Janie Fuller, an emergency medical technician, receives attention from hand therapist Ralph Voorhies.

In mid-February, Janie Fuller, an emergency medical technician for Acadian Ambulance Service in Lafayette, and two coworkers were transporting a wheelchair-bound patient down a flight of stairs. Suddenly, her right hand became pinned between the wheelchair and a step.

Three weeks later, the 41-year-old paramedic thought the lifelong career she loved so much had ended. Fuller's hand was still so painfully swollen, she couldn't see her knuckles. She was unable to brush her teeth or dress herself.

"I thought I'd never be able to use my hand the way I used to," says Fuller. She depends on that hand for strength and fine movements to administer medications, start intravenous tubes and insert breathing tubes through the mouths or noses of patients having difficulty breathing.

"I've got to hit a target about the size of a quarter with that tube. If I don't have the dexterity to do that, I can't do what I've loved doing for the past 24 years," says Fuller, who also sustained tendon damage in her wrist and thumb. "I was totally discouraged."

Then, she was referred to Chalmette Medical Center's Outpatient Therapy Clinic and Ralph Voorhies, L.O.T.R., C.H.T., a licensed occupational therapist and CMC's new certified hand therapist. First, he created a custom-made splint out of a malleable plastic material to stabilize her right hand. Then, Voorhies started Fuller on exercises to improve her range of motion and reduce the swelling.

Within a week, 70 percent of her swelling had subsided. Fuller continued to visit the clinic for three one-hour sessions with Voorhies, and each day she performed the exercises he suggested for better motion and, eventually, more strength.

"Ralph knows so much about hands, but he talks like a regular person to make sure you understand what he's talking about," Fuller says. "I never felt I was just a number with him."

Nine weeks after her accident, Fuller had regained 90 percent of the use of her hand. Now, she's back at work.

"I'm thrilled to be able to maintain my career," she says. "I know it's largely due to Ralph being so aggressive and attentive in my treatment."

For more information about hand therapy at CMC's Outpatient Therapy Clinic, call 620-7241.

Ralph Voorhies, L.O.T.R., C.H.T., joined CMC's Outpatient Therapy Clinic in January. He is one of about 60 certified hand therapists in Louisiana. To gain that certification, a therapist must have a minimum of five years of clinical experience. This experience must include more than 2,000 hours of direct therapy with patients either recovering from hand injuries or surgical hand procedures. "The therapy must be precise because there are so many structures in your hand that influence each other," Voorhies says. "Because the hand plays such a major role in our activities of daily living, it's really rewarding to educate and empower people after they've injured their hands."

9001 Patricia Street, P.O. Box 1727, Chalmette, LA 70044 (504) 620-6000