| Cardio-Pulmonary
Rehab | Physical Therapy
Occupational Therapy | Speech
Therapy
Cardio-Pulmonary Rehab
The Cardio-Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program is a comprehensive
outpatient program of risk factor modification through
education and exercise. The cardiac program is specially
designed for people either recovering from a heart attack,
heart surgery, angioplasty/stenting or stable angina.
The pulmonary program is designed for people with Chronic
Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) or other chronic
diseases of the lungs. Both programs blend individual
exercise programs with education and group support for
regaining health, independence and to help people avoid
future hospitalizations. Also offered is an exercise
only maintenance program for graduates of the Cardio-Pulmonary
Rehabilitation Program. Entry into the Cardio-Pulmonary
Rehabilitation Program is by physician referral only.
For more information, see your physician or call
(802) 257-8331.
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Physical Therapy
Physical Therapy at BMH is a direct form of professional
patient care used to rehabilitate and prevent physical
impairment to both hospital inpatients and for outpatients.
The care at our hospital is provided by eight registered
physical therapists and as many as four physical therapy
assistants. These certified practitioners help patients
restore function, relieve pain, heal from injury or
surgery, and adapt to permanent disabilities.
Some of the services provided by physical therapists
at BMH include:
- performing tests and evaluations of joint mobility,
muscle strength and endurance, and cardiovascular
functioning
- setting short- and long-term goals for their patients
- designing individualized treatment plans which
may involve therapeutic exercises, endurance training,
training in activities of daily living, massage, manipulations,
applications of heat and cold, hydrotherapy, electrical
stimulation, and more
- educating patients and their families in safely
and effectively carrying out prescribed treatment
plans
- conducting various screenings
- providing prevention programs to community and
work-site groups
- assessing and treating work-related injuries
- working with athletes in preventing and treating
sport-related injuries
Physical therapists work closely with physicians, nurses,
occupational therapists, and other healthcare professionals
to help effect your healing.
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Occupational Therapy Services
What is Occupational Therapy?
Occupational therapy is skilled treatment that helps
individuals achieve independence in all facets of their
lives. It gives people the “skills for the job
of living” necessary for independent and satisfying
lives. Services typically include:
- Customized treatment programs to improve one’s
ability to perform daily activities
- Comprehensive home and job site evaluations with
adaptation recommendations
- Performance skills assessments and treatment
- Adaptive equipment recommendations and usage training
- Guidance to family members and caregivers
(From the AOTA website: www.aota.org)
Occupational Therapy Services
at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital:
The Occupational Therapy (OT) department is staffed
by registered, licensed occupational therapists; and
a certified, licensed occupational therapy assistant.
The department has appointments available five days
a week between the hours of 7:00am to 6:00pm.
The OT department offers both inpatient and outpatient
therapy services.
Outpatient
Services:
* Patients are strongly advised to
get a referral for OT services from their primary care
physician or the specialist currently caring for their
condition.
* Most referrals to OT in the outpatient
setting involve management of upper extremity conditions,
mainly orthopedic or neurological in nature. Examples
of conditions are fractures, sprains, arthritis, surgeries,
carpal tunnel syndrome, nerve palsies, strokes etc.
* Many simple orthopedic conditions can be seen in
OT prior to an orthopedic consultation. It can be very
useful to initiate therapy quickly after an injury,
especially if there is going to be a long delay before
the orthopedic appointment can be scheduled.
* Patients may be referred to OT for
an ergonomic assessment of their workplace if it is
thought that this is causing or contributing to a condition
such as upper extremity pain or nerve injury such as
carpal tunnel syndrome or thoracic outlet syndrome.
Inpatient Services:
OT consultations can be generated for any patient who
has undergone a decline in functional status in the
period of time leading up to the present admission or
during the admission. The most common conditions requiring
OT tend to be patients undergoing total joint replacements
or who have had a stroke or those having sustained hand
or upper limb injury impacting their ability to perform
self-care tasks. Most cases involve educating the patient
or family in the use of adaptive equipment and in the
performance of home exercise programs to improve or
maintain the physical skills required for performance
of activities of daily living.
Appointments for physical and occupational therapy
are available Monday through Friday 7:00 a.m. to 6:00
p.m. Speech therapy is by appointment only. For more
information or to schedule an appointment call 257-8255.
Click below for more information from our Occupational
Therapy Department about:
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Speech Therapy
Our speech-language pathologists help people develop
their communication abilities and treat speech, language,
voice and swallowing (also called dysphagia) disorders.
Speech-language pathologists work with people who have
had strokes, undetected hearing loss, head injuries,
or any neurological disorders such as Parkinson's or
Alzheimer's that effects speech, language or swallowing.
Speech therapy offers:
- one on one intensive evaluation of communication
and/or swallowing abilities
- an integrated team approach with other healthcare
providers to provide the best possible care
- working with families to help individuals maximize
their abilities and minimize disabilities.
Speech therapy is available by appointment only. For information
about this service, please call 257-8255.
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