Occupational Therapy

What is OT?
The goal of occupational therapy at Grinnell Regional Medical Center is to return clients to independence with daily work and home activities (their daily occupations). We specialize in the upper extremity (UE: hand, wrist, and elbow) rehabilitation to increase daily function by decreasing pain and increasing range of motion, strength, and safety.

Who needs OT?
Occupational therapy, often called OT, works with individuals with Upper Extremity (hand, wrist, elbow) injuries, cumulative trauma, orthopedic surgeries and neurological events such as stroke, head injury or disease. OT also provides therapy for management of swelling/edema.  OT works with individuals of all ages.

OT services:

• Upper extremity Injuries and Trauma. OT works to decrease pain and scar tissue and increase joint motion and strength in orthopedic conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome, tendonitis and fracture.
  
  
• Upper extremity Rehabilitation. OT works to increase functional use of arms after neurological conditions such as strokes.
  
  
• Arthritis education. Clients learn principles and techniques to minimize stress on joints to prevent deformities and decrease pain.
  
  
• Custom splinting. OT designs and fabricates custom fit splints for range of motion and joint protection.
  
  
• Lymphedema Treatment. For clients diagnosed with excessive swelling, OT performs techniques and education to manage the swelling in arms and legs.
  
  
• Home Safety Assessments. The therapist will come into the home to assess safety to decrease falls and increase independence to keep the client safe in their home.
  
  
• Low Vision Education. OT will provide education regarding daily activities and adaptive equipment for use in the client’s home to increase independence and safety as vision declines.
  
  
• Cognitive Retraining. After conditions such as stroke, traumatic brain injury or surgery, OT helps the client increase safety awareness, problem solving, functional skills such as math for check book use and other activities that a client performs daily. OT also provides training for caregivers of Alzheimer clients to set up routines and handle difficult behaviors.
  
  
• Activities of Daily Living (ADL). Build independence with self-care tasks such as dressing, bathing and toileting.
  

Occupational therapy services are provided to clients with a physician order and under the care of a physician. Our services are provided for your convenience at GRMC, Deer Creek Health Center, Home Care through GRMC, and Hospice. The occupational therapy department is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.