Veterans Affairs Northeast Ohio Healthcare System Receives Spinal Cord Rehabilitation Exoskeleton from SoldierStrong

SoldierStrong donated an Indego Therapy exoskeleton to VA Northeast Ohio Healthcare System today.

Since SoldierStrong’s inception following the tragic events of 9/11, the Stamford, Conn.-based group has donated more than $3 million of medical devices to help injured veterans. Today’s donation is the organization’s 22nd exoskeleton donation, including the 18th one to the VA system.

Martin Kilbane, Supervisor of Rehabilitation Therapies Spinal Cord Injury/Disorders Center, noted that the system currently has a different exoskeleton model in use.

“The donation of this type of device allows us to have more device options for our Veterans who meet the medical clearance and FDA criteria to allow for robotic assisted ambulation post spinal cord injury,” Kilbane said. “When a patient takes his or her first steps. In some instances, the ability to ambulate in these devices can be life changing.”

SoldierStrong co-founder Chris Meek said the organization’s goal to help as many veterans as possible was a significant factor in the local donation.

“VA Northeast Ohio provides comprehensive, seamless health care for more than 112,000 veterans across its region, including too many who have experienced spinal injuries either in service to our country or another situation,” Meek said. “Our donations to other medical centers across the country have shown us that early rehabilitation therapy with an exoskeleton can make a lasting difference in the physical, mental and emotional recovery for patients,” Meek said. “We’re thrilled to help make that difference here, too.”

The Therapy+ software suite, included with each Indego Therapy device, incorporates control algorithms based on proven motor learning principles and allows for an individualized, patient-centric training approach where the device responds to a patient’s active contribution and assists in gait only when necessary. Additionally, therapists have a range of customizable settings within the Therapy+ software suite which allow them to further tailor the behavior of the system to specific impairment and gait needs.

“Our veterans deserve the very best medical care available, and we are incredibly proud to see SoldierStrong and the VA Northeast Ohio Health Care System adding Indego to the range of treatment options accessible to their patients,” Achilleas Dorotheou, head of the human motion and control business unit for Parker Hannifin, in a release from the company. “Combined with our Therapy+ software suite, Indego is becoming an integral tool for clinicians to provide individualized gait therapy sessions to stroke and spinal cord injury patients, and providing a new level of independence.”

SoldierStrong Donates Its First StrongMind Virtual Reality System to Syracuse Veterans Affairs Medical Center

A unique arrangement between Syracuse University, the Syracuse Veterans Affairs Medical Center and two national nonprofits has resulted in the donation today of a groundbreaking virtual reality system to treat veterans experiencing post-traumatic stress.

The donation was made during an event took place at the VA’s Behavioral Health Outpatient Clinic, 620 Erie Blvd West. It comes from SoldierStrong, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to providing advanced medical technologies to help injured veterans lead full lives. Its StrongMind initiative has made an initial commitment to donate virtual reality hardware and software to 10 VA medical centers across the country as part of its focus on reducing post-traumatic stress, which is considered one of the leading causes of veteran suicides. The Syracuse donation is the first in the series.

Operation Hat Trick is funding the donation to the Syracuse VA. The Veterans Health Administration’s Innovative Ecosystem will assist in the facilitation and deployment of the equipment, and coordinate training efforts for the equipment and software.

“The VA always strives to incorporate technology in meaningful ways that improve patient care and help to reduce symptoms of PTSD. This equipment presents an exciting opportunity to engage Veterans with PTSD who may prefer to incorporate more technology into their treatment which will complement the offering of Evidence Based Treatments currently offered in the PTSD Clinic,” said Lauren Love, Syracuse VA Medical Center Behavioral Health Careline Manager. “September is Suicide Prevention Month and this venture also provides a timely opportunity to incorporate creative new treatments aimed at reducing Veteran suicide. We are grateful for the opportunity to partner with SoldierStrong and thank Syracuse University and Operation Hat Trick for their extraordinary generosity.”

Mike Haynie, Vice Chancellor and Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF) Founder & Executive Director, noted the university’s involvement reflects its long-standing support for the nation’s military veterans.

