German hospital capacities for prolonged mechanical ventilator weaning in neurorehabilitation - results of a representative survey.

A brief survey among members of the German Neurorehabilitation Society aimed to document the hospital capacities ("beds") for prolonged weaning from a mechanical ventilator for patients with neuro-disabilities that require simultaneous multi-professional neurorehabilitation treatment. Sixty-eight institutions declared to have capacities with a broad distribution across Germany and its federal states. Overall, 1094 "beds" for prolonged weaning (and neurorehabilitation) were reported, 871 together with further information regarding their identification and hence regional location.

Neurogeriatrics-a vision for improved care and research for geriatric patients with predominating neurological disabilities.

Geriatric medicine is a rapidly evolving field that addresses diagnostic, therapeutic and care aspects of older adults. Some disabilities and disorders affecting cognition (e.g.

Position paper: ability to drive in cerebrovascular diseases.

The regulations for fitness to drive after a cerebrovascular accident in the German Driving License Regulations (FeV) and the German Evaluation Guidelines for Driving Ability (BGL). are not up to date with the current medical knowledge and not consistent with regulations regarding cardiovascular diseases. This position paper presented by six medical and neuropsychological societies in Germany provides a guideline for the assessment of driving ability after diagnosis of a cerebrovascular disease and addresses three major questions: If there is a functional limitation, how can it be compensated for? What is the risk of sudden loss of control while driving in the future? Are there behavioral or personality changes or cognitive deficiencies interfering with safety while driving? Recommendations for the assessment of driving ability in different cerebrovascular diseases are presented.

[Neurological and neurosurgical early rehabilitation in Lower Saxony and Bremen].

Introduction: We analyzed the delivery of healthcare services among patients in neurological and neurosurgical early rehabilitation programmes in the German states of Lower Saxony and Bremen.

Methods: Patients´applications and admissions for neurological and neurosurgical early rehabilitation in Lower Saxony and Bremen were recorded during a period of two weeks both in November 2015 as well as 2016. The proportion of patients admitted to early rehabilitation within a six-week-period after disease onset was calculated.

ICF Core Set for patients with neurological conditions in early post-acute rehabilitation facilities.

Purpose: The aim of this consensus process was to decide on a first version of the ICF Core Set for neurological patients in early post-acute rehabilitation facilities.

Methods: The ICF Core Set development involved a formal decision-making and consensus process, integrating evidence gathered from preliminary studies including focus groups of health professionals, a systematic review of the literature and empiric data collection from patients.

Results: Seventeen experts selected a total of 116 second-level categories.

ICF Core Set for patients with neurological conditions in the acute hospital.

Purpose: The aim of this consensus process was to decide on a first version of the ICF Core Set for patients with neurological conditions in the acute hospital.

Methods: The ICF Core Set development involved a formal decision-making and consensus process, integrating evidence gathered from preliminary studies including focus groups of health professionals, a systematic review of the literature and empiric data collection from patients.

Results: Twenty-one experts selected a total of 85 second-level categories.