Approximately 650 doctors, along with a multi-professional team of therapists, nurses, psychologists, and social workers, are expected to attend the 37th annual meeting of the German-speaking Medical Society for Paraplegiology (DMGP) in Weimar from June 5 to 8. Under the direction of Dr. Ines Kurze, chief physician of the Paraplegic Center at the Bad Berka Central Clinic, experts in paraplegia will discuss innovative conservative and surgical treatment options and current research approaches for optimal rehabilitation. This event, the largest of its kind in the German-speaking world, is themed “Paraplegia: Claim-Reality-Opportunity.”
Dr. Ines Kurze expressed pride in hosting the annual conference in Thuringia, highlighting the clear objectives in their work with paraplegics: achieving maximum autonomy and independence, enabling social participation, and ensuring a fulfilling life with stable, low-complication paralysis. She noted the increasing challenges of addressing social and palliative situations in addition to classic rehabilitation, compounded by resource shortages, such as staff, nursing services, and capacities in rehabilitation and care facilities. The central clinic, a national leader in paraplegic care, features a Level 1a center for both surgical and conservative treatment, including polytrauma care (DMGP). Dr. Kurze’s team employs a highly specialized, interdisciplinary, and interprofessional approach, facilitating a necessary holistic treatment for paraplegia. Many nurses have completed specialized training in “Paraplegiology Nursing.”
The DMGP eV, a multi-professional non-profit organization, fosters cooperation among all professional groups involved in the treatment and rehabilitation of paraplegics. Its primary tasks include disseminating knowledge about comprehensive rehabilitation and eliminating prejudices against paraplegics. Dr. Andreas Badke, Chairman of the DMGP, remarked on the increasingly difficult conditions under which they strive to meet their care standards for paraplegics, both in the acute phase and when complications arise. He acknowledged the recurring challenge of the gap between expectations and reality, emphasizing the importance of viewing this discrepancy as an opportunity.