“Syracuse University works closely with the Syracuse VA and many other veteran-serving organizations, to ensure that our veterans get the assistance they need and the care they deserve,” Haynie said. “This donation is another prime example of the power of partnership and connection among all veteran service organizations to achieve a greater good. For that reason, we are proud to support SoldierStrong and Operation Hat Trick’s efforts to make this creative technology an integral part in the treatment and recovery of veterans here in central New York and across the country.”

Rachel Duffy, Syracuse University’s director of trademark licensing, said the relationship with Operation Hat Trick dates back to 2013 and has helped the Hampton, N.H., organization fulfill its mission of generating awareness and support for the recovery of wounded service members and veterans through the sale of OHT branded merchandise and products.

“We’ve been honored to help Operation Hat Trick serve so many veterans through our co-branding agreement, but it’s an exceptional thing to see it result in a donation to the local Syracuse community,” Duffy said. “It’s a moment that should make the university’s many supporters very proud.”

Operation Hat Trick founder and president Dot Sheehan noted that 22 military veterans commit suicide each day across the country.

“One of OHT’s goals is to work with organizations that creatively work toward solving the issue of veteran suicides. SoldierStrong/StrongMind is one of those organizations and we are proud to be involved,” Sheehan said. “We are especially excited to be associated with the Syracuse VA and Syracuse University where their commitment to OHT merchandise and product helps a purchase with a purpose become reality.”

Since SoldierStrong’s inception following the tragic events of 9/11, the Stamford, Conn.-based group has donated more than $3 million of medical devices to help injured veterans, including 22 state-of-the-art exoskeleton that aid in the rehabilitation of spinal injuries.

“Virtual reality treatment shows promise in two key areas,” said SoldierStrong co-founder Chris Meek. “It is both clinically effective and it reduces the stigma that many service members feel about seeking treatment for their post-traumatic stress. With the rise in popularity of virtual reality in non-medical settings, such as video games, entertainment and even the workplace, there’s convincing evidence that younger veterans will be more inclined to seek treatment using VR techniques than other methods.”

SoldierStrong, Department of Veterans Affairs Partner to Treat Post-Traumatic Stress With Virtual Reality Systems

SoldierStrong, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to providing advanced medical technologies to veterans, and the Department of Veterans Affairs have signed a memorandum of agreement to move forward with an initiative to use a virtual reality system to treat patients experiencing post-traumatic stress.

An estimated 20 military veterans take their lives each day and one major study suggested that un-remediated post-traumatic stress is the single most common underlying factor for veterans who consider or attempt suicide.

“Virtual reality treatment shows promise in two key areas,” said SoldierStrong co-founder Chris Meek. “It is both clinically effective and it reduces the stigma that many service members feel about seeking treatment for their post-traumatic stress. With the rise in popularity of virtual reality in non-medical settings, such as video games, entertainment and even the workplace, there’s convincing evidence that younger veterans will be more inclined to seek treatment using VR techniques than other methods.”

Through its StrongMind Virtual Reality System, SoldierStrong will donate virtual reality software and hardware to ten VA medical centers in the coming year with the goal is reducing the number of veteran suicides across the country.

The Veterans Health Administration’s Innovative Ecosystem (IE) will “assist in the facilitation and deployment of the equipment, as well as coordinate the training efforts for the provided equipment and software,” said Dr. Ryan Vega, director of the VA’s Diffusion of Excellence Initiative.

“Public-private partnerships are an important component in the VA’s ongoing effort to provide the best possible care of America’s veterans,” Vega said. “This agreement with SoldierStrong holds great promise to address the highest priority and one of the most vexing challenges we face, which is the need to successfully alleviate the most debilitating effects of post-traumatic stress and reduce the number of combat-related suicides.”

The agreement represents a significant next step in the work that SoldierStrong does on behalf of America’s servicemen and women. Since the organization’s inception following the tragic events of Sept. 11, 2001, SoldierStrong has donated more than $3 million of medical devices to help injured veterans. SoldierStrong donated its 21st exoskeleton donation used in the rehabilitation of spinal injuries – including the 16th to the VA system – in San Diego on July 1.

