Accessing Rehabilitation Support in Almaty Post-COVID-19
In an online interview with Almaty's regional communication service, the head honcho of City Polyclinic No. 4, Zuhra Umurova, shed some light on the Medical Rehabilitation Center's outpatient rehabilitation services for three major fields – cardiology, neurology and neuro-surgery, traumatology and orthopedics. This includes kids affected by perinatal damage to the central nervous system, as revealed by Almaty.tv.
Patients can join the program through the OMS system and outpatient-polyclinic assistance, at the recommendation of their family doctor. At the moment, the center is aggressively working on rehabilitating COVID-19 patients, with oxygen therapy, specialized drainage massages, specific breathing exercises, and therapeutic physical culture as the primary methods. Besides physical rehab, they're providing psychological and social adaptation support too.
Umurova added that specialists at the center don't just focus on breathing therapy but treat the entire body as a holistic system. With a team of restorative medicine doctors, rehabilitation specialists, kinesitherapists, ergotherapists, certified acupuncturists, speech therapists, psychologists, social workers, masseurs, instructors of therapeutic and breathing exercises, they cater to the diverse needs of patients. Additional services include physiotherapy, paraffinotherapy, acupuncture, and halotherapy (salt cave).
For mechanotherapy, they have equipment for passive and active exercises, particularly for knee, shoulder, hip, and ankle joints, as well as verticalizers for both children and adults, and additional equipment for active mechanotherapy. For improved motor skills, they also use ergostats.
Although rehabilitation services are provided on an outpatient basis and through telemedical and information technologies, Umurova mentioned that consultations with the center would be the best bet for the most accurate information.
In 2019, 712 patients (2848 procedures) completed their rehabilitation program at the polyclinic. In 2020, this number climbed to 1457 patients (5340 procedures). At present, 67 people are undergoing rehabilitation after having battled COVID-19, with an average rehabilitation duration of 10-20 days.
While specific services for COVID-19 patients at the Medical Rehabilitation Center are not extensively documented, understanding broader healthcare challenges and strategies during the pandemic can provide some insights. In line with the recommendation from WHO/Europe, there might be a focus on early diagnosis, comprehensive primary care integration, mental health support, and chronic condition management given the psychological distress and comorbidities in older adults post-COVID. For precise details, it's best to consult with the center directly.
- The Medical Rehabilitation Center at City Polyclinic No. 4 is currently focusing on rehabilitating Covid-19 patients, using methods like oxygen therapy, specialized drainage massages, and specific breathing exercises.
- Besides physical rehabilitation, the center also offers psychological and social adaptation support to patients, with a team of specialists including psychologists, speech therapists, and masseurs.
- Although specific services for Covid-19 patients at the Medical Rehabilitation Center are not extensively documented, there might be a focus on early diagnosis, comprehensive primary care integration, mental health support, and chronic condition management as per the WHO/Europe recommendation.
- In 2020, 1457 patients (5340 procedures) completed their rehabilitation process at the polyclinic, with an average rehabilitation duration of 10-20 days for the 67 patients currently undergoing rehabilitation after battling Covid-19.
