July / August / September • Issue 3 • 2019
Mara Chiocca, OTR/L
What Is New in the World of Orthopedic Hand Therapy?
When asked to share my thoughts on this subject, I laughed realizing a 40 year OT veteran (me)
would have a lot to say and was unsure of where to start. I found myself entering a dreamlike state,
remembering my first days as a young pup at Hines VA Hospital, wherein every Friday afternoon, I
was part of Loyola’s Medical School / Outpatient Hand Clinic. I shadowed with the head surgeon and
residents. If a patient required hand therapy I took over, scheduled, and ultimately treated the patient
in our clinic.
Then
Now
The day started at 8 a.m. and
ended at 4:30 p.m. for all
therapists and supervisors.
Everyone ate lunch together 12
Eight, 10, and 12 hr shifts; evening hours; and, (Gasp!) weekend hours.
to 1 p.m. usually in a cafeteria
and often had time to go for a
brief walk before the afternoon
patient sessions.
Somehow there was
enough time in our workday
to complete patient
documentation, never needing
to stay late or take it home. Documentation on computers seems to take more time. There is more to
write. Insurance demands specific verbiage and imposes time restraints for
completion. This often requires documenting while eating lunch, at home,
and/or over the weekend. The great news regarding computers is that all the
info a therapist needs to understand the patient’s medical history, surgery,
images, etc. is at our fingertips. Communicating with our staff and MDs can
be instantaneous.
Reimbursement for attending
a CE seminar was all inclusive.,
(mileage, lodging, food,
course). CE money can vary depending your setting, however only the course itself
is reimbursed. I actually agree with this Clinic funds these days need to be
prioritized.
Therapists treated one patient
per hour. Half-hour treatment sessions; except of course if you work in a doctor’s
office. If so, at any time of the day “walk in splints” may show up at your door
for a stat splint (excuse me, orthosis).
There were minimal choices
for splint materials, colors,
and strapping. The heating
pan used to soften your splint
material was the extra pan you
received for a wedding gift (at
least there was temperature
control). We have a myriad of splint materials with varying properties for the many
types of splints to be made. There are new colors, straps, and short cut
applications. Low profile has replaced high profile. There are special scissors,
special glues and VELCRO! Remember, when I first started in OT velcro had
not yet been invented. It took a long time to make a resting splint. Today
there is a splint material available to meet the needs of every patient’s
personality and medical necessity. Thank goodness!
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