Rehab for our smallest patients
Every day, our tiniest patients in the NICU receive specialized care to help them gain strength, develop and thrive. Part of this care is a team approach between Occupational Therapy, Speech/Language Pathology and Physical Therapy. These therapists work with the neonatologists and nursing staff to provide evaluations and treatment based on the individual needs of each baby. They also provide families with vital training in how to continue therapy for their babies once they go home.
Babies in the NICU may have problems such as prematurity, neonatal abstinence syndrome from drug exposure during pregnancy, hip dysplasia, feeding difficulties, club feet and other orthopaedic/ neuromuscular issues.
OTs help infants learn to handle touch, sound and visual stimulation and provide infant massage. SLPs help infants with feeding and swallowing difficulties. PTs assess movement and work on strengthening through range of motion and positioning. Parent education is provided by these therapists and is a vital part of therapy.
Help for our NICU babies doesn’t stop at discharge. “One thing that is a benefit,” says Anne Mosier, OT with The Medical Center at Bowling Green, “is that we have an outpatient clinic at the hospital where babies can have follow up for OT, PT and SLP care. This continuum of care helps keep parents from having to drive to Nashville or Louisville to receive the care their babies need.”
Med Center Health is proud of the work the therapists and NICU staff do to help our smallest patients!