Institut Guttmann

Institut Guttmann in Barcelona is one of the world’s leading neurorehabilitation centers. Over 20.000 patients with severe neurological injuries have started new lives here.

What services does it provide?

Institut Guttmann is a university hospital that specializes in intensive rehabilitation for patients after a stroke, traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, etc., as well as for patients with cerebral palsy, ALS and other neurological disorders. The center caters to both adults and children (as young as infants). It also offers medical and surgical treatment of complications of neurological disease and injuries including spasticity, dystonia, gait disorders, quadriplegia, loss of functional autonomy, neuropathic pain, changes in urinary/bowel function, sexual dysfunction, dysphagia, cognitive and/or behavioral disorders, etc.

Why?

The Institut Guttmann in Barcelona boasts an international reputation as one of the best neurorehabilitation centers in the world based on:

• An outstanding level of experience and expertise

The hospital is dedicated exclusively to the treatment of severe neurological conditions and is one of the centers that sees the highest number of these cases in the world. Each year over 5.000 people with spinal cord and severe brain injuries receive medical/surgical treatment and comprehensive rehabilitation at this center. The hospital has also received accreditation from the highly regarded “Joint Commission International”, an organization that works to improve patient safety and quality of healthcare in the international community.

• Experts who use the most advanced procedures

Institut Guttmann offers the most innovative and effective solutions in modern neurorehabilitation, leveraging the most advanced technology (exoskeletons, robotic systems, virtual reality, etc.), specialized surgery (neuro-orthopedic surgery, multi-level operations, placement of diaphragmatic pacemakers, etc.), and cutting-edge procedures (developed and patented by the hospital itself, such as the Guttmann Neuropersonal Trainer remote cognitive rehabilitation platform). All these surgeries and treatments are performed by the most recognized experts in their field.

• The Institut Guttmann’s results

In the twenty-first century, when so much information is available at the click of a mouse, no hospital can boast about being the best (or even simply good) without objectively demonstrating their achievements, measuring their results against international indicators, comparing these results with the best global centers in the field, and publishing them.

The Institut Guttmann monitors the evolution of all its patients, records all data, is measured according to international scales, and is audited by independent organizations. This approach makes it possible to compare Institut Guttman’s indicators with the best rehabilitation centers worldwide. And the effectiveness of its treatments, backed by published results, has earned the Institut Guttmann the reputation as one of the world’s top neurorehabilitation centers. On average, the center reaches 95% of the rehabilitation objectives the medical team sets when the patient is admitted.

• A unique clinical model

The Institut Guttmann university hospital is a leader in research in neurorehabilitation: all of the latest advances in cognitive and motor function rehabilitation based on scientific evidence are quickly put into practice.

Additionally, the hospital is well known for its intensive and customized rehabilitation program, as well as the coordinated work of multidisciplinary teams, who apply individual treatment algorithms developed for each group of patients. This intensive rehabilitation involves individualized five-hour daily programs under the direction of the most experienced specialists.

• Optimism

The recovery in some cases may seem extraordinary, more subtle in others; of course, the results depend not only on the specialists and the patient’s determination, but also the nature of the injury. But there is one thing that Guttmann patients invariably score 10 out of 10: the extremely positive environment. This positivity is rooted in the fact that all Guttmann specialists are passionate about their work, from the doctors and neuropsychologists to the nurses, physiotherapists and physical education instructors. And these specialists have managed to create a work environment that is intense yet warm and optimistic. This environment makes it possible to design rehabilitation activities for patients which, while intense, are paired with friendly human relationships, sports and workouts in facilities fitted with the most advanced equipment.

Important

The earlier rehabilitation after an ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke, traumatic brain injury or spinal cord injury starts, the more effective it is and the better its long-term results. For this reason, intensive rehabilitation in a specialized center is recommended as soon as the patient’s condition stabilizes (usually 7-8 days after the accident). The only thing needed to start a course of rehabilitation—even if the patient is on a ventilator or has had a tracheostomy — is cardiopulmonary stability and a minimum level of consciousness (minimal response). The therapeutic window, that is, the period during which maximum progress can be achieved, is the first year and a half after an accident. Which is why we recommend that all patients start intensive rehabilitation as soon as possible, regardless of the rehabilitation center they choose.

For foreign patients

The hospital trains dozens of specialists from around the world in neurorehabilitation every year, and the procedures and programs the hospital develops (like the Guttmann Neuropersonal Trainer) are used at first-class centers in Europe and the United States.

Each year, 100 foreign patients (mainly from other European countries, Russia, and the Persian Gulf) seek medical/surgical treatment and holistic rehabilitation at Institut Guttman. Foreign patients are provided with the services of a translator, as well as 24/7 support from our department.

A bit of history

Guillermo Gonzalez Guilbey, a Catalan citizen, was in a car accident in 1958 that left him completely paralyzed. His family, unable to find a specialized rehabilitation center in Spain, took Guillermo to London to receive treatment from the father of modern rehabilitation, Sir Ludwig Guttmann.

Dr. Guttmann, a doctor who radically changed the prognosis for patients with spinal cord injury, treated Guillermo Gonzalez Guilbey, who returned home passionate about the idea of creating a similar center to serve Spanish patients. He made a donation to create a foundation named after his doctor, the Fundación Guttman, and sent a first team of specialists to Great Britain to train with the doctor.

The inauguration of the Institut Guttmann in Barcelona was attended by Sir Ludwig Guttmann; it quickly became the leading center in Spain, eventually taking the reins from its British counterpart as the world’s top neurorehabilitation center, on par with the best hospitals on a global scale.

Dr. Guttmann’s clinical and personal principles have made a long-lasting impact on the Institut Guttmann. Dr. Guttman changed the fate of his patients, not only improving the crucial aspect of regaining function, but changing the attitude of patients and their families as well, helping them adapt to their new reality and cope with society’s perception of people with disabilities. Sir Ludwig Guttman–the ‘father of the Paralympics’–is credited as the man responsible for founding the Paralympic Games and the Paralympic movement as a whole, and Dr. Guttman’s passion for his work is shared by the staff at the institute that bears his name. Commitment to patients, advocacy for their rights, and a true passion for the work and sports are all qualities that the Institut Guttmann has managed to preserve and grow.