Rehabilitation Services

Newspaper Column

National Therapeutic Recreation Week will be celebrated during the month of July. At HSC Medical Center, therapeutic recreation is an integral part of a patient’s treatment plan in both psychiatric and rehabilitation programs and thus will be recognized during this national observance.

Certified recreational therapists, or certified therapeutic recreation specialists, provide therapeutic recreation services to individuals with disabilities, illnesses, or other disabling conditions. These therapists treat and maintain physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional well being of patients using a variety of techniques, including the use of arts and crafts, animals, sports, games, dance and movement, drama, music, and community outings.

Therapists help individuals reduce depression, stress, and anxiety. They help individuals recover basic motor functioning and reasoning abilities, build confidence, and socialize effectively to enable greater independence, as well as to reduce or eliminate the effects of illness or disability.

Additionally, they help integrate people with disabilities into the community by helping them use community resources and recreational activities. Recreational therapists should not be confused with recreation and fitness workers, who organize recreational activities primarily for enjoyment.

In acute healthcare settings such as HSC PsychHealth Program, recreational therapists treat and rehabilitate patients with specific health conditions, usually in conjunction with physicians, nurses, social workers, and physical and occupational therapists.

Recreational therapists assess patients, based on information from standardized assessments, observations, medical records, medical staff, family, and patients themselves. They then develop and carry out therapeutic interventions consistent with patient needs and interests. For example, patients isolated from others or with limited social skills may be encouraged to play games with others, or right-handed persons with right-side paralysis may be instructed to adapt to using their nonaffected left side to throw a ball or swing a racket.

Recreational therapists provide services in special activity rooms or throughout the healthcare facility, as at HSC Medical Center. When working with patients during community integration programs, they may travel locally to instruct patients on the accessibility of public transportation and other public areas such as parks, playgrounds, restaurants, theaters, and shopping areas.

The therapeutic recreation program at HSC Medical Center plays a significant role in keeping patients mentally and physically active, as well as helping them to maintain quality of life.

For more information about HSC Medical Center or therapeutic recreation, contact Alison Hogan at 501-332-2306.

Alison Hogan, CTRS, is a certified recreation therapy specialist. Hogan provides therapeutic recreation therapy at the HSC PsycHealth Program at HSC Medical Center.