“This is the second history of Russian healthcare”
It was precisely in this way, describing this epoch-making stage, that Alexander Nikolayevich Razumov, Director of the State Budgetary Healthcare Institution “Moscow Scientific and Practical Center for Medical Rehabilitation, Restorative and Sports Medicine of the Moscow City Health Department” (SBHI MS PCRRSM MCHD), Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor, Honored Scientist of the Russian Federation, laureate of the RF Government Prize, Chief Specialist in Medical Rehabilitation and Sanatorium-Resort Treatment of the Moscow City Health Department, spoke about the new healthcare system in Russia.
Science and practice in action
Photo: Anastasia Nefyodova
— Russian healthcare is undergoing its second history, as confirmed by reforms aimed at ensuring guaranteed access to medical care. The SBHI MS PCRRSM MCHD, within the structure of the Moscow City Health Department, is the leading center for medical rehabilitation, restorative and sports medicine, providing highly qualified and high-quality medical care to the residents of Moscow at both inpatient and outpatient stages. In October 2014, two years will have passed since its establishment, and we have certain achievements in the work of 18 branches of the Center. Over a short period of time, thanks to the support of the Health Department, we have re-equipped our branches with modern medical equipment and robotic technology. The scientific potential of the Center makes it possible to reunite science and practice in action. As an example, I would like to note the work of the scientific department for medical rehabilitation of patients with diseases of the nervous system under the supervision of Candidate of Medical Sciences Ekaterina Aleksandrovna Melnikova, located on the bases of Branch No. 2 “Multidisciplinary Clinic of Medical Rehabilitation” and Branch No. 6.
The main focus of the scientific work is the development of rehabilitation programs for patients with acute cerebrovascular accident and traumatic brain injury, as well as extended neurophysiological monitoring of patients’ condition in order to timely adjust the rehabilitation plan and prevent the development of complications and decompensation of the underlying disease. Taking into account the city of Moscow’s need for medical rehabilitation care for patients who have suffered acute cerebrovascular accident, the bed capacity of Branch No. 2 has been repurposed.
In accordance with modern requirements
— Alexander Nikolayevich, is the management system changing in light of the ongoing changes?
— Over these two years, with the help of our leaders Leonid Mikhailovich Pechatnikov and Georgy Natanovich Golukhov, absolutely new management systems were created. Today we are developing mechanisms for creating an effective management system for compact medical rehabilitation that meets modern requirements. Great attention is being paid at the Center to training personnel in medical rehabilitation, taking into account international experience. We have prepared an agreement on training doctors at the Institute of Rehabilitation of the University of Ljubljana in Slovenia, and joint educational programs for doctors have been drawn up. This agreement was signed by the head of the Moscow City Health Department, G.N. Golukhov, and the Ambassador of Slovenia to the Russian Federation, Mr. Primož Šeligo. The Center has a federal license for educational activities. The Health Department has designated us as the main institution for training and retraining personnel in the core areas: advanced training in medical rehabilitation, retraining and advanced training in physiotherapy, exercise therapy, massage, sports medicine, medical rehabilitation, neurology, traumatology. We have a dissertation council for the defense of doctoral and candidate dissertations in restorative medicine, balneology, physiotherapy, exercise therapy and sports medicine.
— What programs are you developing today?
— Medical rehabilitation programs for patients who have suffered acute cerebrovascular accident or traumatic brain injury, after spinal surgery, as well as after radical breast surgery, and much more. A great many programs have been developed and implemented in practice by specialists of the Sports Medicine Clinic for the recovery of athletes after intensive training, as well as after injuries.
Medical rehabilitation programs for patients using natural and preformed physical factors have been prepared by specialist doctors of Branch No. 1, the “Specialized Clinic of Restorative Treatment,” located at 26a Talalikhina St. A competent team of doctors, nurses, and exercise therapy instructors works at this branch, bringing science and practice together firsthand.
The goal of a unified powerful team is to preserve the health of citizens
Head of Branch No. 1 “Specialized Clinic of Restorative Treatment” Irina Vasilyevna Ksenofontova, Head of the Branch — Candidate of Medical Sciences, physician of the highest qualification category, talks about the branch’s opportunities:
— Today it is impossible to imagine a public health care system without medical rehabilitation and restorative treatment.
Branch No. 1 of the “Specialized Clinic of Restorative Treatment” meets the needs of Moscow residents for specialized physiobalneotherapeutic care. Each year, about 10,000 Muscovites receive free consultative and treatment care here.
The branch is located in the Tagansky District of the Central Administrative Okrug of Moscow.
The clinic building is equipped for patients with disabilities: ramps, elevators, restrooms.
SCKT has established traditions (in 2012, the clinic turned 90 years old).
The SCKT structural divisions include the following departments: outpatient, dental, functional diagnostics and ultrasound, physical therapy and massage, electro- and phototherapy, hydrotherapy and heat therapy, as well as an X-ray room, a clinical diagnostic laboratory, and an inpatient department.
The branch provides medical care in a 60-bed 24-hour inpatient setting (Head of Department — Candidate of Medical Sciences, physician of the highest category N.V. Nikoda), a day hospital (Candidate of Medical Sciences, physician of the highest category E.B. Polikanova), and on an outpatient basis (Candidate of Medical Sciences, physician of the highest category S.A. Rubchenkova). A distinctive feature of the treatment is the use of non-drug technologies. Indications for referral of patients include diseases of the peripheral nervous system and musculoskeletal system, skin diseases (psoriasis, neurodermatitis), and somatic disorders. The branch operates a large array of physiotherapy
modern equipment and exercise machines for kinesiotherapy. However, the advantage and distinctive feature of the branch is the use of natural brine (chloride-sodium brines supplied from a depth of 1402 m, with a mineralization of 255–269 g/l).
A balneotherapy clinic operates practically in the center of Moscow, no less effective than clinics located on the Dead Sea. Today radon therapy is widely used in the treatment of patients in the form of water and dry baths, and our clinic is perhaps the only place in Moscow where this type of balneotherapy is carried out. Scientific developments on the topic of “radon therapy” are currently being conducted together with foreign colleagues, for example, with the Gastein resort in Austria, where natural radon is used. Despite the fact that treatment using sulfide mud is labor-intensive and expensive, we use this method in the form of applications and wraps. Historically, the clinic had a good reputation for the effectiveness of treatment of female and male infertility. We have very high results in treating infertility, and it is always a joy when many patients come to visit us already with children. The effectiveness of cryotherapy, both general (cryosauna) and local, has been scientifically proven when used in patients with joint diseases and in 90% of patients in the early period after injuries. The results of rehabilitation measures are quite high: 70% — recovery and significant improvement. It is precisely this indicator of improved quality of life for patients that gives us the strength to continue creating and helping people. Today, this branch has gathered specialist doctors who are probably the best not only in Moscow, but also in Russia. They are graduates of the Russian school of physiotherapy, balneotherapy, and restorative medicine.
The team of like-minded professionals at the Center works as a single powerful unit, and all of its activities are aimed at preserving the health of citizens.
Elena Mokhova