Specialized Care for Pediatric Patients

Adults aren't the only ones who need rehabilitation therapy to maximize their physical, mental and social abilities. Some children and adolescents also need specialized services to build strength, achieve their functional potential and develop the skills they need at thome, at school and within their communities. Children may benefit from rehabilitation services if they have or are recovering from:

• Birth defects or birth injuries


• Neurological, musculoskeletal or rheumatological conditions


• Developmental delays


• Feeding problems


• Acute traumas


• Bone fractures and other orthopedic problems


• Accidents


• Injuries


• Burns


• Cancer


• Surgery


• Chronic diseases (such as sickle cell, heart or kidney diseases)
  

A Team Approach

Kids who need rehabilitation services receive care from a mulitdisciplinary team of specialists who are trained to handle the unique needs of pediatric patients. The team includes physical, occupational and speech therapists who evaluate and assess the child's functional limitations.

Rehabilitation specialists design individual treatment plans to help mazimize patients' independence and the quality of their lives. Team members use a variety of techniques and technologies that can help:

• Support patients' growth and development


• Prevent future complications and impairments


• Relieve pain


• Improve kids' cognitive abilities


• Improve strength, coordination, range of motion and fine motor skills


• Relax muscles


• Develop kids' self-care skills


• Enhance speech and language skills


• Teach kids' how to use wheelchairs, braces and other assistive devices
  

Short and Long Term Care

Some pediatric patients may need only short-term rehabilitation therapy to address certain acute injuries or issues. Rehabilitation, however, can play a major role in health care for kids with complex, lifelong conditions.

While children and adolescents undergoing therapy may be tackling difficult issues, rehabilitation professionals provide services in an age-appropriate way that keeps pediatric patients engaged. For example, therapists may use fun activities to help kids develop key coordination, motor and hand-eye skills that may improve their walking, feeding or handwriting skills. The gains children make during rehabilitation therapy often help boost their self-confidence and self-esteem, giving them a sense of accomplishment.

Developments in Pediatric Therapy

>>Kristine Trimble, Alicia Lutman and Heather Smith comprise the pediatric rehabilitation team at Fauquier Health. The pediatric office is located at 493 Blackwell Road in the Warrenton Professional Center in Warrenton, Virginia. Over the past few months, the rooms have been renovated and updated. New therapeutic tools have also been added, which the children see as "new toys".

Kristine Trimble, PT, DPT is the pediatric physical therapist who provides therapy for children with torticollis, gross motor delays, traumatic brain injuries, acquired brain injuries, cerebral palsy and dyspraxia. She also implements aquatic therapy.

Alicia Lutman, MOTR/L, ATC is the pediatric occupational therapist who works with children with fine motor delays, visual processing deficits, autism, developmental delays, traumatic brain injuries and handwriting difficulties.

Heather Smith, MS, CFY-SLP is the pediatric speech lauguage pathologist who works with children with receptive and expressive language delays, apraxia, feeding delays, autism, developmental delays, articulation/phonological processing disorders, and acquired and traumatic brain injuries.

Fauquier Health is the only local facility to offer physical, occupational and speech therapies all at one convenient, child-friendly location. If you need further information please call 540-316-2680. Or click on the button below to ask a question or request additional information. Your email will be answered within 24 business hours.

A great day for Margaret Blue!

Friday, April 10, 2009

March 12, 2009 was a proud day for Margaret Blue. She became a member of Marriott's "Quarter Century Club", marking 25 years of service as a chef. Margaret thoroughly enjoyed everyone she came in contact with during her years with Marriott. Despite a debilitating neurogenic problem that causes her to have decreased balance and weakness, this amazing woman has only missed one day of work in 25 years--because of a snowstorm!After a recent injury, Margaret came to our clinic for strengthening and to improve her walking. She has worked closely with her physical therapist, Bruce Edwards & our student from Shennandoah, Brooks Brady. Margaret credits them for helping her become strong enough to walk up to receive her 25 year service award, something she was not sure she would be able to do after her injury.Margaret has a beaming smile for everyone she meets. Her positive attitude is contagious, and the reason she has come so far. Congratulations Margaret, on your achievements!

If you would like to know more about our services, or have a general question regarding rehabilitation services, please call us at 540-316-2680, or click on the button below to submit an email inquiry.

April is Occupational Therapy Month

OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY HELPS INDIVIDUALS
LIVE LIFE TO ITS FULLEST

Occupational therapy enables people of all ages 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—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.

Founded in 1917, the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) represents the interests and concerns of more than 140,000 occupational therapists, assistants and students nationwide. The Association educates the public and advances the profession of occupational therapy by providing resources, setting standards including accreditations and serving as an advocate to improve health care. Based in Bethesda, Md., AOTA’s major programs and activities are directed toward promoting the professional development of its members and assuring consumer access to quality services so patients can maximize their individual potential. For more information, go to http://www.aota.org/.


If you feel you or someone you know may benefit from occupational therapy services please call us at (540) 316-2680 to learn more. Or click on the button below to ask a question.