Laura Horton on Rehabilitation in Rhode Island
Laura on Rehabilitation in Rhode Island
Today we are introducing Laura Horton. Laura has recently taken over as head of the rehabilitation department at Cedar Crest in Rhode Island. Laura has been working as an occupational therapist at the Cedars for 12 years, and she offers insight into the team dynamic at The Cedars.
Rehabilitation in Rhode Island
Laura says she always knew she wanted to be in the medical field. After a spinal surgery when she was thirteen years old, she started researching more about occupational and physical therapy and fell in love with rehabilitation. She went to Worcester State College for occupational therapy and has been working at rehabilitation centers in Rhode Island for a total of seventeen years. Her favorite part is seeing patients when, “They’re walking, they’re stronger, they’re getting ready to go home.” Laura says, “It’s very rewarding.”
Rehabilitation with The Cedars
Along with running the department, Laura also carries a full case load. To start the day therapists receive a schedule of the patients they are going to see, reviewing notes from the nurses as well as preparing for new admissions. After breakfast they conduct evaluations and start bringing patients to the gym. While at the gym, therapists work together to strengthen patients’ balance. They have step bicycles, pulleys, weights, parallel bars, and a tilt table for neuro patients.
Rehabilitation Centers during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Laura oversees the therapy staff, working with them on their patients’ care plans and checking that all the different team members are coordinating with the other disciplines. At the moment, therapists are still working around COVID-19 restrictions. During the height of the COVID-19 Pandemic therapists conducted room visits in PPE. In order to work through the obstacles, they brought gym equipment and coordinated with the infection control nurse to help patients practice walking up and down stairs. It was a lot of coordinating and lot of problem solving, and, most importantly, working together.
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