Vim & Vigor - Spring 2018 - Community Healthcare - 55

Hoener coaches Toigo-Tudor on exercises
for her foot and ankle at the Valparaiso
Family YMCA as she undergoes physical
therapy.

An employee of St. Mary Medical Center
in Hobart, Toigo-Tudor knew she had a
team of experts-physicians and rehabilitation specialists-that she could
rely on to help her get back on her feet
again. Consultation with Community Care
Network podiatrist Jared Moon, DPM,
confirmed what she already suspected:
Her injury would require major surgery.
After a successful four-hour surgery,
Toigo-Tudor went home with her foot
and ankle in a cast, but she discovered
her journey had just begun. Once she
recovered from surgery, it was time
to begin physical therapy. Fortunately,
St. Mary Medical Center and the
Valparaiso Family YMCA had expanded
their existing health and wellness partnership to include physical and aquatic
therapy services at the Y's facility, 1201
Cumberland Crossing Drive, close to
her home.
Physical therapists at the Y work to
develop individualized treatment plans
to address specific functional needs
with the goal of returning patients
safely to their prior level of function.
St. Mary Medical Center Outpatient
Rehabilitation therapies, including
physical therapy and aquatic therapy,

can effectively integrate care for Joint
Academy and Acute Rehabilitation Unit
patients needing the next level of care
after discharge from the hospital.
Toigo-Tudor said undergoing physical therapy at the conveniently located
YMCA provided extra motivation that
spurred her progress.
"I had been a member there before
and forgot what it was like inside," she
says. "It wasn't anything short of inspirational to walk in and see everybody caring and working out."
Toigo-Tudor worked with certified
physical therapist Brian Hoener, DPT.
"Brian was very positive and encouraged me," she says. "I learned that if

you don't do your exercises properly,
you're not progressing. It's important
that you're sitting straight or standing
straight and using proper technique to
get the most out of your therapy."
Hoener said Toigo-Tudor was faithful in maintaining her routine in the
clinic and at home, which was key to
her success.
"Despite everything she has going
on and despite how bad her day was
or how much pain she was feeling, she
always had a smile on her face," he says.
"I didn't have to worry about her with
regard to the exercise program and the
restrictions and precautions pertaining
to her injury."
Hoener described physical therapy
as a continuous learning process that
requires active participation from the
patient in order to succeed.
"Physical therapy isn't just going to
see the physical therapist once, twice,
three times a week and then you're
done," he explains. "Physical therapy is
a total educational process. We want to
empower you and to allow you to take
control of your therapy." ■

WEBSITE

We're Here to Help
St. Mary Medical Center's Physical Therapy Clinic at the Valparaiso Family
YMCA, 1201 Cumberland Crossing, can help verify insurance coverage
and referral requirements. For more information or to schedule an
appointment, call 219-286-3890. Visit Therapy Services at comhs.org
for more information.

SPRING 2018

http://www.comhs.org

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