Spectacular recoveries at a hospital with a "zero-bed department"

(Dan Tri) - There are no hospital beds and no inpatient treatment, but the medical staff here are attached to many patients with serious conditions, to make spectacular recoveries.

“Thank… thank… doctor, you helped… helped… me a lot”, Mr. Le Nang Dac (65 years old, living in old District 8, Ho Chi Minh City)’s voice rang out intermittently, one had to pay close attention to hear it. Next to the male patient were special exercise equipment, and his wife followed closely.

The seemingly unusual sound above - to Mr. Dac's family and the medical staff of the Rehabilitation Department, Cho Ray Hospital - is a wonderful result of a long journey to help patients regain their lives.

Mr. Le Nang Dac practices rehabilitation at Cho Ray Hospital (Photo: Hoang Le).

Miracles at the "0-bed department"

Mrs. Nguyen Thi Thanh An (62 years old, Mr. Dac's wife) revealed that more than 2 years ago, after a sudden stroke, her husband was almost unable to speak. After undergoing intensive emergency treatment, although he escaped death, the consequences left for the patient were extremely severe. Mr. Dac suffered from both cognitive and motor disorders.

“At first, the patient could not come to the department alone, he had to have his family and many of our medical staff support him. Because no one understood what he was saying, the patient was extremely upset. He got angry easily, even when he heard the sound of a loud fan, he got angry and cursed loudly…”, specialist doctor 2 Luu Thi Thanh Loan, Deputy Head of the Rehabilitation Department, Cho Ray Hospital, recounted.

During the following period, although the patients often encountered difficulties or even became uncooperative, the technicians persisted with each step and each small exercise.

Gradually, he was able to take his first steps, his voice changed from "mumbling" to pronouncing words slowly and clearly. More than 2 years later, the patient, who was immobile, only knowing how to lie and wait for fate to decide and like a lost soul, can now practice on his own, speak full sentences, his spirit improved dramatically, and a smile often appeared on his lips.

He has now reached the stage where he only needs medical staff to supervise his daily exercises.

“Thank you… sincerely… everyone. I’ll be back… tomorrow… tomorrow,” Mr. Dac said again, his voice broken but his face bright, making the medical staff smile too…

Mr. Dac recovered well after more than 2 years of treatment, his spirit of optimism returned (Photo: Hoang Le).

Hearing the news that her daughter Như Th. (31 years old) was officially discharged from the hospital, after many years of persistently seeking a chance to live, Mrs. M. both laughed and cried. Mrs. M. brought her daughter to the hospital from the days she was bedridden, suffering from severe skin ulcers, and had to be transferred to the Burn - Plastic Surgery Department, Cho Ray Hospital to take care of her wounds.

At that time, the girl named Th. was diagnosed with severe complications of lupus erythematosus and spinal meningitis. She was paralyzed in all four limbs, unable to stand up, and her hands were almost paralyzed, and she was completely dependent on her family for all her daily activities.

“At that time, the family only hoped that you could sit up and they were very happy. We gave the patient electric stimulation, standing exercises, exercise, and used a skew table. When the patient could sit, the family hoped that you could walk, but Th.’s body was very weak at that time.

Over time, the patient recovered step by step, from lying down to standing, from standing to sitting up straight. And gradually, Th. could move from bed to wheelchair by himself.

After 6 years, Th. was able to stop treatment. He can even now work as a salesman to support himself.

It was truly a miracle. But without the patient’s family and strong spirit, the miracle would not have happened,” said the medical staff treating patient Th.

At the Rehabilitation Department of Cho Ray Hospital, medical staff have witnessed many spectacular recoveries (Photo: Hoang Le).

Master Vu Van Thanh, head nurse at the Rehabilitation Department, shared that in more than 23 years of working here, she has witnessed many patients like Ms. Th. and Mr. Dac.

Almost everyone who comes here at first is bedridden, needs a lot of support, and their health and spirit are both declining after the after-effects of a serious illness such as a stroke or trauma...

With more than 35 medical staff, the Rehabilitation Department – as its name suggests – has helped many people regain their previous lives, after a long period of intervention.

