OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY MONTH RECOGNIZED AT SOUTHERN VIRGINIA REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER

EMPORIA, VA - Founded in 1917 to represent the interest of occupational therapists, assistants and students nationwide, the American Occupational Therapy Association has designated April as National Occupational Therapy Month to raise awareness of the profession and its contributions to medicine.

The origin of occupational therapy (OT) can be traced back to the 1700’s when views regarding the treatment of the mentally ill began to shift away from the prison ward approach to the more humane method of caring for the person using treatment based on purposeful daily activities known as Moral Treatment and Occupation. Since that time, the practice has experienced many changes on the path to what we recognize as OT today. Out of necessity, OT was thrust from obscurity during World War I as practitioners were faced with a multitude of patients suffering from a variety of war related illnesses and injuries. It was also around this time that occupational therapists (OT’s) treated large numbers of patients with tuberculosis and polio.

Today, OT’s work with patients of all ages who have mental, emotional and/or physical disabilities such as brain injury, spinal cord injury, repetitive stress injury, stroke, Alzheimer’s Disease, arthritis, attention deficit disorder, and Parkinson’s. The goal of occupational therapy is to maintain or reestablish the patients’ independence by developing or regaining skills necessary for play, work, and self and home care, also known as activities of daily living. This work can be done in many different settings including long term care facilities, outpatient clinics, hospitals, home health agencies and school systems.

To become an occupational therapist, one must complete an accredited bachelor’s degree program, a supervised fieldwork program and pass the national certification exam administered by the National Board of Certification in Occupational Therapy.

The occupational therapist at Southern Virginia Regional Medical Center (SVRMC), Jack Griffin, also serves as the facilities Director of Rehab Services. “Occupational therapy is about meeting a patient at whatever functional level he or she is at and developing a treatment plan that will move him/her toward wellness and ultimately independence. At SVRMC, occupational therapy is a part of the rehabilitation services team that includes physical therapy (PT), speech therapy (ST) and cardiac rehab that works together to meet the needs of the community,” said Griffin.

For more information on occupational therapy, contact Jack Griffin, Director of Rehab Services, at 434-348-4875.

Front row L - R: Pam Daves, Unit Assistant, Sue Hunter, Speech Therapist, Jack Griffin, Occupational Therapist, Certified Hand Therapist, Janice Jarratt, Unit Assistant
Second row L - R: Ruth Holm, RN, Cardiac Rehab. Coordinator, Nancy Melkerson, Physical Therapist, Beth Owen, Physical Therapy Assistant, Roslyn Tyler, Physical Therapist.