Do You Know Your Therapists? Differentiating the Rehabilitation Team Physiotherapist What do we do? We assess your physical ability in terms of: Joint range of motion Muscle strength Muscle length Sensory function Cardiorespiratory status Balance Mobility status (for example: getting up from bed, standing, walking, climbing stairs) How do we do that? Education on condition & self-management Caregiver training if patient is not able to self-manage rehab Strengthening Stretching Prescription of walking aid Recommendation of follow up for rehabilitation after discharge from hospital
Occupational Therapist What do we do? Teach and enable you to care for yourself (wear clothes, shower, go to the toilet) Makes sure you are safe at home Enable you to go back to work How do we do that? Modify or teach you or your caregiver to dress, shower, toilet and transfer. Improve your hand strength, coordination Monitor cognition, visual compensatory strategies Prescribe equipment to ensure home safety
Speech Therapist What do we do? We are professionals who assess and treat patients with swallowing and communication disorders. How do we do that? Take a thorough history of your swallowing problems / symptoms and medical conditions
Assess your swallowing function by examining you as you drink/eat different types of food/fluids
Carry out a swallowing test using specialised equipment to visualise your swallowing process
Suggest modified diets or thickened fluids to make eating and drinking safer for you
Teach you rehabilitation exercises to improve your swallowing function
Together, we cover a wide range of your rehabilitative needs. Each form of rehabilitation serves a unique purpose in helping a person reach full recovery, but all share in the ultimate goal of helping the patient regain independence and return to a healthy lifestyle.
Yishun Health is a network of medical institutions and health facilities in the north of Singapore, under the National Healthcare Group. Admiralty Medical Centre • (65) 6807 8000 • www.admiraltymedicalcentre.com.sg Khoo Teck Puat Hospital • (65) 6555 8000 • www.ktph.com.sg Yishun Community Hospital • (65) 6807 8800 • www.yishuncommunityhospital.com.sg The information is correct at the time of printing and subject to revision without further notice.
REHAB.PE.PT.068.0320