Massachusetts Hospital School Foundation

MHS REHABILITATION ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

Overview

The Rehabilitation Engineering Department provides MHS patients with comprehensive assistive technology services. The goal is to enhance each patient’s independence in his/her environment through the use of specialized adaptive equipment. These equipment services include (but are not limited to) the areas of: wheeled mobility (manual and power wheelchairs, scooters), seating and positioning, lap trays, adapted power mobility, recreational equipment, custom mounts for communication devices computer access, aids for activities of daily living, classroom/educational support and environmental controls.

The Rehabilitation Engineering Dept. is comprised of licensed clinicians (OT and PT) and skilled rehab technicians. These professionals collaborate to provide two/three primary services:

• The Rehab Engineering (RE) clinical team provides expertise in evaluating and prescribing new adaptive equipment. RE staff work closely with a patient's/family's Durable Medical Equipment vendor to acquire the most appropriate equipment for the individual. When the optimal equipment is not available through the commercial vendor, the Rehabilitation Engineering technicians offer custom fabrication services for producing unique, individualized devices or modifying existing components.
• The Wheelchair Repair Service is available to provide emergency repairs to patients' wheeled mobility equipment. The wheelchair repair technician also coordinates the repair services provided by the patients' Durable Medical Equipment vendor. Both of these services are committed to providing MHS patients with the highest level of functional mobility.

The Rehabilitation Engineering Department staff also provide education and training to patients and families in the following areas:

• the process for funding and purchasing equipment
• guidance on choosing an equipment vendor
• comparisons/selection of appropriate equipment products
• wheeled mobility equipment care and management
• wheeled mobility safety
• electronic aids for daily living/environmental control technology

Occupational Therapy

The occupational therapy department at MHS provides quality services for pediatric and adolescent inpatient and outpatient clients. The role of occupational therapy is to help clients with physical, developmental, cognitive, and psychosocial disabilities achieve their maximum potential via therapeutic treatment techniques focusing on optimizing the clients' functional living skills. Treatment may be provided on an individual, group, and /or consultative basis.

Each client receives a comprehensive evaluation including but not limited to the following areas:

• Upper extremity function (involving muscle tone, range of motion, strength, and sensation).
• Activities of Daily Living (involving dressing, hygiene, feeding, and functional mobility skills).
• Independent Living Skills (involving cognition/safety awareness, meal preparation, and community skills).
• Visual Perceptual Skills
• Adaptive Equipment (involving splinting and positional needs).

Physical Therapy

Registered physical therapists focus on maximizing the physical mobility of the individual. Following a comprehensive physical therapy evaluation, treatment services may include therapeutic exercise for strengthening, flexibility or movement. Treatment sessions also might address balance, transfers, ambulation, adaptive equipment, wheelchair mobility or community mobility skills. Intervention may be provided in the pool, on land, or bedside or any combination. Physical Therapy staff also may co-treat with OT, Speech & Language or Recreation to enhance outcomes of specific goals. Home programs and instructions are provided as we believe that carry-over of the Plan of Care at home is an important responsibility for the patient/family. Physical therapy assistants and aides also work with patients under the direction and supervision of physical therapists.

Speech and Language Department

Scope of Services

The primary role of the speech language pathologists at MHS is to provide comprehensive diagnostic and treatment services for the physically and cognitively challenged pediatric population residing at the facility or attending the day program. The scope of skilled services provided includes assessment and intervention in the following areas:

• Augmentative and Alternative Communication
• Dysphagia (swallowing dysfunction)
• Cognitive-linguistic Development and Training
• Language Development
• Oral Motor Function/Dysarthria/Articulation
• Social Skills & Pragmatics
• Aural Rehabilitation/Hearing Screenings
• Voice
• Fluency
• Patient & Caregiver Education

The goal of speech and language intervention is to maximize the patients’ functional communication abilities across all settings. The goal of patients receiving dysphagia services is to tolerate the safest, least restrictive diet possible. Caregiver education is ongoing to generalize newly acquired skills. Interdisciplinary co-treatments are also provided to effectively address patients’ goals across contexts. The speech language pathologist may also be involved in home evaluations and community mobility training programs to facilitate carry over of communication skills and implementation of strategies within the community. Therapy sessions may occur on an individual or group basis, depending on the needs of the patient. The therapists of the speech and language department participate in interdisciplinary team meetings, in-services and consultative sessions with family members, service providers and educational staff. Therapy progress is documented on a weekly and monthly basis. Progress toward desired goals determines the course of treatment.

Staffing

There are 4.6 FTE (full-time equivalent) speech language pathologists with 1 serving as the director of the department. Additionally, students from local graduate programs frequently use MHS as a clinical practicum, under the close supervision of a certified speech language pathologist. All speech language pathologists in the department hold a minimum of a Masters Degree, Massachusetts state license, and a Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech Language and Hearing Association. The department head reports directly to the Director of Clinical Services.

Hours of Operation

The department is open from 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM, Monday through Thursday with some therapy sessions continuing into the early evenings. On Fridays the department is open from 8:00 AM-3:00 PM. The main department number is (781) 830-8532. The Speech and Language Department is located in room 5 of the John Foley Outpatient Building.