April is Occupational Therapy Month. Mount Sinai Beth Israel has occupational therapists that provide excellent care in bringing patients back to functionality in their lives during or after their illness. Our patients benefit from their kindness, patience, and understanding of their unique needs. There are many branches of occupational therapy, and each one is very different. We have occupational therapists that span many practice environments and help many patients.
Mount Sinai Beth Israel’s inpatient occupational therapists treat patients in the acute care setting and prepare them for their discharge from the hospital. Inpatient occupational therapists work directly with patients to educate them on proper body mechanics for daily tasks like sitting and walking, as well as how to achieve their other life goals, including leisure activities they enjoy. They take into account the patient’s physical state as well as their belief system, lifestyle, and family support.
“We treat the entire person. Our goal is to get them back to normal and enjoying the things they used to enjoy,” said Elliot Katz, OTR/L.
If you would like to request an inpatient consult for occupational therapy please do so through PRISM. If you have any questions, please call (212) 420-2763.
Inpatient OTs Elliot Katz, OTL/R; Allison L Ming, OTL/R.
MSBI Inpatient occupational therapists and physical therapists celebrate OT Month. Middle row: inpatient OTs Elliot Katz, OTL/R; Allison L Ming, OTL/R.
Mount Sinai Union Square’s exceptional outpatient occupational therapists at Union Square include certified hand therapists (CHTs). They focus their treatment on orthopedic injuries of the upper extremity. They are experts in evaluating, treating, and splinting the elbow, wrist, and hand.
“I am an energetic person and who likes to interact with people. It’s rewarding to be able to help people while building a lasting rapport with them,” said Conor O’Brien, OTR/L.
To schedule an appointment with a rehab occupational therapist at Union Square, please call (212) 844-8750.
Jenine Albright, MS, OT at Union Square: fitting a custom orthotic.
Conor O’Brien, MS, OT at Union Square: performing manual therapy.
Mount Sinai Beth Israel also currently has four inpatient full-time behavioral health occupational therapists, an occupational therapist assistant, and an occupational therapist managing the outpatient psychiatry clinic. Under the Chief of Occupational Therapy Mary Petti-Weber, over the last 25+ year, occupational therapists at MSBI have helped patients affected by symptoms of mental illness “live life to the fullest” by engaging in meaningful occupations of daily living. Occupational therapists develop strong bonds with their patients by helping them maximize goals in self-care, cognition, vocation, and leisure, or return to work/school. For example, occupational therapy groups include cooking, sleep hygiene education, symptom & stress management, and shaving or painting one’s nails.
Jessica Tyrrell, MS, OTR/L says, “The groups give them a great outlet for self-expression while learning skills to achieve greater functional outcome when discharged. It’s rewarding to watch them grow and resume their life role(s) after spending time with us.”
Some of our Behavioral Health OTs: Heather Fitzsimmons, MS OTR/L; Jessica Tyrrell, MS OTR/L; Chrystelle Robinson, MS OTR/L; Carlton Mattison, OTA.
Past and present Behavioral Health OTs joined together for going away party of Pamela Bellamy OTA, 20 yrs at MSBI. From left to right, front row: Margie Hoffman, MS OTR/L; Lilya Berns, MS OTR/L; Mary Petti-Weber, MS OTR/L Chief of OT; Kimberly Metzger, MS OTR/L; Simone Allen MS OTR/L; Carlton Mattison, OTA; Rachel Rusi MS OTR/L. Back row, from left to right: Jessica Tyrrell, MS OTR/L; Pamela Bellamy, OTA; Chrystelle Robinson, MS OTR/L; Henry Hanif, MS OTR/L.