Amy Lorino, clinical associate professor at Binghamton University, is an occupational therapist specializing in community and home health practices for adults with physical and psychosocial challenges. She will join the Decker College of Nursing and Health Sciences in 2022, where she teaches in the entry-level and post-professional occupational therapy doctoral programs. She has worked in a variety of clinical settings, including as Director of Rehabilitation for a rural hospital system.
What is the unique scope of occupational therapy?
Occupational therapy is a multidisciplinary profession. We specialize in helping people do and participate in what they want and need to do in life (their “vocation”). OTs are problem-solving experts who are specially trained in task analysis and understand the unique demands of day-to-day work and what is needed to successfully complete the job. We address functional skills in the physical, psychosocial, and cognitive domains and modify occupations and environments. For example, OTs may adapt medication management tasks to older adults, treat hand injuries in adults, or teach children to build emotion regulation strategies in a classroom setting. While everyone knows what an OT does and is happy to have us as part of their team, they don't necessarily understand our broad skillset and distinct range of expertise. there is no.
What is your specialty and clinical interest in OT and what drew you to it?
Home health, adult and adolescent mental health, working with people with multiple chronic conditions, health literacy, and support for caregivers of people with dementia. I have always enjoyed home care. Because you are in the person's natural environment and can help them function where they live.
Please tell us more about your work with caregivers of people with dementia.
I am a certified Skills2Care™ Practitioner. This is an evidence-based intervention for OTs working with caregivers of people with dementia. This will enable you to use problem-solving skills and strategies to manage your job as a caregiver. It can improve their relationship and caregiving role, increasing the quality of life and sense of well-being for both parties.
Discuss your work related to OT for adults with multiple chronic conditions and the challenges of implementing effective OT practices for them.
I conducted research with young people with multiple chronic conditions, focusing on how they manage their medications. I learned about their experience with medication management and how it impacts their health. For people with multiple chronic conditions, managing their health can be a daunting and complex task. Young people said they often feel like health care providers don't listen to them, especially when trying to find appropriate treatment. OTs are great at building therapeutic relationships and creating solutions, but we need to step back and really listen to our clients and not try to “fix” something right away. I think there is. This can further improve our therapeutic relationship and improve outcomes for our clients.
How can OT contribute to improving health and wellbeing?
As part of our practice and philosophy, OT promotes healthy lifestyles and professions for our patients and communities. We help people balance the activities they want to do. We teach health-related skills and collaborate with other disciplines to prevent disability, reduce health-related risk factors and ensure people can do the things they love to do.
What led you to Decker University?
Around the time of the pandemic, my son, who graduated from Watson College, told me that Binghamton was starting an OT program. I did some research and found out that Jane Bear-Lehman is directing the show. She was my teacher at Columbia University. We discussed it and applied to that department. I'm happy to be here!
