New device aids occupational therapists at Tennessee hospital

A Tennessee rehabilitation hospital recently purchased a new piece of equipment that is beneficial to people holding occupational therapy jobs, according to a published report.

Created to measure an occupational therapy client's visual motor skills, the Dynavision D2 is one of HealthSouth Chattanooga's most versatile pieces of equipment, occupational therapist Ashley Wright told The Chattanooga Times Free Press. New strategies and techniques are readily available for exploration, according to Ashley Wells, also an occupational therapist with HealthSouth Chattanooga.

"I'm pushing the limits of what the patient can handle so it's not boring because it can get a little redundant," Wells told the news source. "When it was discovered, it was like, 'Wow, this has been missing in rehab forever.'"

The device assesses reaction speed and gauges accuracy, enabling occupational therapists to track several different conditions. The hospital purchased the machinery in early February for $14,000. All therapists on staff have been trained in its operation and use, and it is included in roughly 25 percent of patients use.

Occupational therapists aid patients with the development, recovery and improvement of daily life skills, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.