Photo:  left to right, Carolyn OTR, Betsy OTR, Sandra OTR & Rehab Director, Stephanie COTA & Rehab Aide, Joan COTA.

RAMC’S OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY HELPS INDIVIDUALS
LIVE LIFE TO ITS FULLEST

Occupational therapy enables people of all ages to live life to its fullest by helping them promote health, prevent – or live better with – injury, illness, or disability. It is a practice deeply rooted in science and is evidence-based, meaning that the plan designed for each individual is supported by data, experience and “best practices” that have been developed and proven over time.

Occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants focus on “doing” whatever occupations or activities are meaningful to the individual. It is occupational therapy’s purpose to get beyond problems to the solutions that assure living life to its fullest.  These solutions may be adaptations for how to do a task, changes to the surroundings, or helping individuals to alter their own behaviors.

When working with an occupational therapy practitioner, strategies and modifications are customized for each individual to resolve problems, improve function, and support everyday living activities.  The goal is to maximize potential.  Through these therapeutic approaches, occupational therapy helps individuals design their lives, develop needed skills, adjust their environments (e.g., home, school, or work) and build health-promoting habits and routines that will allow them to thrive.

By taking the full picture into account, such as a person’s psychological, physical, emotional, and social makeup as well as their environment, occupational therapy assists clients to do the following:
 Achieve goals
 Function at the highest possible level
 Concentrate on what matters most to them
 Maintain or rebuild their independence
 Participate in daily activities that they need or want to do.

Sandra Jewell, the Director of Rehab Services at Reedsburg Area Medical Center, is very proud of the services offered by the department.  “With our staff we have a combined 45 years of experience in working with a wide range of patients including pediatrics, the elderly, industrial consultation, FCE’s, return to work programs; management of lymphedema, low vision rehab, hand therapy, splint fabrication, and training in activities of daily living.”  If you would like more information about Occupational Therapy at RAMC, please call or email, 608-768-6120 or sjewell@ramchealth.org.