Chelsea Benitz Email & Phone Number

Hamilton, Mt, Us

Hamilton, Montana, Us

Missoula, Mt, Us

Outpatient Care o Specialty Areas: • Neurorehabilitation - fine/gross motor control, coordination, and strength training; sensory retraining; spasticity reduction; cognitive rehabilitation; vision therapy; adaptive equipment/device training • Upper Extremity Orthopedics -splinting; reduction of pain, numbness, and tingling; ergonomics training • Oncology Rehabilitation – reducing pain and edema/lymphedema; returning range of motion and strength; fatigue management; scar tissue minimization o Common Diagnoses Treated: • Stroke • TBI/Concussion • Neurological Disorders: M.S., M.G., P.D., etc. • Cancer • UE Lymphedema • Carpal, Cubital, Radial Tunnel Syndromes • Brachial Plexus Injuries • Trigger Finger • Frostbite Injuries • Amputations • Post-Op Ortho: THA, TSA, TKA • Cognitive Impairment: Dementia, MCI, Learning Disabilities • Spinal Cord Injuries o Skills/Techniques: • Work with patients, physicians, and caregivers to establish goals and individualized plans of care • Evaluate and assess patient's progress and limitations, and perform task and body mechanics analyses • Patient and caregiver education • Team with Assistive Technologist for wheelchair evaluations and AD patient training • Techniques regularly used: Manual therapy • Muscle Trigger Point Release • Mirror Therapy • Sensory Integration • Graded Motor Imagery • Vision Therapy • Biofeedback • Kinesiotaping • Manual Lymph Drainage • Splinting • ADL/IADL training Post-Op Orthopedics & Acute Care o Assess patients for safety and collaborate with their care team regarding appropriate discharge placement o Educate patients on post-op precautions and fall prevention o Progress patients with independence in ADLs or returning to their prior level of function

• Worked in the Comprehensive Pain Center and collaborated with patients living with debilitating chronic pain to implement non-pharmacologic, evidence-based intervention strategies to reduce the effects of their pain on their quality of life and reduce the need for opioids • Educated patients on RF Nerve Ablation and Spinal Cord Stimulators before and after procedures and assessed progress and communicated results with physicians and pain interdisciplinary team • Utilized multiple biofeedback and graded motor imagery techniques as interventions and analyzed assessment data • Facilitated evaluations and instructed patients on pain neuroscience education to aid in the understanding of their pain and documented their progress • Instructed on Virtual Reality as an intervention method to promote changes in the nervous system and was part of discussion meetings about its implementation and rollout for patient care • Created and implemented animated visual aids for the pain clinic to advance and support learning and instruction during Telehealth appointments • Treated patients in the Primary Care Unit with a variety of diagnoses and needs from orthopedics to prosthetics orders during face-to-face, telehealth, and phone appointments

• Patient populations treated included organ transplant, orthopedics, oncology, neurology, cardiology, lymphedema, and medical surgery with observations in the ICU• Assessed for safety, treated, and documented progress on a diverse patient population with decreased independence in activities of daily living and/or lymphedema treatment needs• Collaborated with interdisciplinary team members to determine patients’ best plan-of-care • Demonstrated ability to manage a full caseload to maintain productivity standards• Exhibited safety while managing lines and precautions when treating medically complex patients• Provide therapy to those who did not speak English with language translation technology service

Minnetonka, Mn, Us

• Assessed pediatric patients, primarily with sensory and/or fine and gross motor issues, autism spectrum disorder, or difficulties with self-regulation, and helped to carry out treatment interventions• Tailored interventions to children’s interests and motivations and worked collaboratively within an interdisciplinary team of physical therapists and speech and language pathologists• Learned and witnessed common pediatric standardized assessments and documentation methods

• Conducted co-lead therapy groups of two-ten patients in inpatient mental health with other occupational therapists and recreational therapist• Witnessed cognitive and functional assessments that aided the evaluation process

• Taught human anatomy and physiology, biology, ecology, and general science (geology, astronomy, chemistry, and physics) • Created and implemented full curricula for each subject aligned with the Wisconsin State Standards and with the National Science Standards • Taught and planned lessons for six inclusive classes a day with 25-30 students per class of all ranges of ability levels—from students with learning disabilities to students who were gifted and talented—and adapted lesson plans and assessments to fit the needs of different students • Assessed and documented student achievement and teamed with parents and teachers to create individualized education programs for students with learning disabilities or emotional behavioral disorders• Collaborated with department members to improve and differentiate curricula based on assessment data and trends • Tutored and mentored students in need of help with science, math, or English homework• Volunteered as a class advisor • Member of the Waupaca Way Committee that launched a district wide RTI initiative to improve the culture of the school and increase community involvement

• Developed and created workouts and practices to facilitate teamwork and promote leadership • Implemented a strength and conditioning program for volleyball and track and field athletes • Carried out head-coach duties and responsibilities, such as maintaining stats and records

- Coached boys and girls in sprinting, jumping, and relay hand-off drills, and techniques- Designed weight-lifting and agility programs for in-season and off-season use- Assisted at meets and practice to show and explain how to become a better track and field athlete

Master Of Occupational Therapy, Occupational Therapy/Therapist

Bachelor'S Of Science, Broadfield Natural Science Secondary Education