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HAMC News November 8th, 2002 The Heart of America Medical Center, including the Long Term Care and Haaland Home are pleased to announce an exciting opportunity for your consideration... November 6th, 2002 The Good Samaritan Hospital Association Board of Trustees met Monday evening the 4th of November and elected new officers.... October 24th, 2002 The Hospice Endowment Fund was established in November or 2000 to help provide for the future or the Hospice Program in Rugby... August 13th, 2002 Did you know that wearing backpacks that are too heavy or wearing it improperly can put children at risk for spinal injuries... August 7th, 2002 There were approximately 30 athletes that attended the football camp... Home

Updated OT Work Area to Enhance Service and Training

Occupational Therapy (OT) is one of the health care professions which will be located in the newly remodeled Outpatient Wellness Center. The expanded area has a variety of newly added rooms which will be used to help people gain independence in the area of self care in their most independent living situation.

OT uses a variety of treatment techniques to restore a person’s function with their activities of daily living (ADLs). These techniques may include strengthening of the upper extremity, (hands, arms, and shoulders) as well as addressing overall endurance while a person is preparing a meal in the kitchen, or using the bathroom appropriately, or organize and use all utensils and appliances in the kitchen safely. In all tasks completed, the person’s cognitive functioning such as orientation, memory, attention to task, and problem solving ability is assessed as well.

The following treatment areas have been added to enhance the service delivery of the OT department:


An adaptive bathroom, which is equipped with grab bars in the tub and toilet areas as well as a tub bench or chair placed in the tub. The overall size of this room is relatively small, however is very realistic to a bathroom that people may have in their home. This will be used to help give people who may have safety concerns at home a visual picture of adaptations that may possibly be made to their bathroom. Training in the use each piece of adaptive equipment will be completed as well, giving the patient and their family the opportunity to address concerns that they may have in safely using the bathroom prior to being discharged from the hospital.


The OT kitchen, is equipped with a sink, fridge, and stove like most kitchens, however does offer modifications that could be made at home if a specific need arises. A portion of the countertop has been lowered to accommodate to a person who may be in a wheelchair. The cabinet doors and base located below the sink have been removed to allow a person in a wheelchair to access the sink with greater independence. The kitchen is equipped with a regular table and chairs to help give patients and their families the opportunity to manipulate these chairs and determine adaptations and placement of these chairs which may be most beneficial to the patient in the home environment. The kitchen is equipped with many types of adaptive utensils that may promote greater independence as well.


There is a multipurpose room, which will have a mat which folds up onto the wall when not in use. This mat will be useful when a person is more comfortable completing exercises in more private setting. Specific activities to address strength of the hands, arms, and shoulders will be completed in this room as well. The room is equipped with an attachment from the ceiling, which will be used to suspend a swing and provide sensory input for those who have difficulty with motion that often occurs after an injury or sensory deficit.


The splint room, has upper and lower cabinets to store all of the needed equipment and materials used to fabricate splints. A portion of the countertop is lowered to make materials and equipment more accessible while fabricating a splint, as both the therapist and patient are most often sitting. OT will continue to make splints for the hand, wrist, and elbow. This room will be used jointly with Physical Therapy (PT) as PT is currently initiating a program to fabricate splints for the ankle, foot, and knee.

The sewing and craft room, has upper and lower cabinets to store many types of crafts and art supplies. The overall purpose of completion of crafts is to improve a person’s strength and endurance. Safety, confidence, and motivation are addressed as a activity is completed. Leisure skills are addressed as well, as people are given the opportunity to attempt activities which they may enjoy. The room is equipped with a fan to remove fumes and odor that comes along with painting, staining, and varnishing. A section of the counter is lowered in this room as well as to store a heavy duty sewing machine, which is used to sew many materials such as straps and neoprene often used in splinting.

The improved OT work area will help us provide more comprehensive services to those who we treat. Having Cardiac Rehab, PT, Sports Acceleration, and OT all in one area will be beneficial and convenient to those who receive these services.

OT staff would like to take this opportunity to express their goal which is to help maintain a quality of life, to the people of Rugby and those in the surrounding community, by providing top quality health care to those who are in need of our services.