FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Jess Ercolino
Associate Executive Director
856-380-6856
ASHT Celebrates Hand Therapy Week 2017
MOUNT LAUREL, N.J., June 5, 2017 — The American Society of Hand Therapists (ASHT) is pleased to announce Hand Therapy Week, June 5-11, 2017, sponsored by North Coast Medical. ASHT holds this event annually during the first week of June to raise awareness of hand therapy and promote the benefits of the specialty to referral sources and the public.
Hand therapists are occupational or physical therapists who, through advanced study and experience, specialize in treating individuals with conditions affecting the hands and upper extremity. These individuals may also have advanced certification as acertified hand therapist (CHT).
“Through advanced study and practice, hand therapy specialists are expertly equipped to help guide patients in their recovery from hand or upper extremity injury,” said ASHT President Gary Solomon, MBA, MS, OTR/L, CHT. “Therapists strive to help each patient overcome the challengesthat serve as a barrier to return to work, daily tasks and the activities they are most passionate about."
Throughout Hand Therapy Week, ASHT members sponsor and organize events in their communities. This year, ASHT has launched a campaign featuring compelling patient success stories. A series of videos and written patient testimonials highlighting the impact of hand therapy will be released throughout the week on social media and the ASHT website.
“As you watch the videos highlighting each patient’s success stories, you will noticethat certified hand therapists provide a highly specialized form of treatment,” said Heidi Hermann Wright, DHS, MBA, OTR, CHT, chair of ASHT’s Technology & Communication Committee.“CHTs focus on helping theirpatients improvehand function and, more importantly, on returning them to a quality lifestyle.”
The association has also made available Patient Education Resources as a convenient tool for therapists to provide information on common diagnoses and educate patients on the role a hand therapist plays in their treatment.
The ASHT Photo Contest also returns this year, inviting members to submit their best hand-related photos for a chance to win prizes and, of course, bragging rights. This year, North Coast Medical provided a complimentary Ulnar Booster™ to all entrants in the contest. Voting takes place throughout Hand Therapy Week on ASHT Facebook page.
To learn more about Hand Therapy Week and to view the hand therapy awareness videos, please visit www.asht.org/practice/practice-management/hand-therapy-week.
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About the American Society of Hand Therapists
Founded in 1977, the American Society of Hand Therapists (ASHT) is an organization of hand therapyprofessionals dedicated to advancing the field of hand and upper extremity therapy by promotingeducation, advocacy, research and clinical standards. ASHT members include occupational and physical therapists, physician extenders, surgeons, researchers and administrators. For more information, visit www.asht.org, connect with ASHT on Facebook and follow @HandTherapyASHT on Twitter.
About North Coast Medical
For nearly four decades,North Coast Medicalhas manufactured, supplied and distributed a broad range of industry-leading product lines across a continuum of rehabilitation medical care. A leader in occupational, physical and hand therapy medical markets, NCM services the needs of in-patient/out-patient hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, clinics, private practice, pharmacies, resellers and consumers.