News
Beebe Medical Center Recognizes Occupational Therapy Month
04/02/09
"With the American Occupational Therapy Association signifying April as Occupational Therapy Month, Beebe Medical Center's Occupational Therapy team thought it the perfect time talk about what occupational therapists do to help people get back to the job of living as they recuperate from a debilitating injury or illness.
I'll come into a patient's room and the patient will say "Why do I need occupationally therapy? I don't need a job," says Sharon Leonard, OTR/L, the occupational therapist in acute care who is based in the hospital.
Most of what we do has nothing to do with the patient's career, she explains. It has to do with helping patients get back to taking care of themselves, becoming more independent, and going about their normal life; however, this may need to be performed in a different manner than before.
Beebe Medical Center has a specialized team of occupational therapists who help patients get back to daily life activities following any trauma event that limits them, such as a stroke or an orthopaedic injury. They also work with patients who have had a surgery that impacts their ability to immediately return to their normal activities, such as open-heart surgery, hip replacement or hand surgery.
Focusing on getting patients to be independent again, occupational therapists help patients perform such functions as bathing and dressing themselves, preparing food, and picking up objects they have dropped or need to carry. These therapists can evaluate the patient's level of function and create an occupational therapy plan to aid them in improving range of motion, strength and endurance. Occupational therapists must have an advanced degree in occupational therapy from an accredited institution and must be licensed. They often work in cooperation with a physical therapist or a speech pathologist.
At Beebe Medical Center, Occupational Therapy is part of the Physical Rehabilitation Department, which includes Physical Therapy and Speech/ Language Pathology. Graham Robbins, PT, is the Department Director.
Occupational therapy services are available to inpatients at the hospital in Lewes, and to outpatients at the Baylis Rehabilitation Center in the Bookhammer Outpatient Center at the Beebe Health Campus, John J. Williams Highway, Rehoboth Beach, and at the outpatient clinic at Creekside Plaza, Atlantic Avenue in Millville. Services also are available through Beebe Home Health.
There are five members in the Beebe Occupational Therapy team. Alice Workman, OTR/L, is Beebe's Lead Occupational Therapist and works with patients on an out-patient basis at the Beebe Health Campus. She is assisted by occupational therapy assistant Natalie Heller, COTA.
Sharon Leonard, OTR/L, is the occupational therapist in acute care based at the hospital. She is assisted by occupational therapy assistant Kelly Richardson, COTA. Occupational therapist Jennifer Villar, OT, works with patients at the Millville outpatient facility.
A physician's order is necessary for a patient to receive occupational therapy services. The physician can write the order in the hospital, or for out-patient care, give the patient a prescription, or fax it to the outpatient facility most convenient for the patient. For more information, please contact Mr. Robbins at (302) 645-3112.
Beebe Medical Center is a not-for-profit community medical center with a charitable mission to encourage healthy living, prevent illness, and restore optimal health with the people residing, working, or visiting in the communities we serve. For more information, please visit us online at www.beebemed.org
"
|
