Post-Covid growth in Neuro-rehabilitation Services in Ireland-Covid-19 as a Potential Catalyst for Change in the Field of Neuro-rehabilitation for those with an Acquired Brain Injury?

ABSTRACT

Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) consists of any trauma to the brain. While the world has been dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic, the prevalence of ABI is a pandemic of a silent nature which is nonetheless an emerging health burden. Global estimates suggest that traumatic brain injury (injury caused by an external force) affects 10 million people annually (Hyder et al., 2007). In light of Covid-19, those working in the field of Neuro-rehabilitation had to adapt in order to provide vital support and continued rehabilitation for those with ABI. Many services switched to a Tele-Rehabilitation (TR) strategy to allow rehab to continue remotely while maintaining physical distancing. TR has been widely utilized in countries such as the United States, and Australia, and has a strong evidence base for its efficacy. This presentation will use case studies to explore the adaptation of TR by an ABI Neuro-rehabilitation service, and discuss how we can use this time as an opportunity to reconceptualize the way we structure neuro-rehabilitation in Ireland to combat service shortages, and in doing so improve outcomes for our clients.