Rehab Therapy

Our rehab therapy program offers comprehensive outpatient Physical, Occupational, and Speech services designed to maximize an individual's ability to return to work, recover from surgery, recover from injury and return to normal activities.

Services available through Rehab Therapy:

Inpatient Rehabilitation: Physical, Occupational, and Speech Therapy - Individualized services provided to patients in the hospital. Individualized services provided to patients in the hospital. The primary focus is to return to mobility and daily function.

Outpatient Physical, Occupation, and Speech Therapy: Each person is evaluated by a Physical, Occupational, or Speech Therapist and a specific treatment plan is developed with the person being treated. Treatment may include exercises, a home exercise program, education, body mechanics training, joint or soft tissue mobilization, custom made hand splints, modalities such as heat, ice, ultrasound, electric stimulation and much more.

Functional Capacity Evaluations (FCE): These complete evaluations are used to determine a person's ability to perform tasks that may be work related. The therapist uses specific tests and measures that allow a comparison of the subject to the general population. Tests used include: BTE- (Baltimore Therapeutic Equipment), Tool Sort, consistency of effort testing, material handling (lifting, push/pull), Range of Motion, and musculoskeletal evaluation.

Work Conditioning: This Program helps injured persons regain the strength, flexibility, and endurance to transition back to work.

Work Site Assessment: In conjunction with Workplace Health Services, Rehab therapists can assess work stations and work sites to identify areas of risk for safety and strain that are potential hazards to the worker.

Pre-employment Screening: Working with Workplace Health Services, a prospective employee's ability to perform the essential physical functions of lifting and push/pulling can be measured and matched with a particular job.

Personal Care Services: This program assists individuals with problems of incontinence and provides treatment and education on managing bladder leakage and bladder training.

Early Intervention/Preschool Services: In conjunction with the Wyoming County Youth Bureau, this program provides Physical, Occupational, and Speech Therapy Services to children birth through five years of age. These services may be provided in the home, day care setting or least restrictive environment for the child.

Massage Therapy: As greater numbers of people integrate complementary health care modalities into their lives, the demand for massage therapy continues to grow. Health Care Practioners are coming to view massage as a valuable companion therapy to their own and are referring clients to Licensed Massage Therapists.

Hand Therapy Frequently Asked Questions

What is Hand Therapy?

The definition of “Hand Therapy” as defined by the Hand Therapy Certification Committee (htcc.org) “is the art and science of rehabilitation of the upper limb, which includes the hand, wrist, elbow and shoulder girdle. It is a merging of Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy theory and practice that combines comprehensive knowledge of the structures of the upper limb with function and activity. Using specialized skills in assessment, planning and treatment, hand therapists provide therapeutic interventions to prevent dysfunction, restore function, and/or reverse the progression of pathology of the upper limb in order to enhance an individual’s ability to execute tasks and to participate fully in life situations.”

Who is a Certified Hand Therapist?

A Certified Hand Therapist also referred to as a (CHT) is an Occupational Therapist or Physical Therapist who has a minimum of (5) years of clinical experience, including 4,000 hours or more of direct practice in hand therapy. In addition, the Certified Hand Therapist has successfully passed a comprehensive test of advanced clinical skills and theory in upper quarter rehabilitation. Because of changes in the profession, every CHT is required to demonstrate continued professional development and competency by re-certifying every (5) years.

How common are Hand Therapists?

As of 2009, there are only 5,213 Certified Hand Therapists worldwide. 85% of Certified Hand Therapists are Occupational Therapists and only 15% are Physical Therapists. Becoming a hand therapist is both difficult and demanding and requires an extensive amount of time and preparation in order to successfully pass the board certification exam.

What are some of the common diagnoses managed by CHT’s? CHT’s are highly skilled in evaluating upper extremity Where is the Hand Therapy Department?

Hand Therapy services are located at 400 North Main Street Warsaw, New York 14569 in the outpatient rehabilitation services department located on the ground floor of (Building “C”).

What phone number do I call to make an appointment?

(585) 786-8940 Extension: 4567 or 4568.

What are the hours of the department?

7:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Who can I call directly if I have questions about this service?

Nicki Fink, MS, OT/L, CHT (585) 786-8940 Extension: 4575

Do I need a prescription from my doctor?

Yes. Please make sure you bring your prescription with you on your first visit. Your prescription contains important information such as your diagnosis and treatment orders.

Will my insurance pay for Hand Therapy services?

In most cases yes, however you should contact your insurance carrier if you are unsure if your policy covers Occupational Therapy Services. The Hand Therapist at WCCHS is an Occupational Therapist who is board certified as a Hand Therapist, therefore you should make sure your insurance plan covers Occupational Therapy services. You may also be responsible for co-pays that can vary from approximately $10.00-$40.00 per visit depending on your insurance plan.

Should I arrive early on my first visit?

Yes. Arriving 15-20 minutes prior to your scheduled appointment time will allow you time to register if you have not already done so and time to fill out a brief medical history and other forms needed for your appointment.

How long will my first visit last?

Approximately 1 hour. At the time of your first visit you will receive an initial evaluation and a treatment depending on your orders and the time it takes to complete your initial evaluation.

What should I wear?

A loose fitting shirt is the best. The area being evaluated will need to be exposed for examination and treatment.

How long will my treatment sessions last?

A typical treatment session lasts approximately 45 minutes depending on the type of treatment performed. Occasionally, treatments can last up to 1 hour if more than 1 area of the upper extremity is being treated.

How long will I have to receive treatments?

Each patient receives an individualized evaluation and treatment plan tailored to their specific needs. The number of treatment sessions varies from one patient to the next depending on the diagnosis and physician’s orders.

Will I have discomfort during and after my treatments?

It is not uncommon to have some discomfort during and after your treatment sessions depending on your diagnosis and the necessary treatment. Your therapist will make every effort to ensure that you are comfortable during the treatments and will educate you on ways to control your pain between sessions. It is important that you keep your therapist informed of any pain you experience during and after treatment sessions. Additionally, you should always follow the orders of your physician when it comes to taking pain medication and anti-inflammatory medications. Of further mention, it is equally important to adhere to any activity restrictions that your physician recommends in order to protect healing structures from further injury and to reduce inflammation and pain. If you are unsure of your activity restrictions, you should consult with your physician.