Occupational Therapy
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617.638.7869
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Hours of Operation: Monday-Thursday - 7:00 AM - 7:00 PM, Friday - 7:00 AM - 4:30 PM
New Patients
If you are a new patient and need an appointment, please contact us at the phone number below.
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Occupational therapy helps patients recover from injuries, trauma, and neurological or musculoskeletal disorders to regain the skills needed to resume the highest level of function for daily living and tasks. Occupational therapy helps people participate in the things they want and need to do every day, such as dressing, bathing, and getting around. At a first OT appointment, a therapist and the patient will set goals and create a plan to achieve those goals.
Caring for Patients
Occupational therapists (OTs) are licensed health care professionals typically with a master’s degree in occupational therapy. They offer specialized assessment and treatment in hand and upper extremity conditions such as arthritis, fractures, upper extremity traumas, tendon and nerve injuries, and recovery from surgical procedures.
Patients in need of hand therapy may be seen by a certified hand therapist. This is a licensed and registered occupational therapist with advanced training in hand therapy.
Occupational therapist assistants are part of a patient’s care team and help assist occupational therapists in providing occupational therapy treatments and procedures.
Occupational therapy interventions include:
- Custom splinting, constructed by hand therapists and used to help a painful joint rest, increase stability, and provide pain-free functional use.
- Edema control
- Soft tissue/scar management
- Physical agent modalities
- Strengthening
- Therapeutic activities
The OTs provide care for conditions such as stroke, Parkinson’s disease, and brain injuries, including concussions. The neurological team focuses on self-care and homemaking re-training, custom splinting, cognitive and neuro-muscular re-education so patients may function safely at home and in the community.
Contact Us
4th Floor
Shapiro Center 617.638.7869
Specialty Clinics
Physical and Occupational Therapy
Physical Therapy
Physical therapy (PT) is a healthcare specialty used to evaluate, diagnose, and treat physical problems or disorders of the human body. The goal of PT is for people to be able to go about their normal daily activities as they did before an injury or surgery. Therapists use exercise, manual skills, and functional training to help patients return to their prior level of activity.
Center for Transgender Medicine and Surgery
Medical Oncology
Orthopedic Surgery
Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders Center
Pediatrics - Pain Clinic
Rheumatology
The Department of Rheumatology provides a full range of services - including joint injections, musculoskeletal ultrasound, and infusion therapies – for arthritis and systemic rheumatic autoimmune diseases, including scleroderma, lupus, inflammatory arthritis, spondyloarthritis, osteoarthritis, and gout. For all conditions, our rheumatologists work closely with providers in other departments to ensure you receive the best care possible, for all aspects of your health.
Stroke and Cerebrovascular Center
Conditions We Treat
- Abdominal Pain and Pelvic Floor Disorders
- Balance Disorders
- Bone and Joint Replacement
- Bone Fracture
- Concussion
- De Quervain's Tendonitis
- Dyspareunia
- Interstitial Cystitis (IC)
- Lymphedema
- Overactive Bladder Disorder (OAB)
- Parkinson's Disease
- Pelvic Floor Weakness
- Pelvic Organ Prolapse
- Pelvic Pain
- Spinal Fractures
- Stroke
- Walking Abnormalities (Gait Abnormalities)
Our Team
Karen Mattie, MSPT
Director, Rehabilitative Services
Kara Schworm, MSPT, CCS
Manager, Inpatient Rehabilitative Services
James Sherman, PT, DPT
Manager, Outpatient Rehabilitative Services, Winthrop Neighborhood Health
Jeffrey Merritt
Operations Manager, Rehabilitative Services
Sara Aliperti, PT, DPT, MS, OCS
Manager, Outpatient Rehabilitative Services, Boston Medical Center Campus
Patient Resources
Preparing for your PT or OT Visit
Residency and Fellowship Information
Physical and Occupational Therapy Education & Training for Students
Clinical affiliations with accredited PT, PT, and OT programs:
Physical Therapy
- Boston University
- Drexel University
- Ithaca University
- MGH – IHP
- Northeastern University
- Quinnipiac
- Simmons
- Springfield College
- University of Indianapolis
- UMass – Lowell
- University of Rhode Island
Occupational Therapy
- Boston University
- MGH-IHP
- Springfield College
- Tufts
- UNH
- University of Indianapolis
Physical Therapy Assistant
- Baystate College
- University of Indianapolis