Rabin Medical Center has treated over 1,000 injured soldiers and civilians since the massive October 7th attack and the onset of the "Iron Swords War", many flown straight from the battlefield to our heliport.

RMC recently established a new Rehabilitation Department, fulfilling a crucial need in Israel. The new rehab facilities aims to provide the full range of therapies with the use of state of the art technologies, to ensure utmost rehabilitation for soldiers recovering from complex injuries.

Background: The Friends of Rabin Medical Center, a non-profit organization, promotes the development of Rabin Medical Center (RMC), supporting its efforts and initiatives to provide best possible care for the public of Israel.

• RMC – one of Israel's foremost institutions, comprising Beilinson and Hasharon Hospitals
• The flagship hospital of Clalit Health Services, serving 53% of Israel's population
• Equal access to healthcare to the public of Israel, serving over 1 million patients annually
• Major tertiary referral center for patients countrywide, including north and south periphery
• Rated Israel's top hospital in the Health Ministry's National Program for Quality Indicators
• First place in Patient Satisfaction surveys and in choice for medical internship in Israel

Iron Sword War – RMC initiatives and activities

Rabin Medical Center (RMC), a Level 1 Trauma Center, has treated over 1,000 injured soldiers and civilians since the onset of the "Iron Sword War". Hundreds were rushed in serious and critical condition by helicopters straight from the battlefield, undergoing complex life-saving surgery. RMC remains at the highest level of 24/7 multi-casualty emergency readiness, saving the lives of injured soldiers and terrorist victims on a daily basis, while continuing all of its regular activities. Thanks to the generosity of the public in Israel and abroad, RMC has provided a quick response to crucial needs and launched vital initiatives. RMC's staff have taken these missions upon themselves with full dedication and professionalism, while many serve in the reserve army in exclusive fighting units and medical corps.

Establishment of new inpatient Rehabilitation Department – a national mission

As part of its national mission of providing first class medicine for the public of Israel and with the assessments for the continuation of the war, RMC established a new state of the art Rehabilitation Department in Beilinson Hospital. Providing first-class multi-discipline care for the injured, this facility fulfills a crucial need in Israel, in view of the severe shortage of rehab beds in the country together with a dramatic increase in demand due to the war. According to the Ministry of Health, Israel has only 60 percent of the average number of rehab inpatient beds as compared to OECD countries.

The new department provides intense rehabilitative therapy during the early stages of recovery, while allowing a continuum of medical follow-up with RMC's medical and surgical teams, who continue to accompany them. The experienced multi-discipline team includes rehab physicians, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, psychologists and social workers, with medical supervision 24 hours a day. Since its establishment in November 2023, 135 injured soldiers have undergone rehab, with up to 4 months hospitalization.

Facilities: The new rehab currently includes 14 hospitalization beds, to be expanded to 28 beds. It is located in a new facility and includes hospital rooms, treatment complexes, public facilities and a sheltered area.

Goals of the rehabilitation team:

• • • Help patient achieve maximal independence during hospitalization
    • Strengthen impaired capacities and acquire new tools
    • Emotional therapy to help deal with trauma and disability
    • Enhance communication capabilities (brain and head injuries)
    • Restoration of eating and swallowing functions, especially after disconnection from breathing ventilators.

The technological revolution in rehabilitation therapy

Physiotherapy and occupational therapy are provided with the help of specially designed devices aiming to strengthen limbs and muscles and enhance mobility, coordination, balance and function. Over the past few years, the integration of innovative technologies has helped redefine rehabilitation, offering new possibilities for patient care and personalized treatment, improving patient outcomes. These technologies, such as robotics, VR, sensors and stimulations, provide new avenues to help patients regain and improve function after injury

Our aim: In order to fulfill our aim of providing the best possible rehabilitation for IDF soldiers, helping them achieve maximum functioning and independence and preparing them for their transition back into civilian life, it is essential that we equip the new department with state of the art physio and occupational therapy equipment.

Equipment for rehabilitation of injured soldiers (partial list):

Total Costs: $340,000

We have succeeded in raising half the sum, and request your generous support towards purchase of this state of the art rehab equipment.

 Be our partners in providing the best possible rehabilitative care to IDF soldiers and the public of Israel.

Now, more than ever, it is heartwarming to know that we have good friends around the world standing by our sides. We all share the same prayer in our hearts – May we all enjoy peace and goodwill throughout the world; May the missing and hostages return home safely; May the wounded have a quick and full recovery and may we all know quieter and better days.