Occupational Therapists are health care professionals whose goals are to help patients reach their highest level of independence and improve quality of life.

The profession of Occupational Therapy is concerned with human lives that have been disrupted by disease, physical injury or accident, birth defects, aging, and emotional or developmental problems.

The Occupational Therapist puts knowledge and experience to work in designing specific programs to help patients return to health and independent functioning, including work, leisure and play.

Patients who may benefit from Occupational Therapy services include those with the following conditions:

Stroke Burns Arthritis Tendonitis Amputation Hand injury Trauma (i.e. fracture, joint replacement)

Back disorders Spinal cord injury Parkinson's Disease Work-related injury Traumatic brain injury Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Neurological disorders (i.e. multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy)

Each patient's case is unique. In every case, the Occupational Therapist encourages patients to make the maximum effort and build upon the strengths they have.

Services:

Services are provided at Jones Memorial Health Center for Inpatient and Outpatient physical rehabilitation and at WCA Hospital for Inpatient acute care.

Specialized Services Include:

• Hand Rehabilitation
• Functional Capacity Evaluations (FCE)
• Work Conditioning
• Lymphedema Management
• Pre-employment Screening
• Stroke Rehabilitation
• Orthopedic Rehabilitation

Treatment Techniques and Methods:

Hot and cold Paraffin bath Splinting/Orthotics TENS/Respond Biofeedback Edema management Scar management Home safety Assistive/Adapted equipment Range of motion

Joint protection Work simplification/energy conservation Activities of daily living Transfer training Therapeutic exercise for strengthening, balance, endurance, coordination Visual-perceptual retraining Congnitive retraining Baltimore Therapeutic Equipment (BTE)

For more information, call the WCA Occupational Therapy Program at (716) 664-8660.

NOTE: All services are provided through physician referral on both an inpatient and outpatient basis.