Occupational Therapy

The Occupational Therapist will assist you in achieving independence with activities of daily living utilizing specialized programs specific to your limitations.  Activities such as grooming, dressing, cooking, task completion and social outings will become easier as we help improve your strength and coordination.

Occupational Therapists work with patients with permanent disabilities, such as spinal cord injuries, cerebral palsy, or muscular dystrophy who often need special instruction to master certain daily tasks. For these individuals, therapists demonstrate the use of adaptive equipment, including wheelchairs, orthoses, eating aids, and dressing aids. They also design or build special equipment needed at home or at work, including computer-aided adaptive equipment. They teach clients how to use the equipment to improve communication and control various situations in their environment.

Some Occupational Therapists treat individuals whose ability to function in a work environment has been impaired. These practitioners might arrange employment, evaluate the work space, plan work activities, and assess the client’s progress. Therapists also may collaborate with the client and the employer to modify the work environment so that the client can successfully complete the work.

Assessing and recording a client’s activities and progress is an important part of an Occupational Therapist’s job. Accurate records are essential for evaluating clients, for billing, and for reporting to physicians and other health care providers.
Occupational Therapists may work exclusively with individuals in a particular age group or with a particular disability. In schools, for example, they evaluate children’s capabilities, recommend and provide therapy, modify classroom equipment, and help children participate in school activities. A therapist may work with children individually, lead small groups in the classroom, consult with a teacher, or serve on an administrative committee. Some therapists provide early intervention therapy to infants and toddlers who have, or are at risk of having, developmental delays. Therapies may include facilitating the use of the hands and promoting skills for listening, following directions, social play, dressing, or grooming.

Other Occupational Therapists work with elderly patients. These therapists help the elderly lead more productive, active, and independent lives through a variety of methods. Therapists with specialized training in driver rehabilitation assess an individual’s ability to drive using both clinical and on-the-road tests. The evaluations allow the therapist to make recommendations for adaptive equipment, training to prolong driving independence, and alternative transportation options. Occupational Therapists also work with clients to assess their homes for hazards and to identify environmental factors that contribute to falls as reported by the U.S. department of Labor.

 

Physical Therapy

The Physical Therapist will help you regain lost mobility and function so you may once again be able to perform your daily routine with less pain and increased energy.  Decreasing muscle sprains/strains, joint instabilities, and increasing your ability to move around your environment are some of the many goal areas that will be addressed in Physical Therapy.  You will receive customized therapeutic treatment and Home Exercise programs designed for your specific needs.

Physical therapists provide services that help restore function, improve mobility, relieve pain, and prevent or limit permanent physical disabilities of patients suffering from injuries or disease. They restore, maintain, and promote overall fitness and health. Their patients include accident victims and individuals with disabling conditions such as low-back pain, arthritis, heart disease, fractures, head injuries, and cerebral palsy.

Therapists examine patients’ medical histories and then test and measure the patients’ strength, range of motion, balance and coordination, posture, muscle performance, respiration, and motor function. Next, Physical Therapists develop plans describing a treatment strategy and its anticipated outcome.
Treatment often includes exercise, especially for patients who have been immobilized or who lack flexibility, strength, or endurance. Physical therapists encourage patients to use their muscles to increase their flexibility and range of motion. More advanced exercises focus on improving strength, balance, coordination, and endurance. The goal is to improve how an individual functions at work and at home.

Physical Therapists also use electrical stimulation, hot packs or cold compresses, and ultrasound to relieve pain and reduce swelling. They may use traction or deep-tissue massage to relieve pain and improve circulation and flexibility. Therapists also teach patients to use assistive and adaptive devices, such as crutches, prostheses, and wheelchairs. They also may show patients how to do exercises at home to expedite their recovery.
As treatment continues, Physical Therapists document the patient’s progress, conduct periodic examinations, and modify treatments when necessary.

Physical Therapists often consult and practice with a variety of other professionals, such as physicians, dentists, nurses, educators, social workers, Occupational Therapists, speech-language pathologists, and audiologists.
Some Physical Therapists treat a wide range of ailments; others specialize in areas such as pediatrics, geriatrics, orthopedics, sports medicine and neurology as reported by the U.S. department of Labor.

