Hospital Highlights

April is national Occupational Therapy month. These professionals help people across the lifespan through the therapeutic use of everyday activities. Occupational therapists use a holistic approach to adapt the environment to fit the person. Occupational therapy services may include comprehensive evaluations of the client’s home and other environments (e.g., workplace, school), to provide recommendations for adaptive equipment and training in its use, as well as guidance and education for family members and caregivers.

At Whitman Hospital and Medical Center, we have occupational therapists on staff to help design strategies for everyday living by going beyond disability or limitations, creating ways for individuals to live life to its fullest no matter what.

Heidi Fletcher, OTR/L is highly specialized and trained to assist children with difficulty in sensory integration or motor planning, fine motor skill delays, impaired coordination, hyperactivity, fear of movement, improper pencil grips, among many others. Children need these essential skills to be successful academically. She also provides training for technology including assistive devices, keyboarding, speech to text, and computer programs.

Occupational Therapist Jennifer Bledsoe, OTR/L is highly specialized and trained to assist neurologically impaired individuals to provide neuromuscular rehabilitation including facilitation of muscular and sensory function. She also provides strategies for inhibition of abnormally high tone, contracture prevention and custom splinting.

Occupational Therapists also provide assistance with other life skills training such as self-care, time and money management, and work related skills. They assess work environments and activities to facilitate success in accessing and completing tasks related to job functions. They work in conjunction with our Physical Therapists with accommodations related to accessibility of environments.

Call us to find out how our experienced clinicians can help you restore your functional ability at (509) 397-5733.

Debbie Glass, CEO

Whitman Hospital & Medical Center