FirstHealth Outpatient Rehabilitation now offers a comprehensive Driving Rehabilitation Program to help individuals regain or evaluate their ability to drive safely following illness, injury or age-related changes. The program is led by Allison Stout, OTD, OTR/L, an occupational therapist with advanced training in driving rehabilitation.
Stout initially developed the program as part of her doctoral capstone project at Wingate University. After earning her Doctor of Occupational Therapy degree, she joined FirstHealth as an outpatient rehab occupational therapist and continued building the program she helped design.
The program includes in-clinic assessments as well as on-the-road evaluations for those who may be at risk of unsafe driving due to medical conditions, injuries or aging. It is the first driving rehabilitation service of its kind in Moore County.
“This program is important because it promotes independence but also personal and public safety,” said Stout in a FirstHealth media release. “Driving is unique in the sense that many associate this task with autonomy and independence—it enables participation in community-based activities such as attending social gatherings, purchasing groceries and accessing health services.”
While the program aims to help individuals return to driving, it also helps patients and families recognize when it may be time to retire from driving and explore safe alternatives.
“If a patient is deemed medically unfit to drive, meaning they are at high risk of being involved in a motor vehicle accident and potentially harming themselves or others, we educate them on alternative transportation options available in Moore County,” Stout said.
Stout emphasized that the need for this service is growing, particularly as the aging population increases. “There is currently no driving rehabilitation service available in Moore County. The closest program is more than 40 miles away. Our community has long needed access to local, specialized driving assessments.”
Stout works with a wide range of patients, including those recovering from stroke, traumatic brain injury, or managing conditions like low vision, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and dementia.
Prior to earning her doctorate in occupational therapy, Stout received a bachelor’s degree in recreation therapy from UNC Wilmington and completed two Level II fieldwork placements with FirstHealth—one in outpatient rehabilitation and one in acute care. She is also certified in LSVT BIG (a treatment approach for Parkinson’s), dry needling and OT driving rehabilitation training.
When asked what she enjoys most about her work, she shared, “I love that I have the opportunity to meet and work with people from all different walks of life and assist them in returning to the tasks that are most meaningful to them.”
Outside of work, Stout enjoys traveling with her husband, playing pickleball and paddleboarding or kayaking on local waterways.
For more information on the Driving Rehabilitation Program at FirstHealth Outpatient Rehabilitation, call (910) 715-2600.
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