Houston Occupational Therapy

Houston Occupational Therapy is pleased to share with the Nursing staff of our Home Health Agencies, a brief synopsis of our Occupational Therapy programs that are important to be familiar with when performing the OASIS Tool. These programs may work independently for a patient with a particular need or may be used in unison for patients with several issues that are interrelated.

Houston Occupational Therapy offers the following programs:

Incontinence Program (bowel and bladder) is a program in which the patient is assessed by the Nurse or Physician and is experiencing difficulty controlling the ability to void or defecate.  Pt’s sometimes experience “leaks” or “accidents” and soil their clothes.  This is not only embarrassing for the patient and time consuming for the caregiver but sets up a potential fall risk for the patient who is rushing to the toilet  to avoid leaking or is leaking down their leg while ambulating to the toilet.  Both scenarios put the pt at risk for falls.

On many occasions, pts who have bowel and bladder issues may have diabetic or nutritional issues.  By placing the patient on a timed feeding and toileting schedule that works with the pts lifestyle, blood sugar and nutritional issues are addressed while training the patient’s bowel and bladder to follow a schedule.  After weeks of following a schedule it becomes routine and second nature to the patient, blood sugar and nutrition is stable and the patient no longer falls due to learning safe transfers and functional mobility skills.  Fall risks related to rushing due to urgency or a need to void has been eliminated as the patient is learning to void or defecate more frequently. 

In addition, our therapists teach the patient kegel exercises to strengthen the pelvic floor.  Houston OT’s therapists carry an IPAD and often teach the patient via Kegal-exercises.com, a modality we use as an ice breaker and as a reference tool to address this delicate issue of exercise.  Since this a very private issue, it helps to put the information in context using the appropriate perspective. The Occupational Therapists uses their psychological training to build rapport and put the patient at ease by explaining that the exercises in this private area are medically necessary.  We emphasize it is important to rebuild their muscle strength in their pelvic floor and regain control over their bladder and their freedom.

 Low Vision Program   Pts often have vision deficits secondary to diabetic neuropathy, stoke and other issues.  This program teaches the low vision pt skilled techniques to perform ADLS to compensate for visual loss.  Pts are instructed to organize and adapt their environment with everything in its place for easy recall. The OTR often teaches the patient orientation strategies such as counting the number of steps from bed to toilet for example or the placement of food on the patients plate as in the same configuration as a clock, for example.  We pay attention to detail even in adapting a microwave with fuzzy dots on the number pad for easy use. The idea is to teach the pt to memorize their home using the compensatory skills the therapist teaches them so that they can master their environment.

Bathing Program   The OTR assesses the pt and makes the necessary recommendations to the pt and family regarding equipment needs and adaptation to the bathroom to safely bathe.  The OT POC is formed and the treating therapist teaches the pt techniques to set up and bathe the entire body with increase skill and safety, using proper body mechanics in the tub or shower during wet and dry transfers.  A communication to the HH Aid is left in the pts chart documenting the increase skills acquired and level of assistance they require until the patient has reached independence or maximal potential.

Orthopedic Program (THR, ORIF, TKR, and Upper Extremity Injuries) Our Orthopedic program teaches the patients and family members techniques and compensatory skills to perform ADLS, safe transfers and functional mobility after an injury or surgery. We also treat UE injuries such as wrist fractures, shoulder, neck, back and hand injuries and have modalities available to our therapists such as ultrasound, infrared and biofreeze for therapeutic massage during these treatments. These are specific protocols for specific diagnosis. 

Psychiatric Program   Pts who have Psychiatric issues often have “deficits in function” and are unable to care for themselves.  In addition, they often have limitations in movement or functional mobility deficits that require therapeutic intervention.  The Occupational Therapist is trained to assess and target the areas of dysfunction and teach the patient how to overcome these issues through a functional lifestyle. The OT will focus on adaptive functional living skills to facilitate a holistic and well balanced lifestyle to help the patient regain control over their life choices and environment.