F E AT U R E
OTs Offering a Hand in Our Communities Nick Criticos, Occupational Therapist and Certified Hand Therapist, Action Rehab Occupational Therapists as Hand Therapy Practitioners
Hand therapy is the art and science of rehabilitation of the upper extremity. It has developed from the professions of occupational therapy and physiotherapy, and requires comprehensive knowledge of the upper extremity, and special skills in assessment and treatment. The aim of hand therapy is to prevent dysfunction, restore function, or reverse the advancement of pathology in the upper limb. The Australian Hand Therapy Association (AHTA) is Australia’s only professional association representing and accrediting practitioners. It supports members through continuing education, professional development, networking, and representation at state and national levels. From September 2020, almost 75 per cent of hand therapy practitioners were
occupational therapists by trade—a statistic on a steady upward trend. I am an occupational therapist and certified hand therapist who has, for the past decade, worked in private practice with Action Rehab, a hand and upper limb rehabilitation provider across metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria. Our passion at Action Rehab is ensuring our patients feel supported, and that the outcomes we achieve for them are timely, affordable, and of the highest quality possible. We are able to achieve this consistently by working as a team—in partnership with the referrer, patient, and therapist. Amid this global COVID-19 pandemic and looking forward, I am thankful to both OTA and AHTA for supporting us in continuing to provide essential care services. Now, more than ever, has the need for supporting our communities been so important.
As straight as Verity’s elbow could go early stages of rehab
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COVID-19: Experiences and the Opportunity
Since the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak, healthcare providers have been shown more support, solidarity, and gratitude than ever before. Ensuring access to health services is the cornerstone of a successful health response. The pandemic put some health systems under immense pressure, and stretched others beyond their capacity. Before 2020, most patients were directly referred by specialists. Last year, particularly at the height of the pandemic, we witnessed three distinct changes—a reduction in elective surgeries, an increase in general practitioner referrals, and an increase in new patient introductions through word of mouth. While the results from individual cases may vary, the common trend witnessed throughout my experience, and significantly
When full elbow extension was possible
