As Hotel Dieu Shaver looks into the future, we strive to stay on the forefront of evolving technology by acquiring a leading-edge rehabilitation system. Hotel Dieu Shaver Foundation is appealing to the community for help to secure an advanced, “all-in-one” therapy system called Bioness Integrated System or BITS. BITS is a multi-disciplinary tool that offers patients engaging, customizable therapy across a continuum of care.

Chris Pollard – Director of Rehabilitation Services – explains how the addition of a Bioness Integrated Therapy System will assist patients at Hotel Dieu Shaver in their rehabilitation journey:

“Every day, the patients we care for at Hotel Dieu Shaver are fighting to rebuild their lives. They may be recovering from a stroke, a traumatic injury, an illness or other medical condition that make everyday tasks difficult for them. To restore function patients may require work on their balance, cognition, motor skills and vision. 

With the addition of BITS as part of their treatment plan, we can help patients put the pieces together.

For example, recovering from a stroke or a brain injury can leave patients with impairments to their vision, slowed reaction, balance difficulties and poor neuromuscular control. The BITS system can be customized to ensure each patient’s program is individualized and encourages use of their weaker limb.

As the patient progresses, the BITS’ activities can be advanced to challenge stability and endurance while working on visual tracking, peripheral vision and hand-eye coordination. 

Our therapy team will be able to accomplish more with a single therapy session that will demonstrate positive outcomes over time.” 

What is Bioness Integrated Therapy System (BITS): Bioness Integrated Therapy System uses a large-display touch screen that offers engaging therapy-directed activities to enhance a patient’s coordination, perception, physical endurance, balance, attention, memory and reaction time.

Patient’s performance on the BITS can be assessed by their therapy team, all while playing interactive games and activities designed to improve their coordination and brain function in a fun way.

This feedback can also keep patients motivated to challenge themselves and advance their therapy.As patients participate in fun activities with BITS, our therapists will be collecting objective data which will help to assess a patient’s performance and chart their progress. The instant feedback they can provide will increase a patient’s motivation and encourage them to achieve even higher levels of function.

“By securing leading-edge technologies that our therapy team can utilize, we will be streamlining rehabilitation care and providing creative and engaging ways to meet our patients’ needs”, says Tracy Geoffroy, Executive Director, Hotel Dieu Shaver Foundation.

Ensuring that Hotel Dieu Shaver is well equipped with the most up-to-date tools and services is something we all have a hand in. Those interested in helping Hotel Dieu Shaver Foundation acquire this technologically advanced system – with a price-tag of $50,000 – can visit www.Foundation.HotelDieuShaver.org/site/bits or call 905-378-HDSF (4373).

Hotel Dieu Shaver Health and Rehabilitation Foundation raises and manages funds for patient-care equipment, education, specialty programs, and improvements to treatment areas to support exemplary patient care at Hotel Dieu Shaver, Niagara’s Only Rehabilitation Hospital.