Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions (RMUoHP) is excited for another year of growth and service with its pro bono clinics. As the University moves forward into the new year, it is important to look back and celebrate the incredible work that was done in the university-sponsored pro bono clinics in 2021. These clinics not only provided faculty and students the opportunity to utilize their skills and expertise, but they continue to do so while providing free services needed by underserved members of the community.
The Center for Communication Disorders (CCD) provides free speech services and therapy to the community, and the Community Rehabilitation Clinic (CRC) provides free physical therapy services.
Both organizations have adjusted to the needs of their patients during the COVID-19 pandemic by following the appropriate measures to keep their patients healthy and safe.
For the CRC, the challenges brought forth by the COVID-19 pandemic led to the creation of the COVID-19 Rehabilitation Program.
The COVID-19 Rehabilitation program at the CRC provides pro bono services to individuals with current or past diagnosis of COVID-19. The program focuses on endurance, strength, and mobility training; help with breathing and oxygenation; sinus and lung clearance and cough; and improving mental health such as anxiety and depression. Depending on the patient’s condition, COVID-19 rehabilitation is offered in-person at the CRC or through telehealth appointments.
In 2021, the CRC also added its Health and Wellness Program. This program aimed to transition patients from rehabilitation to lifestyle management. The CRC’s Health and Wellness Program helps patients with sleep, weight management or dietary patterns, stress management, and other related issues. By participating in the program, CRC therapists worked to help address problems that directly or indirectly impact a patient’s ability to have a full recovery.
“Because of the pain in my lower back and pain in my left leg, it was very difficult as I could not do anything,” said Fernando. “Therapy helped me a lot and the exercises are very good. I have seen a lot of progress.”
Alongside its other programs, the CRC continued to provide services through the Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Physical Therapy and Wellness Center throughout 2021.
The MS Center at the CRC specifically focuses on providing free, high quality services to individuals in Utah County and nearby counties who struggle to find individualized MS-specific physical therapy rehabilitation.
Both the CRC and the CCD are working toward meeting the needs of their clients and providing proficient service.
For example, the CCD launched its Pediatric Feeding and Swallowing Center and, in 2021, they added the services of a licensed social worker after identifying a need with patient families. The team now consists of a speech language pathologist, a dietician, a social worker, and a physical therapy consultant.
The CCD’s Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) Services was also developed in 2021 and a group treatment program began in June. The program, with weekly group meetings, provided support services and training for children from the sixth to ninth grades who use voice output communication devices.
During the summer of 2021, clinic students and faculty hosted a Reader’s Theater, which focused on providing a language-rich environment to support literacy skills for school-aged children.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, some of the clinic’s services were suspended back in 2020; however, by fall 2021, the CCD resumed its literacy program at the South Franklin Community Center, where after-school sessions are hosted to provide literacy support and development to children and families.
The Aphasia group, which also resumed in 2021, is for clients who have had a stroke or brain injury resulting in aphasia. Clinicians develop individual treatment plans for clients focused on functional communication and generalization of skills.
2021 also saw the return of in-person services for both the Provo Project Read Adult Literacy Program—a program where student clinicians help support adults with low or no literacy who have an underlying language or cognitive disorder—as well as the Voice Disorders Clinic—a program which specializes in vocal trauma, muscle tension dysphonia, and spasmodic dysphonia.
The free services provided by Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions (RMUoHP) through the Center for Communication Disorders and the Community Rehabilitation Clinic have saved Utah residents over one million dollars in healthcare services. With the University’s core value of service, RMUoHP is proud of the service provided to the community in 2021.
For more information on the CRC, the CCD, and service provided by the University, visit the RMUoHP Foundation website.
