Every day, you engage in activities that may seem simple, but actually require a lot of steps.
Take brushing your teeth, for example. First, you have to walk to your bathroom. Then, you have to remember which drawer you store your toothpaste in. Then, you need to twist off the toothpaste cap, squeeze toothpaste onto your toothbrush, and close the cap again. Finally, you can actually brush your teeth, which requires muscle control (and maybe a little patience).
Daily tasks like this can become more difficult for any number of reasons. A wrist fracture might make it challenging to remove the toothpaste cap. A stroke might make it difficult to control your toothbrush . A head injury might make it tough to remember what you were doing in the first place.
Priscilla Jordan, MSOT is an occupational therapist (OT) at Chester County Hospital. As an OT, it’s her job to help patients find ways to get back to their normal routine after a hospital visit.
Here’s a look at what Priscilla and other Chester County Hospital occupational therapists do each day to help patients recover safely and efficiently.
What Is Occupational Therapy?
Whether you go to the hospital for an emergency or a planned visit, life might be a little different when you get home. Your daily routine — from getting dressed to cooking meals to walking to your mailbox — may pose new challenges. This is where an occupational therapist like Priscilla comes in.
The primary goal of occupational therapy is to help patients get back to their normal routine, or as close to it as possible. Depending on the situation, this may involve:
- Using exercises and approaches to recover skills or develop new ones
- Learning new ways to complete tasks
- Using adaptive equipment (such as a foam attachment to help hold a spoon) to make life easier
Priscilla has been an occupational therapist for roughly 25 years, 5 of which have been at Chester County Hospital. She has experience in a variety of settings, from a psychiatric hospital for children to outpatient therapy for brain injuries. At Chester County Hospital, she works with adult patients who have an acute health condition, which is usually sudden and severe. Some examples of acute conditions include stroke, fractures, and complications from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
When a patient is referred to occupational therapy, Priscilla gathers her intel. She reviews charts, talks to the patient's care team and identifies the best approach to helping them recover safely.
This approach can depend on a lot of factors. "We get information about how they were functioning at home, what they were able to do, and how they’re doing now. Then, we make a decision as a team. Do they need more therapy somewhere else? Can we address it here?" says Priscilla.
"In occupational therapy, we look at the whole person — their thinking skills, vision, balance, range of motion, strength and coordination," she explains. "How can patients put all of that together to function?"
An Occupational Therapist's Role in Your Care
Occupational therapists play a part on almost every unit of the hospital. Whether you’ve had surgery, fractured your hip, or simply need support as you get older, the chances of an OT being a part of your care are fairly high.
Because of this, OTs like Priscilla need to understand a wide range of conditions. "OTs are problem solvers who have to think on their feet and address patient issues as they arise," says Priscilla.
While this may sound overwhelming, it often starts with one question — what activities can a patient safely complete?
One way Priscilla finds the answer is something called activity analysis. As she explains, activity analysis is breaking down a task to figure out where a patient needs more support. "We look at the way someone is doing an activity and pick it apart. We can say, 'That piece is missing or we need to help them with that,'" she explains.
Then, she helps with the parts of the task that are posing challenges. For instance, when brushing your hair, she might help you with holding the brush, seeing the brush, or remembering where you stored it.
Ultimately, Priscilla's goal is to make sure you can take care of yourself at home. If your recovery will take some time, she'll teach you techniques and tricks to adapt until you fully recover. Or, if some of your needs will be long-term, she’ll help you find new ways to safely go about your daily routine.
She'll also involve any caretakers that might be there to support you, making sure they know how to best support your recovery.
While occupational therapists are a wealth of information on their own, they also work closely with the rest of your care team. At Chester County Hospital, this can include nurses, physical therapists, speech therapists, nursing assistants, physicians and physician assistants, to name just a few. OTs also work with housekeeping staff (who help keep the room safe as you recover) and transportation teams (who make sure you stay safe if you need to move rooms).
The Keys to Recovery: Patient, Participation and Support
Recovering from an illness, surgery, or accident can feel overwhelming. Fortunately, you’re not alone.
At Chester County Hospital, OTs — along with the rest of your care team — are ready to support you every step of the way, even if those steps are small at first. Recovery takes time, and, as a patient, you play a large role in the process.
"No one is going to get better unless you participate," says Priscilla. Fortunately for her patients, her goal is to make that easier. "I break these changes down to make it a part of their life and not overwhelm them with too much."
Keep in mind — so much of Priscilla's role depends on each patient’s goals. "We're trying to help them regain the level of function they want, and be able to do the things that are important to them," she says. "But that can always change."
At first, the goal might be to hold a spoon. Eventually, it might be to use the bathroom without assistance. As Priscilla says, even small victories can help patients benefit from more autonomy and privacy.
Though Priscilla would consider herself an introvert, she says that her role as an occupational therapist brings out a different perspective. "It’s important to meet patients where they are at, make a connection, and collaborate with them."
And while OTs may have a lot on their plates, these small moments keep Priscilla motivated day in and day out. "That’s what I like most about my job," she explains. "I like being able to connect and help people have a positive moment in their hospital stay."
Do You Have Questions About How an Occupational Therapist Might Benefit Your Recovery? Talk to your Chester County Hospital primary care provider to learn more about occupational therapy.