Ware, MA (January 19, 2012)     What does a high school soccer player, a retired school principal who loves to play tennis, and a loyal Red Sox fan have in common? 

They are all patients who turned to the expert physical therapists at Baystate Rehabilitation Care at Baystate Mary Lane Hospital to overcome pain and restore mobility to lead them back to an active family, work, sports, retirement, and independent lifestyle.   

Described by area physicians as “the jewel” of rehab practices, the team is

comprised of three doctoral-level therapists, two board certified specialists in orthopedic physical therapy, a board certified specialist in hand therapy, speech therapist and an audiologist.  Together they have built a strong reputation of quality care, high patient satisfaction, and clinical expertise - - close to home in Ware.  

“For many patients, rehabilitation is a critical step in the healing process.   Understanding the challenges that patients face as they recover from injury or surgery, we strive to create an atmosphere conducive to healing for patients and their families,” said Dr. Peter Ouellette, manager of rehab services at the hospital.  “We design individually-tailored programs and work one-on-one with our patients to help them recover with dignity, respect, trust, and some good fun.”  

 “I am especially proud of the relationships we have developed and established with our patients,” said Dr. Ouellette.  “It’s not unusual to treat several generations of patients who share their experience about the care they received, as they recommend us to their family and friends.  Unlike some clinics where you see someone different each visit, we feel it is very important to develop a one-on-one relationship with our patients to maintain continuity of care.”

 “While much of the physical therapy and rehabilitation services provided by the team are done on an outpatient basis, we also provide care to our patients in the hospital as well. It is a unique situation to be able to serve a patient during their hospital stay and then continue the rehab process as an outpatient,” said Ouellette.     

Kevin Smith, Occupational Therapist and Board Certified Hand Therapist, joins Dr. Ouellette as mainstays at BMLH. Well known for his specialty as a hand therapist, he also provides occupational therapy helping patients return to their normal lifestyle following a major surgery such as fracture or tendon repair. He is also instrumental in helping someone learn the skills they need to live an independent, satisfying and productive life after a permanent impairment such as a stroke or a disability.

Both Ouellette and Smith boast over 13 years of committed service to area residents offering state-of-the-art treatment with the comforts of hometown care. 

“Two outstanding physical therapists who have joined the rehab team in 2011are; Dr. Laya Bautista, a graduate of Boston University; and Kathi McCauley, a Board Certified Specialist in Orthopedic Physical Therapy.  Their caring and thoughtful approach to physical therapy is a great fit here,” states Dr. Ouellette. 

Rounding out the rehabilitation team, the Speech and Hearing Program is lead by Natalie Powers, Speech Pathologist.  Powers provides care to patients of all ages, including school age children and adults with speech, eating and swallowing disorders by offering speech therapy, swallow exams, and cognitive rehabilitation.

Dr. Tomma Henkel, Audiologist, says that hearing problems can occur for a multitude of reasons and at any age. She offers comprehensive hearing evaluation testing to determine the degree, type and configuration of hearing loss.  Hearing aid fitting and dispensing is also offered as she tailors services to meet the individual needs of each client. 

Special programs offered include: 

• Orthopedic and Sports Rehabilitation
• Total Joint and Post Fracture Rehabilitation
• Hand Specialty Program
• Falls and Balance Program
• Speech, Swallow and Cognitive Therapy
• Aphasia Support Group
• Sports Concussion
• Vestibular Rehabilitation for the “Dizzy” Patient
• Hearing Exams and Hearing Aid Dispensing

Ready to ensure that each patient experience is ideal from the beginning,

administrative support staff includes, Deb Oberg and Maryann Burian.  

Patients throughout the region are welcomed to experience the care offered by our highly-trained licensed physical therapists and specialist by calling Baystate Rehabilitation Care at Baystate Mary Lane Hospital at 413-967-2180.

In attached photo:   Baystate Rehabilitation Care at Baystate Mary Lane Hospital team include left to right:  Peter Ouellette, DPT, PT, M.Ed., OCS, Aiena Laya Bautista, DPT, Kathleen McCauley, MSPT, OCS, Deborah Oberg, Kevin Smith, OTR/L, CHT, Maryann Burian and Natalie Powers, MS, CCC-SLP, not in photo, Tomma Henckel, AuD, CCC-A