Putnam General Hospital (PGH) is excited to announce the renovation of its rehabilitation department suite, which provides physical, occupational, and speech therapy services. Additionally, everyone in the community is invited and welcome to attend an open house for the renovated rehab facility from 1-3 p.m., Sept. 22.
Innovative Therapy Concepts (ITC), a therapy staffing and management company, has partnered with the hospital for four years to provide these therapy services. ITC Regional Manager Ken Youngblood said the renovation has been a vision for several years; however, the pandemic prevented them from moving forward with this vision.
“The previous area included small, individualized rooms of a doctor’s office, which was not conducive to give the best quality care to our patients,” Youngblood explained. “The open space now allows our therapists to be more efficient in monitoring patients throughout their treatment, assuring patient safety and maximizing each patient’s potential outcomes.”
In a tour of the new suite’s layout, Youngblood explained much of the equipment and tools used in therapy. He also described how this improved, open atmosphere will help boost patient morale by allowing them to encourage one another, letting them see and realize they are not alone in their therapy journeys.
Putnam General Hospital CEO Alan Horton explained the therapy department sees all patients, from pediatric to geriatric, and provides a wide array of outpatient services to those with developmental, physical, and/or cognitive impairments. Specifically, this may include individuals who have a decline in functional abilities due to generalized weakness, surgery, accidents, or any neurological change.
Additionally, Youngblood said he is proud to announce and welcome Jana Weems, DPT, to PGH as a physical therapist, as well as its new director of rehabilitation. Youngblood said he’s excited for Weems to be providing her knowledge, experience, and leadership skills at PGH.
Weems has been a physical therapist for the past 17 years, with the last 14 years working in the home health setting within Putnam and surrounding counties. She graduated in 2006 with a Master of Physical Therapy from North Georgia College and in 2007 from Augusta State with a Transitional Doctorate.
She lives nearby in Eatonton with her husband, Jay Weems, and three children, James Patrick (14), Elizabeth (12), and Kathryn (10).
Youngblood also emphasized the PGH therapy team provides excellent quality care close to home to all citizens of Eatonton and Putnam County. His stated goal is to elevate the therapeutic experience for anyone in need of physical, occupational, and/or speech therapy.
For more information, please do not hesitate to contact the PGH rehab department at 706-923-2015.