Physical Therapy Month

10/14/2022

October is Physical Therapy Month. This month of recognition celebrates the profession and acknowledges how physical therapists help improve the lives of so many individuals. Physical therapy is a medical treatment used to restore functional movements, such as standing, walking, and moving different body parts. Physical therapy is a non-invasive discipline that helps individuals develop, maintain and restore maximum body movement and physical function. Physical therapy that is used to preserve, enhance, or restore movement and physical function impaired or threatened by disease, injury, or disability and that utilizes therapeutic exercise, physical modalities (such as massage and electrotherapy), assistive devices, and patient education and training. In a nutshell, Physical therapy is care that aims to ease pain and help you function, move, and live better and physical therapists are movement experts who improve quality of life through prescribed exercise, hands-on care, and patient education.

Scotland County Hospital's Therapy Services Department is home to three physical therapists (PT), four Physical Therapy Assistants (PTA), two Occupational Therapists (OT), one Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA) and one Speech and Language Therapist (SLP). These seasoned professionals work hard to help their patients, while including the patients' family in the care plan and education. Our therapists are experts at diagnosing movement dysfunction and developing a treatment plan while teaching patients how to properly use therapeutic exercise techniques and providing stimulation or massage to promote healing. Our therapy services staff from our physical therapists to our occupational therapists are experts in assisting patients with the use of equipment such as wheelchairs or walkers.

To celebrate this month at Scotland County Hospital, the Therapy Services Department is holding a raffle drawing for a free pair of Brooks athletic shoes for a staff member and a community member. The community is invited to stop by the Therapy Services Department (located around the corner from the Hospital Admissions Desk) and put your name in the drawing this month.

Here's a little history of the treatment known as physical in the United States.

During 1918, women known as reconstruction aides trained at the Army’s Walter Reed Hospital and provided exercise and massage treatments to injured soldiers. From the 1930s to the 1950s, hospital wards focused on helping polio patients. This led to the development of movement and exercise treatment for them. The number of people affected with polio, plus many wounded veterans, and advances in orthopedic surgery from 1916 to 1960 increased the demand for treatments. During this time, the profession grew to around 15,000 practicing therapists and 52 physical therapy schools opened. After World War II, special clinics opened for injured soldiers to go to after leaving a hospital. This led to the creation of the outpatient care setting. 

Treatment options increased and were added to the realm of physical therapy over time. New indications to help patients were developed beyond dealing with orthopedics to include neurological problems, specialties in pediatrics, geriatrics, wound care, burn care, balance problems, and sports medicine to name a few. Currently, there are nearly 312,000 licensed therapists in the U.S. and 127,000 PT assistants. The degree earned in school progressed from a bachelor’s to a master’s to now a doctorate. The career is still growing as the population ages and the need for therapy services is still increasing to meet the health care demands of society. 

“We commonly treat issues related to joint pain, sprains and strains, headaches, concussion, gait and balance deficits, surgery and many other sports and performance issues. Our goal is to always get our patients back to a comfortable and safe level of activity where they have the highest possible quality of life," said Carrie Hamner, PT, Therapy Services Supervisor at Scotland County Hospital.

Here is something to think about if you have met your healthcare deductible this year or you are close to meeting it. If you have met, or almost met, your deductible, scheduling appointments and completing tests now is a good way to save money in the future since your deductible resets starting January 1st. Why put off something until next year when your insurance company will start paying the claims after your deductible and out-of-pocket maximum is met this calendar year?

Here's a broad list of things for you to consider using your health insurance for, after your deductible and/or your out-of-pocket maximum is met:

• Come and see one of our physical or occupational therapists for tendonitis or an old sports injury in our Therapy Services Department
• A Colonoscopy
• An Endoscopy
• Lab work
• Diagnostic testing such as mammogram or chest x-ray
• A dietary nutrition consult with our Registered Dietitian Nutritionist
• Non emergent surgical procedures like a hernia repair, carpal tunnel repair, gallbladder, or a joint injection for pain
• Make an appointment with a specialist if your primary care provider has suggested a referral for a nagging condition. We offer cardiology, podiatry, oncology, orthopedic, urology, rheumatology and wound care.
• Make a clinic appointment with one of our surgeons to deal with a benign skin issue such as a pesky skin tag, a mole, or a discolored skin spot that has changed shape or size recently

If you would like to talk to one of our financial navigators about your insurance benefits, please call the Hospital at 660-465-8511 and ask for Denise or Michael.

Please choose Scotland County Hospital & Clinics in Memphis for your healthcare needs. We would be honored to care for you and your family.

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PHOTO BI-LINE: Carrie Hamner, PT, Therapy Services Supervisor, recently instructed the Tri-County Electric Cooperative staff, in Lancaster, on proper posture, body mechanics, stretches and exercises to avoid injury and improve health.