Clinton News-Record, 1983-06-08, Page 34�®^ea 14
New physiotherapy provides better services
y Darrell Kloeee
The physical therapy department at the Clinton hospital
has seen great improvements in its 17 years of existence.
The department was set up in a storeroom when it
began, and all the work was done on one stretcher. Now it
occupies certainly more spacious quarters in the new
wing of the hospital.
The new area, which became the therapy department's
home last December, is "so much nicer" than any of their
other homes, says Dorelene Flowers, one of the two
registered therapists who work there. The room is large,
and a row of windows m its it bright and cheerful. It is
more relaxing and enjoya le for the patients, for whom
the atmosphere is so muc part of the treatment.
The department is in eff ct a rehabilitation department.
Flowers says, "It provid s physiotherapeutic services to
patients referred by a medical doctor."
The therapists and two aides treat patients only who are
referred to them under doctor's orders. They treat both in
and outpatients, and serve Clinton and the surrounding
area. There are similar physiotherapy departments in
both the Goderich and Seaforth hospitals.
Flowers says, The goals are to prevent and minimize
disability resulting from disease or injury." The
therapists have a variety of methods they can use to treat
the patients coming in to them.
Generous support
financed the wing
When Associate Deputy Minister of Health Dr. Allen E.
Dyer offered Steve Cooke a position in the provincial
treasury, Steve said he would accept if the government
would also hire his vital assistants.
For the past two years Steve Cooke had chaired the fund
raising drive for the Clinton Public Hospital. He and a
committee of volunteers including, Barb Howson, Dr.
Brian Baker, Dianne Freeman, Beecher Menzies, Gerry
Hiltz, Doug Coventry, Dave Hanley, Dawns Westlake,
Rosemary Armstrong and George Lavis raised more than
$354,378 for the hospital building and capital funds.
The committee met its fund raising goal of $353,000 by
carrying out a slow, thoughtful, highly visible canvass.
"It took a great deal of effort and from the start we
decided to take the slow approach ahead of a blitz," Mr.
Cooke explained.
Door-to-door canvasses in Clinton and surrounding
townships, dances, a fund raising dinner and celebrity
auction were some of the events held to raise the money,
essential to the completion of the new wing.
Along with the hundreds and hundreds of people and
businesses who donated to the fund, service clubs,
organizations and groups also gave their wholehearted
support to the hospital addition. Thousands of dollars
were raised by various organizations thoughout the area
and Mr. Cooke noted, "Everyone realized the importance
of the project and the need for it."
Today the fund raising thermometer, hanging on the
outside wall of the Clinton Public Hospital has overshot its
limits. The fund raising committee more than adequately
met their commitment, but Mr. Cooke noted that the
success of the committee was due to the generous support
of the public who supported the hospital and realized the
benefits of the new emergency wing.
Some or Leve treatments can oe as simple as putting on
hot packs to soothe sore muscles. Arthritic pains can .s
treated with hot wax baths, which are not quite as painful
asstic bags
they sound. Heatedd around the art o the tboo dy which are
which are wrap: �' p
painful.
Therapists can also use ultrasound machines, which
send out high -frequency sound waves to relax nerve en-
dings and stimulate muscle activity and blood flow.
Almost anybody could be sent to the physiotherapy
department to be treated. Mrs. Flowers says they get a lot
of patients who are recovering from injuries and who need
some sort of exercise or treatment for damaged or weak
muscles or bones.
The treatment especially can vary, depending both on
the patient and the therapist. Mrs. Flowers says the
treatment can also take any length off time, and patients
could return regularly to the hospital for months. But she
says several treatments are necessary to make an effect.
Mrs. Flowers herself started the physical therl_py
department in the Clinton hospital 17 years ago. At the
time, perhaps, the department was not seen to be as
important as it is today. "Rehabilitation services have
become quite prominent in the health field," she says.
People are beginning to learn that the success of the
treatment lies modeartme toffers thoseservices for
depaf rtment the And
a
physical therapy
more complete recovery.
Associate Deputy Health Minister Dr. Allen Dyer
commented that the new physiotherapy is comparable to
any top-notch facility in larger hospital centres.
The Clinton department is headed by Aung Myint . He
has been with the hospital since September.
Dorelene Flowers, left, is one of the the therapists in the
Clinton hospital physiotherapy. The department is now
housed in new, large, bright quarters. Cora Wilson of
Blyth is one patient who is benefitting from the improved
facilities. (Shelley McPhee photo)
BEATTIE FU ITUi'=:E LT;:>'
18 Ai ert St. Clinton, Ontario
Phone .:s.;!2-9521
CLI; ' TON PUBLIC HOSPITAL
We Were PI -..,sed To Re Chosen f r The
Furniture in tis Waiting R.,, <;=un and file
do':or's Lounges.
YOU DI i'1: IT AND WE'RE PRO
It
Congratulations
to the
Clinton Public Hospital
on the official opening
of your new
addition
"YOUR PLUMBING SPECIALISTS"
*Installations •Designing
*Restyling •Remodelling
FOR ESTIMATES CALL
388 HURON ST.,
STRATFORD
271-2782
go 13
Congratulations
and best wishes
to the citizens of
Clinton & area
whose hard work
and dedication
raised over
6350,000 locally
toward the
building of the
new addition of
the Clinton Public
Hospital.
This contribution to the health and welfare
of our citizens will be a source of pride to
the community for many years.
Best wishes to the staff
and to ail wwho will se these
n ;ww f; cilities in th, ye.., rs t corm.
Murray Cardiff
ffuron-Bruce
- a
CLINTON 11
PUBLIC
HOSPITAL
We're proud of the progress
in our neighbouring town
and the expanded service
will be a much needed asset
to the community for many
years to come.
■•o
r)..1F,CK PhaJ
14 SHOPPERS SQUARE rmacv./
GODERICH 524-7241
WE DELIVER