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OT Takeover

April 3, 2018 | Industry News
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Young girl practicing balance with adult.

We interrupt your regularly scheduled PT Update to introduce you to the world of Occupational Therapy (OT).

What is occupational therapy?

Occupational therapy is a health and rehabilitation service designed to help people of all ages learn or regain the ability to do everyday activities through holistic and customized treatment methods.  From children with disabilities to older adults recovering from a stroke or ailment, occupational therapists provide a service that is vitally important, specialized and unparalleled in the medical community.  Occupational therapy practitioners function with one main goal in mind, helping all people live life to the fullest by helping them promote health and prevent or live better with illness, injury or disability.

What health conditions benefit from OT?

  • Work-related injuries including lower back problems or repetitive stress injuries
  • Limitations following a stroke or heart attack
  • Chronic conditions such as arthritis or multiple sclerosis
  • Birth injuries, learning problems or developmental disabilities
  • Mental health or behavioral problems including Alzheimer’s disease, schizophrenia and posttraumatic stress
  • Problems with substance abuse or eating disorders
  • Burns, spinal cord injuries or amputations
  • Broken bones or other injuries from falls, sports injuries or accidents
  • Vision or cognitive problems that threaten the ability to drive

What does an occupational therapist do for patients?

Those with a disability or ailment face some threat to their performance of daily tasks and occupational roles.  Occupational therapists strive to reach the goals of each patient depending on the demands of their everyday life.  OT programs consider all activities the patient must perform, from dressing and personal hygiene to home management and work responsibilities.  Based on the patient’s needs, an occupational therapist will develop a customized program that could include:

  • Recommendations for equipment for the home that can aid a person in completing tasks, such as dressing, bathing, preparing meals and driving.
  • Fabrication of a customized splint to improve hand function
  • Evaluation of the home/job for safety hazards and adaptation of the home by removing hazards that could cause further injury
  • Providing training that improves the ability to complete daily tasks.
  • Building a person’s physical endurance and strength.
  • Helping a person compensate for vision and memory loss.
  • Providing activities that rebuild self-confidence and self-esteem.
  • Guidance to family members and caregivers

For more information concerning occupational therapy, please call the Phoenix location offering occupational therapy nearest you.

The entire Phoenix Physical Therapy Team is committed to providing our patients with quality physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy in a safe and healthy clinic environment. We continue to follow the guidance provided by the CDC, WHO and public health officials to update you as new information becomes available. Let’s work together to keep each other safe and healthy.

The safety of our patients, communities and team members remains our top priority. We know you have a choice in your care providers and appreciate your commitment to Phoenix and our qualified clinicians.

Here are the actions we have taken to keep our patients, communities and team healthy & safe:

  • Flexible scheduling allows for social distancing
  • Regular cleaning and sanitation of all clinic surfaces
  • Facemasks must be worn by all Phoenix staff and are recommended for all patients
  • Screening questionnaire and temperature checks prior to entering clinics
  • 6 feet of social distancing throughout the clinics

Keeping Our Clinics Safe

Here are some tips on how we can keep each other safe:

  • Handwashing is your best self-defense against the spread of germs. When soap and water are not available and hands are not visibly dirty, use at least a 60% alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
  • Please stay home if you are not feeling well, especially if you have a fever, are coughing or sneezing, or are experiencing shortness of breath. If a patient shows up with symptoms, the clinic team will work with them to reschedule.
  • Be vigilant. If you have traveled to any of the countries where there are outbreaks of the virus, please follow guidance from the CDC website and our Travel Guidelines.

Here are actions we are taking to keep our clinics clean and safe:

  • Equipment will be wiped down after EVERY use with antibacterial wipes/sprays
  • All surfaces that patients or staff may touch including door handles, countertops, seating, pens at sign-in, bathroom and all other common areas will be disinfected regularly
  • Treatment tables will be 6 feet apart
  • Team members will wash their hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, particularly after going to the bathroom, before eating, and after blowing their nose, coughing or sneezin
  • Clinics will have hand sanitizer available at the front desk and in the treatment areas
  • Any Phoenix team members who are ill will be asked to stay home
  • We will maintain social distancing between patients in the clinic
  • Caregivers that are bringing a patient to the clinic should wait in their car or come back when the appointment has ended unless necessary (i.e. minor requiring a guardian or for assistance needs)
  • When possible, we will treat patients in private rooms to increase social distancing
  • Any patients that have underlying health issues (i.e. diabetes, respiratory problems, etc.) will be given the option to be seen during special clinic hours or can opt to be treated in a private room away from other clinicians and patients
  • All patients should be self-screening before entering the clinic. Our PCCs will perform a secondary screening during the check-in process and before patients enter the clinic including a screening questionnaire and temperature check.
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