Homecare Hero Gets Innovative to Foster Independence

Carilion Clinic Homecare Occupational Therapist, Lindsay Ruch, was working with a homebound, visually impaired patient.  The recently blind woman was struggling with completing her Home Exercise Program for strength and conditioning.  Lindsay figured out a way to utilize the patient’s Amazon Echo device in her home to provide prompting, verbal cueing, and even encouragement to assist in completing her home exercises independently!  This innovative thinking embraces the Carilion values of curiosity, commitment, and compassion.  When I learned of what Lindsay accomplished, I asked if she would be willing to write up a “how to” tutorial to share with her co-workers, embracing collaboration as well.

Her excellent tutorial has been shared with our entire Therapy team, and we’ll be exploring additional ways that we can utilize smart technologies within our patient’s homes to do things such as providing prompts for taking medications on time, or encouraging self-monitoring of vital signs.

I want to thank Lindsay for going above and beyond to advocate for her patient, and then going above and beyond again to put together a tutorial to share with her colleagues.  We’re so fortunate to have her in our Carilion Family.