It is worth mentioning that the department has no hospital beds and does not accept inpatient treatment, but is closely associated with many patients with serious conditions, to make spectacular recoveries.

No promises, just trust

“In this department, not only the public, but sometimes even our colleagues in the medical field become our patients. Because life's events spare no one,” said nurse Vu Van Thanh.

As evidence for the above, Ms. Van immediately pointed to a medical staff member who had just entered the department and introduced: This is a doctor currently practicing at Cho Ray Hospital!

A few years ago, the healthy male doctor had to face the risk of closing the door to his future after a traffic accident caused severe brain injury, leading to hemiplegia.

Thanks to strict adherence to physical therapy and occupational therapy regimens, the former medical student was able to walk again and recover his health to continue pursuing his path of curing and saving lives.

Inside the speech therapy room of the Rehabilitation Department, Cho Ray Hospital (Photo: Hoang Le).

Hearing us wonder why the Rehabilitation Department did not have any beds, the department leader explained that most of the working time of the medical staff in this department is usually in… another department.

Specifically, for inpatient cases, the department closely coordinates with departments and rooms such as Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Neurology, Cardiology, Orthopedics, Burns - Plastic Surgery... to directly go to the patient's bedside to perform rehabilitation exercises right in the acute phase.

Once the condition is stable, the patient will be transferred to outpatient treatment to continue intensive exercise programs, helping to achieve optimal recovery and return to daily activities and work as soon as possible.

Because the patients in the Rehabilitation Department are often very serious and require long-term treatment, the technicians here always make sure to: Absolutely do not make promises to avoid disappointing patients.

Instead, they clearly explain to patients and their families that in order for treatment to be successful, it is necessary to maintain faith and adhere to the detailed protocol outlined by the department.

“Instead of saying that you will definitely get better, we say that if you exercise regularly, you will recover better. We give the best options for the patient, but we don’t let the patient have too much expectation,” the head nurse analyzed.

Medical staff persistently practice pronunciation to restore speech function for patients (Photo: Hoang Le).

Towards the era of AI, virtual reality, robots after 50 years of development

Established in 1975 with the original name of the Department of Physical Therapy, up to now, the Department of Rehabilitation of Cho Ray Hospital has developed comprehensive therapy techniques, including 3 areas: speech therapy, occupational therapy and physical therapy.

Regularly 3 days a week, the department organizes physical coordination classes for stroke patients, people with orthopedic musculoskeletal diseases... Patients with flexor tendon ruptures or problems with hand dexterity, complications after stroke... will receive close physical therapy intervention.

Dr. Ngo Duc Hiep, Head of the Rehabilitation Department of the special-class hospital under the Ministry of Health , shared that this place takes on the role of directing the line and implementing Project 1816 in rotating professional staff to transfer specialized rehabilitation techniques, contributing to improving the quality of care and treatment for lower-level medical facilities.

In particular, the faculty has cooperated with JICA (Japan) to successfully implement two typical projects, which are supporting people with disabilities in the community (2006-2008) and enhancing rehabilitation activities in the southern provinces (2011-2013).

These projects have had a lasting positive impact, helping to enhance the professional capacity of local health workers and improve the quality of life of patients in the community.

Cho Ray Hospital will apply AI, virtual reality systems, robots... to support treatment and rehabilitation for patients in the future (Photo: Hoang Le).

In the future, in line with the new era of development of the medical industry, in addition to continuing to promote the 3 existing therapeutic strengths, the Department of Rehabilitation aims to apply modern technology in diagnosis and treatment.

These include using applications (Apps) and software to support training; practicing perception and cognition through virtual reality (VR) systems; applying artificial intelligence (AI) in analyzing, evaluating and building personalized treatment regimens; deploying robots to practice upper limb function and early mobility support devices for patients right from the acute stage...

“These advances will help improve recovery efficiency, shorten treatment time and maximize patient quality of life,” Dr. Ngo Duc Hiep hopes.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/suc-khoe/nhung-ca-hoi-phuc-ngoan-muc-o-benh-vien-co-khoa-0-giuong-20250819173229854.htm