Occupational Therapy

Designed to help patients gain independence after an illness or injury

Young woman therapists helping older man with occupational therapy

Occupational therapy helps prepare patients to successfully perform daily activities, such as bathing, dressing and home care management. Our highly-skilled occupational therapy team will customize a program to help restore function through:

  • Activities of daily living, such as dressing and bathing
  • Range-of-motion, strengthening and coordination exercises
  • Patient and family education and training in equipment needs
  • Vision and memory training

HSHS Good Shepherd Hospital is committed to assisting community members and their families in their goals to get back to family, work and life following an injury or illness with Occupational Therapy.

Occupational therapy is designed to help patients gain independence in their everyday lives following an illness or injury. This therapy focuses on restoration of self-care skills such as dressing, bathing, cleaning and grooming and also helps with memory and problem-solving skills related to these everyday activities.

Occupational therapy also treats the upper extremity/hand after trauma, cumulative injury, fractures, and pain onset. Treatment may include pain management, joint movement, strengthening, splinting, home exercise program, or work/ home adaptations to prevent further injury.

To discuss or schedule treatment, please contact us at 217-774-6434. Hours of operation: 7:30 AM – 4:30 PM, Monday – Friday. Please let us know if you have special scheduling requirements.

Our staff

Our staff in the occupational therapy department is dedicated to using all available tools to help patients get on the road to recovery. During therapy, our trained and professional staff will teach patients how to compensate for side effects they may be experiencing, by developing skills and educating with assistive equipment (such as splints, reacher, grab bar placement, and bathroom equipment).

The staff in the occupational therapy department focuses not only on helping patients during rehabilitation, but also in the community. Fall prevention and wellness are areas of education we are able to provide. Our caring and compassionate staff will work with patients and their family/ caregivers to reach individual goals through evaluation, treatment, education, patient and family teaching, provision of specialized programs and follow-up care.

Conditions we treat

Our department provides a wide-variety of strategies for patients ranging in age from child to geriatric with the following conditions:

  • Acute and chronic pain
  • Amputees (acute rehab)
  • Arthritis
  • Burn treatment
  • Cardiac surgical and non-surgical
  • Congestive heart failure/Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
  • Cumulative injuries
  • General debility
  • Joint mobility limitations
  • Neurological disorders (stroke, TBI, SCI, Parkinson’s, MS, etc.)
  • Orthopedic injuries/surgeries, pre- and post-op treatment of joint replacements
  • Stroke

Services we offer

  • Wrist and hand injuries
  • Tendon repairs
  • Trigger finger
  • Carpal tunnel syndrome and repair
  • Lateral epicondylitis