Digital rehabilitation helps Andy return to work

Just three months after Andy Crocker suffered a seizure and underwent surgery for a brain abscess, the 59 year old from Golden Bay was last week able to return to his job as a senior structural, mechanical and piping estimator.

Andy was able to do this with the support of the Rehabilitation In The Home (RITH) in Rockingham which provided physiotherapy and speech therapy with a focus on high level language skills including word finding, reasoning and problem solving.

With Andy undergoing surgery in early March, his follow up treatment occurred during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Unable to drive and with hospital restrictions in place, his RITH sessions took place over the phone and via video call.

“It was great to do my speech exercises and fitness plan in the comfort of my own home,” Andy said.

“I had exercises to complete over a period of time and was able to do them at my own pace.”

RITH Rockingham Senior Speech Pathologist, Renae Johns, said as a businessman with the goal of returning to work, Andy’s role involved writing quotes and liaising with customers via phone and email.

“The telehealth forum was actually more useful for Andy than home visits as it was more representative of his day to day work role,” Renae said.

“While the digital outpatients service was the primary form of communication due to COVID-19, using the technology also aided his confidence for the gradual return to work.”

Andy credits RITH and the digital outpatients service as helping him get back to work faster.

“I would absolutely recommend using the technology available and people should take it up if they can, no pressure,” Andy said.

“It was all first class.”

Ask your health care team if you are suitable for digital outpatients.

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