Q: How is Occupational Therapy different than Physical Therapy?

A: Occupational Therapy focuses on helping people following an injury, illness, or surgery resume activities of daily living which could include: dressing, bathing, cooking, cleaning, or any activity a person would like to resume. Physical Therapy will also follow-up with patients following an injury, illness, or surgery, but specializes in a patient’s ability to resume movement and can provide additional follow-up with: a person’s ability to walk, their balance, and flexibility/strength in his or her muscles.

Q: What are the most common conditions that Occupational Therapists treat?

A: In the hospital setting, Occupational Therapy works with a variety of diagnoses which could include the following: New Total Joint Replacements, Fractures, Pneumonia, COPD, CHF, and Stroke/CVA.        

Q: Do I need a physician’s referral to see an Occupational Therapist at Prairie Lakes?

A: A patient is required to have a referral from a physician in order to have begin working with an Occupational Therapist and to establish a Plan of Care under an Occupational Therapist.

Q: What is your favorite part about being an Occupational Therapist at Prairie Lakes?

A: My favorite part of being an Occupational Therapist at Prairie Lakes is the strong focus of teamwork within the Rehabilitation Department and encouragement of interdisciplinary communication among departments to promote patient-centered care.

Q: What is the role of Occupational Therapy in the inpatient setting?

A: An Occupational Therapist in the inpatient/hospital setting will work with patients who are staying at the Prairie Lakes Hospital due to medical conditions. The goal is to help patients get started on returning to their previous level of functioning or improving their current functionality as it pertains to self-care and daily life. This might also include getting patients prepared and scheduled to resume Occupational Therapy in an outpatient rehab setting or for going back home. 

Q: What is the role of Occupational Therapy in the outpatient setting?

A: An Occupational Therapist in the outpatient setting focuses on helping patients who reside at home regain the ability to perform everyday duties and activities. This occurs with a physician referral after a diagnosis, injury or procedure. The patient will see an Occupational Therapist at the Prairie Lakes Specialty Clinic in Rehabilitation Services for a series of appointments depending on the personalized plan of care. 

Prairie Lakes Occupational Therapy can be reached at 605-882-7700 or by visiting their webpage.