Gorbel Medical recently held a press conference in collaboration with Nazareth College, Monroe Community Hospital, University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC), and Ohio State University (OSU), announcing a multisite research project encompassing the use of its SafeGait body-weight-support system.
J.J. Mowder-Tinney, PT, PhD, NCS, C/NDT, CSRS, Nazareth College department of Physical Therapy, explains in a company news release that Gorbel is facilitating collaboration between the college’s three local partners and the Ohio State University for research using a standardized approach studying the impact of using SafeGait in therapy with patients who have neurological and neurodegenerative diagnoses.
Mowder-Tinney adds that researchers will begin by assessing individuals with stroke, spinal cord injury (SCI), multiple sclerosis (MS), and Parkinson’s disease.
“We will also look at the possibility of reducing the financial burden on the healthcare system by focusing on how this equipment can assist in decreasing the risk of injuries to both patients and healthcare professionals,” Mowder-Tinney says.
The release reports that Nazareth hosted the first installation of SafeGait252 in its Wellness Clinic, Pittsford, NY. Daan Braveman, Nazareth president, articulates the college’s pride in working with Gorbel Medical for the installation and notes that it has already helped some of Nazareth clinic’s clients.
In the release, Bradford C. Berk, MD, PhD, director of Rochester Neurorestrative Institute at the University of Rochester Medical Center, emphasizes the existing excitement in the field of neurorehabilitation stemming from recent advancements geared toward allowing SCI patients to walk again.
Berk goes on to call the development of SafeGait locally by Gorbel Inc, a “terrific opportunity for the University of Rochester and the Rochester Neurorestorative Institute to collaborate with Gorbel Inc in the development and use of SafeGait.”
Brian Reh, president and CEO, Gorbel Inc, says after more than 37 years of serving the industrial handling world, Gorbel is proud to leverage its technology in the medical field with the launch of SafeGait, “Developed and manufactured in Rochester, NY, we believe this revolutionary body-weight-support system will improve the lives of patients and therapists worldwide. We are blessed to have incredible expertise in our own backyard and extend our sincere thanks to our friends at URMC, Nazareth, and Monroe Community Hospital for their collaborative efforts with Gorbel.”
Additionally, Robert Duffy, Rochester Business Alliance president and CEO, congratulates Gorbel on its launch of the new SafeGait technology.
“Our congratulations also go out to RBA members Nazareth College and the University of Rochester for their work with Gorbel. This is a great example of Rochester business and the healthcare community coming together in product development, clinical input, and clinical research. This type of collaboration between industry and health care can be extremely beneficial to upstate New York business and the patients it impacts,” Duffy says.
[Source: Gorbel Medical]
