New outpatient center offers therapy on path to healing

The outpatient therapy center at Centennial Hills Hospital opened in January with the goal of helping its patients get back to their normal lives and improve their overall health.

The center at 6900 N. Durango Drive offers physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, sports medicine and rehabilitation for neurological, orthopedic and pulmonary issues.

“Our goal is to provide therapy for the entire community,” said Joel Vidana, director of therapy services at Centennial Hills Hospital. “There has been tremendous growth within the hospital. We wanted to provide continuous care with patient recovery.”

The 3,700-square-foot center offers patients equipment to help them recover from surgery, improve muscle strength and reduce pain.

Amenities include strengthening machines, treadmills, stationary bicycles, upper extremity ergometers, electrical stimulator and heat therapy equipment.

Vidana said since the center is attached to the hospital, it makes it convenient not only for patients but for therapists to have easy access to their patient’s records.

“When we know about their history, then we know what’s going on with them. We feel confident that we can accommodate everyone’s unique needs,” Vidana said. “We try to customize the program to fit every individual’s pain, progress and recovery.”

During the initial examination, Vidana said he asks his patients what their expectations are and lets them have a say in their progress and therapy to give them more control.

“We don’t book a lot of patients,” Vidana said. “People can come here and count on us listening to them and spending the necessary time needed for their recovery.”

He also makes it a point to create a customized home or work exercise program that works on posture and offers ergonomic education. This can be as simple as adjusting chairs at work, modifying golf swings or taking rest breaks, he added.

Bill Carpenter has been using the therapy center since it opened to recover from rotator cuff surgery.

“I’m a sports nut. I’ve played sports my whole life, and my shoulder has had wear and tear over the years,” Carpenter said. “The therapists were all upbeat and pleasant to work with at the center.”

Carpenter said the center helped him recover from his surgery quickly so he could continue to play golf.

Patients have the option to schedule back-to-back appointments with multiple disciplines during the same day.

“Since we’ve opened the center, we have seen traumatic brain injuries, postsurgical spine, postsurgical knee surgeries and high school athlete injuries,” Vidana said.

The center provides athletes with progressive endurance and strengthening programs. It has a vast range of evaluative, preventative and rehabilitative services to those with physical functioning problems.

The staff offers patients comprehensive evaluations, one-on-one education and functional training.

People who recieve therapy after an injury will see increased strength, endurance and learn how to prevent further pain or injuries, Vidana said.

“We don’t just give people exercises; we teach them about different muscles that are involved with their injury and give them an awareness,” Vidana said. “People do better when they know what’s wrong and what muscles hurt and why.”

For more information, visit centennialhillshospital.com/hospital-services/outpatient-therapy-center.

Contact North View reporter Sandy Lopez at slopez@viewnews.com or 702-383-4686. Find her on Twitter: @JournalismSandy.