>Lake Superior College and The College of St. Scholastica are offering free physical and occupational therapy services to eligible area residents. The public is welcome at LSC’s community clinic for Physical Therapy and for Physical and Occupational Therapy at the Maurices Community Clinic at St. Scholastica.
The clinics provide services to residents of the region who are not covered by health insurance or whose insurance benefits have run out. The clinics are open on Monday and Wednesday afternoons. There is no fee to participate and insurance is not billed, but donations are accepted. Clinics are held at St. Scholastica’s new Health Science Center, located at 940 Woodland Ave. about a mile from the CSS main campus.
Physical and occupational therapist students from St. Scholastica and physical therapist assistant students from LSC provide the services. Faculty members, who are licensed physical therapists and physical therapist assistants, supervise all treatments. The clinic provides students with valuable real-world experience and interdisciplinary education.
“LSC students and faculty benefit from working with CSS students and faculty in our community clinic,” said Jane Worley, faculty member and director of LSC’s Physical Therapist Assistant Program. . “We enjoy this ongoing professional collaboration that ultimately helps the individuals in our community who need healing and care.”
“The clinics provide the opportunity for students from both colleges to gain confidence and skill in effectively providing physical therapy treatments to patients, and in working as a team,” said Dalerie Lieberz, assistant professor of physical therapy at St. Scholastica. “The clinic partnership between LSC and CSS began in 1999 and continues to be a national model of teaching collaboration between physical therapist and physical therapist assistant students. Students graduate from their respective education programs with stronger teamwork skills as a result of the on-campus clinics.”
“The interprofessional learning opportunities available to our Occupational Therapy students through the maurices Community Clinic is valuable for clients and students alike,” said Christine McConnell, assistant professor of OT. “The experience working as a team to address client needs leads to enhanced outcomes for our clients while contributing to communication skills, client-centered care, service learning, and a clearer understanding of the impact of culture on healthcare delivery. The College of St. Scholastica and Lake Superior College therapy programs are committed to helping students to understand their own professional identity while gaining an understanding other professionals’ roles on the health care team.”
Physical therapy can provide treatments for pain, weakness, difficulty walking, problems with balance, swelling, stiffness, and muscle tightness. PT services include range of motion and strengthening exercises, walking and balance training, heat and cold, electrical stimulation, ultrasound, massage, and treatment for neurologic injury or disease.
Occupational therapy is only available at the Maurices Community Clinic. OT can provide treatments for improving performance of daily activities and instruction with adaptive equipment, assistive technology training, activities to address sensory issues, and task simulation to improve function. Conditions treated include but are not limited to low back pain, sprains and strains, joint injuries, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, stroke and traumatic brain injury.
