Observations at Calif. Children Services Medical Therapy Unit

Last week I made two visits to California Children Services (CCS) Medical Therapy Unit (MTU) provided by the City and County of San Francisco, Department of Public Health. I was introduced to the facility through Cliff Young, OTR/L, the senior occupational therapist there, who will also be apart of my panel of experts. I met Cliff through the Whirlwind Wheelchair class at SFSU.

Medical Therapy Program (MTP) services are provided by MTU; they provide (Physical Therapy) PT and (Occupational Therapy) OT to children in need of such medical assistance, so they may learn independence of mobility and everyday functioning. The services provide are free but children need to meet certain requirements to be eligible. http://www.dhcs.ca.gov/services/ccs/Pages/MTP.aspx

First Visit
During my first visit, I got a tour of the amenities that are offered to the public, unfortunately it was a slow Friday with no kids in sight. The place wasn’t too big—two rooms with mats and obstacles and a large hallway filled with walkers and adapted tricycles off of Quintara Street in the Sunset district. In a large hallway connecting all the rooms there were different back supportive seating, walkers, adapted tricycles, lap trays, braces and much more. Many children utilize the program, and each of them differs from what they need hence all the different devices that are used. The therapists use professionally manufactured apparatuses to adapted ones that they themselves developed to help the kids.

Second Visit
I went by on a very busy Wednesday; this is when thirty some odd therapists meet with clients in this small location. There were many kids there, some were practicing walking, others using everyday tools, playing games—things that we do on a daily basis don’t even think much about.

I was fortunate enough to meet a couple of the children who were using wheelchairs, which relates more to my own research project. I was able to get perspective regarding the use of wheelchairs from the standpoints of the therapists and parents, the children were a bit shy as it was our first encounter.