People value the use of their hands; therefore, any loss of function through injury or disease can devastate lives. Treatment of most hand conditions requires specialized treatment, as the hand is such a compact and intricate structure.
According to Dr. Roy Meals, a hand surgeon at UCLA, many physicians direct patients to Certified Hand Therapists to ensure good results after surgery in the hand and upper extremity.
Dr. Meals says, “I enlist the specialized skills of a Certified Hand Therapist to oversee my patients’ care. CHTs are entirely familiar with the diseases and injuries that I treat. CHTs efficiently and effectively manage my patients’ hand rehabilitation.”
The Certified Hand Therapist (CHT) credential offers assurance to the public that the therapist treating them has achieved the highest recognition of competency in the profession of upper limb rehabilitation and has met all requirements set forth by the Hand Therapy Certification Commission. These requirements include at least five years of clinical experience as an occupational therapist or physical therapist, a minimum of 4,000 hours in direct practice in hand therapy, and successful completion of advanced clinical skills and theory in upper limb rehabilitation. There are approximately 5,400 individuals worldwide hold this marked designation.
St. Luke’s Hospital is pleased to announce Karol Young MS, OTR/L, CHT, Occupational Therapist and Certified Hand Therapist, has joined the professional staff at St. Luke’s Rehabilitation Center. Karol brings more than 24 years of knowledge and experience to the St. Luke’s rehabilitation program. Having received her Master of Science in Occupational Therapy from Rush University College of Health Sciences in Chicago, she was quickly drawn to the art and science that comprises the specialty of hand therapy.
Karol became a certified hand therapist (CHT) in 1997 and continues to pursue her passion for lifelong learning through enrollment in the Occupational Therapy Doctoral Program at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia. She possesses advanced occupational therapy skills and has been practicing the specialty of hand therapy in the upstate of South Carolina for more than 15 years.
Karol is an active member in the American Society of Hand Therapists, currently holding the position as chairman of the Practice Standards Committee. She is also a member of the American Occupational Therapy Association, the North Carolina Occupational Therapy Association, and an Affiliate member of the American Society for Surgery of the Hand.
An outdoor enthusiast, Karol lives in Saluda with her husband and daughter.
St. Luke’s Rehabilitation Center provides comprehensive physical, occupational and speech therapy for both inpatients and outpatients. In a new facility that opened December 2013, the Rehab Center features one-on-one therapy with a licensed professional. The new 5,500 square foot center features a large therapeutic gym overlooking the Carolina Foothills, five private treatment rooms, a lab that provides activities of daily living, individualized aquatic therapy and a ceiling-mounted harness that prevents a patient from falling during gait therapy and balance training.
For additional information regarding the rehabilitation program at St. Luke’s Hospital or to schedule an appointment with one of our therapists, please call 894-8719.

– article submitted
by Kathy Woodham