Madalyn Edwards
Author
Northern Rehab provides the local community with services including wound care, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy. These services are provided as inpatient treatment and as outpatient at Northern Rehab and at Northern Wellness, which is equipped with a gym and with a pool for aquatic therapy.
Doug Yarboro, director at Northern Wound Care, says the board-certified team treats wounds from a variety of causes, such as poor blood supply, infection, pathology-related injuries, or traumatic injuries. All these wounds call for a range of treatments specific to the patients and their needs. “We treat them based on the pathology of the wound, making sure that we provide the best treatment,” Yarboro explained. “If we did not have a wound care service here, essentially, patients would have to travel to Winston-Salem to have their treatment which puts really an undue burden on these individuals.”
Patients save time and money with access to local wound care services, plus they are usually seen in one to two days, which can be unheard of at larger centers, according to Yarboro. “We really pride ourselves on getting patients in as quickly as possible,” he said.
Speech therapy is another service provided by Northern Rehab. One speech therapy program is geared toward pediatric patients. Other programs help those recovering from strokes or neurological disorders. “We have a really wonderful speech therapist that performs some really advanced procedures,” Yarboro said.
Northern Rehab also has an occupational therapy program with therapists trained in the hands and upper extremities. Yarboro said, “Having the certified hand specialist is very unique so we’re very fortunate to have one.” He’s grateful to have such specialists providing services to patients living in a rural area.
The rehabilitation department currently has around 35 full-time employees including the administrative team serving the local area. Yarboro said the services provided make a big difference for those in Surry County seeking rehabilitation care, especially those provided in the outpatient wound care clinic.
Hunter Grubbs, Doctor of Physical Therapy and director of outpatient rehabilitation with Northern Rehab, says the therapists take a tailored approach to the care they provide patients, looking at the patient as a whole. “We try to keep it fun,” Grubbs said. “We want to try to promote a family atmosphere so that when they come to work with us, they enjoy the experience.”
One of the most important parts of the therapist and patient relationship, Grubbs explained, is the therapist’s ability to listen to the patient’s needs. “I really believe that all of the therapists that we have genuinely care about the person in front of them that they work with,” Grubbs elaborated. Only after understanding the patient and their needs can the appropriate treatment plan be implemented.
As part of their community outreach, Northern Rehab therapists work with high school athletes to complete free functional movement screens that promote injury prevention and overall health. “I think that it’s wonderful to be able to keep some of these young athletes happy and healthy and reduce their injury risk,” Grubbs said.
Serving and helping patients in the community, whether by providing therapy, wound care, or preventive services, is Northern Rehab’s main goal. Grubbs said that many patients start treatment at a difficult time in their lives, but by the time they receive treatment and work with staff, they have improved considerably.
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