Fondazione F. Turati Outpatient Rehabilitation Center Pistoia, Tuscany, Italy Fondazione F. Turati in Pistoia is a non-profit, private outpatient center offering rehabilitation to adult neurological and orthopedic patients. It is located in the region of Tuscany, the capital of which is Firenze (Florence). Other cities of note in Tuscany include Siena, Pisa and Lucca, and all are within 1-2 hour s drive of the clinic. The Fondazione also operates inpatient rehabilitation facilities in nearby Gavinana, in Zagarolo (near Rome), and in Vieste, a town in the southern region of Puglia. Fondazione Turati was founded in 1966 and is one the oldest rehabilitation organizations in Italy. The outpatient facility in Pistoia also offer homecare. On the same site, the Fondazione operates Koinos, a private ambulatory diagnostic and medical facility. The Fondazione is nationally accredited to provide rehabilitation services and operates under contract with the Italian Ministry of Health. Fondazione Turati outpatient clinic in Pistoia (front entrance) The clinical education experience is coordinated by Linda Bartalesi, a physical therapist with a specialization in manual therapy, who has worked with Eduglobal Associates since 2006. The physical therapists serving as Clinical Instructors speak English. Several therapists have specialized in neurological rehabilitation or orthopedic manual therapy. 1
Fondazione Turati s reception and waiting area Neurological patients admitted to the Fondazione s outpatient clinic include those with stroke, multiple sclerosis, parkinsonism, and neurodegenerative diseases. Neurological patients are seen three to five times a week in 45-minute sessions with a single physical therapist. There are no physical therapy aides or physical therapist assistants in the Italian rehabilitation services delivery system. The facility s Medical Director is a physiatrist. The Fondazione provides rehabilitation services for orthopedic patients with total joint replacement, admitting them immediately post-surgery. There are also patients who have had amputations and traumatic injuries due to accidents, and patients with neck and back pain of many etiologies. The Fondazione treatment of outpatients with musculoskeletal disorders emphasizes exercise and orthopedic manual therapy. 2
The main treatment gym at Fondazione Turati Pistoia Balance Training Postural and Core Stabilization Exercise Recently, the Fondazione has organized at private, cash-payment clinic for physical therapy specialty practice onsite in Pistoia. The clinic, called Kineia, offers manual therapy, postural evaluation and treatment, and neurological rehabilitation provided by therapists with advanced training. 3
L to R, Physical therapist CCCE Linda Bartalesi, Coordinator Elisa Mucci, and CI Sandra Trefoloni An American DPT student teaches core stabilization exercises to an Italian patient with LBP. 4
American DPT students performing manual therapy and ambulation training Italian CI Elisa Mucci (l) and an American DPT student perform ROM with a patient S/P CVA 5
Fondazione Turati founder Antonio Cariglia (left) and Eduglobal Associates President Michael Arnall initiate the Fondazione s clinical education program for American physical therapy students at a news conference in 2006. Based on promotional literature and interviews provided by: Fondazione F. Turati Centro di Riabilitazione Via Panconi, 41/C 51100 Pistoia (FI), Italia Tel: +39 0573 30336 Email: segretariact@fondazioneturati.it Web Page: www.fondazioneturati.it Translated and Distributed by: Eduglobal Associates PO Box 2038, Indiana, Pennsylvania, 15701 USA Email: info@eduglobalassociates.org Web: www.eduglobalassociates.org 6