If you have ever suffered a serious injury, there is a chance that you may have gone to see a physical therapist. As a patient, you would go a few times a week to help strengthen and recover from that injury. This is a great example of outpatient therapy. You go and get help in the recovery process and learn ways to heal on your own. Inpatient therapy is more involved. Inpatient therapy means staying in a facility that helps you recover until you are well enough to go home. Depending on the severity of your condition, inpatient therapy can last from weeks to months. Just like physical therapy, occupational therapy involves going to see a practitioner to aid in the recovery process, but there are a few key differences. Instead of doing exercises and stretches, occupational therapy is more focused on improving physical, mental, and developmental strength through the practice of everyday activities, or occupations.
How To Tell If You Need Inpatient Or Outpatient Therapy
Not all injuries are the same, and the level of care needed can vary from patient to patient, but in general, inpatient care involves more intensive care. Outpatient occupational therapy is a good option in the case of a minor injury, illness, or medical event. Outpatient therapy relies on the patient to have the right levels of independence and mobility to handle their care and recovery processes outside of therapy, while inpatient therapy is reserved for more severe cases.
Inpatient Occupational Therapy
Inpatient therapy means staying at the rehabilitation facility until you receive the care you need. This requires the patient to stay overnight until they are healthy enough to leave, just like a hospital stay. The length of your stay depends on the injury and the body’s ability to heal. These programs are offered in stand-alone rehab centers, skilled nurse facilities, or in specialized wings of a hospital. Led by rehabilitative specialists and physicians, these programs are tightly coordinated and designed to provide the highest level of care for their patients. Admission to inpatient therapy entails intensive rehabilitation therapy, access to in-house rehab equipment, and 24-hour medical monitoring. If pain management or wound care is necessary, these will be provided too. Meals and personal care will be made available, and many of these facilities offer a handful of recreational activities to fill your time during your stay.
Outpatient Occupational Therapy
Outpatient occupational therapy entails receiving your treatment through a series of visits to a therapist or clinic. Sessions can be scheduled from 1 to 5 times a week and are usually 30 minutes to an hour long. In most situations, the patient will receive instruction on the recovery process and will be given exercises to help with a specific issue. Each patient is then expected to complete those exercises at home throughout the week. Here at Theradynamics, our occupational therapy clinics in New Jersey offer the latest in OT technology. The Interactive metronome is a brain fitness program that can be performed in a clinical setting or in the comfort of your own home. This program has helped a variety of patients dealing with disorders such as ADHD, autism, SPD, cerebral palsy, dyslexia, and more.
Visit Theradynamics for Physical and Occupational Therapy Today!
Our goal here at Theradynamics is to get you back on your feet as soon as possible. If you are hurting and need help, we have the tools you need to make a quick recovery. To learn more about the services we provide, please visit either our website or one of our locations in Queens, New Jersey, Manhattan, and the Bronx, or book an appointment online.