cover story
HOW DEPENDENT you are on YOUR HANDS until you CAN’T USE them anymore
You don’t know
Having a solid rehabilitation program in place allows Hymel and her team to adapt sessions based on how patients are handling therapy and reacting to pain. The plan is based on the injury itself, the patient’s goals and the therapist’s expectations. It includes a realistic time frame for progression based on clinical therapy as well as adherence to an at-home regimen. “There is a misperception that therapy is painful,” she said. “The adage, ‘no pain, no gain’ is not accurate when it comes our patients. We focus on soothing the pain, not pushing through it. We don’t want them to dread appointments. Ultimately, the more they look forward to therapy, the better their outcomes will be.” In addition to pain management techniques such as heat treatments, instrumented assisted massaging, ultrasound and scar management, the clinic offers rehabilitation exercises and equipment to treat patients. From high-touch sensitivity re-education to the high tech BTE Simulator II that accelerates strength training, the therapists and technicians utilize a variety of tools to help restore function. In-house capabilities also include custom and pre-fabricated splints. This is critical in emergency situations where physicians may be reluctant to stabilize using hard casts. The clinic can often accommodate emergency patients as soon as the physician order is complete, with customized splints completed within one hour. While much of her time is spent encouraging her patients, Hymel makes sure her employees are taken care of as well. She takes her responsibility as a business owner seriously, offering health insurance and retirement accounts—benefits almost unheard of for a business with only six employees. She also fosters an environment that puts family first, allowing flexibility with scheduling so team members can attend important events in their children’s lives. “One of the reasons I started my own therapy business in 2005 was because I wanted the opportunity to be more involved with my children, Jordan and Jared who were five and four years old at the time. Now that they are in high school and on the verge of college, I am so grateful for the time I’ve had with them. It means a lot to be
able to provide that same opportunity to my own employees,” she said. The Accelerated Hand Solutions’ team includes a second hand therapist, Stephanie Accardo, who has been with Hymel since being mentored by her seven years ago. They are assisted by therapy technicians Adam Cookmeyer and Alexa Kestler. Office manager Mireya Barkley and administrative assistant Jenna Corkern have managed the daily operations of the clinic. “Having a group of experienced, loyal professionals has allowed me to focus on the behind-the-scenes business administrative responsibilities and treat complex post-operative cases with the confidence that Stephanie is fully capable of handling all the clinical responsibilities.” Hymel said that her staff may be responsible for putting her vision in action, her husband Stephen is who helps make her vision a reality. “He is the glue to everything. Whether it was selling his truck to help with the initial down payment for the clinic or rearranging his schedule to help with the kids, he is always there to pick up slack when I needed it,” she said. “As we enter the next phase of the clinic and move to an expanded location, I am most thankful for the hand that has held mine for the last 24 years.” Accelerated Hand Solutions is located at 7047 Highway 190 East Service Road, Covington. For more information, please call 985-951-2457 or visit acceleratedhandsolutions.com. Sophisticated Woman | January 2018 23