Occupational therapy not well understood

After a stroke, spinal cord injury, brain injury or amputation, a team of physical, occupational and speech therapists, respiratory therapists, rehabilitation nursing and physicians go into action helping patients overcome the limitations set by a tragic accident, injury or illness.

The least known and understood of the rehabilitation professions, occupational therapy focuses on helping the person return to the things that give a sense of purpose. April is Occupational Therapy Month, and the Warm Springs health care system is honoring occupational therapists by acknowledging their commitment to the wellbeing of patients.

"Occupational therapy is less well-known because unlike physical and speech therapy our duties are not as clearly defined," said Kathy Jurek, occupational therapist at Warm Springs Specialty Hospital in Luling. "We focus on those things that help patients regain the ability to perform activities that are meaningful and purposeful to them, allowing them to be as independent and productive as possible when they return to their home and community."

Occupational therapists work on everything - everything that occupies your time.

"The interesting thing is that occupational therapy owes its roots to war veterans," said Linda Veale, director of therapy at Victoria Warm Springs Rehabilitation Hospital. "Occupational therapy began as a way to retrain injured war veterans for vocations and occupations with the goal to help them live independently and productively.

"As hospital personnel developed programs, almost a century ago, to get the soldiers active, their physiology, emotions and ability to interact with life improved. This was the start of the profession of occupational therapy. Over the years it has evolved and improved as more knowledge is gained about the body, particularly the brain and psychological aspects of humans."

"Occupational therapists enable infants, children and adult patients to function in their environment at their highest level of independence," said Linda Vaclavik, director of therapy at Warm Springs Specialty Hospital in Luling. "With infants and children the occupational therapist works hand in hand with other rehabilitation clinicians to improve developmental, play and sensory functioning in patients of all ages."

The focus of this therapy with adults is onto teaching patients how to complete daily living tasks from basic self-care to home management, to leisure and participation in the community and reintegration of tasks like grocery shopping and returning to gainful employment.

Providing job retraining and testing after an injury or surgery is another important facet of OT.

"It is rewarding to see what changes can come about, no matter how small or great," said Sandy Jones, occupational therapist at Warm Springs Specialty Hospital in Luling. "Our hope is that we impact our patients lives by giving them a sense of purpose."

OTs also provide care for those who are recovering from burns, hand injuries and on the job injuries.

"We have guided the recovery of thousands of patients in the 65 years that we have been providing health care services to Texans," said Brenda Miles, administrator of Warm Springs Specialty Hospital in Luling. "Our expertise and commitment to the recovery of our patients has given Warm Springs a reputation as a leader in the management and delivery of comprehensive acute rehabilitation services.

Occupational therapists and assistants at the Warm Springs Specialty Hospital in Luling include Sandy Jones, Sheila Etzler, Kathy Jurek, Kelly Wehmeyer, Sherry Bobick and Rose Furst.

At Victoria Warm Springs, the administrator of the hospital, the director of therapy and the therapy supervisor all hold bachelor of science degrees in occupational therapy and are all licensed occupational therapists.

Warm Springs began in 1939 as a polio treatment center for children and has grown to include four hospitals and nine outpatient clinics located throughout South Central Texas. Warm Springs provides rehabilitation to thousands recovering from accidents, injury, or illness. The system has hospitals in San Antonio, Corpus Christi, Victoria and Luling. Outpatient clinics are located in San Antonio, Corpus Christi, Victoria, Luling, Lockhart, Pearsall and Floresville.