Dr Heidi Alasepp, the head of the Clinic of Medical Rehabilitation at East Tallinn Central Hospital said that together with the cooperation agreement signed with TalTech in summer, we are able to combine the theoretical knowledge of the Tallinn Health Care College, the practical experiences of the East Tallinn Central Hospital and the technology and developments of TalTech. "The greater integration of healthcare specialties in both in theory and in practice is crucial," Dr. Alasepp said.

Ülle Ernits, rector of the Tallinn Health Care College, said that the contractual interest of the college is rational, because the program for occupational therapy is relatively new. The first students started their studies in the year 2000. Currently, there are about 100 occupational therapists in Estonia. "There is not much applied research in the field occupational therapy so far – most of it has been carried out by graduates and members of the faculty," Ernits said.

"With the hospital as our partner, the faculty of occupational therapy is getting an opportunity to explore and develop the quality of life of the patients. A strong and consistent cooperation is established and we will be able to provide the evidence-based knowledge about occupational therapy back to the society“, said Ernits.

The cooperation agreement provides for joint development and use of infrastructure for both Estonian and foreign students. 

The cooperation agreement was signed at the conference celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Medical Rehabilitation Centre at the East Tallinn Central Hospital and of the 10th anniversary of the cooperation with Estonian Defence Forces.

At the conference the Estonian medics and partners in military medicine were introducing the achievements in rehabilitative care and of opportunities for the future.

"20 years ago we began with developing the modern rehabilitative medicine. Today, at the Clinic of Medical Rehabilitation, we have a professional team and state of the art medical technology, said the head of the clinic Dr Heidi Alasepp who provided an overview of the development of the profession during the 20 years of activity. 

"For the past 10 years, we have been working together with the Estonian Defence Forces, colleagues from the United Kingdom, the United States of America military programs and with NSP-NATO, especially in the field of Ukraine military rehabilitative care. But we are not only dealing with military issues. Most of our patients are civilians. The Clinic of Medical Rehabilitation is a good example of how the medical science can cooperate with the military, and now with the technological science. It will eventually benefit everybody, because we can bring patients back to their everyday activities. We have specialists with advanced skills and knowledge and modern methods of treatment and tools are used that make it possible for a patient to return to normal life again. In Estonia today the rehabilitative care is on the internationally recognised level and we can share our experience in both military and civilian contexts.“

Additional presentations were provided by the representatives of the Estonian Health Insurance Fund, TalTech, the United Kingdom, the United States, NATO and the Estonian Defence Forces.