Expanded Cox Rehab space makes work feel like play for kids
January 12, 2022
Above, Abel Tucker, of Monett, works with speech therapist, Ainsley Cotherman, at Cox Rehab in Monett. Photo by Sheila Harrris.
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Above, five-year-old Lathem Briggs, of Monett, works with physical therapy assistant, Jennifer Brown, at Cox Rehab in Monett. Photo by Sheila Harris.
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Sheila Harris
There’s a new play-place in Monett, or so it seems to kids involved in speech, occupational and/or physical therapy in the newly renovated area devoted to pediatrics at Cox Rehab and Sports Medicine at 700 E. Cleveland in Monett.
In the building that was long ago the site of a Ramey’s Market, physicians offices in the Cox Rehab facility were relocated to the new CoxHealth Monett Clinic adjacent to the Cox Monett Hospital. The relocation freed up floor space in the current Rehab building for larger specialized equipment specific to the needs of children. Much of that equipment - including a rock-climbing wall, a rocking barrel and a pediatric gym - was made available through a $10,000 donation from Children’s Miracle Network. A smart board, an interactive educational device, was provided by a previous donation.
“With this equipment, kid’s don’t know they’re working,” said physical therapist Kalle .
The Cox Rehab and Sports Medicine sees about 40 to 50 patients per week, said former director, Kevin Norris, who has since accepted the position of director of Rehabilitation Services at CoxHealth in Springfield. Therapists are able to work with children as young as just a few months old as long as a diagnosis has been made by a referring physician, he says.
“Some disabilities aren’t recognized until a child is 14 or 15 months old or more, when parents or pediatricians become aware that a child is not meeting typical milestones,” Norris said.
Five-year-old Lathem Briggs, of Monett, was diagnosed with Stickler Syndrome when he was four-years-old. The genetic disorder is marked by a collagen deficiency which typically causes joint, hearing and vision problems.
“It took over two years for them to find a diagnosis for Lathem’s condition,” said his mother, Kara Briggs, an X-ray technician for CoxHealth. “I first noticed a problem when Lathem took longer to walk and talk than other kids. Then, when he did walk, he was out-toeing his feet.”
With a diagnosis made, Lathem is now working with therapists to improve his balance, strengthen his muscles and improve his eye-hand coordination.
Monett resident Heather Tucker’s son, three-year-old Able, began speech therapy at Cox Rehab after his mother noticed he wasn’t really speaking yet at age two and a half. As the mother of five, Tucker says she was vigilant with Able, because she has two older daughters who benefitted from speech therapy.
The range of services that can be provided by the pediatric therapy team is extensive and includes balance training, coloring and writing skills, feeding and swallowing abilities, hand use and fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, sitting/walking abilities, socialization and play skills, reasoning skills, torticollis, verbal and non-verbal communication, visual skills, motor skills, self-care and dressing and wheelchair skills. Specialized services and activities are also available.
Therapists agree that the expanded children’s therapy area in Monett is beneficial for kids, therapists and even adult rehab patients, because, now, the children’s area is separate from the adults’.
While a referral from a physician is required for therapy services, most insurances are accepted.
More information can be found at https://www.coxhealth.com/services/rehabilitation/pediatric-therapy/, or by calling 417-236-2480.
There’s a new play-place in Monett, or so it seems to kids involved in speech, occupational and/or physical therapy in the newly renovated area devoted to pediatrics at Cox Rehab and Sports Medicine at 700 E. Cleveland in Monett.
In the building that was long ago the site of a Ramey’s Market, physicians offices in the Cox Rehab facility were relocated to the new CoxHealth Monett Clinic adjacent to the Cox Monett Hospital. The relocation freed up floor space in the current Rehab building for larger specialized equipment specific to the needs of children. Much of that equipment - including a rock-climbing wall, a rocking barrel and a pediatric gym - was made available through a $10,000 donation from Children’s Miracle Network. A smart board, an interactive educational device, was provided by a previous donation.
“With this equipment, kid’s don’t know they’re working,” said physical therapist Kalle .
The Cox Rehab and Sports Medicine sees about 40 to 50 patients per week, said former director, Kevin Norris, who has since accepted the position of director of Rehabilitation Services at CoxHealth in Springfield. Therapists are able to work with children as young as just a few months old as long as a diagnosis has been made by a referring physician, he says.
“Some disabilities aren’t recognized until a child is 14 or 15 months old or more, when parents or pediatricians become aware that a child is not meeting typical milestones,” Norris said.
Five-year-old Lathem Briggs, of Monett, was diagnosed with Stickler Syndrome when he was four-years-old. The genetic disorder is marked by a collagen deficiency which typically causes joint, hearing and vision problems.
“It took over two years for them to find a diagnosis for Lathem’s condition,” said his mother, Kara Briggs, an X-ray technician for CoxHealth. “I first noticed a problem when Lathem took longer to walk and talk than other kids. Then, when he did walk, he was out-toeing his feet.”
With a diagnosis made, Lathem is now working with therapists to improve his balance, strengthen his muscles and improve his eye-hand coordination.
Monett resident Heather Tucker’s son, three-year-old Able, began speech therapy at Cox Rehab after his mother noticed he wasn’t really speaking yet at age two and a half. As the mother of five, Tucker says she was vigilant with Able, because she has two older daughters who benefitted from speech therapy.
The range of services that can be provided by the pediatric therapy team is extensive and includes balance training, coloring and writing skills, feeding and swallowing abilities, hand use and fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, sitting/walking abilities, socialization and play skills, reasoning skills, torticollis, verbal and non-verbal communication, visual skills, motor skills, self-care and dressing and wheelchair skills. Specialized services and activities are also available.
Therapists agree that the expanded children’s therapy area in Monett is beneficial for kids, therapists and even adult rehab patients, because, now, the children’s area is separate from the adults’.
While a referral from a physician is required for therapy services, most insurances are accepted.
More information can be found at https://www.coxhealth.com/services/rehabilitation/pediatric-therapy/, or by calling 417-236-2480.