Katie Swinson at Compass Home Group in Baltimore: Occupational Therapy for Post-Injury and Post-Surgical Recovery

Compass Home Group is a home-based occupational therapy agency operating across Baltimore and surrounding counties, with Katie Swinson serving as a primary therapist for patients recovering from orthopedic surgery, stroke, and neurological events who want therapy in their own homes rather than a clinic setting.

What Compass Home Group actually is

Compass Home Group is a licensed home health agency that delivers occupational therapy (OT) and other rehabilitation services to patients in their homes. Unlike clinic-based OT practices, Compass therapists work in the patient's own environment, which allows treatment to focus on the specific tasks that matter to daily life: getting up stairs, managing kitchen tasks, dressing, grooming, and returning to hobbies or work. The agency holds Maryland state licensure and participates with major insurers including Medicare Advantage plans. Patients typically access Compass through a physician referral after hospitalization, surgery, or acute illness.

Services and pricing

Compass Home Group provides occupational therapy focused on functional recovery and adaptation. Sessions typically run 45 to 60 minutes per visit, with frequency determined by physician order and insurance approval (commonly two to three times per week initially, then tapering). Katie Swinson specializes in hand therapy, post-surgical orthopedic cases, and neurological recovery.

Pricing is insurance-dependent. Medicare covers occupational therapy through the home health benefit at no out-of-pocket cost if homebound status is met; commercial plans vary by deductible and coinsurance. Patients without insurance or with high deductibles should confirm Compass's self-pay rate directly. The agency bills insurance directly; expect a phone call during the intake process to verify coverage and out-of-pocket responsibility before the first visit.

How Compass Home Group compares to Baltimore-area occupational therapy options

Baltimore patients seeking occupational therapy in the home setting have limited direct competitors. Compass Home Group and a handful of independent therapists operate in this space; larger home health agencies (like Visiting Nurse Association of Maryland and Encompass Health) also offer OT but often prioritize high-volume Medicare cases with less specialization in complex orthopedic or neurological work. Clinic-based OT practices in Baltimore, including those affiliated with Johns Hopkins and UMMS, offer more flexibility in scheduling and extended treatment beyond the home health benefit but require the patient to travel. Choose Compass Home Group if you value therapy tailored to your actual home environment, are homebound or mobility-limited, or prefer to stay in your own space during early recovery. Choose a clinic if you want evening or weekend hours, need ongoing treatment after home health ends, or can manage transportation.

Who it suits and who it does not suit

Compass Home Group suits patients recovering from joint replacement, hand surgery, or stroke who are homebound or prefer home-based therapy. It also fits those with complex home barriers (stairs, narrow bathrooms, multiple-level homes) where environmental adaptation is central to progress. It does not suit patients who are medically complex or unstable enough to need continuous nursing; who live in assisted living facilities (many insurers require facility-based providers); or who need intensive hand therapy with specialized equipment like robotics or constraint-induced movement therapy, which usually requires a clinic setting. It also does not suit those looking to extend therapy indefinitely after insurance benefits end.

What the first visit involves

After referral and insurance verification, a Compass therapist (often Katie Swinson if her caseload allows) schedules an initial evaluation, usually within three to five business days. The therapist performs a home assessment: measuring doorway widths, stair configuration, bathroom layout, and kitchen accessibility. You will be asked about your functional goals (e.g., "climb stairs independently," "return to golf," "dress without pain"), current limitations, living situation, and support system. The therapist performs manual strength and range-of-motion testing, functional movement assessment, and cognitive screening if indicated. The evaluation typically takes 60 to 90 minutes and generates an OT plan of care. Bring any recent surgical reports, imaging, or physician notes to this visit.

Hours, parking, and logistics

Compass Home Group operates Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., with occasional early evening availability depending on therapist schedule; confirm availability when referred. No parking is required on your end. The agency serves Baltimore City and Baltimore, Howard, and Anne Arundel Counties; coverage beyond these areas varies. Transportation is the therapist's responsibility. If you are homebound but not Medicare-eligible, confirm that the agency will accept your insurance or self-pay arrangement before the first visit.

Compass Home Group fills a practical gap for Baltimore patients who need skilled occupational therapy but cannot or prefer not to travel to clinic settings during early recovery.