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MEDICAL TOURISM

Miami-Based Biofeedback Program Offers Hope

to Brain Injury Patients from Abroad

BY SALLIE JAMES brain to the muscle, they can see what
that muscle is capable of doing.”
Laura Gagne balanced on wobbly legs Today Arthur Harper is walking better,
and desperately tried steadying herself as he can lift his arm and move his hand.
yellow and blue lines snaked across a dis- His grasp remains weak, but his dexterity
play screen. continues to improve.
Her involuntary shakes and tremors “They teach me how to think,”
were mirrored in squiggles, her body explained Arthur, 77. “It’s subconscious.
connected to a computer by electrodes. What you are learning how to do is oper-
“Blue up, yellow down. That’s it! ate a muscle you want to use and relax
Doing better!” cheered therapist Maria the opposition muscle.”
Varela. The Brucker method not only works
Welcome to the biofeedback program after neurological injuries but has proved
at Miami Jewish Health, where, using the Patient Arthur Harper of Sarasota Biofeedback therapist Maria Varela useful for children with cerebral palsy.
Brucker method, patients learn to retrain talks with biofeedback therapist works with brain injury patient Laura Patients who have never been able to
their brains using visual cues. The alter- Patricia Villamarin. Gagne from France. walk – and have been told that they
native therapy has helped many with would never walk – have found hope at
brain and spinal cord injuries and stroke Miami Jewish Health.
damage regain balance, stand and walk. may be cheaper, American specialists in a chair without constant shaking due “Dr. Brucker figured out you could
Gagne, a brain injury patient from “are often called upon to treat cases con- to the ataxia,” Varela said. “Now she can show the brain actually connecting to
France, is one of about 200 patients who sidered difficult or untreatable else- stand, she walks with moderate assis- that muscle if you looked at the comput-
practice “medical tourism,” traveling where,” Woodman explained. tance and she doesn’t shake in the chair er screen and the line was climbing high-
from France to Miami for the alternative Marynell Lubinski, vice president of anymore.” er and higher,” Judy Harper explained.
treatment. She is among an estimated Physician Services at Miami Jewish Judy Harper is also a huge believer in “That showed the patient that the mes-
300,000 international patients who visit Health, said the French biofeedback the Brucker method of biofeedback. Her sage to that muscle was getting stronger.
the United States annually seeking spe- patients return because they get results. husband Arthur suffered a severe stroke I call it the greatest 'atta boy’ there is. It’s
cialty care, according to Josef Woodman, “Our patients feel the quality of servic- in 1994 and has regained partial use of encouragement and the brain feeds on
author of “Patients Beyond Borders.” es offered here is higher than other cen- his left arm and greatly improved his it.”
Gagne and her family have traveled to ters in Europe," Lubinski said. walking gait through biofeedback thera- After his stroke, Judy Harper won-
the United States 19 times over eight Because patients’ muscles are connect- py. The couple also travels for the thera- dered if her husband would ever regain a
years, flying more than a cumulative ed to a computer display screen by elec- py, driving several hours south from sense of normalcy. The Brucker method
170,000 miles for the specialty treatment trodes, they can see if a muscle is firing Sarasota, FL. of biofeedback helped him get his life
in Miami. properly, even if they can’t achieve the Doctors had initially predicted Arthur back.
“Brucker has changed her life for the desired movement instantly. The system Harper would never walk again. “He’s the miracle man and it’s all
better,” said Laura’s mother Isabelle. creates incredible incentive. The Harpers met the late Dr. Bernard because of Dr. Brucker. This biofeedback
Gagne also receives a variety of other Gagne was 11 years old when she suf- Brucker years ago in New York and stuff makes improvements every single
supporting therapies in France. Over fered a severe head injury in a violent car decided to try biofeedback. It’s a decision time,” she said.
time, the 27-year-old has learned to con- crash. Various therapies in France pro- they said changed their lives.
trol her tremors for short periods of time, duced marginal results but biofeedback “I think the visual aspect of it is what For more information about the Brucker
as well as stand and take steps with assis- using the Brucker method has given her really helps the patient. (They can see) method, contact Maria Varela at
tance. family hope. And that’s why they travel. the muscles responding,” Varela said. mvarela@miamijewishhealth.org.
Although prices in other countries “Six years ago Laura couldn’t even sit “Because of the connection from the

Cover Story: A Patient’s Health Care Journey Through Global Medicine

Jupiter Medical Center’s Global Medicine Program at a Glance

Continued from page 1 Jupiter Medical Center’s Global
Medicine program provides person-
Ratchford, the Jupiter Medical Center they were when I had my endoscopy, and without a hitch—from admission to doc- alized assistance for approximately
global medicine navigator. The hospital’s would provide the care that I needed. tor visits to tests and surgery, which was 200 patients annually. The Global
Global Medicine services—assistance Based on my initial experience with performed successfully by Dr. Celigoj. I Medicine team takes care of all the
with travel and transportation arrange- them, it was the obvious choice. They spent one night in the hospital after sur- details so patients traveling from
ments, appointment scheduling, transfer really did think of everything to make it gery, and the team at Jupiter Medical outside the United States can focus
of all my medical records, insurance ver- as easy as possible to get the care I need- Cent saw to it that my wife was even their energy on getting well. The
ification and the overall customer care— ed when I had my first procedure. I driven to our hotel and back to the hos- team works closely with each patient
made it all very easy. immediately reached out to Marina, my pital in the morning. and his or her physician to schedule
I thought that was a “one and done” global medicine navigator, and let her While no one wants to get sick, it gives diagnostic testing and treatment.
for me with Jupiter Medical Center, but know that I would be returning. me a lot of comfort to know that the tal- Services include:
that wasn’t the case. In May of 2017, my Within two hours of sending that ented team at Jupiter Medical Center is • Scheduling appointments, includ-
wife and I were at lunch at one of our email on a Friday afternoon, Marina had there if we ever have a medical need in ing consultations, tests, and surgeries
favorite harborside haunts on an 80- scheduled an appointment for me to see the future. They are dedicated to provid- • Verifying insurance benefits
degree Friday afternoon, and I didn't feel Dr. Andrew Celigoj, a world-class urolo- ing the best care possible and getting you and/or providing self-pay pricing
well at all. Despite the balmy weather, I gist at Jupiter Medical Center, the follow- back to your daily life. For me, that information
was freezing, not at all hungry and worst ing Monday morning. She also scheduled means enjoying the sun and surf in the • Making hotel reservations
of all, I was unable to urinate. At my diagnostic tests and made tentative Bahamas! • Transportation from hotel to
wife’s urgings, I saw a doctor who arrangements for me to have surgery the All's well that ends well! Thank you, hospital and hospital to physician's
informed us that I had a urinary tract following Friday – one week after my Jupiter Medical Center, my new medical office (Jupiter area only)
infection and that I had to be on antibi- original email. comfort zone. • Personal escort to all outpatient
otics for a week. The doctor also Additionally, she helped us with all our appointments (based on availability)
informed us that I needed surgery on my travel arrangements. I rested easy that • Language interpretation services
enlarged prostate. weekend, knowing that Marina had For more information on Jupiter Medical • Coordination of medical records
For a moment, we considered heading thought of everything and that my health Center's Global Medicine program, call with the patient’s personal physician
back to our doctors in Pennsylvania, but care would be in good hands once I (561) 263-5050 or email to ensure a continuity of care when
we quickly realized that Jupiter Medical arrived at Jupiter Medical Center. Global.Medicine@Jupitermed.com. the patient returns home
Center would be there for me, just like Once I arrived, everything went off

South Florida Hospital News southfloridahospitalnews.com July 2018 19