 

Massage Therapy and Cranio-Sacral Therapy

Massage Therapy and Cranio-Sacral Therapy relaxes muscles utilizing manual techniques which can result in decreased pain and tension caused by stress, injury or illness.  Other possible benefits of massage therapy include:

• Increased circulation
• Decreased muscle tension
• Decreased anxiety
• Increased sleep quality
• Increased joint flexibility
• Decreased swelling 
• Decreased pain
• Increased energy
• Improved concentration
• Overall facilitation of an individuals health and well-being

Research continues to show the enormous benefits of touch, which range from treating chronic illness, neurological disorders, to alleviating the tensions of everyday lifestyles. 
Massage Therapy has become an important part of general health care for many people living in today’s stressful world. Traditional healthcare systems throughout the world recognize that therapeutic massage can play an important role in treating illness or chronic ailments, and contribute to a higher sense of general well-being.
Our certified massage therapists will tailor each massage to the person’s individual need.  We offer many massage techniques including:

• Relaxation Massage
• Deep Tissue Massage
• Prenatal/Pregnancy Massage
• Sports Massage
• Trigger Point Therapy
• Myofascial Release
• Craniosacral Therapy
• Ear Candeling

Speech Therapy

Speech-language pathologists work with people who cannot produce speech sounds or cannot produce them clearly; those with speech rhythm and fluency problems, such as stuttering; people with voice disorders, such as inappropriate pitch or harsh voice; those with problems understanding and producing language; those who wish to improve their communication skills by modifying an accent; and those with cognitive communication impairments, such as attention, memory, and problem solving disorders. They also work with people who have swallowing difficulties.

Speech, language, and swallowing difficulties can result from a variety of causes including stroke, brain injury or deterioration, developmental delays or disorders, learning disabilities, cerebral palsy, cleft palate, voice pathology, mental retardation, hearing loss, or emotional problems. Problems can be congenital, developmental, or acquired. Speech-language pathologists use special instruments and qualitative and quantitative assessment methods, including standardized tests, to analyze and diagnose the nature and extent of impairments.

Speech-language pathologists develop an individualized plan of care, tailored to each patient’s needs. For individuals with little or no speech capability, speech-language pathologists may select augmentative or alternative communication methods, including automated devices and sign language, and teach their use. They teach patients how to make sounds, improve their voices, or increase their oral or written language skills to communicate more effectively. They also teach individuals how to strengthen muscles or use compensatory strategies to swallow without choking or inhaling food or liquid. Speech-language pathologists help patients develop, or recover, reliable communication and swallowing skills so patients can fulfill their educational, vocational, and social roles.

Speech-language pathologists keep records on the initial evaluation, progress, and discharge of clients. This helps pinpoint problems, tracks client progress, and justifies the cost of treatment when applying for reimbursement. They counsel individuals and their families concerning communication disorders and how to cope with the stress and misunderstanding that often accompany them. They also work with family members to recognize and change behavior patterns that impede communication and treatment and show them communication-enhancing techniques to use at home.

Most speech-language pathologists provide direct clinical services to individuals with communication or swallowing disorders. In medical facilities, they may perform their job in conjunction with physicians, social workers, psychologists, and other therapists. Speech-language pathologists in schools collaborate with teachers, special educators, interpreters, other school personnel, and parents to develop and implement individual or group programs, provide counseling, and support classroom activities as reported by the U.S. department of Labor.

 

Cognitive Therapy/Retraining

Cognitive Therapy utilizes a variety of strategies and techniques to help improve and restore the areas of attention, memory, thought organization and problem-solving.  We incorporate life skills education strategies geared towards functional activities to enhance the quality and productivity of life.

 

Divinity Home Care

Divinity Home Care provides high quality and convenient homecare services to a variety of medically challenged clients.  We are committed to supplying exceptional care by paying close attention to detail and focusing on increasing function through goal oriented treatment.  Our therapists are knowledgeable, compassionate, and are wholeheartedly committed to providing the highest level of skilled services to their clients.  We provide Nursing Care, Home Health Assistance, Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy and Cognitive Therapy/Retraining.  We work cooperatively with case mangers to ensure high quality documentation.  Divinity Home Care is happy to address any concerns regarding the client’s health, staffing, billing and any other issues that may arise. Divinity Home Care understands the complexity of homecare services and strives to provide quality care through the demonstration of these principles: 

• Quality patient care with our supportive staff working with clients in the comfort and privacy of their own homes to achieve increased overall quality of life. 
• We guarantee weekly verbal reports from each individual therapist to case managers as well as any other daily updates needed.
• We ensure that our staff is dependable and committed to being on time.  Our staff works with the clients to create convenient treatment times that ensure a productive therapy session.
• At Divinity Home Care we provide case manages with clear, concise, efficient, and informative documentation. We provide the following documentation: initial evaluations, daily progress reports, monthly re-evaluations, interim reports to physician and case manager as needed, and discharge summaries.

