Hospital happenings

Our occupational therapists were asked:

• What does occupational therapy mean to you?
• Describe a time you made a difference by helping a patient pursue increased independence with a meaningful occupation.

Sharon: My career is very rewarding and brings meaning to my life. I love helping people succeed. Emily: Occupational therapy means helping others achieve functional independence after a given injury or illness.

Chelsea: Occupational therapy is one of the ways that I am able to use my skills to help people. I really love getting to know patients and having an opportunity to collaborate with them to make positive changes in their lives, promote independence and care for people during one of the more challenging and vulnerable times in their lives. I love that occupational therapy is a career path that is intellectually stimulating (I’m always learning something new!), creative, collaborative, and compassionate.

Kara Barks: I treated a patient who loved to glam up with hair, makeup and a stylish outfit but unfortunately, due to her limited abilities, she had no functional hand grasp. To help her gain independence, we worked with different adaptive devices and practiced putting on mascara, lipstick and overall grooming. Not only was it fun for both of us but it also helped her feel more comfortable going home and having a greater degree of independence!