Occupational Therapy
About RCH Occupational Therapy Services
The Rooks County Health Center Occupational Therapy Department is staffed by one board-certified Occupational Therapist and one Occupational Therapist Assistant who believe strongly in providing quality, small-town health care. RCH’s staff provides a comprehensive approach to therapy to include not only our patient’s physical needs, but emotional, social, and sensory needs as well.
To initiate OT services, one should first receive a referral from his or her health care provider. An initial evaluation will be scheduled during which RCH’s occupational therapist will administer an assessment appropriate for the medical diagnosis given by the health care provider. The information gathered will guide the therapist in determining an individualized treatment plan.
Services provided may include:
- Activities of Daily Living (ADL) Retraining
- Personal Hygiene, Eating, Dressing, Bathing, etc.
- Adaptive Equipment (AE) or Durable Medical Equipment (DME) Training
- Aquatic Therapy
- Blood Flow Restriction Therapy
- Coordination Training
- Functional Capacity Evaluations
- Modalities for Pain or Scar Management
- Sensory Integration/Desensitization Programs
- Splinting/Orthotics
- Therapeutic Activities/Exercises
Inpatient Services
The RCH’s Occupational Therapy team provides care on an inpatient basis as well. Hospitalized patients are assisted in improving self-care, functional mobility skills, and general strengthening in order to return home or an alternative discharge location safely. Our therapy team also makes recommendations regarding adaptive or durable medical equipment to increase independence with daily living.
RCH offers a fully functional kitchen and bath setup to incorporate in therapy sessions to simulate the experience of a home environment.
Splinting/Orthotics
RCH Occupational Therapy provides custom splinting/orthotic fabrication for protection or support of the upper extremity to allow for effective healing, positioning, or improving functional use. Orthotics are commonly used in spasticity management for individuals with abnormal tone, reducing joint strain secondary to arthritis, immobilization due to fracture, and improving movement patterns from nerve impairment. Rather than a one-size fits all approach, each orthosis is custom-fit to meet an individual’s unique needs.
Pediatrics
Pediatric Occupational Therapy helps a child maximize independence in areas related to age-appropriate play, school performance, and daily self-help activities. Occupational Therapy will assess developmental skills in a variety of domains and provide intervention in underlying areas impacting performance which may include fine/gross/visual motor coordination, sensory processing, and social/self-care skills.
Aquatic Therapy
Aquatic therapy is offered on an outpatient basis in addition to and/or alternative to, traditional land-based therapy. The buoyant properties of water can be very helpful when rehabilitating an upper extremity injury, incorporating strength/endurance training, pain management, and restoring range of motion for greater functional use. Aquatic therapy can also be beneficial in the pediatric population for children with abnormal muscle tone, limited mobility, or sensory-motor deficits.
Jessie Tien, MOT, OTR/L
Brianna Wilkerson, COTA
Enter Rehab Center on North Side of Hospital with Direct Access from North Side Parking Lot
Phone: 785-688-4425
Fax: 785-688-4496
“Excellent in every way, shape and form. Thank goodness we have such a professional facility so close to home.”
“Jessie was always cheerful and helpful and fantastic to work with! She understood my goals and got me where they were met.”
“Bri was amazing!! Very caring. She tried everything to get me to feeling better.”
Occupational Therapy Moves to Direct Access!
If you or a loved one are having difficulty completing daily activities due to an upper extremity injury, developmental delay, or other functional impairment, Occupational Therapy may be able to help without a referral from your physician. Prior to your first appointment, our staff verifies with your insurance provider that no referral is needed.
*Occupational and Physical Therapists cannot make a formal medical diagnosis or order imaging. Your therapist will refer to the appropriate provider if needed.
Some of the conditions for which RCH offers Occupational Therapy treatment include:
- Arthritis Pain
- Developmental Delay or Learning Impairments
- General Weakness or Deconditioning
- Nerve Compression Syndromes
- Neurological Impairment
○ Brachial Plexus Injuries, Cerebral Vascular Accidents (Stroke), Spinal Cord Injuries, Traumatic
Brain Injuries, Parkinson’s Disease - Orthopedic Injuries of the Upper Extremity
- Overuse Conditions (i.e. Tendonitis)
- Post-Operative Joint Replacements
- Sensory Processing Disorders
- Traumatic Fractures
