Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Occupational Therapy
 |
|
|
|
 |
Burn Program
Occupational therapists work as part of the burn team through observation of wound care, assisting with positioning of patients to prevent contractures, maintaining and increasing range of motion, fabricating splints, increasing abilities to perform activities of daily living, regaining strength and endurance, and scar management. Extensive education is provided to assist the patient in managing scar and returning to normal daily activities. Intervention starts as an inpatient and continues through the outpatient setting.
Scar Management
Occupational Therapists instruct patients in stretching exercises, scar massage, and proper positioning to minimize the tightness of the scar. They design and fabricate appropriate splints to keep healing tissues in correct alignment. They design and measure for custom pressure garments that are used to decrease hypertrophic (raised) scar. A variety of pressure techniques can be used at different stages of recovery. They include ace wrapping, tubigrip sleeves, Silicone inserts, and Jobst garments.
Activities of Daily Living
The ability to perform self care tasks such as eating, dressing, grooming and the ability to work and play can all be impaired when recovering from a burn. The occupational therapist assists the burn patient in learning new techniques and in the use of adaptive equipment to return to independence as soon as possible.
Burn Clinic
Clinic is held twice each week in the Ambulatory Care building . Adults are seen on AC-2 on Monday afternoons and children on AC-6 on Friday afternoons. Physicians, nurse practioners, social workers, and occupational therapists all work together to maximize healing.
Outpatient Therapy
For patients requiring a more
intensive therapy program, the Strong Rehabilitation Center at Clinton
Crossings offers coordinated Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy
services.