New Wound Care Specialist Joins Tillers

William Asihene, MD, PhD, has joined The Tillers Nursing and Rehabilitation Center as our Wound Care Specialist. 

         Dr. Asihene has over 17 years of experience as a general surgeon, and is board certified by the American Board of Surgery and a fellow of the American College of Surgeons.  He received his medical degree from Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, and his PhD in Biochemistry from Howard University, Washington, DC.  Dr. Asihene is currently affiliated with the Kish Health Physician Group and joined the Valley West team in 2012. 

          Dr. Asihene will be working directly with Pam Davis, Assistant Director of Nursing, and will be will be rounding on a weekly basis to manage wounds and work with families in outlining realistic recovery goals.  According to Pam, “Dr. Asihene brings expertise to our wound care program, which translates into better patient outcomes.  He will provide our staff with ongoing education and be an excellent resource for best practice in wound care.  We have been thrilled to see the decrease in wound healing times with weekly physician oversight.”

          By joining The Tillers Nursing and Rehabilitation, Dr. Asihene will bring a wealth of knowledge that will complement the wound care efforts provided to our patients.  The Tillers has been family owned for over 40 years and known for exceptional care for the residents in the community.  At The Tillers, we continue to prove our reputation with the addition of experts and programs that enhance the care of our patients as if they were one of our own families.     

          According to Mr. Robert Saxon, Owner and Administrator of The Tillers, “With the addition of Dr. Asihene, our staff will be better educated in wound management and prevention, and therefore continue our ability to care for more complicated patients that would ordinarily have to remain or return to the hospital.  He will add to the excellent standard of care we provide to the adult and geriatric population that we serve in our community.”

TILLERS AT FOREFRONT OF VISION THERAPY FOR REHAB

            The Tillers Nursing and Rehabilitation Center is leading the industry in facilities with their newly added Vision Therapy Program.  Vision therapy is not a new concept, but it is very unique to the skilled nursing and rehabilitation setting and Tillers is the only facility in the area to offer this service to their patients.   

            Vision therapy works with patients that may have neurological disorders or trauma to the nervous system such as head injuries from a fall or stroke, and are experiencing a change or loss in their vision. Vision therapy trains the entire visual system which includes eyes, brain and body.  The goal of vision therapy is to improve visual fields, not just to compensate.  Therapy sessions include methods to retrain the brain’s ability to control eye teamwork, or binocularity, as well as the use of optical devices such as prisms or therapeutic lenses. 

            Dr. David Martin, O.D. oversees the Vision Therapy Program at The Tillers.  Dr. Martin graduated from the Illinois College of Optometry and received additional training in Vision Therapy and Vision Development at the Kansas Vision Development Center, the largest vision development center in the state of Kansas.

            Dr. Martin works in conjunction with two Occupational Therapists at The Tillers, Beverly Menniger and Kelly Frystak. Beverly and Kelly have specialized in vision therapy for eight years and provide consulting and education to support groups and families in the local area. According to Kelly, “When we are working with a patient, we are looking at the eyes because vision affects balance, activities of daily living, and can tell a lot about the way they are moving. Adding vision therapy to The Tillers has huge implications for improving rehabilitation potential in our patients.  Our vision is our dominant sense and guides every move we make.  When the vision is addressed sooner in the process, there is an increased ability for each patient

to improve mobility, self care, and rehab faster.”    Although the program is newly added to The Tillers Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, they have already seen results and success in the patients that have been followed by Dr. Martin and worked closely with Kelly and Beverly. 
            To learn more about the Vision Therapy Program at The Tillers Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Oswego, IL and how we can meet your rehabilitation needs, you can check us out on our their website www.thetillers.com.