All In A Day's Work: Occupational Therapist

Jeannie Lauren, an occupational therapist at St. Joseph’s Hospital, describes her work and explains why she likes it.

By Nancy Giguere, Star Tribune Sales and Marketing

Last update: April 2, 2008 - 3:35 PM

Q: What's a typical workday like for you?

A: Every day I work with five to seven patients, who have been referred by their physician for evaluation or treatment. I see each patient once or twice a day for about 30 minutes. We work developing strength and endurance needed for the activities of daily living like getting out of bed or dressing. I teach proper body mechanics to patients who've had hip, knee or back surgery so they won't re-injure themselves. I may also evaluate judgment, cognition and problem-solving abilities to determine whether the patient will be safe at home. And I make recommendations for discharge planning.

Q: How does your role fit into the bigger healthcare picture?

A: Occupational therapists do the fine-tuning that allows a person to be as independent as possible and have a good quality of life. That involves determining physical and environmental barriers to an activity and finding ways to eliminate or minimize those barriers.

Q: Who do you interact with during the course of the day?

A: We often work collaboratively with speech and physical therapists. We also interact with physicians, nurses, nursing assistants, neuropsychologists, social workers and family members.

Q: Why did you become an occupational therapist?

A: The field offers so much variety. Occupational therapists (OTs) work with people of all ages, from infants to elders. OTs also work in many different settings: hospitals, home health, long-term care, outpatient rehabilitation programs, community agencies and schools.

Q: What do you like about your work?

A: I love the challenge of creative problem solving. I'm always learning something new, and that keeps me fresh and interested. And seeing patients improve is very rewarding.

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