Rehabilitation
Services -
Named Center of Excellence Miller-Dwan's Rehabilitation Center implanted their first Baclofen pump in 1996. Today, the Rehab Center manages over 110 pumps in its program and has become quite good at what it does. It is the largest baclofen program north of the Twin Cities and one of the largest in the state. This program is highly regarded by Medtronic for its low infection rate, low complication rate, and excellent patient selection and outcome. Miller Dwan Rehabilitation Center is participating in two research studies with Medtronic Neurological through the SMDC Department of Education and Research.
The pump is an innovative approach for treating patients experiencing spasticity or muscle spasms caused by spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, or brain injury and consists of a programmable drug pump, with a drug reservoir. The implant procedure takes about two hours in which a neurosurgeon makes an incision in the patient's back placing a catheter in a pocket under the abdominal skin large enough to hold the pump. The catheter carries the medication from the pump to the area surrounding the spinal cord. After placement, the pump is filled with Baclofen and programmed to deliver the agent at a prescribed rate.
A spokes person for Medtronic says Miller-Dwan is on the cutting edge stating Miller-Dwan is a model center,
managing patients with severe spasticity for Minnesota, North and South Dakota, Wisconsin, and upper Michigan. Medtronic looks at community-based hospitals like Miller-Dwan as model centers. "Their patients have such good clinical outcomes. Miller Dwan's Rehab Center has excellent neurosurgery, physical and speech therapy. They not only provide excellent follow-up with their patients, they look at the whole person."
Evey Kliever, nurse coordinator for Miller Dwan's Spasticity Program witnesses success
stories every day. After receiving the pump, individuals who were scarcely able to walk 50
feet because of rigid muscles are now capable of taking part in everyday activities that others take for granted, such as walking or bowling. She also notices the gain in self-esteem for
those children and adults who gain some control over their bodies.
For more information about spasticity management, call Miller-Dwan's Rehabilitation
Center at (218) 786-2850, (800) 225-7723, or TTY (218) 720-1950.
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