I N T EG R AT I O N
(From left) Dr. Dana Underkofler-Mercer; Melissa Smith, Washington University occupational therapist and program manager of health and wellness for Paraquad; Pamela Daugherty, certified occupational therapy assistant at Paraquad; and Mike Scheller, Washington University physical therapist assistant. of motion and mobility. After just a few treatments, Spears said he has already noticed a positive difference. “It’s a great service they’re providing, so I’m going to keep coming,” he said. “I don’t want to miss an opportunity to get better.”
Mike Scheller, a physical therapist assistant at Washington University, also believes in the benefits of a team approach to health care.
Thanks to the foresight, and a push, from Dr. David Gray of Washington University’s School of Medicine Program in Occupational Therapy, Scheller helped open the gym at Paraquad in 2006 and has been working with participants ever since. He said personal connections made at Paraquad are impacting the health and well-being of participants, and partnering with Logan took the facility to a whole new level. “We had a lot of unmet needs and Logan has allowed us to develop strength and endurance as part of the Health & Wellness Program,” Scheller said. “Are we seeing miracles? No, but it’s the smaller victories, like the participant who is no longer diabetic or the participant who got a job. You can’t measure that kind of success.” And success does come in various forms. Logan Tri-8 intern Shawn Bean was assigned a patient who spent three months without moving out of her wheelchair. The pain in her arms forced her to get help from students working at the Logan clinic
An Integrated Environment Paraquad is as much a place to help participants learn to adapt to their environments as it is a place for Logan students to learn the benefits of working in an integrated health care setting. Certain situations may require the help of an occupational therapist (OT), a nutritionist or a physical therapist (PT), whether it’s transferring a patient or offering an opinion or analysis. Paraquad is where they all come together to provide the best outcome for participants. “Anytime we can get an OT, a DC and a PT together, it’s going to benefit the patient to a higher level,” said Tri-9 Logan intern Ryan Brinker. “The volume of diversity that comes along with working at Paraquad is invaluable, and it’s rewarding to see the benefit of the work being performed here.” 12 FALL 2013
Aaron Murray, April 2013 Logan graduate of the master’s in Sports Science and Rehabilitation program, and disabled Paraquad participant, who is helping bridge connections between Logan and Paraquad.