Category: General News

Occupational therapy is the only profession that helps people across the lifespan to do the things they want and need to do through the therapeutic use of daily activities (occupations). Occupational therapy practitioners enable people of all ages to live life to its fullest by helping them promote health, and prevent – or live better with – injury, illness, or disability. During the month April, MCCH and facilities across the nation celebrate occupational therapy practitioners and the work they are doing.

Common occupational therapy interventions include helping children with disabilities to participate fully in school and social situations, helping people recovering from injury to regain skills, and providing supports for older adults experiencing physical and cognitive changes. Occupational therapy services typically include:

• an individualized evaluation, during which the client/family and occupational therapist determine the person’s goals,
• customized intervention to improve the person’s ability to perform daily activities and reach the goals, and
• an outcomes evaluation to ensure that the goals are being met and/or make changes to the intervention plan.

Occupational therapy practitioners have a holistic perspective, in which the focus is on adapting the environment and/or task to fit the person, and the person is an integral part of the therapy team. It is an evidence-based practice deeply rooted in science. “Occupational therapy is a mix of creative ideas and knowledge. When you get to combine these two, miracles really do happen,” said Shandi James, Physical Therapy Assistant at the Center for Rehab and Sports Medicine.

For more information about Occupational Therapy, contact the Marketing Department at 270.762.1381.

Members of the current Leadership Tomorrow group include juniors and seniors from both Murray High School and Calloway County High School who recently hosted their Health Day with a complete tour of Murray-Calloway County Hospital including Education and Simulation Lab, Labor & Delivery, Radiology, ER, Surgery, and the nursing floors while also listening to leadership share the vision of the hospital. The focus of the day was to learn more about job opportunities in the healthcare field.

Karla Turley, MD, board-certified in obstetrics and gynecology, has recently joined Dr. Matt Price, Dr. Dawn Deeter, Sherry Freeman, APRN, Christina Darnell, MSN, FNP-BC, Whitney Pugh, PA-C to the team at Women’s Health of Murray.

Turley originally comes to the area from Madisonville, where she worked since 2007 as an OB/GYN with Baptist Health Women’s Care and was a gratis faculty in the University of Louisville School of Medicine’s Trover Off Campus Teaching Center and has most recently worked with Village MD in Murray

A 2003 graduate of the University of Louisville School of Medicine, Turley completed a four-year obstetrics and gynecology residency program at Good Samaritan Hospital in Cincinnati. During her residency, she was named Chief Resident in 2006 and participated in research relating to the use of Dexamethasone in HELLP syndrome and neonatal outcomes. Turley obtained a Bachelor of Science in biology and in chemistry from Western Kentucky University in 1999.

Turley will be located at Women’s Health of Murray, 300 South 8th Street, Suite 203 East. To schedule an appointment or for more information, call Women’s Health of Murray at 270.762.1562.

MCCH’s ER Techs recently participated in a splinting class led by Dr. Richard Blalock II to learn more about the proper technique of splinting.

Pictured left to right: Nathan Rogers, Mikaylen Dearmond, Cameron Bean, Cora Moll, and Avery Greer

Murray-Calloway County Hospital recently hosted an Easter Egg Hunt for hospital employees and their families for the first time in two years since the pandemic began.

Pictured: Courtney Holligan with twins, Cole and Ava (daughter and grandchildren of Marty and Scarlett Barnett)

The Center for Rehab and Sports Medicine at the Center for Health and Wellness has expanded its services to include integrative dry needling.

Integrative dry needling is a highly effective form of physical therapy for the treatment of a multitude of musculoskeletal and neuromuscular conditions. This technique is not acupuncture (traditional Chinese medicine). Integrative dry needling is based on neuro anatomy and modern scientific study of the musculoskeletal and neuromuscular systems. The service is carried out through fine filament needles inserted through the skin and into deeper tissues that are considered trigger points.

Patients benefitting from dry needling suffer from conditions such as neck, back and shoulder pain, tennis elbow, carpal tunnel, golfer’s elbow, headache, including migraines and tension-type headaches, jaw pain, buttock pain and leg pain (sciatica, hamstrings strains, calf tightness/spasms).

There is little discomfort in dry needling. The fine filament needles are very thin, solid and flexible, allowing the needle to be pushed through the skin, versus cutting the skin.

The physical therapists performing integrative dry needling at The Center for Rehab and Sports Medicine have advanced training and are certified through the Integrative Dry Needling Institute.

Anne Beck, PT, is one of the therapists certified in integrative dry needling. “I have been using this modality for a few years now and patients report excellent outcomes.” says Beck.

Dry needling treatment frequency varies based on the needs of each patient and recommendation of the treating physical therapist.

Some insurance plans will cover dry needling as a part of the plan’s physical therapy coverage. Patients should check with their specific insurance carrier to learn more about their coverage for dry needling. Dry needling services are available as self-pay services, if not covered by insurance.

For more information on integrative dry needling and other therapy services offered at The Center for Rehab and Sports Medicine, please call (270) 762-1854 or visit www.MurrayHospital.org.

Stroke is the number one cause of serious adult disability in the United States. Disability caused by the stroke is devastating to the patient and family, but therapies are available to help rehabilitate patients after stroke.

