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 The outpatient clinic at Abraham Lincoln Memorial
Hospital has recently added hand therapy to its list of outpatient
therapy services. Emily Foster, OTR/L CHT, joined the rehabilitation
team one year ago, and is an occupational therapist and certified
hand therapist. She brings almost 17 years of experience to the
program. Foster has worked for Memorial Health System for her entire
career and has worked in a variety of settings including inpatient
and outpatient therapy.
Certified hand therapists are therapists with extensive experience
treating patients with any type of injury to the hand or upper
extremity that limits functional abilities or causes pain. Common
problems that would benefit from hand therapy include tendon
lacerations, wrist or other fractures of the arm, carpal or cubital
tunnel syndrome, arthritis or following surgery to correct arthritic
complications, or following any type of trauma to the hand or upper
extremity that may be causing scar tissue, limited mobility, or
swelling. Neurological conditions such as cardiovascular accidents
can also benefit from therapy.
After an evaluation and based on the patient’s deficits, treatments
can range from range of motion exercises, strengthening, scar
management, management of swelling, activities to address
coordination, management of impaired sensation, education in home
program, fabrication of custom orthotics as necessary, and education
in necessary adaptions. All of these things are done in an effort to
help make the patient as functional as possible.
If you think you may benefit from hand therapy, talk to your doctor
about a referral. Your primary doctor or even an orthopedic doctor
or neurologist can write a prescription.
The frequency of visits will depend on the patient and what is
determined to be appropriate by the hand therapist after the initial
evaluation. Usual frequency of visits is anywhere from one to three
times per week with specific home program instructions to be done
daily at home.
Hand therapy is typically covered by most insurance plans including
Medicare and Medicaid. Rarely, out of pocket expenses come up for
things such as over the counter braces or other supplies that may be
needed for home programming.
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The hand therapy and the occupational therapy
departments are located at Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital at 200
Stahlhut Drive in Lincoln. For more information, call 217-605-5500.
[ALMH/LDN]
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