GETTING TO KNOW NORTH SHORE HEALTH
Rehabilitation Department at North Shore Health
By Patrick O’Neil, Rehabilitation Director and Physical Therapist
Physical Therapy (PT) has been a staple of the Rehabilitation Department at North Shore Health (NSH) since 1984. The department has grown over the last 15 years to include Occupational Therapy (OT) and with the most recent addition of Speech Therapy (ST) in the last year. Many times, we think of needing rehab after a major surgery or when we have a significant injury. However, rehabilitation comes in many shapes and forms. We may ignore an ache and pain, thinking that it will go away, but with a little corrective exercise or posture control from a Physical Therapist that ache could have been solved months prior. Occupational Therapy can help with your child who is very smart but can’t seem to complete everyday tasks or potentially living with significant sensory sensitivities, they can get help from our pediatric occupational therapist. Or OT can help if you are struggling to cope with daily tasks while living with permanent disabilities. OT can help you learn to use adaptive tools to get back to your highest level of independence. The three professions work collaboratively under the title of Rehabilitation Department serving the patients in our hospital and Emergency Room, working with the residents to thrive in North Shore Living care center, and in the classic outpatient settings.
Examples of services NSH rehab therapists provide: Physical Therapists have the ability to help with fixing nagging aches and pains that keep you up at night through different hands-on techniques, stretches or exercises. They have a wide range of abilities to help you relearn to walk or to improve your balance so you can safely get across the yard. We offer pelvic floor therapy to help with unwanted leaks or incontinence. North Shore Health is able to accept people who need more help with care following hospitalization with relearning daily activities through our swing bed program. Cardiac Rehab helps people with getting back to their normal lives following major cardiac events through different lifestyle suggestions and exercises geared to being heart healthy. Occupational Therapy offers help from infancy to end of life through holistic and meaningful treatments. For more information on what North Shore Health Rehabilitation services have to offer visit: https://www.northshorehealthgm.org/rehabilitation-services.
How do you define the difference between the professions? Speech Therapy is the practice of helping you communicate better, understand and function better by bringing your thoughts to speech, along with eating and swallowing. Occupational therapy focuses on improving deficits and barriers that limit your ability to perform daily activities that you need or want to do. Occupational therapy is holistic in that it addresses mental, physical and cognitive health. Physical Therapy works on restoring your body’s joints with range of motion, building strength, and returning back to work or the activities you love. The three professions, known as the allied professions, work seamlessly to help you improve so you can succeed. All three professions see patients from birth to elderly.
What is the education of our therapists? The professions are growing, and Speech Therapy is a Master’s program while Physical Therapy is a Doctoral level profession. Occupational Therapy is transitioning from a Master’s program to a Doctorate level profession, and you may meet a combination of the two at any given time. We also have therapists with decades of wisdom that bring knowledge and experience to the table fostering growth across the ages. This ensures that the care you receive here at NSH is of the highest quality.
How can you begin care with a therapist? Minnesota is a Direct Access state, and you can see your Physical or Occupational Therapist without a referral unless you have Medicare for your insurance. A referral is needed for Speech Therapy services. If you are unsure, ask your doctor for a referral to see one of our therapists. You can call 218-387-3040 or your insurance provider for clarity on if you need a referral. NSH accepts all insurances. Our team is here to help you achieve your goals and we can’t wait to see you.
For more information, visit: https://www.northshorehealthgm.org. Stay tuned for future informative “Getting to Know North Shore Health” articles published monthly in the Cook County News Herald.