When receiving Home Health Care services from Divinity Home Care you will receive attentive care from a Registered Nurse or a Qualified Home Health Care staff member depending on the needs of each client in the comfort of your own home. Services range from:

• Nursing Care (Medication Set-Ups or Administration, Wound Assessments, Glucose Monitoring, Catheter Care, Tracheotomy care and Suctioning, Ostomy Care, Feeding Tubes, Anticoagulation Monitoring, Oxygen Therapy, etc.)
• Bathing, dressing and toileting
• Ambulation and transferring
• Incontinence care

Why would you need Home Care Services?

• When a family caregiver needs a break or respite
• When the caregiver is at work
• When an individual has been disabled by a medical procedure or illness (such as dementia that may require around-the-clock supervision)

Home Evaluation

At Divinity Home Care we will provide a comprehensive design plan for individuals looking to function safely and independently in their homes.

A therapist visits the home of a client and develops an individualized home modification plan.

Some examples of design plans include:

• Home safety and fall prevention
• Pre-construction recommendations
• Remodeling/Renovation projects
• Aging in place consultation
• Home modification and adaptation
• Wheelchair accessibility plans/Ramp design

For each home modification evaluation, the therapist will complete a home visit and an interview with the client, if necessary. Designs will include a functional, cognitive, and environmental assessment. The therapist will develop a comprehensive design plan, which draws from knowledge in:

• Occupational Therapy
• Adaptive equipment
• Assistive technology
• Ergonomics
• Accessible design
• Building contracting
• Architectural products

Once the home evaluation is completed, a comprehensive written report will be generated that will include a problem list, photographs of exact problem areas, and adaptive equipment list to make recommendations for modifications to make the house more functionally accessible and safe for the client.

Functional Capacity Evaluations

A Functional Capacity Evaluation identifies general capacities and tolerances for vocational rehabilitation.  It is a set of standardized tests that have proven to be reliable and valid to assess an individual’s physical capacities and functional tolerances.  It evaluates how much a person is safely able to lift, carry, push, pull, balance and grasp and how long they can stand, walk, climb stairs, kneel, crouch, crawl, work overhead, forward bend, sit, etc.   The FCE is useful in determining job placement, job accommodation, or return to work after an injury or illness.  FCE’s are performed on a one-to-one basis, taking approximately 3-4 hours depending upon the goals of the FCE.  The Functional Capacity Evaluation is typically covered only by motor vehicle insurance plans or worker’s compensation.  A Certified Functional Capacity Evaluator performs the evaluation.  A prescription from a physician is required to perform an FCE.  After the FCE is performed, a lengthy, in depth report is generated with the evaluator’s findings and is sent to the requested parties.

Erchonia Low Level Medical Laser Therapy

The Erchonia Low Level Medical Laser emits visible coherent light that is applied to the affected areas.  Within the affected tissue, low-level laser light initiates circulation and enhances tissue regeneration.  The Erchonia Laser has been FDA approved to decrease pain and inflammation as a way to increase range of motion. Low Level Lasers do not have thermal effect like heat lasers used in surgical procedures to cut or cauterize tissue.  Low Level Lasers like the Erchonia Medical Laser are painless and used to stimulate and heal tissue.

Anodyne Infrared Therapy

The Anodyne Therapy System is a safe, FDA-cleared, drug free, non-invasive device that uses near-infrared light emitting diodes to safely increase local circulation, reduce pain, stiffness and muscle spasm. Therefore, any condition that would benefit from these indications may benefit from the effects of this infrared therapy device.  Anodyne Therapy will be provided along with other skilled therapy interventions that are needed to improve function based on the patient’s assessment and personal goals.

