Driving simulator helps patients get back behind the wheel

A new driving simulator at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Charlottetown is helping a range of patients including those recovering from strokes and spinal cord injuries relearn the skills they need to drive.

TabathaTeRaa, an occupational therapist that works primarily with stroke patients at theQEH, said the simulator will help patients work onphysical and cognitive abilities at the same time.

"In the past we've been looking more at pieces, like people's cognitive skills or their physical skills and how, you know, an issue with those areas might affect their driving," she said.

"But we've never been able to kind of put it all together and actually do the task-specific practice of actually driving. But the driving simulator will allow us to do that."

'I want to beindependent'

Patients relearn theseskills by sitting in the simulatorand watching a screen that mimics the look and feel of driving.

The simulator provides therapists the opportunity to have a first-hand look at how patients handle control of the car, drive at a safe speed, and reactto other cars on the road.

David Skerry, a double amputee, was one of the first patients to use the simulator.

He said learning how to drivewas one of his biggest goals.

"I want to be independent. So, yeah it's important that I can drive again," he said.

'A major life role'

Heather Gauthier, an occupational therapist at the hospital,said getting back behind the wheelis a common goal many patients set out to achieve.

"It's how they access community events, it's how they get their groceries, it's how they spend time with friends and family," she said.

"So they do want to be able to access the community. And for most people here on the Island, that's by driving a car."

TheQEHFoundation purchased the simulator at a cost of$46,000.

More P.E.I. news