Occupational Therapy
The Occupational Therapy Department at Wheeling Hospital provides services to patients
of all ages, finding solutions for common problems following neurological deficits
from stroke; orthopedic surgeries; cardiovascular/pulmonary dysfunction; and developmental
challenges in pediatrics. Occupational therapy takes a holistic approach to patient
care, developing a plan of care in collaboration with each patient and family.
Occupational therapy is based on the use of purposeful activity (occupation) to
prevent a decline of independent living. Wheeling Hospital occupational therapy
offers services at the Bishop Joseph Hodges Continuous Care Center, Wheeling Hospital
Skilled Care Unit, acute care, the Outpatient Rehabilitation Department, and the Center
for Pediatrics Rehabilitation Services at Stratford Center.
Treatment in Occupational Therapy also includes specialties in the areas of:
- Hand rehabilitation.
- Individualized pediatric treatment approaches.
- Construction/adaptation of equipment for activities of daily living (ADLs).
- Lymphedema management.
Among the common treatment for these and other conditions are:
- Exercises for range of motion.
- Strength training.
- Neuromuscular facilitation.
- Functional mobility retraining with assistive device safety training.
- ADLs retraining with the use of adaptive equipment, as needed.
- Manual lymph drainage, compression pump treatment.
- Family/caregiver education.
The therapists work very closely with the referring physician to coordinate and
ensure an accurate plan of care and follow-up treatment.
The Inpatient Occupational Therapy Department is open at 7 a.m., Monday through Saturday. For more information on inpatient therapy, call Leann Kalcum, OTR/L, Occupational Therapy Inpatient Coordinator, at 304-243-5434. For outpatient services, call 304-243-3195.