Today, BTC provided URI – Soča with ten webcams to enable the telerehabilitation of patients, a practice that contributes significantly to the accessibility of treatment and allows the implementation of therapies at home through video contact with a doctor and physical therapist. Webcams equipped with microphones represent an important part of the equipment used to perform said service and establish a quality online connection.

Telemedicine is becoming an important part of healthcare, as is rehabilitation. At URI – Soča, telerehabilitation services have proved to be very useful already before the epidemic, but even more so during it. With telerehabilitation, a patient and a doctor establish video communication via a webcam and go through the so-called tele-specialist clinical examination, at which therapeutic measures are prescribed. In the second phase, the patient uses video to connect with a physiotherapist or an occupational therapist, who shows the patient the necessary exercises and observes them. Telerehabiliation is suitable for a wide range of services provided by URI – Soča, including the treatment of patients with chronic pain.

Upon handing over the donation, Miha Mermal, Chief Marketing Officer and Chief Sustainability Officer at BTC, emphasised: “At BTC, we believe that socially responsible actions are an important part of our corporate mission as a member of the broader community. In the demanding conditions we witnessed in the past couple of months, we felt special responsibility to help the most vulnerable groups and those who take care of them. This is also why we decided to accompany our donation of protective masks during the epidemic with our support of the efforts of top rehabilitation specialists at URI – Soča by purchasing equipment that will provide patients with better access to treatment.”

Mag. Robert Cugelj, General Manager of URI – Soča, said: “At URI – Soča, we want to provide our patients and employees with the most modern, efficient and safe modes of treatment. As modern technologies spread across the world, remote rehabilitation has also been gaining ground, and I am thankful that we have been able to make an important step forward in this regard with the help of BTC’s donation. We are sure that telerehabilitation will represent an important services segment at URI – Soča in the future. ”

The University Institute for Rehabilitation of the Republic of Slovenia (URI – Soča) is the main Slovene public healthcare centre for the integrated rehabilitation of patients with limited motor functions and a limited functional capacity. Today’s donation constitutes a continuation of the previously established co-operation since BTC donated 5,000 protective masks to URI – Soča in the past.