Expanded Physical, Occupational & Speech Therapy Services
When an injury, surgery, or illness affects how you perform—whether physically or mentally—a key step in your recovery is rehabilitation. Typically, the type of rehab comes down to physical therapy (PT), occupational therapy (OT), speech therapy (ST), or a combination of two or even all three.
PT is a therapy for any condition that affects function, movement, or range of motion, particularly after surgery or injury, while OT focuses on helping to reestablish fine and gross motor skills to help patients perform daily living tasks. ST help patients regain swallowing ability and also works to improve recovery from speech and language disorders.
“They have different objectives, but the different therapies often complement each other in advancing recovery,” says Lauren Cerqua, Manager of Therapy Services at St. Clair Hospital. “After a knee or hip replacement, for instance, PT works on pain management, reducing inflammation, and improving function by increasing range of motion and building up muscles. After a hand injury, OT focuses on helping patients work to improve restricted movement in order to perform everyday tasks, and after a stroke, ST assists patients to improve their ability to swallow and at times improve quality of life by returning to a more normal diet.”
Another example of how PT, OT, and ST work together is in helping patients recover from a stroke. At St. Clair Health, our experienced physical, occupational, and speech therapists collaborate on a plan for each individual patient to help regain function, balance, strength, improve dexterity and re-train their muscles to help maximize independence.
“We’re driven by a multi-service mindset,” Lauren says. “The only thing that matters is getting it right for every patient, every time to the best of our ability—and no two cases are exactly the same. We work to treat each person as an individual with unique needs and goals. With the resources we’ll have, we’ll be able to deliver these therapies together more conveniently to a greater service area than ever before.”
Outpatient Rehabilitation at St. Clair Health
At the St. Clair Hospital Village Square Outpatient Center, our specially trained PT, OT, and Speech therapists provide personalized rehabilitation care across the full spectrum of patient needs, including OT hand therapy, women’s health PT, and OT lymphedema treatment. From post-operative recovery of all kinds to treating orthopedic joint pain and injuries, post-partum incontinence, lymphedema after cancer, and neurological rehab needs, our caring professionals are committed to helping patients get back to living their lives.
“Having the most advanced tools and techniques is vital, but the only way all of that works to its full potential is to have the right people behind it who truly care about each patient,” Lauren says. “Our people are genuinely, personally involved with each and every patient, getting to know who they are and what their goals are. That’s what makes all the difference in a successful outcome.”
To expand that level of care, St. Clair has built a brand-new, state-of-the-art rehabilitation suite inside Dunlap Family Outpatient Center, providing high-quality physical, occupational, and speech therapies in a larger, more functional space that’s packed with thoughtful details. Through extensive planning and research, the suite has been designed to create an optimal environment for patients and staff alike to work on recovery while offering advanced equipment, open and airy accommodations, and movable screens for patients who prefer privacy. And because the science behind rehab is constantly evolving, the space is designed to grow and adapt. Future plans include offering classes in yoga, stress reduction and more.
“Our goal is to deliver more integrated care,” Lauren adds, noting that the Dunlap Family Outpatient Center will also house orthopedics, urology, cardiology and cancer groups. “The rehab suite will allow our therapists to more easily partner with physicians and provide the individualized, specialized therapy that patients need.”
“We believe that the connection patients build with their doctors and therapy team is every bit as important as the equipment. That’s what sets St. Clair apart.”
To learn more about St. Clair Health’s outpatient rehabilitation services, or to schedule an appointment, at our Village Square Outpatient Center call 412.942.7122. Beginning May 27, patients may also schedule at Dunlap Family Outpatient Center by calling 412.942.4060.