Occupational therapist joins Columbia Physical Therapy

by Matthew Weaver<br>Herald Staff Writer
| August 4, 2006 9:00 PM

Gaudem focuses on treating industrial workers

MOSES LAKE — The opportunity to move closer to her daughter is what drew Virender Gaudem here over a decade ago.

In 1995, Gaudem was living in Seattle, the latest in a worldwide list of residences, and her daughter was in Washington State University's pharmacy program in Pullman.

When Gaudem requested the opportunity to move closer, Moses Lake was the location given to her, and she's been here ever since.

Recently, Gaudem made another move, joining Columbia Physical Therapy in the capacity of occupational therapist.

Gaudem said she has been working in her field for 34 years, graduating from college in New Dehli, India, traveling afterward to Nigeria, Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, England, Scotland and Canada before landing in the United States in 1994.

Occupational therapy, Guadem explained, focuses on the whole upper body and focuses on the patient in daily living situations. Before becoming a hand therapist in 1989, Gaudem worked in a burn unit, in pediatrics and with patients in wheelchairs, and said she continues to work in those fields.

Her work with hands focuses on how a patient's hands connect to daily work, and she also works with elbows, making splints, and dealing with injuries, nerve damage and carpal tunnel syndrome.

There's a lot of need for such a therapist in the area because of the industries around, Gaudem said.

Columbia Physical Therapy physical therapist Steve Roylance noted the operation, in its present location for about 20 years, offers outpatient physical therapy services.

"In such a small community, generally, the physical therapy, we don't hone in on one particular thing," he said. "We treat all types of injuries and ailments."

One of the center's focuses is industrial rehabilitation, working with injured workers and with local doctors to manage injured working claims, as well as physical capacity evaluations and pre-employment screens, to name just a few offerings. The center works with the Department of Labor and Industries on a pilot program for communication between employers, physicians and physical therapists.

Roylance said the center also helps a wide variety of patients, including children, geriatric patients, people who have had strokes, those who need wound care, people with balance disorders, sports injuries and car accident victims.

"Vi is unique in that in the whole Moses Lake area, she is the only outpatient occupational therapist in the area," Roylance said, noting Gaudem's arrival puts her into a team approach when treating patients. "Vi's been a great adjunct to our business because she has a lot of background in industrial rehab and working with injured workers as well."

Gaudem specializes in hand treatment, lymphoedema and pediatric work, as well as other work conditioning and services.

She had been working for another area clinic, and the center decided to offer her a home, Roylance said.

Gaudem said the new work is more geared toward industrial therapy, which is a rising field, and pointed to Roylance's leadership at the center and his knowledge toward the industry. She primarily works on occupational therapy in industry, helping employees learn to use their hands without injuring themselves.

"I'm trying to make sure that I'm more towards the industries now," she said.