National Occupational Therapy Month; Coordination of Care
National Occupational Therapy Month ... April is National Occupational Therapy Month. Pictured in the center of the photo at right is Lollie Hirth of Waukon on the NuStep machine along with Austin Troendle, Doctor of Physical Therapy (left) and Occupational Therapist Tami Gebel (right). The therapists at Veterans Memorial Hospital are very accommodating in scheduling all therapies back-to-back to reduce travel and time for patients. Lollie has been able to receive physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy services all at Veterans Memorial Hospital back-to-back in order to reduce the frequency for someone to drive her to appointments. Submitted photo.
by Tami Gebel, OTR/L
Humans are amazing creatures! We can walk, talk and carry items (like our cell phones) in our hands, all at the same time. Some of us may have an easier time completing these simple tasks compared to other people. However, what do we do if two or three of these tasks become difficult following an injury or illness?
Here at Veterans Memorial Hospital, the rehabilitation department treats people who have been diagnosed with strokes, heart attacks, diabetes, congestive heart failure, carpal tunnel syndrome, back pain, and injury to joints following a fall. People may seek therapy following surgery, such as a joint replacement surgery, or fractured wrist and hip.
Oftentimes, these conditions require physical therapy, occupational therapy, or speech therapy, however there are many times when two or three of these types of therapies are needed at the same time for a person to recover. For this reason, the therapists at Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) are very accommodating to schedule all therapies back-to-back to reduce travel and time.
Rita Riehm, from New Albin, fell and fractured both her hip and elbow back in September 2023, requiring surgery on her hip, and twice on her elbow. Following the surgeries, Rita required physical therapy to improve motion and strength of her hip and occupational therapy to improve the motion and strength of her elbow. Rita states, “It has been a Godsend to have two therapies with one trip. I would definitely recommend it.”
Lollie Hirth, from Waukon, had a stroke in January 2024 resulting in delayed speech, loss of balance while walking, and weakness in her hands. Lollie has been able to receive physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy services all at VMH back-to-back in order to reduce the frequency for someone to drive her to the appointments.
No one wants to be injured or have an illness, especially one that results in the inability to walk, talk, or take care of themselves. However, when a person finds themselves in need of returning back to their happy, healthy self, they can rely on the therapy department at VMH to coordinate the care required in order to recover in a timely efficient manner. For more information, call the Rehabilitation Department at VMH at 563-568-3411.
