18 Oct Personalized Physical Therapy at MMH
Through a partnership between Munising Memorial Hospital and UP Rehab Services, Alger County residents have easy access to outpatient physical therapy services without having to travel out of the area to receive the care they need.
Established in 2005 and headquartered in Marquette, UP Rehab Services is a leader across the Upper Peninsula providing an array of physical therapy services in nursing centers, clinics, and hospitals throughout the region. In 2010, the organization contracted with Munising Memorial Hospital to offer outpatient physical therapy services at the hospital, which is located at 1500 Sand Point Road, Munising.
What is Physical Therapy?
Physical therapy is a type of treatment you may need when pain or injury make it hard to move around and do everyday tasks. Physical therapy helps you move better and relieve pain. It also helps improve or restore your physical function and your fitness level and can help with recovery before and after surgery. No matter what area of the body has pain – neck, shoulder, back, knee, ankle – specialized physical therapists and certified athletic trainers have the experience and knowledge to help individuals improve their quality of life.
Outpatient Physical Therapy Staff at MMH
Kris Tidd, MSPT, Clinic Director
Ethan Rayhorn, PT, DPT, Physical Therapist
Rebecca Pedler, PT, DPT, Physical Therapist
Tammy Autore, PTA, Physical Therapist Assistant
Cody Carlson, AT, ATC, Cert. Athletic Trainer
Not Pictured: Nikki Kulppi, Clinic Office Coordinator
Kris Tidd, Physical Therapist and Clinic Director at MMH, has been at the hospital since 2005 and a physical therapist for 27 years. Her favorite thing about her job? Helping people.
“I know that sounds cliché, but when you can make a difference in someone’s life, particularly when they’re in so much pain, and you can make them feel better or get back to doing things they haven’t been able to do for so long, it can be very rewarding,” she said.
Personalized One-on-One Care
MMH’s physical therapy clinic has four rooms and a gym area filled with equipment to help people through their journey to recovery.
“Our team of licensed therapists do one-on-one visits with patients up to an hour long,” Kris said. “We don’t overlap patients, so they get individualized sessions each time they’re here.”
The first time a person is seen at the hospital, a physical therapist will complete that patient’s evaluation and establish a plan of care. Typically, the average person goes to PT 4-6 weeks, but there are some that need to go longer, depending on the situation, Kris said.
Benefits of Physical Therapy
While there are various benefits to physical therapy, motivating patients to be more active is one of the most helpful.
“I would say a great percentage of people that come with pain or with balance problems or after a surgery weren’t always active before they came to us,” Kris said. “Teaching people about the benefits of exercise besides just helping with their pain is a huge motivator. Getting people moving isn’t only physically helpful but mentally, as well.”
Outpatient Rehabilitation Services
From relearning how to use muscles to eradicating spells of vertigo, there are countless outpatient physical therapy services offered at MMH that help patients get on the road to living their best lives.
“We see mostly orthopedic and some people with neurological conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, MS, post-stroke, and post-TBI. We also treat patients with balance and vestibular conditions and provide services to inpatients or swing-bed patients,” Kris said.
“Swing-bed patients are specifically here for rehabilitation,” Kris explained. “They become medically stable after some event or surgery like a knee or hip replacement or a bout of pneumonia, but they’re too weak or deconditioned or not quite ready to go home safely.
“They’re stable, so they come for occupational and physical therapy daily or on a three-to-five-day basis to try and get them strong enough to go home. They call it a swing-bed because they’re referring to ‘swinging’ them from one place to another. So, hospital to home, or hospital to assisted living. It’s a Medicare program and the hospital is authorized for up to five swing-bed patients. It’s a relatively new program but has proven to be great for the community.”
For a full list of outpatient physical therapy services offered at MMH, click here.
Athletic Training
Over the years, MMH and UP Rehab Services have expanded its athletic training coverage to sporting games and practices in the greater Munising area.
An athletic trainer also provides free injury screenings, job site analysis, body mechanics education, among other things for new employees at Neenah Paper Mill.
New Location in Munising
Munising Memorial Hospital will soon open an additional physical therapy location to better accommodate the community and student athletes at 416 Mill Street in downtown Munising.
“This location is closer and more convenient for foot traffic and athletes that may need care. This new location will also provide for new employment opportunities for our community,” said Sandy McGovern, CEO of MMH, in a recent press release.
To read the full release, click here.
Schedule an Appointment
Outpatient physical therapy services are offered at MMH Monday – Friday, with varying hours. Most insurance covers PT but copays and deductibles vary depending on your policy. Call Munising Memorial Hospital at (906) 387-4110 or visit www.uprehab.com to schedule an appointment today.
For more information about outpatient physical therapy at MMH, click here.
