Healing, Treating, Preventing

Celebrating Occupational Therapy Month

When ALSCO Uniforms employee Jeremy Pipkin caught his hand in a roller press, he thought the worst. “I could’ve sworn I wasn’t going to have a hand left,” he says. Incredibly, an X-ray at the ER confirmed nothing was broken – just “squished big-time.” A week later, he started occupational therapy with Cascade Health – and three months later, he has regained full movement in his hand and is back to his normal job.

In April, we celebrate Occupational Therapy Month, highlighting the transformative ways in which the Cascade Health Occupational Therapy team helps patients like Jeremy overcome challenges, heal from injuries and reclaim independence. Our physical and occupational therapists work with hundreds of local businesses, including ALSCO, to prevent and treat workplace injuries.

Jeremy was injured in early December and spent three and a half months on extreme light duty at work. Sessions with hand therapist Leslie Hoffman helped him regain movement and strength in his hand, and now “my 8-10-hour day feels more like a four-hour day.” Leslie explained everything, he says, and helped him understand exactly what each exercise was meant to achieve. He has not only returned to his regular work routine but can also enjoy life on the weekends, now that activities he previously loved, like driving quads on the coast, are again possible.

 “Leslie was awesome,” Jeremy says – and, especially during Occupational Therapy Month, we absolutely agree! To find out more about our awesome team and the services they provide to local employers and employees, visit our Occupational Therapy webpage.