Franciscan Health Lafayette Occupational Therapist Credentialed As A Certified Hand Therapist

LAFAYETTE, Indiana - Angela Polmateer, OTR, OT II, CHT, Franciscan Health occupational therapist has recently been credentialed as a certified hand therapist (CHT).

Polmateer received her degree in occupational therapy from Saint Louis University in 2000. She has worked at Franciscan Health for ten years, nine of them being in outpatient upper extremity rehab. Polmateer is experienced in all areas of rehabilitation, including inpatient rehab, acute rehab, home health and pediatrics. Her expertise is in upper extremity rehab, both orthopedic and neurological. She also has experience with patient conditions such as traumatic injuries, burns, stroke, spinal cord injuries, and brain injuries. In addition to obtaining her CHT certification, she is also an OT II, and is involved in the training of new employees and students.

A certified hand therapist is someone who evaluates and treats injuries and conditions of the upper extremity (shoulder, arm, elbow, forearm, wrist and hand). To obtain the CHT credential, a hand therapist must practice as an occupational or physical therapist for a minimum of three years, accumulating at least 4,000 hours of hand and upper extremity experience. A certified hand therapist can help those with repetitive strain injuries, fractures and dislocation, tendon injuries and repairs, osteoarthritis, sports injuries, rheumatoid arthritis, burns and neuropathy.

For more information, or to schedule an appointment, call Franciscan Health Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapy Lafayette at (765) 423-6885.