Zwolle – Isala’s MS center has recently officially become a STZ (Stichting Top Clinical Training Hospitals) competence center. Neurologist Esther Zeinstra: ‘Of course we are very proud of it. We did it as a chain, so not only from neurology, but also from rehabilitation medicine and medical psychology. ‘
You earn this recognition if you engage in education and training, provide good patient care, and make an important and lasting contribution to science and research.
Personal research
The Isala MS center participates in national studies, but also initiates its own investigations. Esther: ‘Take the MonSter study, for example. For this we have received a grant from the Isala Innovation and Science Fund and the MS Fund. Marlies Hoving, a research nurse at our MS center, will do her Ph.D. on this. We want to find out what digital contact means for MS patients. As a result, for example, they don’t have to go to the hospital that often for an appointment, but they can contact us easily. We think we can improve healthcare in this way, but it has never been scientifically proven. That’s why this research. ‘
Time for fun stuff
Another study that also aims to give patients as much autonomy as possible is the smart lab. Esther: ‘MS patients often have to go to the hospital for a blood test. How cool would it be if you could draw blood yourself at home? Together with the KCL and the patients, we are investigating whether this is possible. First, the assumptions must be correct. For example, do we use the right tubes to collect blood? I, as well as the patients, am so excited about it. They would like to start. I always think about how we can improve care for our patients so that they have more time for fun things and have to go to the hospital less often. ‘
electronic nose
Finally, there is still an investigation in the MS center on eNose. Esther: ‘With eNose we are looking into whether we can make MS diagnosis easier and faster. The idea is that the eNose can “smell” regardless of whether someone has MS or not. The first results are promising, but the use is obviously only in the research field. You must first create a great model and test it further before you can use it in practice. ‘
‘We also want to use the e-Nose to see if anyone has suffered from MS due to a so-called relapse (modify the emergence of new MS-related complaints or existing complaints which are increasing dramatically). Or that the complaints have a different cause, such as stress or a bladder infection. It is the intention that Rozemarijn Ettema, who is preparing to become a neurologist, will do his PhD on this. ‘
National studies in which the Isala MS Center participates mainly focus on the use of drugs. Can you stop safely if MS is stable? Or can you give certain infusions once every five weeks instead of every four weeks?
Stamcel therapy
One treatment that has not yet been reimbursed in the Netherlands, but is available in other countries, is stem cell therapy. Esther: ‘This should also be available in the Netherlands for a number of patients. It doesn’t work for all forms of MS, while people sometimes think it does. It is an aggressive treatment that needs to be started on time, because what has already destroyed MS cannot be repaired with stem cell therapy. Sometimes I try to get reimbursed for the treatment from a health insurer. Until now, this has rarely been possible and patients who still want the treatment have to finance it themselves. ‘
Here you can read more about Isala MS Center.
