References & Partners

ADELI

The scientific basis

Univ. Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. mult. Franz Gerstenbrand, * 6.9.1924; † 30.6.2017
Scientific supervisor of the ADELI Medical Center

“The ADELI Medical Center in Piestany is fully equipped with all known means of modern neurorehabilitation. Scientific achievements of neurologic research are well applied within the scope of the treatment programme, especially in activating the proprioceptive system. A department of hyperbaric oxygenation therapy complements the main facility. As one of the few institutes in Europe the Center specialises in paediatric neurorehabilitation.

Neurorehabilitation

The basic principles of modern neurorehabilitation are well established at the ADELI Medical Center. The therapeutic community of specialised physicians, therapists and the staff of various other areas of medicine work in close collaboration with the relatives, or carers, for the benefit of the patient. The concept is supported by creating an individual rehabilitation programme for each patient after a thorough analysis of the neurological deficits and their cause, taking into the account the damage caused to the brain, spinal cord and the peripheral nervous system.

Space medicine

This stimulation of proprioceptive system – one of the most important components of motor function – is accompanied at ADELI by the use of medical devices that find their origin in space medicine. For example, the special, modified space suits and the vibrating shoe: the effectiveness of this method has been scientifically proven by recent research using functional MRI studies (fMRI). It has emerged as a new treatment option in neurorehabilitation.

Brain areas activated

ADELI Medical Center also makes good use of the newly opened hyperbaric oxygen treatment (HBOT) department. Numerous researches – mainly in the USA – have proven the effectiveness of this treatment for various neurological conditions. The method can be used to treat patients who suffer from severe consequences of a traumatic brain injury, stroke or an apallic syndrome in advanced remission stage of different etiology. The approach yields results even in patients with a locked-in syndrome.“

Univ. Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. mult. Franz Gerstenbrand

* 6.9.1924 † 30.6.2017

Franz Gerstenbrand habilitated in 1967 about the “traumatic apallic syndrome” and became a university professor in 1973. In 1975, he became chief of Department II at the Neurological Hospital in Vienna and the University Neurology Clinic in Innsbruck. Since 1986, Gerstenbrand worked on the effects of outer space on the human body, together with Russian scientists, and the representatives of NASA and ESA. After his retirement in 1994 he remained as codirector of the Boltzmann Institute for Restorative Neurology. Gerstenbrand is the author of more than 700 publications and twelve books.

Our Partners

ADELI Medical Center is a member of the World Federation for Neurorehabilitation.

The Oxymed Department of the ADELI Medical Center was nominated as a scientific member in the World Federation for Neurology. WFN’s Research Group for Space and Underwater Neurology, Subdivision HBOT has decided to start a scientific cooperation with the Oxymed Department in April 2014.

ADELI Medical Center became associate member of the BIF Confederation in May 2014. BIF isa non-governmental organisation aimed at raising awareness of brain injury by creating a common European platform through co-ordination and co-operation between national associations of people with brain injury and their families.

The Tree of Hope is a UK charity that offers hope to the families of sick children in the UK who need specialist medical surgery, treatment, therapy and equipment in order to free them from suffering, giving a better quality to their young lives. As a part of its philanthropic activities, Tree of Hope has agreed to consider assisting in fundraising for UK patients seeking treatment in ADELI Medical Center.

Hopes & Dreams is a totally voluntary charity that fulfills dreams of UK children that are critically or terminally ill. This UK charity also expanded its philanthropic activities by considering assisting the UK patients with their fundraising efforts to undergo treatment in ADELI Medical Center.

Gracious Heart Foundation

Gracious Heart was established in 2013 as a totally independent and non-profit organisation and a fully registered charity in the UK, with the goal to help as many children as possible within the UK that have Cerebral Palsy. Their work includes partnering within rehabilitation centres to help families and children struggling to cope with CP and ADELI Medical Center has been selected as one of their partner rehabilitation centre.

Just4Children

Just4Children is a newly established UK charity passionate about the relief of sickness and preservation of health of children in the UK and Ireland. The charity would love to help the UK and Irish families to fundraise through their platform for rehabilitation in our Center. The fundraising could be for therapy, travel, hotel, physics and equipment. Just4Children takes no fees and all monies raised, including the extra 25% Gift Aid, go to the family.

Recognition by abroad foreign insurance companies

Our organization has contracts with payers in the country and abroad. Some of the overseas state insurance companies cover the entire cost of rehabilitation, while the reimbursement of the costs from any EU insurance company follows a different process. Learn more about it here.