Ozarks Profile: Lori Hammond

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Tell us about your department.|ret||ret||tab|

I work in the occupational therapy department at St. John's Health System. We have 11 occupational therapists in our department. The therapists are divided into different areas of the hospital. I cover the burn unit, general medical floors and outpatient burns. |ret||ret||tab|

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What is your job?|ret||ret||tab|

Occupational therapy is defined as the use of purposeful activity with individuals who are limited by physical injury or illness to maximize independence in functional activities of daily living, prevent disability and maintain health. Specifically, we look at physical abilities, visual skills, cognitive safety, problem solving, home safety, functional tasks and equipment needs. My primary function is to provide occupational therapy on the burn unit. I provide care to the critical and less severe inpatient burn patients focusing on contracture management, range of motion, and follow up with compression garments for scar management. I also provide acute care rehab to medical, surgical, orthopedic, oncology and skilled nursing units and ICU patients. |ret||ret||tab|

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What prepared you for your career?|ret||ret||tab|

I graduated from University of Oklahoma in 1997 with a bachelor of science degree in occupational therapy. It was a four-year program. I do continuing education to stay abreast of new therapy issues and treatments. |ret||ret||tab|

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Why did you choose health care for your profession?|ret||ret||tab|

Since I was in elementary school, I always knew I was interested in the medical field. My father worked in the hospital, and I would end up going to the emergency room or physical therapy areas when I visited him. I began to narrow my interests to the therapy side when I graduated from high school. A few weeks after I graduated from high school, my grandmother had a severe stroke. I spent quite a bit of time with her and found occupational therapy to be extremely interesting and beneficial for my grandmother. |ret||ret||tab|

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What are the biggest challenges you face in your work?|ret||ret||tab|

Thankfully, working at St. John's, I find there to be minimal barriers in my line of care. As a nonprofit hospital, we as therapists are able to provide the appropriate interventions without the typical hassles of insurance limitations. As Medicare and private insurance companies cut back funding, shorter hospitalizations and limited outpatient coverage for occupational therapy cut back the time and therapy we are able to provide. Outside the hospital setting, the biggest challenges are insurance coverage and funding for therapeutic intervention and equipment. Another challenge of my job is working with the patients that I am unable to help achieve their functional goals due to progressive and chronic illnesses.|ret||ret||tab|

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What's the best part about your job?|ret||ret||tab|

I have a very rewarding career. The best part of the job is helping patients return to functional activities. I see many patients come in on their worst days and see them leave much stronger and more functional. The satisfaction of the work I do is evident on a daily basis. It often seems that I get as much out of helping and seeing a patient reach their goals as they do in achieving the goal. It is gratifying that what I love to do helps people in so many ways. |ret||ret||tab|

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If you could choose another career, what would it be?|ret||ret||tab|

At this point in my life, I would not choose any other career. I love what I do and the setting I work in. I can't imagine another career that would offer this type of satisfaction. I have always had an interest in becoming an EMT or paramedic. I have no plans at this time, but I hope to volunteer or get a job in this field sometime in the future. |ret||ret||tab|

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