New rehabilitation equipment at Occupational Therapy Department GUH

The Occupational Therapy Service at Galway University Hospitals has recently acquired a new rehabilitation tool known as Dynavision D2.  The purchase of the device was supported by a grant of €10,000 from the charity Footsteps and it is the only hospital in the West of Ireland to currently have this device.

The Dynavision D2 is designed to enhance a person’s visual-motor and cognitive reaction skills. The system trains patients in peripheral awareness, eye-hand coordination and visual reactions using a series of lights and sounds. Since its introduction the Occupational Therapy staff have seen how the device helps patients in their rehabilitation process.

Commenting, Occupational Therapy Manager Pauline Burke said, “The Dynavision D2  has been recognised  worldwide as the premier visual-motor reaction training system for over 25 years. It is widely used in the rehabilitation of patients with stroke and traumatic brain injury in the USA;  from what we know, this is only the fourth Dynavision within in the Republic of Ireland, and is the first to be installed in the West of Ireland.  Already patients at GUH are benefitting from its range of applications, with many patients already describing how it has helped them to improve their coordination and peripheral awareness. We are very grateful for the generous support of Footsteps in helping us acquire this important rehabilitation equipment”.

The Dynavision was officially launched in the Occupational Therapy Department GUH on the 11th of August. A presentation of the Dynavision D2 and its many benefits  to patients was presented to hospital staff by Cornelius Dhivaker and Caitriona Cosgrove, Senior Occupational Therapists, GUH.

At the launch, Alisha Kelly, Clinical Specialist Occupational Therapist GUH, welcomed Footsteps Chairperson Rosalie Parker and her colleague Charles Jackson to GUH, and added that the Occupational Therapy Service look forward to treating the many patients, who will benefit from the use of the device in the future. Ann Cosgrove, General Manager at GUH acknowledged the generous grant aid from Footsteps for the equipment, which enhances the service provided from the Occupational Therapy Department to patients of the hospital.
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Pictured in the launch of the Dynavision D2 system at Occupational Therapy GUH are:
Cornelius Dhivakar, Senior Occupational Therapist, GUH; Charles Jackson, Footsteps Committee Member; Rosalie Parker, Chairperson of Footsteps; Caitriona Cosgrove,  Senior Occupational Therapist GUH; Ann Cosgrove, General Manager Galway University Hospitals; Alisha Kelly, Clinical Specialist  Occupational Therapist GUH.

For more information on the Dynavision D2, visit www.dynavisioninternational.com/d2.html
For more information on Footsteps, visit www.footstepsinfo.ie