Advancing Care Through Technology: State-of-the-Art Advances

Sarasota Memorial employs the region’s most cutting edge technology to help with recovery, including:

BALANCE MASTER® SYSTEM

Sarasota Memorial is the Suncoast’s only hospital to offer the Balance Master System for the diagnosis and re-training of patients with balance problems.

This interactive, computerized system provides objective measures of a patient's ability to balance and allows the rehab team to objectively assess a patient’s ability to perform tasks ranging from essential daily living activities through high-level athletic skills. The measurements provided by the Balance Master system help in the design of effective treatment plans and/or training programs focused on the underlying cause of the patient’s functional limitations.

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Robomedica® Body Weight Support System – Coming in 2008!

Robomedica’s Body Weight Support System is the most advanced tool available to assist patients with mobility – and Sarasota Memorial is the region’s only hospital to offer this state-of-the-art computerized harness and treadmill system. It is especially beneficial for those limited by stroke, neurological conditions, or joint replacements.

This computerized harness and treadmill system stimulates muscle movement for patients unable to walk or participate in weight-bearing exercise. It protects patients from falling while helping them safely progress in therapy.

Videostroboscopy

Voice problems are often the result of a misfiring of the vocal cord nerves, which is caused by swelling, vocal overuse/abuse, muscle tension, tissue masses, or paralysis of one of the cords.

Videostroboscopy is a state of the art technology used to record and observe the motion of the vocal cords.

A trained speech pathologist or physician using either a rigid telescope placed into the mouth or a small flexible telescope placed into the nose performs the exam, making a “movie” of the vibrating vocal cords that can be replayed in either slow motion or stop action. The resulting images show even the slightest abnormality and allow for a more accurate diagnosis.

Most people tolerate the procedure quite easily. A few require a slight numbing spray to make the scope more comfortable as it enters the nose or mouth. The numbing effect wears off in about one hour. Speaking is quite easy during the examination and you are able to see the recording while it is being made if you wish.