A female patient sitting at a table with Sara Hawkins, Occupational Nurse (Certified Hand Therapist). She is giving the patient upper extremity rehabilitation (hand therapy)

Hand Therapy

Upper extremity rehabilitation (hand therapy) of the hand, wrist, and elbow is a specialized program offered at Scott County Hospital. At SCH, hand therapy is provided by two Occupational Therapists who are highly skilled and experienced at treating a variety of conditions. One of our Occupational Therapists, Sayali Bosquez, is also a Certified Hand Therapist (CHT) - see below for more information on what a CHT is. Our OT's work closely with hand surgeons and primary care physicians to ensure the best quality of care for their patients. Our therapists are experienced in custom splinting, including fabrication of orthoses to facilitate healing, and orthoses to maximize hand function. They are skilled in a variety of manual therapy techniques including ASTYM, for which they are both certified providers. They are experienced in administering many different types of modalities including ultrasound, electrical stimulation, iontophoresis, and fluidotherapy. The goal of hand therapy is to restore the highest level of pain-free function of the upper extremity, using a highly skilled approach. Our therapists are proud to offer this specialized type of therapy that is not easily found in rural areas like western Kansas.

Who is a Certified Hand Therapist (CHT)?

A Certified Hand Therapist (CHT) is an occupational therapist or physical therapist who has a minimum of three years of clinical experience, including 4,000 hours or more in direct practice in hand therapy. In addition, the Certified Hand Therapist has successfully passed a comprehensive test of advanced clinical skills and theory in upper quarter rehabilitation. Every CHT is required to demonstrate continued professional development and competency by recertifying every five years. There are currently 68 CHT's in the state of Kansas and approximately 6400 CHT's in the United States.

Why choose a CHT?

CHT's are specialists that possess unique knowledge, experience, and technical skills related to rehabilitation of the upper extremity. While many therapists treat upper extremity patients, few therapists possess the specialization required for best practice hand therapy. Physicians who refer to a CHT for rehabilitation can be assured that their patients are being seen by an expert who will provide the highest quality of care.