Northern Montana Health Care now offering occupational therapy

Press release

The Physical Therapy Department at Northern Montana Health Care has announced it is now offering occupational therapy to its patients.

Occupational therapists treat injured, ill or disabled patients through the therapeutic use of everyday activities. They help these patients develop, recover, improve, as well as maintain the skills needed for daily living and working. They work with people of all ages, from premature babies to young children, adults in midlife, and seniors. Occupational therapy is client-centered, achieves positive outcomes and is cost-effective.

NMHC is offering OT services for its inpatient, outpatient and Northern Montana Care Center patients, with a focus on adult and geriatric population including:

• Self-care training including dressing, bathing, toileting, eating, etc.

• Participation with leisure activities, work-related tasks, and home management

• Training with adaptive equipment and energy conservation techniques

• Recommendations for home modifications and use of durable medical equipment

• Upper extremity rehab for specific conditions injuries that impact daily function

“In short, the occupational therapist looks at how you do any kind of activity or task. Then they come up with a plan to improve the way you perform daily activities with more ease and less pain, in essence, teaching you how to adapt to your situation.” Jerad Gillen, director of Rehab Services at NMHC, said.

“We are focusing on fulfilling our adults needs for Occupational Therapy first. We hope to extend OT services to the pediatric population in the future “ Gillen added.

“As an occupational therapist, my goal is to help each person I work with achieve what is most important to them, what they want or need to do each day. A person may benefit from modifying their environment or daily routine in order to increase their independence and to live their best quality of life.” NMHC Occupational Therapist Kendyll Smith said.

This type of treatment can help if people have pain, injury, illness, or a disability that makes it hard for them to do their job, care for themeself, complete household chores, move around, or take part in activities. Referrals for occupational therapy can be obtained from a person’s primary care provider.