Marianjoy begins construction on new treatment center

Business Ledger Staff Report

WHEATON - Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital recently began construction on the new Tellabs Center for Neurorehabilitation and Neuroplasticity, a 4,800 square-foot treatment space dedicated to providing patients access to the latest innovations in rehabilitation technology.

The center is expected to open in September, and will be part of the Marianjoy Assistive Rehabilitation Technology Institute located on the main hospital campus in Wheaton.

Supported by a grant from the Tellabs Foundation, the center will be home to the hospital's most advanced technology for patients receiving treatment following a stroke, brain injury, spinal cord injury, post-concussion syndrome and a variety of neurological conditions.

"The creation of this new center will allow patients access to innovative physical rehabilitation delivered with the caring spirit they have come to expect from Marianjoy," said Kathleen Yosko, president of Marianjoy. "We are profoundly grateful to the Tellabs Foundation for their gift which will enable us to blend our history of 'high-touch' compassionate care with the 'high-tech' legacy of Tellabs."

The new treatment technology to be offered in the TCNN has the potential to dramatically improve outcomes for Marianjoy patients, approximately 70 percent of whom have some form of neurological impairment.

"Utilizing the resources within this center, clinicians will be able to provide interdisciplinary comprehensive diagnostic and treatment services utilizing cutting-edge technology and evidence-based treatment protocols, which will optimize patient mobility and function." said Dr. Jeffrey Oken, vice president for medical affairs at Marianjoy,

The advanced treatment capabilities of the TCNN at Marianjoy will allow clinicians to begin interventions at earlier stages of recovery, promoting brain neuroplasticity - the capability of nerve cells in the brain to reorganize and reconnect to new neural pathways around damaged areas - which is a growing focus of research in the field of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.

Among the many new care offerings in the TCNN will be treatment utilizing the ZeroG Gait and Balance Training System, a ceiling-mounted harness system that provides dynamic body-weight support to patients learning to walk after illness or injury. The center will also feature robotic devices including the Ekso GT exoskeleton and the Armeo Power arm rehabilitation device. This equipment will be used in conjunction with traditional therapy designed to optimize patient improvement.