Friendship Health, a leader in skilled nursing and post-acute care, as well as outpatient therapy, is proud to announce that therapist Audrey Ward, PT, has joined the North campus team.  Ward has 32 years of experience in an outpatient setting, specializing in orthopedics. She also has extensive training in the physical therapy management of osteoporosis.

In 2017, Ward was recognized by OurHealth Magazine as an Honorable Mention for Best Bedside Manner, and in 2018 based on a patient’s nomination, she was selected by The Roanoker Magazine as one of its Health Heroes.

Ward will continue to treat the general orthopedic population as she always has, but in addition, she is accepting patients referred to her specifically for her osteoporosis program as well.  Ward has been trained in The Meeks Method™.  

“This approach is an evidenced-based, easy, effective, comprehensive, site-specific, 12-part program for the conservative management of persons with low bone mass, scoliosis, postural problems and back pain,” described Sara Meeks, PT, MS, GCS, KYT, creator of this method.

“My practice has focused on treating a wide variety of surgical and nonsurgical orthopedic conditions, like back/neck pain, joint pain, stiffness, and weakness. Many of my patients also had diagnoses related to osteoporosis, and often they were not sure what kind of exercises they should be doing for bone strengthening,” said Ward.  “I came to believe that specialized training in osteoporosis management would be of great benefit to many of my patients, regardless of the primary diagnosis.”

“This specialized osteoporosis training is not commonly seen in skilled nursing facilities or outpatient therapy clinics,” said Diane Bell, director of rehab at Friendship Health’s North campus.  “In fact, to our knowledge, Friendship will be the only local provider of this method.  We are so proud to bring Audrey on board with her wealth of knowledge in this specialty area, as well as that of her 32 years in practice as a Physical Therapist.”