When you are an inpatient at Aultman, you may need therapy to manage your illness or injury. This can mean physical, occupational and/or speech therapy. Your doctor will decide what is needed for you.

PHYSICAL THERAPY
Physical therapy assists patients to achieve optimal mobility and function when they are faced with health conditions, illnesses or injuries that impair physical performance in everyday activities. In the inpatient setting, this often involves mobility training, stretching and strengthening to maximize independence with daily movement tasks like walking or changing positions.

Who provides physical therapy?
Physical therapy is provided by state-licensed physical therapists and physical therapist assistants. Trained therapy aides may provide support tasks to enhance patient care and safety.

If you require physical therapy, you can expect your physical therapist to: 

• Ask you and/or your family about the set-up of your home and how you normally function at home with mobility tasks.
• Evaluate how well you can move around in your bed, move from one seat to another and walk on level surfaces and stairs.
• Recommend physical therapy treatments while you are in the hospital to address any new or worsened problems with your mobility.
• Make recommendations for continued physical therapy after your hospital stay if you need it.

OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY
Occupational therapy enables patients to perform activities of daily living across the life span. In the inpatient setting, this often involves maximizing independence with self-care tasks such as bathing and dressing.

Who provides occupational therapy?
Occupational therapy is provided by state-licensed occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants. Trained therapy aides may provide support tasks to enhance patient care and safety.

If you require occupational therapy, you can expect your occupational therapist to:

• Ask you and/or your family about the set-up of your home and how you normally perform self-care tasks.
• Evaluate how well you can bathe, groom or dress yourself.
• Recommend occupational therapy treatments while you are in the hospital to address any new or worsened problems with your self-care.
• Make recommendations for continued occupational therapy after your hospital stay if needed. 

SPEECH THERAPY
Speech therapy identifies, evaluates and treats disorders involving speech, cognition, communication and swallowing.

Who provides speech therapy?
Speech therapy is provided by state-licensed speech language pathologists.

If you require speech therapy, you can expect your speech therapist to:

• Ask you and/or your family about your prior ability to communicate, eat, swallow and problem-solve.
• Evaluate how well you are able to speak, understand speech, follow instructions and swallow, either at your bedside or in a more in-depth test in the radiology department.
• Recommend speech therapy treatments while you are an inpatient in the hospital.
• Make recommendations for continued speech therapy after your hospital stay if you need it.

For all inpatient physical, occupational and speech therapies, appointment times may vary. If you would like to request a specific time for your therapy, please ask your therapist. Not all requests can be accommodated.

If you require further therapy after discharge, you can receive these services at Aultman Woodlawn, an Aultman outpatient center that is close to your home, or even in your own home.