For Mr. Sidney J. Gutting, DC, therapy has helped him return to many of his regular daily living activities. Mr. Gutting suffered a stroke on September 22, 2021. He was camping with his wife Phyllis and had been cleaning windows on their camper. He mentioned to her that his legs felt heavy. He decided to rest, got himself something to eat and then sat down.

“I got up to move and I couldn’t,” he said.

He described his entire body as unable to function and it was then that his wife called 911. After spending a week in the hospital, he was transferred to the Acute Inpatient Rehab program at Murray-Calloway County Hospital where he would spend the next 22 days of intense therapy. Following that program, he completed at home therapy and is now in outpatient therapy two times a week where he continues to progress and strengthen his left side and particularly his hand and arm for better functionality.

As a part of his treatment plan, Mr. Gutting continues with both physical and occupation therapy and continues to use a hemi walker during therapy.

“The therapy has helped reeducate the nerves in my arm and hand so that I have more movement. I’m also receiving therapy for my lower back,” said Mr. Gutting.

The aim of his physical therapy is to help stroke patients such as Mr. Gutting relearn simple motor activities such as walking, sitting, standing, lying down, and the process of switching from one type of movement to another.

Samantha Gillum, Occupational Therapist and Kim Clark, Occupational Therapist both work with Sidney to help with normal daily activities. This type of therapy also involves exercise and training. Its goal is to help the stroke patient relearn everyday activities such as eating, drinking and swallowing, dressing, bathing, cooking, reading and writing, and using the toilet. Occupational therapists seek to help the patient become independent or semi-independent.

“I tell them all – they’re a part of my family now,” Mr. Gutting said smiling.

His wife Phyllis says it will be one year in September since her husband’s stroke, as well as her birthday is on September 26^th and they will celebrate their 32^nd Anniversary on the 29^th.  There is a lot to be thankful for and she’s looking forward to having a celebration this year.

For additional information on outpatient rehab at MCCH contact the Center for Rehab and Sports Medicine at 270.762.1854 or visit www.murrayhospital.org

Murray-Calloway County Hospital recognizes Dr. David Koelsch for his commitment in providing care for 21 years to patients and families in our area.

Dr. Koelsch has been a part of West Kentucky Surgical, Inc., and is a board certified general surgeon who received his undergraduate degree from Vanderbilt University.  He completed his medical degree from the University of Tennessee College of Medicine where he also completed his surgery internship. He has specialized in colon and rectal cancer surgery, hernia repair, breast cancer, and breast reconstruction. Dr. Koelsch will be pursuing a new career in Oak Ridge, TN near both he and his wife, Peggy’s, family, as well as, close to one of their sons.

Dr. Koelsch left a message to the community and his patients as follows:

“It is with sadness I announce the ending of my time at MCCH.  I came to Murray fresh out of training.  My program director knew I wanted to practice a wide range of surgery and live on the lake.  In 1998, he connected me with Craig, whom he had said was looking for a partner of similar surgical upbringing for several years and the rest as they say is history.  

Murray was sold to me as a great place to raise a family, and it did not disappoint.  I am forever thankful to the teachers, church members, neighbors, scout masters, coaches and friends that helped me raise my boys into Christian young men to go out into the world and make it a better place.  

Peggy and I both tried to do that while we here in Murray, and felt we have accomplished that goal with our work in the schools, church, Needline, Angels Attic and of course the hospital both as a provider and a medical staff leader.

I am proud of our hospital.  Since I have been here we have advanced in women’s breast health and cancer care, we built a new hospital, we have added interventional cardiology, we have plans for a state of the art cancer center,” commented Dr. Koelsch.

Murray-Calloway County Hospital is pleased to welcome Carlie Bourland, SLP to the Center for Rehab & Sports Medicine.

She completed her Master of Science and Bachelor of Science in Speech-Language Pathology from Murray State University and has worked in various locations to further her experience including Sensory Solutions, LLC, Orthopedic Neurological Rehabilitation, and EmpowerMe Wellness.

Ms. Bourland will work with patients to complete an evaluation and create a treatment plan for those with communication disorders and swallowing disorders. Speech-language pathologists, such as Bourland, work with people of all ages to assess, diagnose, treat and help prevent many types of communication and swallowing disorders.

Diagnosis May Include:

• Speech sounds: Articulation, phonological
  disorders, apraxia of speech, or dysarthria
• Language: Comprehension of written or verbal language or aphasia in adults
• Social communication: Social cues, use of social space or pragmatics
• Voice: Ability to speak and make sounds
• Fluency: Stuttering
• Cognitive communication: Memory, attention problem solving, organization, and other thinking skills
• Feeding and swallowing: Dysphagia

These Disorders May be Caused By:

• Brain damage, due to stroke or head injury
• Diseases that progress over time, such as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), Huntington’s Disease and Parkinson’s Disease
• Head, neck or mouth cancer
• Dementia
• Developmental disorders

If you believe you or a family member might benefit from speech therapy, talk to your doctor about a referral to the Center for Rehab and Sports Medicine at Murray Hospital.

If you have any additional questions regarding speech therapy services, please contact the Center for Rehab and Sports Medicine at 270.762.1854 or visit www.murrayhospital.org.