Occupational Therapy

Our Approach

Franciscan Health's occupational therapy staff is trained or certified in a variety of therapies and treatments to help people of all ages. Upon receiving a physician's referral, each patient is evaluated based on their abilities and a plan of treatment and goals specific to that patient are established.

Most treatments following an evaluation are:

• Varieties of exercise and activities of daily living
• Adaptive equipment training
• Splinting
• Functional mobility
• Lifestyle adaptation/redesign

Prior to discharge, the occupational therapist may perform a home assessment and recommend appropriate equipment necessary for a safe return home.

Occupational therapy treatments

Occupational therapy (OT) focuses on the integration of physical, sensory and cognitive abilities needed to function in daily life. Patients develop skills that help with daily activities such as self-care, dressing, feeding and homemaking tasks. Group activities, including meal preparation, a community trip and therapeutic humor, create a social environment to practice motor and cognitive skills.

Common occupational therapy treatments help children with disabilities to participate fully in school and social situations, help people recovering from injury to regain skills and provide support for older adults experiencing physical and cognitive changes. Our occupational therapy is provided on both an inpatient and outpatient basis.

Inpatient occupational therapy services:

• General: surgery recovery
• Heart disease: general rehabilitation related to heart disease
• Oncology: Leukemia, malignant tumors, bone marrow transplant
• Neurology: CVA (stroke) brain tumors, closed head injuries, ALS, MS, Parkinson's
• Neonatal: feeding and development screening, infant massage of premature and full term babies
• Orthopedic: total joint replacements (hip, knee and shoulder) arthritis, acute fractures, trauma and amputations
• Sub-Acute OT: general occupational therapy to assist in returning home secondary to illness or surgery
• Inpatient rehab: Provide general therapy to assist in returning home secondary to illness or surgery

Outpatient occupational therapy services

• General: arthritis, joint problems and activities of daily living problems
• Neurology: CVA, brain tumors, closed head injuries, ALS, MS, Parkinson's
• Lymphedema: lymph management, bandaging, patient education, garments for upper extremity issues
• Pediatric: cerebral palsy, delayed development, orthopedic problems and developmental screens
• Hand therapy recovery: from hand surgery or hand injuries