CANTON -- Canton-Potsdam Hospital now has two hand therapists (CHT), with the addition of Katie Curran who joined CPH in September.

Curran, a North Country native, comes from SOS Orthopedic and Sports Therapy in Syracuse where she worked as the clinical director. She was certified in hand therapy in 2012. She joins Doreen Francey, who was certified by the Hand Therapy Certification Commission (HTCC) in 2015.

Patients who previously were not able to see an occupational therapist because of insurance limitations can now see a physical therapist that is certified in hand therapy. Curran and Francey are the only CHTs in St. Lawrence County, and north of Syracuse to Plattsburgh, according to CPH.

A CHT is an occupational therapist or physical therapist who has a minimum of five years of clinical experience, including 4,000 hours or more in direct practice in hand therapy. In addition, the CHT has successfully passed a comprehensive test of advanced clinical skills and theory in upper quarter rehabilitation. Because of changes in the profession, every CHT is required to demonstrate continued professional development and competency by recertifying every five years.

“Sometimes we don’t realize how vital our hands are to everyday functioning until we lose the ability to use them,” said Dr. Jeffrey F. Haasbeek, orthopedic hand surgeon. “Therapy as a component to surgery, prior to surgery, and after surgery can restore some or all functioning depending on the particular injury to the hand or disease state,” he said. “Our certified hand therapists are a great addition to our collaborative care team in orthopedics and rehabilitation.”

CPH’s Hand Therapy Clinic is open Monday- Friday, from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., at 80 East Main St., Canton. Their phone number is 261-5497.