---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
January 12, 2009 (Beaver, PA) – Heritage Valley Health System recently announced that two of its employees have received certification as hand therapists. They are occupational therapists Terri Narehood, OTR/L, CHT and Mary Sisak, OTR/L, CHT. A Certified Hand Therapist (CHT) is an occupational therapist or physical therapist who has a minimum of five years of clinical experience, including 4,000 hours or more in direct practice in hand therapy. In addition, the Certified Hand Therapist has successfully passed a comprehensive test of advanced clinical skills and theory in upper quarter rehabilitation. Because of changes in the profession, every CHT is required to demonstrate continued professional development and competency by recertifying every five years. There are only 5,000 certified hand therapists worldwide.

Narehood has a Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy from University of Pittsburgh and a Master of Arts in Health Care Ethics from Duquesne University. She has worked at Heritage Valley Beaver for the past 18 years and for 15 of those years she has focused on working with outpatients on hand and upper extremity injuries including evaluation and treatment. Sisak has a Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy from the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Wa. She also has a Certificate in Advanced Practice in Upper Quarter Rehabilitation from Drexel University. Mary is an Occupational Therapist with over 30 years of experience in clinical management, direct patient treatment and consultation in a wide variety of settings. She has been with Heritage Valley since 1997 and currently works at the Edgeworth office of Signature Rehab, part of Heritage Valley Health System.

“The Certified Hand Therapist credential offers assurance to the public that our therapists have achieved the highest level of competency in the profession and stay up to date with practice within the field,” said Dr. Dan Brooks, Vice President of Community Health Services at Heritage Valley Health System. “The technical complexity of arm and hand surgeries necessitates a high level of competence by therapists with advanced skills in upper quarter rehabilitation during postoperative recovery. The CHT credential is recognized by many professional organizations as a benchmark for excellence and we congratulate Terri and Mary on this outstanding achievement.”