Jersey Shore Hospital Employee Passes Certified Hand Therapy Test

Jersey Shore, PA - An employee of Jersey Shore Hospital has recently passed the examination to become a Certified Hand Therapist.

Laura Fink, MS, OTR/L, CHT, manager of the Occupational Therapy Department at Jersey Shore Hospital, recently passed the comprehensive testing needed to become a Certified Hand Therapist.

According to the Hand Therapy Certification Commission, a Certified Hand Therapist is an occupational or physical therapist with a minimum of five years clinical experience, including 4,000+ hours of direct hand therapy practice. The therapist must also pass an all-inclusive test of superior clinical skills and theory in upper quarter rehabilitation.

The Hand Therapy Certification Commission states that there are only 5,052 Certified Hand Therapists worldwide, which may be why there are so few in the immediate area.

Fink, who graduated from Jersey Shore High School in 1992, completed schooling at Misericordia University in 1997, and then went on to graduate from the University of St. Francis in Joliet, IL, in 2002.

"I began working with hand patients in 1998, but didn't start studying for the certified hand therapy examination until a year ago," said Fink. "The test is very long and in-depth, but for those who pass, it gives a high-degree of affirmation of skill. It's like a benchmark in your standard of competence."

Fink said that some of the most common injuries include patients with flexor and extensor tendon injuries, wrist and finger fractures, those who have had carpal tunnel surgery, hand wounds, nerve injuries, amputations, tendonitis or burns. Many of Fink's patients are also referred because of work-related injuries.

Fink has been employed with Jersey Shore Hospital for six years. For more information about certified hand therapy, she can be reached at 398-3111.