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Friday, January 10, 2025

Stroke patient benefits from new mobility-enhancing device at Albany Medical Center

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Samantha DiCicco, RN, MBA Chief Executive Officer of the Albany Med Health System Visiting Nurses | Albany Medical Health System

Samantha DiCicco, RN, MBA Chief Executive Officer of the Albany Med Health System Visiting Nurses | Albany Medical Health System

Jenna Shersky, a stroke survivor from Delmar, is experiencing renewed hope for improved mobility thanks to a new device available at Albany Medical Center. Before her stroke in May 2022, Shersky led an active lifestyle. Now, she looks forward to regaining the ability to perform everyday tasks such as folding laundry and tying her hair.

The breakthrough device, MicroTransponder’s Vivistim Paired VNS System, was implanted in Shersky by Dr. Alexandra Paul, an endovascular neurosurgeon at Albany Medical Center. The device uses vagus nerve stimulation during rehabilitation and has shown promising results in enhancing arm and hand function for ischemic stroke survivors.

“Like many ischemic stroke survivors, Jenna’s rehabilitation therapy had reached a plateau,” said Dr. Paul. “But she has already noticed progress since using the Vivistim therapy.”

Shersky's rehabilitation involves a wireless transmitter that communicates with software to deliver gentle pulses to her vagus nerve while performing specific tasks. Frances Williams, an occupational therapist at Albany Medical Center’s Outpatient Therapy Clinic, guides patients like Shersky through this process.

“Vivistim is the most promising technology for stroke survivors with chronic upper limb impairment that has emerged over the course of my entire career in occupational therapy,” Williams stated.

Dr. Paul emphasized the importance of offering advanced treatments: “We’re grateful to have the resources and support from our rehab partners to offer this revolutionary treatment to stroke survivors.”

Shersky hopes her story will encourage others: “I’m slowly beginning to see some progress in activities like opening doors... I believe I’ll continue to get good results.”

Jason Gagnon, DPT and manager of Outpatient Therapy, mentioned plans for expanding access: “The long-term vision of the Vivistim partnership is to leverage our therapy services throughout the entire System’s service area.”

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