What Are the Benefits of Outpatient Therapy?

Outpatient therapy is a great way to rehabilitate after an injury, a planned surgery, or an illness. People often utilize these services after a fall or sports-related injury, or just to recover strength and stamina following a serious bout with a virus. It’s a great solution for helping you get back to an active lifestyle, whatever that means for you, with minimal disruption to your schedule.

What Is Available at an Outpatient Rehabilitation Center?

Outpatient rehabilitation centers typically focus on physical, occupational, and speech therapy services. Under the guidance of these professionals, patients receive care identical or similar to what they would receive in a hospital or skilled nursing and rehab center.

A few of the many examples of what therapists in an outpatient setting might do, depending on the severity of a patient’s injury or illness, include:

• Create a care plan that focuses on targeted exercises, such as those designed to regain fine motor skills, or stretching to improve flexibility
• Help find ways to safely enter a vehicle, slide behind the wheel to drive, and then exit the car again
• Work with patients to learn or relearn how to perform activities of daily living, such as getting dressed, using the bathroom, and taking a shower
• Teach patients how to use assistive devices, such as a cane, walker, shower chair, or raised toilet seat

What Are the Benefits of Outpatient Therapy?

If you are wondering why a patient would opt for outpatient therapy versus a short-term stay at a skilled nursing and rehab center, here are a few of the reasons:

• Reduce pain and improve flexibility: When you are finding your way back from a serious illness or recovering from a surgery or an injury, you might be struggling with pain. A physical therapist can help you explore ways to manage that pain while also improving flexibility.
• Lower risk of repeat injury: One of the primary goals of continuing rehabilitation after being discharged from the hospital is to avoid experiencing another injury. For example, if a patient had a serious fall, they might be fearful of falling again. And that’s a legitimate concern. Once a senior takes a tumble, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says their risk of doing so again doubles.
• Minimize stress by recovering at home: If you’ve spent time in a hospital or outpatient rehab center, it will come as no surprise that it’s difficult to rest there. By opting for outpatient therapy, a patient can continue to recover in the comfort and privacy of their own home. That’s where most people say they prefer to be, anyway.
• Lessen daily disruption: Outpatient therapy often makes it easier to continue to lead your normal life. Patients can schedule appointments at times that are convenient for them, such as on weekends or evenings to navigate around their work schedule.
• Limit costs: Depending on the type of insurance a patient has, outpatient therapy may be more cost effective. There may be fewer and lower deductibles and co-pays than for an inpatient stay.

Invest in a Mobile Monitoring Unit

During the course of outpatient therapy, safety will be a frequent topic. Both physical and occupational therapists will focus on ways to stay safe and avoid another injury. They may also suggest investing in an emergency call alert device for added peace of mind.

This is where a mobile monitoring unit can be a solution. This discreet device gives the user an easy way to summon help in the event of an emergency. With a simple press of a button, the person can be connected with someone who can help. Call 1-844-203-5617 to learn more!