New Occupational and Physical Therapy Area Opens at Brookings Health System

Brookings Health System recently renovated existing space to create more room for occupational and physical therapy, doubling the overall treatment area for rehabilitation. The health system started seeing physical therapy patients in the renovated space last week, with occupational therapy patients soon to follow.

“The old therapy area was small and shared by all four therapy groups,” said Chief Nursing Officer Tammy Hillestad. “Treatment areas also lacked privacy and prevented multiple services to occur at the same time.”

The newly renovated 1,550 square-foot area is located on the north side of the hospital in the space previously occupied by medical records, which was relocated to Yorkshire Plaza, 100 Twenty-Second Avenue. Speech therapy and cardiopulmonary rehabilitation now share the old 1,500 square-foot area that previously housed all four therapy services.

“Therapy is an important component across Brookings Health System. We provide comprehensive therapy services to help people rehabilitate on both an inpatient and outpatient basis,” said Hillestad. “This includes patients in our home health and swing bed programs, as well as Brookview Manor residents.”

The new space now permits concurrent therapy sessions to be conducted, allowing Brookings Health System to serve more patients in an efficient manner. The space also has a designated registration area, new private treatment areas, and ground floor access with parking in close proximity.

Brookings Health System has also added new equipment to the occupational and physical therapy space, including a NuStep crosstrainer, traction table, Shuttle MVP Pro for lower extremity training, pulley system, balance bar and weights.

For information on the comprehensive therapy services offered at Brookings Health System, visit www.brookingshealth.org/therapy or call (605) 696-8821.

About Brookings Health System

Brookings Health System, located in Brookings, South Dakota, includes a 49-bed hospital, the 79-bed Brookview Manor nursing home, and Brookhaven Estates apartments. It is a non-profit, city-owned facility that offers the community a full range of inpatient, outpatient, and extended care services. The emergency room is staffed 24 hours a day and provides around the clock medical-nursing care for patient needs ranging from minor injuries to life threatening crises. For more information about the services offered at Brookings Health System, please call (605) 696-9000 or visit us on the Web at brookingshealth.org.