Exoskeleton Device Donated to San Diego VA Will Help Rehabbing Vets

An incredibly expensive device just gifted to the San Diego VA will help literally lift up our injured veterans.

The device is called an Indego Therapy Exoskeleton made by a company called Parker.

It’s a device spinal cord injury patients wear that allows them to sit, stand and walk without a wheelchair. Veterans like Isaac Lopez say it gives them hope for a more independent future.

“This is something I never thought I’d see again, so it’s a life changer,” he said.

Lopez enlisted in the United States Coast Guard because he wanted to fight drug trafficking in Florida. But shortly after he completed boot camp in 2015, a spinal cord-deteriorating disease left him in a wheelchair.

“It just kinda happened over night. Just slowly lost the ability to walk,” he said. The eager teen from Hemet feared he’d never walk again.

Will Davis, a physical therapist at the VA, helps patients like Lopez use the exoskeleton for rehabilitation.

“It basically gives them back their independence. And that’s the main reason why do almost everything here,” Davis said.

On Monday, the nonprofit SoldierStrong donated a $130,000 exoskeleton to the VA in La Jolla. The hospital now has two it can use to help local veterans.

SoldierStrong says it has donated 21 exoskeletons, 17 of which have gone to the VA system.

Article by NBC San Diego 7: View Main Article

GRAHAM & COURTNEY RAHAL FOUNDATION RAISES RECORD AMOUNT THROUGH ANNUAL DRIVERS TOURNAMENT PRESENTED BY UNITED RENTALS

$310,000 Raised to Support SoldierStrong and CSU’s One Cure

Indianapolis, IN – The Graham & Courtney Rahal Foundation is pleased to announce that through its annual Drivers Tournament presented by United Rentals, it has raised a record amount – $310,000 – to support the Foundation’s primary benefactors, SoldierStrong and Colorado State University’s One Cure. Held on Thursday, May 23rd at Broadmoor Country Club in Indianapolis, Indiana, the sold-out golf event featured 144 players and received tremendous support from a great number of corporate partners.

“The level of participation in this year’s Drivers Tournament, from both individuals and corporations, was incredible,” said IndyCar star Graham Rahal. “It is awesome to see everyone rally together to support two great causes in SoldierStrong and One Cure. These two organizations do fantastic work in their respective fields and to be able to help them do more is very gratifying for Courtney and myself, as well as everyone associated with our Foundation. We have set the bar extremely high, but we will continue to push to do more each year with the Tournament and our other activities.”

SoldierStrong is a Stamford, Connecticut based 501(c)3 charitable organization whose mission is to improve the lives of the men and the women of the United States Armed Forces. Through cutting-edge rehabilitation, recovery and scholarship programs, SoldierStrong transforms the lives of U.S. service members by empowering them to regain their mobility, freedom and overall sense of identity. The Drivers Tournament, along with the Turns for Troops program powered by United Rentals (a primary partner of Rahal’s), is dedicated to supporting this initiative.

One Cure was founded on the principle that cancer affects all creatures and that treatment breakthroughs come through collaborations between scientists and doctors who are working with pets and people. For more than three decades, the Flint Animal Cancer Center has been the world’s leader in comparative oncology research. Studying canine cancer helps learn more about human cancer and the funds raised and donated to One Cure help support its Clinical Trials program which is the largest in veterinary medicine.

“Graham and I are so incredibly proud of the record-breaking amount the Tournament raised for two charities – in SoldierStrong and One Cure – that we are extremely passionate about,” said Courtney Force. “We are thankful to each and every corporate partner and player that helped and is continuing to help the Foundation make a positive impact. The success of this year’s event has further fueled our passion and we look forward to our annual headlining event again next May, as well as the many exciting events that we are currently working on for the near future!”

Next year’s Drivers Tournament will be held Thursday, May 21, 2020. To learn more about the event and how to participate, please visit www.GCRFoundation.org or email Brooke Rowden at bprowden@grahamrahalfoundation.org.