Physical Therapy Department Helping people get around, literally, is the Physical Therapy Department's goal, says Jim Benedict, head of the department. Occupational Therapy Hillside helps patients relearn the physical skills needed to go back to work or simply do chores around the house, explained Michele Rejent, head of the hospital's Occupational Therapy Department.
Independent living is our goal for our patients.
That may include such things as training patients to use long-handled grabbers, maneuver their wheelchair or use any other equipment they need to deal with the complications of everyday life. We often hear patients say, 'I never thought of that','' Regent said. I think we introduce our patients to a lot of skills and equipment they never knew existed. To accomplish this goal, occupational therapists take patients out to lunch, shop for groceries, attend concerts, play miniature golf or do anything outside of Hillside where patients can mix with others and deal with the everyday complications of life. Hillside staffers often visit the homes of inpatients before they are released to see if the home is accessible to the patient's limitations.