Rehabilitation Therapy
Rehabilitation therapy is one of the most essential services of any hospital. In many cases, rehabilitation therapists are able to accomplish healing that cannot be obtained in any other way. They can achieve results in circ*mstances where medication cannot help, surgery cannot help, etc.
In other cases, rehabilitation therapy may be one important aspect of treatment that involves multiple hospital services. For example, a patient may have a condition that requires the services of both a surgeon and a pain management specialist. These providers may both require the efforts of rehab therapists in order to help the patient get the maximum amount of healing. In this case, the work of the rehabilitation therapist complements the work of the surgeon and the pain management specialist.
RMH Rehabilitation Therapy offers three main types of rehab therapy: physical, speech and occupational. Each of these types of therapy is unique, but they all share some things in common.
- Every rehabilitation patient is referred for treatment by a healthcare provider.
- Every rehabilitation therapy patient is given an individual treatment plan that is based on:
- The needs of the patient
- The condition of the patient
- The goals of the patient
- Rehabilitation therapy does not provide an “overnight” solution. It almost always involves more than one appointment and an extended effort on the part of the therapist and the patient.
Physical Therapy
RMH Physical Therapists recognize that pain-free physical movement is one of the most basic requirements for a good quality of life. It is important for work, leisure and independent living. Our physical therapists are movement experts who help our patients maximize physical function and minimize pain. We treat patients of all ages and abilities.
Patients come to us for many different reasons. These include:
- Recovery from surgery
- Trying to avoid or delay the need for surgery
- Injury recovery or prevention
- Help managing a chronic condition
- Help with pain management
- Help avoiding the need for prescription drugs
RMH physical therapists create individual treatment plans that are tailored to the condition and goals of each patient. We focus on empowering our patients to take an active role in their own treatment and recovery so that they can maximize their independence. Part of the work of physical therapy is done in the clinic and part of the work is done by the patient at home. Progress is closely monitored so that treatment can be altered as needed to result in the maximum benefit to the patient.
Speech Therapy
Living with a communication disorder can be a debilitating and isolating experience. Successful treatment can be life-changing. RMH Speech Therapists are experts at helping patients overcome communication disorders.
Many people associate speech therapy with helping children who have trouble pronouncing their words. This is one area of speech therapy, but there are many others.
RMH Speech Therapists help patients with all aspects of communication, including
- Learning to process language using the primary communication skills of speaking, writing, listening and reading with comprehension.
- Learning to physically produce the sounds of language.
- Learning how to identify the correct words to express specific thoughts
- Learning the social rules of verbal communication as well as meta-communication (communication using body language, facial expressions, tone of voice, etc.)
- Improving the flow of speech that is impeded by stuttering and frequent interjections
Speech therapists also help patients who have trouble eating and drinking. They help patients learn to swallow, suck, chew, etc.
Some patients need speech therapy because of developmental issues, and some need it in the aftermath of a stroke or accident. RMH Speech Therapists treat patients of all ages and levels of ability.
Occupational Therapy
Daily activities are the building blocks of independent living. Occupational therapists are experts at helping patients acquire, improve and maintain the skills necessary to perform these activities. Because daily activities are performed in the context of the patient’s environment, occupational therapists are also experts at evaluating the home and workplace so that they can find tools and solutions that the patient needs to function in these locations.
When a patient arrives for the initial evaluation, the occupational therapist acts as a problem solver whose first job is to identify which problems need to be solved. The therapist identifies the needs, goals, and abilities of the individual patient. This information is verified by observing the patient’s ability to perform certain skills. The therapist then identifies which skills the patient needs to acquire, and determines the best strategy for helping the patient acquire them.
Occupational therapists help patients learn many skills, including:
- Dressing
- Doing Laundry
- Cooking Meals
- Shopping
- Balancing a checkbook and paying bills
- Using silverware
- Learning to use adaptive equipment
- Learning to remove fall hazards from their home
- Time management
- Performing household chores
Patients need occupational therapy for many different reasons. Some patients have developmental issues and some are recovering from an illness or injury. Some are learning to manage the symptoms of a chronic illness. Some are dealing with a mental illness. Whatever the reason, RMH Occupational Therapists strive to empower patients to become as independent as possible so that they can do the things that are most important to them.
Rehabilitation Staff
- Felicia Thomas, Director of Rehabilitation Services/Speech Therapist
- Sally Kelso, Customer Services Representative
- Kelly Jones, Rehabilitation Tech
- Sanket Naik, Physical Therapist
- Lindsay Nobbe, Physical Therapy Assistant
- Saurabh Khanvilkar, Physical Therapist
- Terri Uppfalt, Occupational Therapist
- Shelly Clark, Occupational Therapy Assistant
- Heather Tannas, Occupational Therapist
Hours
8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Extended hours as necessary
Contact
Felicia Thomas
Director of Rehabilitation Services
Phone: (765) 932-7498
Fax: (765) 932-7411
