Occupational Therapy

The occupational therapy department aims to provide high standard services to Mount Isa Hospital. We believe consumer driven goal setting, holistic care, evidence-based practice, quality improvement and education are important to the service.

Occupational therapy helps people to gain or regain the skills of everyday activities which are important for an individual’s safety, function and quality of life. Functional independence is a core concept and goal of occupational therapy and the following services are available:

• Assessing and treatment of functioning in daily activities
• Assisting with the development of goals and achievement of those goals
• Providing rehabilitation for conditions and injuries
• Conducting home visit assessments
• Prescribing aids and equipment to assist with independence
• Educating, advising and promoting health
• Recommendations for minor and major modifications
• Discharge planning
• Activity/ task modification
• Compression therapy
• Hand therapy and splinting
• Provision of work simplification and energy conservation techniques

Inpatient services

Occupational therapy services are available for inpatients admitted to Mount Isa Hospital as part of the medical and surgical ward, ICU, emergency department, paediatric ward, and oncology/palliative care. We assist with facilitation of safe discharge from hospital by considering the home environment, functional independence, and physical and cognitive ability. Referrals are triaged and patients are seen based on their needs. Services can include:

• Upper limb and hand therapy
• Fabrication and prescription of splints
• Home exercise programs, oedema and scar management for hand injuries and trauma
• Referrals for orthopaedic conditions
• Prescription of equipment (shower chairs, over toilet frames)
• Home assessment and recommendations
• Assessment and training of personal activities of daily living
• Education for energy conservation, falls prevention and work simplification
• Compression for vascular conditions
• Compression, exercise prescription and scar management for burns
• Encopresis

Hand Therapy Clinic

Assessment and treatment of a range of hand injuries including tendon repairs, fractures, finger dislocations, burns, nerve injury/repairs, multi-trauma, carpel tunnel syndrome, De Quervains tenosynovitis and Dupuytren’s contracture. Services include:

• Splint prescription and fabrication
• Oedema management
• Wound and scar management for the hands
• Exercise prescription to promote movement, strength and function
• Patient education
• Sensory assessment
• Desensitisation

Lymphodema Clinic

This clinic provides assessment, treatment, and education for patients with primary or secondary lymphoedema.

• Compression therapy including multi-layered compression for reduction and garments for maintenance
• Manual lymphatic drainage
• Skin care and precautions and education
• Scar management
• Energy conservation and participation in activities of daily living

General Occupational

• Follow up home visit assessment for clients discharged from hospital (within a two-week period)
• Scar management and compression for burns
• Exercise program to maintain and facilitate movement following burns

Baby Development Clinic 0-2 years

This is a clinic for children with a history of prematurely, low birth weight and/or a complex medical issue.  A speech pathologist, physiotherapist, occupational therapist and dietitian are present for the clinic.

The focus of the clinic is on assessment and education of the family to promote development and educate regarding possible difficulties the child may have.

Contact Us

• Hannah Russell (Occupational Therapist): 4744 8185
• Charmaine Nicols (Allied Health Assistant): 4764 1227