation system at NIS 30 million cost

The integrative rehabilitation hospital Medical Care has opened a new rehabilitation system for young patients up to the age of 65. Approximately NIS 30 million were invested in the construction and equipment of the system. The new system will include three rehabilitation departments spanning 5,500 square meters and an additional treatment center covering 1,500 square meters. In total, there are up to 105 beds, which account for 10% of the rehabilitation beds in Israel. Additionally, a follow-up rehabilitation system will operate alongside.

The department comprises three units for youth rehabilitation, including 105 beds. So far, 15 new patients have been admitted, receiving an integrative treatment protocol managed by psychologist David Maoz. The protocol includes comprehensive physical rehabilitation (orthopedic, neurological, TBI, head injuries, and war injuries). A personalized treatment plan is tailored by a personal case manager. The process begins with an intake interview upon hospital admission and a check of medical and nursing indicators. At the end of this, a thorough assessment is conducted to tailor the program to the patient's needs, focusing on comprehensive rehabilitation. Psychologists receive the patients, assess their condition, and determine the necessary treatments. To monitor emotional progress, each patient is connected to an application that tracks trauma anxiety and evaluates mental improvement based on physiological indicators.

"Without emotional motivation to rehabilitate, physical injury treatment won't suffice. Therefore, the complete rehabilitation cycle includes physical rehabilitation such as physiotherapy and medication, alongside deep treatment of the underlying emotional difficulties of the patients and their families, and trauma treatment. The treatment protocol also integrates family therapy," says Shauli Hertzik Paz, CEO of Medical Care.

An integrative center for emotional treatments has been established next to the rehabilitation departments, with an investment of NIS 2 million. The center includes 10 treatment rooms and about 30 multidisciplinary therapists utilizing therapeutic tools developed over 30 years to function under stress and challenges, and to reduce tension and anxiety.

The young adult day hospitalization center complements the rehabilitation circle. It provides support for those discharged from hospitalization. Instead of waiting for long rehabilitation queues in the community, such as physiotherapy treatments, patients immediately come to the follow-up day hospitalization center upon their release and receive all the physical and emotional support they still need until full rehabilitation and independence without any further physical or emotional support.

The new initiative to add youth rehabilitation was made against the backdrop of a significant shortage of youth rehabilitation beds in the country. According to a Ministry of Health report, Israel has only 60% of the average number of rehabilitation beds in OECD countries, and even before the war, there was a 108% occupancy rate on existing rehabilitation beds.

According to Moti Kaplan, VP of Marketing at Medical Care: "During the day, we receive a very large number of referrals from health funds for the rehabilitation hospitalization of young people. Even today, a very large number of patients are waiting in general hospitals for a bed in rehabilitation centers."

The new system will be headed by Dr. Tamara Brauner, who will lead the rehabilitation system in the youth and geriatric rehabilitation departments and the day hospitalization at the hospital. Dr. Yuli Trager, Chairman of the Rehabilitation Association, will serve as a senior medical advisor for the establishment of the rehabilitation and day hospitalization system and will be responsible for developing rehabilitation methodology and multi-disciplinary processes in the rehabilitation systems.