Occupational Therapy

Occupational Therapists are health care professionals who are trained to help their patients manage limitations caused by illness or injury and the psychological or emotional difficulties which may result.

The occupational therapist’s goal is to assist each individual to be as independent as possible with performing normal activities of daily living, maximising personal productivity, wellbeing and quality of life.

Occupational Therapy Services

• Functional Assessment: Patients are assessed on their ability to manage their daily activities. These include self-care, work, leisure, recreation and home/domestic tasks.
  
  
• Assessment of the home environment, and recommendation of equipment to make daily living easier. This equipment can enable safety, independence and comfort to be maintained at home.
  
  
• Education and advice to patients on adapting to change, managing fatigue, conserving energy, task simplification and adapting home environment or leisure activities for optimum function and independence.
  
  
• Relaxation and stress management. Many patients and their families find the Relaxation and Stress Management sessions helpful during and after treatment. The Occupational Therapists may run a small group program as well as individual sessions to fit in with treatment times.
  
  
• Pressure Care equipment: Recommendation of suitable products to cater for individual pressure problems.
  
  
• Adaptation of equipment: Eating aids, splints, cushions to suit individual users.
  
  
• Discharge planning: Co-ordination of Occupational Therapy services after discharge or completion of treatment.

Examples of how clients may benefit from Occupational Therapy
Safety: In the home or community and may include equipment prescription, home modification and reducing the risk of falls, pressure sores, scalds/burns, medication errors.

Independence: In a range of self-care, domestic, work and leisure tasks (personal care, shopping, cooking, home management, social activities etc).

Comfort: Sitting, standing or lying (due to pain or immobility; includes pressure area equipment).
Families managing demands of palliative care / treatment.

Those who live alone and require assistance for one or more daily activities.

Read more
Occupational Therapy for patients at St Vincent’s Hospital
Occupational Therapy for Sacred Heart Rehabilitation patients
Occupational Therapy for Sacred Heart Palliative Care patients      

Location	Occupational Therapy Department  Level 4 Aikenhead Building  St Vincent’s Hospital
Contact Information	T 02 8382 3361  F 02 8382 2432  Email
Head of Department	Phillip Fay  Manager  T 02 8382 111 pager 6347
Office Manager	Robyn Fitzpatrick  T 02 8382 3363

Equipment Loan Pool
When you are discharged from hospital the occupational therapist may prescribe equipment for you to use at home or refer you to other community health services who will assist you to cope at home or work.

The Occupational Therapy Department has a small equipment lending pool for inpatients of St Vincent’s Hospital. Those living within 20 kilometres of St Vincent’s Hospital are entitled to use the equipment on loan for a period of three (3) months from date of discharge.

A deposit of $50.00 is required for one piece of equipment with a refund of $30.00 at the end of the loan period. For more than one piece of equipment, a deposit of $100.00 is required with $70.00 being refundable.

Courier fees apply for transport of return of equipment.