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 Medical Services: Centers Of Excellence
The Post-Polio Institute: Post-Polio Treatment
Post-Polio Institute - 877-POSTPOLIO or (201) 894-3707.
Email - PostPolioInfo@aol.com
Dr. Richard Bruno, Director The Post-Polio Institute and “The International Centre for Post-Polio Education and Research” at Englewood Hospital and Medical Center, Chairperson of the International Post-Polio Task Force.
Dr. Richard Bruno is a clinical psycho physiologist specializing in the treatment of PPS. He received his training at the New York State Psychiatric Institute and as a Fellow in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University.
As a member of the faculty at Columbia University, Dr. Bruno began the pioneering work that has documented the relationship between cold temperatures, Type A behavior, psychological stress and PPS. In 1984, he organized the International Post-Polio Task Force and in 1989 created the first center for the study and comprehensive treatment of PPS.
Dr. Bruno regularly lectures throughout the world and has advised both Congress and Government Agencies on PPS-related issues. He is listed in Who’s Who in Medicine and Healthcare, in Science and Engineering, in the Biobehavioral Sciences and Who’s Who in the World.
THE INTERNATIONAL CENTRE FOR POST-POLIO EDUCATION AND RESEARCH
The International Centre for Post-Polio Education and Research, funded by a yearly Community Foundation of New Jersey’s George Ohl, Jr. Foundation grant and companion to The Post-Polio Institute, is the world’s foremost PPS research center. No one center has studied or published more scientific articles on so many different physical and psychological aspects of PPS. We continue to conduct research on PPS, but this research is totally separate from the treatment you will receive.
The ICPER is also home to the International Post-Polio Task Force. The IPTF was organized in 1984 to promote communication among the handful of doctors and researchers then interested in PPS. The IPTF worked first to identify funding for research on the cause and treatment of PPS and to promote the acceptance of PPS as a medical diagnosis for which medical insurance and Medicare should provide payment. Since 1985 IPTF members have written and Dr. Bruno forced the release of the US Social Security disability guidelines for PPS, identified private funding for PPS research, have published dozens of articles in lay and professional journals about PPS, and have lectured to thousands of clinicians and polio survivors throughout the world about the cause and treatment of PPS.
IPTF membership has grown from 42 professionals to hundreds of clinician, scientist and polio survivor members in 40 countries on every continent. Its current work includes disseminating the latest information about the cause and treatment of PPS to clinicians and polio survivors, creating post-polio clinics and support groups, and lobbying governments to accept PPS as a medical diagnosis and to pay for PPS treatment. 2002 was “THE YEAR OF THE POLIO SURVIVOR,” the 50th anniversary in North America and 55th anniversary in the UK of their most devastating polio epidemics affecting more than 65,000 people.
There were many special initiatives recognizing these anniversaries:
State legislatures and governors across the US officially declared 2002 “THE YEAR OF THE POLIO SURVIVOR” and September 2002 as “POLIO SURVIVORS MONTH” to educate polio survivors and the public about PPS.
Polio survivors Mia Farrow and her 13 year old son Thaddeus co-chaired The Post-Polio Letter Campaign. The Post-Polio Letter is a one page summary about the cause and treatment of PPS. The Post-Polio Letter has appeared in magazines, newspapers and on web sites throughout the world, reaching more than 500,000 polio survivors, their doctors and family members.
The International Post-Polio Task Force presented the first David Bodian Memorial Awards to “Unsung Heroes” of PPS throughout the world, including Senator Bill Bradley, actor David Morse, Congressman Steve Rothman and Mia and Thaddeus Farrow.
In 2002 and 2003, CBS aired a PPS public service announcement by David Morse, star of the CBS Friday night series “Hack.” More than 65 million Americans have seen the PPS PSA.
Much more needs to be done to help polio survivors. And more is being done:
In July 2003, a special Social Security Ruling about PPS was released in the US. Local SSA officials and judges were educated about the Ruling, drafted by Dr. Bruno, that has stopped inappropriate denials of Social Security disability benefits.
In Summer 2003 Maureen McGovern will released a special relaxation CD for typically Type A polio survivors. The CD features a version her new song “I’ll Never Know” written specially for polio survivors, and Dr. Richard Bruno’s relaxation exercise, “The Two Breath Time Out,” from his book How to Stop Being Vampire Bait.
2005-2006 was declared by Congress “The Year of Polio Awareness,” awareness of the need for polio vaccination and of the existence, cause and treatment of Post-Polio Sequelae. 2005 was the 50th anniversary of the release of the polio vaccine. Yet, as many as 50% of American children are thought not to have received all doses of the polio vaccine and there have been 5 cases on polio in the US since 2005. What’s more, in spite of the first case of PPS being diagnosed in 1875, many polio survivors—and most health care professionals -- do not know PPS exist.
All of these events may finally allow awareness of PPS to reach critical mass. Please join us in to make the International Post-Polio Task Force motto a reality:
“Every child vaccinated. Every survivor and doctor - educated.”
For more information call: toll free 877-POSTPOLIO or (201) 894-3707
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