The Universal Therapeutic Cabinet

The Universal Therapeutic Cabinet is one of the most basic multifunctional and universal pieces of rehabilitation equipment available.  It is used in the treatment of highly challenged patients.  The suspension system enables the therapist to carry out full body suspension, active, active-assistive or self-assistive exercises with or without resistance. This suspension equipment is not offered in most therapeutic settings, as it is most commonly used in Europe.

Vestibular Rehabilitation

Vestibular Rehabilitation is a superior treatment approach in which the therapist has completed a specialized certification program. Our certified therapists incorporate non-invasive positional maneuvers into a strategic treatment plan. This allows for improved functional outcomes in those with dizziness and balance disorders.

Social Work

Social workers are an integral part of the multidisciplinary team. They assist patients and families with concerns related to psychosocial issues. Such issues include depression related to medical conditions as well as depression related to personal or family relationships. Other concerns may include unemployment, disability, poor coping skills, bereavement, or substance abuse. Social Work services are available to each and every patient.

Transfer Training

We offer one on one, family, or group staff transfer training that covers:

• Explaining the importance of proper transfers for both client and care provider.
• Identifying strategies for proper body mechanics.
• Steps for preparing wheelchair for client transfers.
• Reasoning behind selecting proper transfer technique.
• Demonstration of squat pivot, sliding board, standing pivot, and two person transfer from a variety of surfaces (wheelchair, bed, car, etc). 

All of our training sessions come with complete transfer training manuals, overview handout, transfer check off list, and course completion certificate.  Our instructors are certified healthcare professionals that are dedicated to helping you perform appropriate and safe transfers from all surfaces in a variety of settings.

 

Passive Range of Motion (PROM) Training

We offer one on one, family, or group staff PROM training that covers:

• Explaining the importance of proper PROM technique.
• Describing benefits of PROM.
• Identifying strategies for proper body mechanics for the caregiver when performing PROM.
• Define muscle tone and the impact on muscles and joints. 
• Demonstration of proper PROM techniques for upper and lower body.

All of our training sessions come with complete PROM training manuals, overview handout, PROM check off list, and course completion certificate.  Our instructors are certified healthcare professionals that are dedicated to helping you perform appropriate and safe PROM for all upper and lower body motions.

Job Site Analysis

Job Site Analysis is a detailed description of the job demands of a particular job and is based on ergonomic principles.  The frequent and infrequent job tasks, as well as the essential functions (in compliance with The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) legislation), are described in detail. 

The Job Site Analysis is typically used for the following reasons:

• To gather data on a particular job to be used as the basis for a Functional Capacity Evaluation. 
• To gather data on a particular job in preparation for writing a work conditioning or work hardening treatment plan. 
• To compare an injured worker’s functional abilities with job task demands in an effort to facilitate return-to-work or document to incompatibility. 
• To recommend modification to equipment or work habits to enhance an employee’s tolerance to performing job tasks. 
• To assess options for “Reasonable accommodation” in compliance with ADA legislation. 
• To assess equipment and environmental factors to which the worker is exposed.

Therapeutic Yoga

"Yoga" is an ancient philosophy that has been practiced for thousands of years that literally means the union of body, mind and spirit. It has become the most widely practiced exercise system in the world. Studies show the great physiological, neurological and emotional benefits yoga imparts.  Therapeutic Yoga incorporates the basic principles of yoga into the therapy setting to maximize your outcome goals.

Yoga Classes

Are you suffering from physical pain?  Is emotional distress impairing your happiness?  Come and find out why this tried and true system for bringing health and wellness to the mind and body has been around for thousands of years.  Quality Care Rehabilitation Professionals is now offering Yoga classes to the public 3-4 days a week.  First week of classes is free for new students!  Please note free week of classes does not include workshops.  Current patients at QCRP must have doctor’s approval before taking classes.  Please call our office for class times and more information.

Exercise Physiology

Exercises physiology draws together exercise science and physiology in the study of how the body adapts to physical movement.  Exercise physiologists tend to specialize in either health and fitness or exercise rehabilitation, prevention of disease, and work conditioning.  At QCRP, our exercise physiologists develop and implement personalized therapeutic exercise programs based on specific patient needs, and issue home exercise programs for the continual progression toward therapeutic goals after discharge.