Occupational Therapists' Tasks
Occupational therapists use specific tasks and exercise programs to diagnose, and then to treat their patients, guiding and encouraging their performance.
The occupational therapy team at AMS provides services in these and other areas:
- Hand Injuries
- Functional Capacity Evaluation
- Functional Capacity Development Programs
- Car Accidents
- Physical Trauma
- Musculoskeletal Conditions (herniated disks, tendonitis, whiplash)
- Geriatric Assessment & Rehabilitation
- Neuromuscular Conditions
- Sports Injuries
- Orthopedics
- Work Accidents
- Rheumatology
AMS occupational therapists are experts at creating unique, tailored rehabilitation programs to meet their patients’ needs and goals. Whether this means increasing strength and motion following an injury or surgery, or returning to an activity, sport, or just being able to accomplish simple tasks again, they provide both training and supportive encouragement to achieving your goals. Home exercises are an important part of each patient’s rehabilitation program as well as in-clinic training and practice.
Recognized by CNESST, SAAQ
The AMS Clinic’s Occupational Therapy program is fully recognized and approved by the government departments CNESST, and SAAQ. If you’ve had a car accident or workplace injury, your treatment may be covered under one of these department programs. Some clinics charge the patient, even if they are covered under SAAQ because there is a fee difference between what the program pays and what the clinic charges. At the AMS clinic, it is our philosophy not to charge SAAQ approved patients any difference. You have nothing additional to pay.
Our occupational therapists are key members of the AMS multidisciplinary team. Our occupational therapists consider the patient’s occupations, abilities (physical, affective, and cognitive), their environment and their specific needs and goals. Our occupational therapists are capable of analyzing the effects of the patient’s environment and functional limitations on their ability to perform their day-to-day tasks and activities. Once a thorough assessment has been completed, our occupational therapists create a program and work with the patient to help them fulfill their role as a parent, spouse, student, teammate, worker, or community member.
Workplace Injury and Recovery
Rehabilitation programs work best when the patient is very involved in their recovery. It is important that injured workers take an active role in their rehabilitation. Our occupational therapists are also motivators, helping patient to work towards a quick but safe recovery. We encourage our patients to be active and to continue to practice helpful exercises or functional tasks at home are part of their recovery.
Our comprehensive approach to treating work injuries also includes maintaining open lines of communication between employers and physicians where appropriate. We believe that it is important to recognize both the needs of the industry as well as the patient. We work with both the patient, and their company to create the most helpful program for that worker’s needs, as well as for all other activities.
Occupational Therapy Treatments
Most patients find an occupational therapy session a positive experience, even if sometimes challenging. Occupational therapy is a very collaborative form of treatment — the patient is key to success, every step of the way. The occupational therapists’ goal is to help them move forward.
Your occupational therapist will create a custom program of movements and/or exercises and other activities that will help strengthen muscles, improve flexibility, and provide more strength and stability as part of your recovery. Most occupational therapy sessions last between 45 minutes and an hour.
How Occupational Therapy Heals
Occupational therapy involves prescriptive movements and repeated supportive practice to help you heal, strengthen, and increase mobility and comfort. Occupational therapy aids recovery, helps to manage healing, and even prevents injury while also:
- Enhancing physical strength, mobility, and performance
- Improving and maintaining functional independence
- Preventing, reducing (or eliminating), pain
- Managing physical impairments and disabilities
- Overcoming limits to physical activity
- Promoting overall fitness, mobility, health and wellness
About Your Occupational Therapy Visit
All visits are with a licensed occupational therapist. Most treatments last about 50 to 60 minutes.
For your first visit, please bring your medicare card and your insurance card if you are insured. (If you are insured for occupational therapy, but are unsure about your coverage, please call your insurance provider.)
Also, if you are under a doctors’ care, please bring a list of your medications and whatever information your doctor has provided you, e.g. a prescription.
Medical Intake Form
For your safety we will need some general and medical information from you on your first visit. Please arrive ten minutes early if possible. You can also download our first visit form here and fill it out in advance (or just look to see what we need to know).
If you are unsure of any of the above, please call us at 514 300-1031. We will be happy to answer any questions.