A hometown newspaper with a local office, local owners & lots of local news
A hometown newspaper with a local office, local owners & lots of local news
CMH occupational therapist Jessica Ochis has achieved the status of certified hand therapist. The certification demonstrates that the therapist has achieved the highest level of competency within the hand therapy profession and stays up-to-date with practice with in the field. CMH now has two Certified Hand Therapists to serve the area.
People value the use of their hands and any loss of function through injury or accident may have a devastating effect on their lives. Anyone with an injury wants the very best of treatment to assure maximal recovery.
The intricate anatomy of the arm and hand frequently requires very delicate surgery, often with microscopic techniques. The technical complexity of these kinds of surgeries necessitates a high level of competence by therapists with advanced skills in upper quarter rehabilitation during postoperative recovery. Therapists must be knowledgeable about these advanced surgical techniques and postoperative therapy programs to become a certified hand therapist (CHT).
There are 6,200 certified hand therapist in the US, 150 in Minnesota, and 12 in the Cloquet/Duluth and Iron Range area. Recently Community Memorial Hospital occupational therapist Jessica Ochis achieved the status of certified hand therapist, meaning CMH now has two people with that relatively rare certification.
A certified hand therapist 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 CHT has successfully passed a comprehensive test of advanced clinical skills and theory in upper quarter rehabilitation. They must also remain current with changes in hand therapy practice. Because of changes in the profession, every CHT is required to demonstrate continued professional development and competency by recertifying every five years.
Certification is voluntary and difficult to attain. CHTs are therapists who demonstrated a personal dedication to the profession of hand therapy and a desire for advanced competency; they bring to their work a commitment and dedication to reach and maintain the highest standards in their profession. The CHT credential is recognized by many professional organizations as a benchmark for excellence in advanced specialty credentialing in health care.
