Reviewers from The Joint Commission recently ... - Shepherd Center

More documents

Recommendations

Info

Ryan Bergeron of Bradenton, Fla.Enjoying Life AgainShepherdCenter’stherapeuticrecreationprogram givespatients leisureskills andself-confidence.To consider therapeuticrecreation a luxuryis akin to consideringa medical internshipan unnecessary add-on to aphysician’s degree.You learn most everything you needin occupational and physical therapy.But you learn to apply those skillsin real life during therapeutic recreation,says Kelly Edens, therapeuticrecreation (TR) manager at ShepherdCenter. And TR also helps peoplerebuild self-confidence and enjoy someaspects of life they enjoyed pre-injury.That’s what happened to RyanBergeron, 23, a champion water skierfrom Bradenton, Fla., who sustaineda T-12 spinal cord injury in a skiingaccident in July 2008.“It was definitely a big help to mebecause Shepherd gave us so manyBen Huntzinger of Atlanta, Ga.opportunities to do so many activities,”Ryan says of his inpatient stay at thehospital. “I’m sure it helps people whodon’t know what physical activity theywant to try to get involved with. Forme, I knew I wanted to get back intoskiing. When they got me into the pooland showed me some skis, it was great.“Even though I knew what mysport was going to be, I signed upfor the Adventure Skills Workshop,which really helped me mentally andphysically and I played rugby a coupleof times. To have enough peopleto do that, and to have all the right2 www.shepherd.orgshepherd center annual report 2009
equipment was an encouragement.I rode ATVs on trails, too. Doing thingsI knew I couldn’t do at home was cool.”Shepherd has the largest TR departmentin the nation, and almost all ofits services are provided as a communitybenefit funded by donors. In otherwords, Medicaid, Medicare and insurancecompanies do not typically offsetany of the costs of these programs.“Payors do not consider TR abenefit for a patient’s development,”Kelly explains. “But we have learned atShepherd Center that TR is a priorityboth mentally and physically forpatients to gain the confidence toreturn to their lives. It gives individualsindependence in leisure skill activities,confidence in themselves and theknowledge that they can be successfulin the community.“This therapy is a huge componentto promote individual rehabilitation sopatients can be contributing membersof society,” she adds.At Shepherd, if you can imagine asport or activity, odds are pretty goodthe TR Department offers it.“Kayaking is a sport that manypeople like because they naturallylike being on the water and outside,”Kelly says. “And kayaking is great forworking on a person’s balance andstrength. It is a leisure skill you can doalone or with someone.“During different seasons, differentleisure activites are popular,” sheadds. “There is hunting, camping,tubing, gardening, drama, swimming,sports, musical instruments, paintingor pottery, community outingsand more. Every skill gives a persona different benefit by working on finemotor skills, transfers from a wheelchairto another seat, confidence,enjoyment and mobility skills.”For Ryan, the enjoyment part of itwas as critical as the motor skills orother physical benefits of the program.“Accepting my injury was pretty hardat first because I was so active in waterskiing and surfing,” he says. “Once Ifound out my injury was permanent,I wanted to find a way to do the thingsI enjoyed before my accident. Fourmonths after the accident, I startedlearning new ways to ski and surf.”Ryan has come a long way sincethen. He drives and lives independently,and he has maintained hisupper body strength. Ryan hopes fora medical miracle one day. Until then,though, he says he’s content withbuilding strength in his legs and workingon a business andmarketing degreefrom the Universityof South Floridaat Sarasota.Ed Leatherman of Miami, Fla.“Once I found out my injury was permanent, I wanted to find a wayto do the things I enjoyed before my accident.”— Ryan Bergeronenjoying life AGAINn e w www.shepherdTV.org3
Page 3: Dear Donors,Fiscal year ’08-’09
Page 7 and 8: “We think in the long run, it [au
Page 9 and 10: In rural Mississippi, such items ar
Page 11 and 12: “There’s a natural interaction
Page 13 and 14: Steve HollemanTammy KingEnglish, sa
Page 15 and 16: 2009 Donations by Volunteer Hours25
Page 17 and 18: Trustees continued from page 14Step
Page 19 and 20: n e w www.shepherdTV.org3

Reviewers from The Joint Commission recently ... - Shepherd Center

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?