Rachel Kay Stevens Therapy Center
As the only clinic in the Mid-South providing occupational therapy services at no cost to uninsured or underinsured children, the UTHSC Rachel Kay Stevens Therapy Center is strengthening the community by providing science-driven, evidence-based occupational therapy to support children with special needs and their families in fulfilling their potential for participation and engagement within the contexts of everyday living.
Graduate-level occupational therapy students serve as clinic administrators, providing critical workplace experiences as they address the needs of young patients and their families. Occupational therapy students assist with developmental screenings, occupational therapy evaluations and treatment, and patient/family education with supervision by licensed occupational therapy practitioners. Students are improving their patient-therapist communication skills, receiving feedback and support from practitioners that help in the development of important skills, and they are learning from hands-on experiences with children while under the supervision of licensed occupational therapists. On- and off-site services are available, including direct therapy, consultations with parents and teachers, training and coaching for parents, and workshops.
Clinic Information
There are no eligibility requirements to make an appointment for a developmental screening other than the client needs to be younger than 18 years of age with a suspected delay in one or more of the following areas: social-emotional skills, speech/language skills, fine/gross motor skills, and/or cognitive skills.
Before an occupational therapy evaluation will be scheduled, the RKS Center Client Scheduler or one of the faculty advisors will complete a preliminary review. The purpose of the review is to determine eligibility for pro bono services through the UTHSC RKSTC.
If the screening determines that the client is eligible for an OT evaluation, a physician’s order is required before pro bono services can begin. In order to be eligible for pro bono services, one of the following criteria must be met:
- The client is uninsured
- The client has insurance coverage, but documentation is provided stating that the client’s insurance policy does not cover occupational therapy services
- If the client’s insurance covers a limited number of OT visits, but all covered visits have been used, then documentation can be provided stating that no more visits will be covered by insurance
- The client is currently on a waiting list for occupational therapy services. If the client is on a waiting list, pro bono services will only be provided until the client comes off of the waitlist.
If a client meets eligibility requirements and provide proper documentation, an evaluation can be scheduled. The purpose of an evaluation is to design a treatment that will assist the child in meeting their highest potential. The occupational therapy evaluation process typically takes 1 to 2 hours; therefore more than one appointment may be necessary.
Once the occupational therapy evaluation has been completed, a report describing test procedures, findings, and interpretation will be provided.
If you have any questions about this process, please contact the UTHSC Rachel Kay Stevens Therapy Center at rkstc@uthsc.edu or 901.448.2298.
Executive Board
From left to right: Emily Crane, Anna St.Clair, Hannah Summey, Haley Segich, Emily Drewry, and Leah Emmich
Board Members
Front row: Emily Crane, Anna St.Clair, Hannah Summey, Haley Segich, Emily Drewry, and Leah Emmich
Middle Row (closer to front row): Clara McLemore, Riley McPhail, Raven Kelley, Leah Beasley, Weslee Cartwight, Alexis Castellano, Rachel McCarty, Samaria Sims, Priscilla Downen, Raven Moore, Taneesha McGowan
Middle Row (closer to back row): Randi Latham, Elizabeth Dimattio, Mary Dreyer Smith, Sarah Boleman, Rebecca Dempsey, Morgan Brewer, Caitlyn O’Brian, Desiree Coman, Makayla Johnson
Back Row: Lauryn Hartness, Leah Rumptz, Hannah Smith, Tierrany Powell, Warren Thurman, Cabrina McNeil, Amanda Bostick, Abby Peacock, Taylor Robinson, Ebony Allen, Annie Todd
Faculty Advisor: Anne Zachry, PhD, OTR/L
"Rachel was a very special friend to me and the most genuine person I have ever known. Rachel was a sweet and loyal person who always made me laugh with her great sense of humor and forgetfulness. As her friend I knew I could always depend on her. There was a light in Rachel that was obvious to all she met due to her love for Christ and her God centered life. She was a servant leader who dreamed of becoming a pediatric occupational therapist. As we prepared ourselves for the UTHSC OT program, it was easy to see her natural talents and excitement for helping others. Though I miss her every day, I will help to fulfill her dream of serving pediatric patients through the Rachel Kay Stevens Therapy Center provided in her memory." - Shani Henley, MOT Class of 2018 student and Rachel’s childhood friend
