Occupational Therapy Month honors a vital profession and the meaningful differences it makes in the lives of our patients.
Problem solving to help make peoples’ lives better
Occupational therapy is a science-driven profession that enables people of all ages to participate in daily living or live better with injury, illness or disability. This is accomplished by designing strategies for everyday living and customizing environments to develop and maximize potential.
By taking the full picture into account—a person's psychological, physical, emotional and social make-up—occupational therapists (OTs) help people participate in the everyday activities that they need to do or that simply make life worth living, function at the highest possible level and achieve their goals.
Kaleida Health employs OTs at our hospitals, outpatient clinics, long-term care facilities and the Visiting Nursing Association of WNY.
“Our OTs are dedicated professionals who use evidence-based, best practice techniques to impact the lives of each patient they encounter,” said Dot Biondi, clinical service manager for the VNA, and an OT herself. “I want to say thank you to all of our occupational therapists for their dedication and for bringing possibilities to life for our patients and the community.”
The VNA has one of the largest OT groups in Western New York. According to the Director of Clinical Operations Judy Capruso, they make an average of 825 home visits per week. Last year, they made a total of 36,834 visits for patients in our community.
Lucy Papia, manager of rehab services at Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital (MFSH), DeGraff Medical Park (DMP) and Buffalo Therapy Services, said, "Our OTs work tirelessly to help their patients recover from injury, illness or diagnosis and improve their quality of life." Buffalo Therapy Services provides treatment at Kaleida Health’s two adult outpatient therapy clinics, at Maple West and DeGraff. "At MFSH, they are also instrumental in our research, process improvement initiatives and our Commission on Cancer accreditation," she said.
The Robert Warner Rehabilitation Center at Conventus provides specialist expertise in the assessment and management of children with neurodevelopmental/behavioral concerns. Rehab Manager Hayley Cych said OTs at Oishei Children’s Hospital work on the inpatient floors, within the clinics, at the therapy pool and on an outpatient basis to provide early intervention for children with developmental and physical needs from birth to 18 years of age.
Henry Cole, director of rehabilitation medicine at Buffalo General Medical Center, added, “OTs advance the health of our community by providing compassionate therapy services to those in need. In addition to providing rehab services to patients to assess and maximize their functional mobility and independence, we recommend continuing treatments and prepare patients for next level of care.”
Please join us in thanking our OTs for helping people to live life to the fullest after an illness or injury.
PHOTO: Jennifer Mong, OTR/L (Occupational Therapist Registered/Licensed) working with a patient at Buffalo Therapy Services at Maple West.