Summer - Marcus Daly Memorial Hospital.

services
Helping Hands
When hair stylist Toni Clark
seriously fractured her
right humerus in an accident on
her new Harley-Davidson motorcycle
on May 23, 2006, the injury
was “devastating for my career
and family,” she says. Fortunately,
Clark has recovered from her injury,
thanks in part to the “great
medical care and superior hand
therapy” at Marcus Daly Rehab
Services, she reports.
A certified hand therapist
(CHT) is a therapist who has acquired
advanced training in the
specialty of upper extremity rehabilitation.
Before obtaining
certification, a therapist must acquire
over 4,000 hours of experience
working with patients who
require some type of specialized
therapy for their hands or arms,
and must be recertified every five
years.
Marcus Daly Rehab Services
has the only comprehensive rehabilitation
team in Ravalli County
offering all three disciplines of
physical, occupational and speech
therapies. In 2006, some 881 new
patients were seen in MDMH’s
outpatient rehab department and
at the Canyons Sports Rehab facility,
benefiting those diagnosed
with stroke, spinal cord injury,
developmental delays, orthopedic
sports injuries, fibromyalgia,
burns and more. MDMH also
has the county’s only CHT, who
specializes in traumatic hand injuries
and arthritic joints, overuse
syndromes, carpal tunnel, tendonitis,
ergonomics and custom
splint fabrication.
Toni Clark’s post surgery rehabilitation
program lasted from
June through November 2006.
It was overseen by DJ Wilson,
OTR/L, CHT, at Marcus Daly
Rehab Services, who has worked
in occupational and hand therapy
for 23 years. In the early weeks of
Toni Clark gets a chance
to work on DJ Wilson.
Clark’s rehab, Wilson performed
gentle range of motion exercises
and fitted Clark with a custom elbow
splint to help rehabilitate the
“radial nerve palsy” she had sustained
from the injury. Because
of this palsy, Clark initially could
not move her
right wrist, fingers
or thumb.
“I enjoy making
custom
splints, and I’m
most satisfied
when patients
like Toni tell me
they worked,”
Wilson says. “The most important
part of my career is helping
people be independent and
achieve pain-free days.” As Clark’s
rehab continued, Wilson worked
to rebuild the range of motion
“DJ was amazing,” Clark says.
“He gives you hope when you’re
having a really hard time.”
and muscle strength throughout
her arm. “DJ was amazing,” Clark
says. “He gives you hope when
you’re having a really hard time.”
Clark returned to her hair stylist
job just six weeks after her
injury, which Wilson called “remarkable!”
She wore a wrist support
splint to keep her right wrist
neutralized while she cut hair.
Since the palsy affected Clark’s
ability to open scissors after closing
them, her husband cleverly
added a spring to help her complete
the task.
DJ Wilson, OTR/L,
CHT has worked in
occupational and hand
therapy for 23 years.
A custom brace
allowed Clark to
return to work.
Hospital Directory
Marcus Daly
Memorial Hospital.............363.2211
Daly Hospital
Foundation......................375.4764
Services
Cardiology/Cardiac
Rehab Services................375.4665
Dietary Services.................375.4576
Education Services........... 375.4654
Emergency Services..........375.4440
Home Care Services...........363.6503
Home Infusion.................... 363.6503
Home Oxygen......................363.2211
Hospice center...................375.4707
Human Resources..............375.4407
laboratory..........................375.4428
Lactation Services............ 375.4680
Mammography................... 375.4426
Marketing Services...........375.4675
Medical Social Services...375.4436
Pharmacy Service............. 375.4462
Professional Health
Services............................375.4775
Radiology Services............375.4426
Rehab Services.................... 375.4570
Canyons Sports Rehab.... 363.2816
Surgery Center..................375.4688
summer 2007 | 11