WVU Medicine Children’s Occupational Therapy providing care to new mothers

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – As part of a collaboration between the WVU Hospitals Rehabilitation Services Department and WVU Medicine Children’s, occupational therapists now evaluate all patients admitted to the Children’s Birthing Center. 

“Our Occupational Therapy Division became a routine consulting service and partner of the WVU Medicine Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology in January to serve Birthing Center patients at WVU Medicine Children’s,” Bruce McKee, M.S., C.C.C./S.L.P., WVU Hospitals Rehabilitation Services director, said. “This model of care demonstrates the efforts of WVU Medicine Children’s to promote a functional, holistic, and multidisciplinary approach to recovery during the post-delivery period beginning on postpartum day one.”  

The model was created when a gap in care was identified from assessing the current occupational therapy (OT) scope of practice in acute care and maternal health services. In general, occupational therapists providing acute care services evaluate and treat patients to assess their participation in activities of daily living (ADLs) as well as their engagement in meaningful occupations. 

Marley Sisler, O.T.D., O.T.R./L., identified an opportunity to create a model of care that utilized OT services to evaluate pregnant and postpartum mothers. She evaluated their ability to care for themselves and their newborns prior to discharge from the hospital to promote a functional and successful postpartum recovery and prevent postpartum complications.  

Through professional education in pelvic floor therapy and obstetric rehabilitation, key stakeholder interviews, and collaborative efforts amongst the OB/GYN and rehabilitation disciplines, Dr. Sisler was able to create a protocol that engages occupational therapy services for all Birthing Center patients. 

This protocol provides postpartum mothers with therapeutic interventions and education, while evaluating each mother’s ability to complete safe participation in ADLs, newborn care, and functional mobility using a preventive and educational framework. 

“The Rehabilitation Services Department is excited to continue to serve this population and to promote professional knowledge and engagement with the maternal health population,” McKee said. “We are devoted to improving maternal and newborn care and outcomes while also preventing adverse postpartum outcomes through functional occupational therapy assessments and education.”  

For more information on WVU Medicine Children’s, visit WVUKids.com.