Marshall Outpatient Therapy Committed to Women's Health Awareness

May 1, 2017 — One dedicated Marshall physical therapist feels at home in what some would call “uncomfortable territory.”

Physical Therapist Stephanie Wiegand, PT, DPT, serves as the expert on pelvic health for Marshall Outpatient Rehabilitation services. Her patient base includes many women who’ve suffered for years with issues most often kept under wraps. Wiegand offers treatment for incontinence and/or pain of the bowel and bladder. Using physical therapy techniques, she helps women to relieve genital pain as well as discomfort caused by constipation.

“Those topics that people don’t like to talk about…they’re embarrassing. But then you get to see this change of giving life back. It’s empowering for the patients. It’s not just giving them a pill to deal with issues, she said.”

National Women’s Health Week (May 14-20) is a time to honor professionals dedicated to improving women’s lives. Wiegand is certainly one of these. She helps women whose ages range from their 20s to their 90s improve more than their physical wellness. The results – decreased pain, improved urine and bowel control – produce positive effects elsewhere.

“There are many dimensions of a woman’s life that can be impacted when they suffer from pelvic issues, including personal relationships, missing work, socializing, exercising,” she said. “I am honored that patients have chosen me to be their provider in assisting them and providing guidance back to complete independence physically and emotionally.”

Pregnant women greatly benefit from Wiegand’s fledgling pelvic health program. From pregnancy through delivery, she treats low pack pain and balance issues. She creates personalized labor positions and post-partum home exercise programs.

While reducing the complications of labor/delivery, Wiegand improves her patients’ access to care. Many of those referred for treatment arrive from rural areas, their insurance coverage from Medi-Cal’s California Health & Wellness program. “You have this population who can’t afford to pay out of pocket,” she said. “If I was referring, it would be down the hill to East Sacramento. That’s a long way from Garden Valley.”

Marshall Outpatient Rehabilitation hopes to develop a more comprehensive pelvic health program, one that includes screenings to pinpoint weak joints and muscles.

“Our urologists have asked for this specialized area of care, and we were thrilled to support Stephanie in her pursuit of the education needed to treat this population,” Outpatient Rehabilitation clinic manager Allison Orofino said. “Becoming a clinical specialist requires hundreds of hours of extra study and training. We are so happy to provide this service to the residents of El Dorado County, showcasing our organization’s commitment to innovative care.”

More Info: For information about featured services at Marshall Outpatient Rehabilitation, call (530) 344-5430 or visit www.marshallmedical.org/OutpatientRehab.

Marshall is an independent, nonprofit community healthcare provider located in the heart of the Sierra Foothills. Marshall includes Marshall Hospital, a fully accredited acute care facility with 125 beds in Placerville; several outpatient facilities in Cameron Park, El Dorado Hills and Georgetown; and many community health and education programs. Marshall has more than 200 physicians and 1,500 employees providing quality healthcare services to more than 180,000 residents of El Dorado County.