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What is Occupational Therapy?

April 1, 2021 | Tips & Trends
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By: Allison Weder

Occupational therapy is the art and science of rehabilitating and re-educating patients who have suffered an injury, illness, or have a disability to return to their daily activities. It pertains to more than someone’s job – occupational therapy includes all the activities a person does from the time they wake up to the time they go to bed.

The Occupational Therapist’s approach to rehabilitation is a holistic one, which includes the entire person and an individual’s functional needs and roles. Occupational Therapists use a client-centered evaluation that identifies deficits in the ability to perform self-care, home management and outside activities. As a part of the evaluation process, Occupational Therapists identify psychosocial, environmental and other factors that may influence rehabilitation outcomes. Occupational Therapists assess a patient’s level of function and develop a treatment plan that is designed to meet the goals and needs of activities such as returning to work or living independently at home.

Some of the health conditions that benefit from occupational therapy include:

  • Work-related injuries or repetitive stress injuries
  • Limitations following a stroke or heart attack
  • Arthritis, multiple sclerosis, or other serious chronic conditions
  • Burns, spinal cord injuries, or amputations
  • Broken bones or other injuries from falls, sports injuries, or accidents

Research shows people who receive occupational therapy interventions are significantly less likely to deteriorate and more likely to be independent in their ability to perform activities of daily living at the end of treatment. Occupational therapy interventions also may be associated with reduced caregiver burden, decreased rates of institutionalization and increased quality of life.

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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