October is National Physical Therapy Month


Pictured is the staff of the Rehabilitation Department at Veterans Memorial Hospital, who work with people of all ages, helping them to reduce pain and regain strength, independence and health. They assist patients within the hospital, in area nursing homes as well as in patients’ homes. Front row, left to right: Alana Gavin, D.P.T.; Amy Schwartzhoff, P.T.A.; Steven Breitenfield, S.L.P; Dana Wells, D.P.T., and Tami Gebel, O.T. Back row, left to right: Laurel Hagensick, P.T.; Melissa Clarke, O.T.; Dacia Johnson, Office Manager and Rehab Technician; Brad Krambeer, Athletic Trainer; Sara White, P.T.A.; and Amy Robinson, P.T., Rehab Director. Submitted photo.

October is National Physical Therapy Month. The Rehabilitation staff at Veterans Memorial Hospital works with people of all ages, helping them to reduce pain and regain strength, independence and health. The Healthy Lifestyles Rehabilitation Center at Veterans Memorial Hospital is fully equipped for all rehabilitation patients with 17 weight machine stations, tread mills, exercise bikes, NuStep and eliptical machines. The five private treatment rooms allow one-on-one evaluation and treatment with the therapist.
Individual Physical Therapy services provided include athletic training, home health, work hardening/conditioning, wellness programs, headache management, lymphodema therapy, and wound care. Four physical therapists currently serve Veterans Memorial Hospital and the surrounding community, including Amy Robinson, P.T., Rehabilitation Director, Laurel Hagensick, P.T., Alana Gavin, P.T., Dana Wells, D.P.T., Jessica Carlson, Physical Therapist Assistant, Sara White, Physical Therapist Assistant, Dacia Johnson, Physical Therapist Technician/Office Manager, and Brad Krambeer, Certified Athletic Trainer.
Physical, Occupational and Speech therapies are provided by the Veterans Memorial Hospital staff members in a variety of settings, to people of all ages. They treat those in the hospital who are recovering from an illness, those who are at home yet come into therapy on an outpatient basis, and those who are unable to leave their homes, providing therapy through VMH Community and Home Care.
The Rehabilitation staff also travels to the area nursing homes to provide therapy to the residents.
“It’s great to be able to continue the care of our patients as they transition from the hospital to the nursing home settings,” said Amy Robinson, P.T., Rehabilitation Director. “That way our patients are able to work with the same therapist in all locations for better continuity of care.”
“Traveling the Allamakee County area and treating patients in their homes has been an interesting challenge for all of us,” added Robinson. “We try to go the extra mile for our patients by analyzing their surroundings and making adaptive equipment to help them be more independent while living on their own.”
The hospital’s physical therapy staff is available from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., providing treatment for patients around their busy schedules, saving them the time and effort of driving out of the area for their physical therapy.
For more information on the rehabilitation services available at Veterans Memorial Hospital, contact Amy Robinson, P.T., Rehabilitation Director, at 563-568-3411.