Stroke therapies highlighted at recent seminar

May 22, 2012

Photo by Colin Deppen - Katherine Brem, an occupational therapist with Elk Regional, discussed various stroke therapies at a recent seminar held at the Education Center at Elk Regional Health Center.

ST. MARYS - At a recent stroke prevention seminar at Elk Regional Health Center's Education Center, some of the discussion focused on treatments available to stroke victims.
Katherine Brem, an occupational therapist with Elk Regional, said that recovery begins in the acute care hospital once a stroke victim is declared medically stable. Brem said it is at this point that the caregiver needs of a patient are assessed, with a physician determining a patient's strengths and deficits in designing a rehabilitation plan for them.
"Right after the stroke, the goal is to assess the patient's status and see what the next step is going to be. Are they going to need to go to a nursing home or rehab center? The physician needs to make a referral to physical, occupational, or speech therapies to determine a plan," Brem said.