Sister Kenny Driving Fitness Program
Sister Kenny Rehabilitation Institute has been addressing driving concerns with our patients for more than 25 years.
The Sister Kenny Driving Fitness Program’s continuum of services is intended to help you retain your driving independence as long as safely possible. We will provide guidance and training to help maximize your years of driving.
Who Benefits
- Individuals who have recently experienced a physical or cognitive deficit, such as a stroke may want to know if they have the ability to continue driving.
- Seniors may want to know if there is an easier or safer way for them to continue driving, such as using an adaptive device or having a modification made to their vehicle.
Description of Services
Clinical Assessment
An occupational therapist who has advanced training in driving assessments will evaluate the basic visual, physical and cognitive
abilities needed to safely operate a motor vehicle.
Tests consist of:
- Visual screening — assesses peripheral vision, visual acuity and scanning skills in order to assure state requirements are met.
- Physical abilities — the occupational therapist will evaluate your strength and range of motion to manage the steering wheel, accelerator/brake pedals, turn signals and your ability to monitor side view and rear view mirrors. In some cases, adaptive equipment can be used to assist with managing these skills.
- Perceptual and cognitive abilities — the therapist evaluates your reaction time, attention skills and basic environment awareness.
- The occupational therapist also takes a driving history, notes the type of vehicle driven and discusses potential adaptive driving equipment.
On-The-Road Assessment
Sister Kenny Rehabilitation Institute has partnered with Adaptive Experts, the nation’s largest driver rehabilitation program to provide on-the-road assessments.
A certified driving rehabilitation specialist will perform the assessment. The specialist will come to your home, allowing the assessment to take place in your own neighborhood.
On-the-road assessments can be scheduled during weekdays and weekends, as well as in the evenings.
This evaluation includes assessing:
- operation of the vehicle
- adherence to traffic rules
- cognitive skills such as judgment and decision making in traffic situations, and distractibility
- environmental awareness and interpretation
- consistent use of compensatory strategies for visual, cognitive, physical and behavioral impairments
- the need for adaptive equipment and training as indicated.
Recommendations
Based on all the information gathered during both parts of the evaluation, the occupational therapist, in collaboration with the certified driving rehabilitation specialist, interprets results and makes recommendations based on performance strengths and limitations as well as on driving potential.
Recommendations generally fall into one of the following categories:
- You are clear to resume unrestricted driving
- You may resume driving with restrictions (no night driving, no freeway driving, etc.)
- You may resume driving with adaptations to your vehicle
- You may retake the evaluation after completing driving training
- Driving is not appropriate for you at this time
- You may retake the evaluation after completing driving training, or a course of physical or occupational therapy designed to improve your function.
The results of our assessments will first be discussed with you and your family. A detailed report with recommendations will then be sent to you and your physician.
Interventions
These are specific treatments aimed at improving the patient’s skills relative to driving.
Treatment could include any one or more of the following:
- Physical therapy or occupational therapy for improving strength, coordination, range of motion or flexibility
- Physical therapy for vestibular treatment
- Occupational therapy, speech and/or neuropsych for higher level cognitive treatment
- Occupational therapy for training in use of adaptive equipment
- Vision rehabilitation for scanning practice, ocular exercises
- Treatment using driving simulator, Dynavision and Useful Field of View to improve awareness of deficits, reaction time and/or stamina
- Exploration of appropriate transportation alternatives
- Caregiver training
Insurance Coverage
Reimbursement by insurance companies varies by service. Please call 612-863-4862 for more information.
For More Information
To schedule an assessment or for more information, call the location nearest you.
Locations
Buffalo - Buffalo Hospital
303 Catlin St.
763-684-3888
Fax: 763-684-3884
Coon Rapids - Mercy Hospital
4050 Coon Rapids Blvd.
763-236-8910
Fax: 763-236-8990
Fridley - Unity Hospital
550 Osborne Rd. NE
763-236-3000
Fax: 763-236-3066
Minneapolis - Abbott Northwestern Hospital
800 E. 28th St.
612-863-1924
Fax: 612-863-5698
St. Paul - United Hospital
333 N. Smith St.
651-241-8290
Fax: 651-241-7177
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