April 27, 2009

In addition to being a sponsor of the 2009 Strawberry Festival, Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital in Malvern will showcase its specialized physical rehabilitation programs and services at the four-day festival. According to Karen Taylor, director of quality and education at Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital and coordinator of the special events during the Strawberry Festival, a variety of demonstrations and educational programs will be part of the hospital’s display, including assistive technology and power mobility; horticultural therapy; driver rehabilitation, Cruisin’ Not Boozin and Pet Therapy.

“We are very excited and pleased to be part of this community event,” said Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital President Donna M. Phillips. “This is a tremendous opportunity for us to support the community organizations that are beneficiaries of the Brandywine Health Foundation.” Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital is Chester County’s only acute rehabilitation hospital dedicated to meeting the healthcare needs of Chester County residents, Phillips explained. “We offer specialized acute inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation programs for stroke, brain injury, medical rehabilitation, spinal cord, orthopedics, amputee and neurological disorders and injuries.”

Special Programs To Be Showcased

Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital has several specialty rehabilitation programs that are unique to the hospital; these programs will be on display during the Strawberry Festival. Following is a schedule of special events planned at the Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital booth during the four-day festival. In addition to these special events, administrators, managers, nurses and physicians, therapists and other staff members will be on hand throughout the event to answer questions and provide information about physical rehabilitation and recovery.

Assistive Technology / Power Mobility - Assistive Technology is a service that combines technology and physical medicine to help individuals with disabilities become as functional and independent as possible. Using a variety of devices, assistive technology specialists help individuals improve their mobility, communication and accessibility to their own environment.

Staff members from Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital’s Assistive Technology Department will present a demonstration of various assistive devices, including power mobility devices on Saturday, May 30, from 11a.m. until 1 p.m. at our Booth.

Horticultural Therapy – An innovative treatment, Horticultural Therapy uses plants and plant-related activities as part of the physical and cognitive rehabilitation programs. Horticultural Therapy is a “change of pace” from traditional physical, occupational and recreational therapy services. Done individually or as a group activity, Horticultural Therapy at Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital is done in the state-of-the-art Sydney Thayer III Horticultural Center that features cathedral ceilings, skylights and a 1,500 square foot greenhouse.

Special Horticultural Therapy activities will be presented on Saturday, May 30, from 1:30 until 3:30 p.m. at the Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital Booth.

Driver Rehabilitation / Adapted Driving – Driver Rehabilitation means different things to different individuals: if you are an older driver you may be interested in extending your driving years safely; if you have a disability, you may require adapted techniques and devices to facilitate driving. The Driver Rehabilitation Program at Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital is committed to enable individuals at whatever age to gain, regain or retain as much independence as possible using adaptive devices or safe driving techniques.

Learn how Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital’s Driver Rehab Program can help – with objective evaluations, specialized equipment or training at our demonstration on Saturday, May 30, from 3:30 – 5:30 p.m.

Art Ability – Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital hosts an international juried art exhibit and sale each year that showcases the works of talented artists who have physical, cognitive, hearing or visual disabilities. For nearly two decades, Art Ability has provided a way for artists with disabilities to exhibit and sell their work, while encourage other individuals to reach beyond their own limitations to find fulfillment in their lives through art.

Selected pieces of art will be displayed and you can learn more about this program on Saturday, May 30, from 6 to 8 p.m.

Pet Therapy – All staff therapists at Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital are special; but there is a group of therapists that is unique – they are the pets who visit the hospital weekly and offer a wag of the tail or a big sloppy kiss to patients and their families. As trained therapy pets the Pet Therapy animals improve the mental, physical and emotional health of patients. They are uniquely qualified to break the monotony of daily care and they help to motivate patients simply by wagging their tails and providing unconditional love.

Visit our special Pet Therapy staff members in our Booth on Sunday, May 31, from Noon to 2 p.m.

Cruisin’ Not Boozin’ – An award-winning, innovative program, Cruisin’ Not Boozin’ brings teenagers and young adults face to face with individuals who have sustained life-changing injuries as a result of drinking and driving accidents. The volunteers who speak during Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital’s Cruisin’ Not Boozin’ programs tell their personal stories of how the accidents happened, how alcohol or drug abuse was involved and their long journeys to recovery. Cruisin’ Not Boozin’ is an educational program that is presented to schools and community groups throughout the tri-state region as part of Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital’s mission to educate the community on how to prevent disability.

See first hand how alcohol and drug abuse can change your life forever as Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital displays and explains its Cruisin’ Not Boozin’ Program on Sunday from 2 to 4 p.m.

Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital is affiliated with Main Line Health and is a leader in the field of physical medicine and rehabilitation. Located on Paoli Pike in Malvern, the hospital offers a unique environment for recovery for individuals with brain injury, stroke, spinal cord injury, orthopedic injuries, including amputation, neurological disorders and other physical and cognitive disabilities. With 148 beds and an extensive Outpatient Network, the hospital is the largest and most comprehensive rehabilitation services organization in the region.