New business model for rehabilitation involving self-motivated training and assessment of brain function measurement

Abstract

In the present report, we discuss a new business model for rehabilitation and the use of brain function measurement with functional Near Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS). In Japan, hospitals have several diagnostic and treatment departments, and one doctor examines many patients in each department. Although this traditional business model is well managed in most departments, in the rehabilitation department, one physical therapist (PT) examines only a few patients daily. Hence, the management strategy for rehabilitation is poor. Thus, large and wealthy hospitals may have a separate rehabilitation department and employ PTs, whereas small hospitals may not. We have proposed a new rehabilitation system wherein one PT trains many patients by using rehabilitation devices. As one PT can examine many patients by using such devices, small hospitals can hire several PTs in the rehabilitation department, which could consequently increase the job opportunities for PTs in the country. In this new rehabilitation system, the benefit of the devices and recovery level of the patients can be confirmed by measuring site activation in brain.