PCH celebrating April as Occupational Therapy Month

Jennifer Gill

Putnam County Hospital and TX:Team are celebrating Occupational Therapy Month during April.

PCH is partnering with TX:Team to provide Putnam County and the surrounding areas occupational therapy services.

What is occupational therapy? Occupational therapy is skilled treatment that helps individuals achieve independence in all facets of their lives. It gives people the "skills for the job of living" necessary for independent and satisfying lives.

Some common diagnosis/indications for occupational therapy are Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, tennis elbow, static/post fracture of finger/wrist/elbow, shoulder diagnosis where 'Activities of Daily Living' performance is limited, DeQuervain's Syndrome, elbow, wrist and finger splints, CVA and impairments of fine motor skills/inabilities to complete ADLs.

Jennifer Gill, OTR, CLT, joined the TX Team/PCH Therapy Department in July 2012.

An Occupational Therapist as well as a certified lymphedema therapist, Gill also has experience with acute care in the hospital setting, outpatient orthopedics, neurological disorders and intensive inpatient rehab facility with diagnosis including post-op ortho, CVA and brain injuries.

Asked what occupational therapy meant to her, Gill replied, "For me, being an occupational therapist means I have the opportunity to help individuals maximize their ability to perform valued activities. This might mean working on improving range of motion and strength, reducing pain or learning a new way to complete a task."

To learn more about occupational therapy or other services offered at Putnam County Hospital, call 653-5121 or visit www.pchosp.org.