Occupational therapy

The first professor’s chair in rheumatology in Finland was given to dr. Ossi Laitinen at the beginning of the 1980s. His term of office remained short, and the professor’s post was taken up by dr. Heikki Isomäki, during whose term the professorship was transferred to the Rheumatism Foundation Hospital in Heinola. The Tampere University Hospital rented a 30-bed ward with staff  from the Rheumatism Foundation Hospital. Professor Isomäki went on ward rounds in Pikonlinna every month. Dr. Yli-Kerttula was appointed as assistant chief after dr. Vilppula in 1986 and  dr. Markku Korpela started as senior ward physician at the same time. It became possible to enhance activities in arthritis surgery to some extent. There was also a job opening for a rehabilitation assistant specialized in rheumatology.

The first occupational therapist’s post was created in 1980, when the occupational therapist worked four workdays a week in Pikonlinna and one workday in the main hospital. Dr. Anni Vilppula had understood rheumatology patients’ need for occupational therapy, and in her determination she succeeded in establishing an occupational therapist’s post. In 1983 the main building obtained an occupational therapist’s post of its own and another post was established in Pikonlinna in 1985.