Parkview Noble Hospital occupational therapist Kimber Novak, OTR, has begun seeing patients at the Parkview Physicians Group – Family Medicine, Ligonier.
Novak is in the Ligonier office from 9 a.m. to noon on Tuesdays and Fridays.
Occupation Therapy primarily addresses the needs of people with injuries or illnesses involving the upper extremities such as shoulder, elbow, wrist and hand. The main focus is to evaluate and improve the patient’s ability to function and do what they did prior to injury. Occupation therapy addresses a variety of conditions – including pre-and-post-surgery conditions; sprains and strains; sports injuries; work-related injuries; arthritis; stroke; brain injury and more.
Parkview Noble Physical Therapist Jennifer Ferrell-Tester, PT, began seeing patients needing physical therapy in the Ligonier office in May of 2009. As the demand has increased and Ferrell-Tester has gotten busier, the need became such that a second therapist was needed in Ligonier, explained Outpatient Rehabilitation Manager, Julie Desper, M.A., CCC-SLP.
“We’re very excited to be expanding our services to residents on the western side of Noble County,” Desper added.
Novak said Ferrell-Tester, who sees patients in Ligonier on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, has been treating a number of patients with shoulder pain and she expects that to continue to be a need as she starts in Ligonier. “Shoulder pain is a big issue among many people,” she said. “Often the pain can be reduced or relieved with therapy and exercises.”
While new to Ligonier, Novak is not new to Parkview, having worked for 14 years with Parkview and 18 years total as an occupational therapist.
“I enjoy what I do,” Novak added. “It gives me pleasure to see the patients feel better and resume their life and activities. This may mean they are able to return to work for an adult or return to school or school sports for a teen. Whatever stage in life they are in, I’m happy to be able to help them reach their therapy goals.”
A physician referral is required for a patient to be seen at the Ligonier office for occupational and physical therapy. For more information, call the Parkview Noble Outpatient Rehabilitation office at (260) 347-8824 or (888) 737-9311, ext. 78824.