Occupational Therapy Spotlight: A career in hand therapy

Lisa Rand has been an occupational therapist with Nova Scotia Health for 38 years, focusing on hand therapy. She began her career in 1986, working in inpatient care for about ten years before moving to the outpatient hand therapy program, where she has spent most of her career.

“I love this area of occupational therapy,” said Rand. “It combines science-backed research for treating various conditions with creativity in making custom splints and orthoses to help people recover.”

Rand is part of a team of six hand therapists. They work closely with plastic surgeons, orthopedic surgeons and other healthcare providers to help patients with a wide range of hand and upper extremity injuries and conditions, such as fractures, tendon repairs, arthritis and nerve issues.

“Our goal is to help people get back to their normal lives using their hands,” said Rand. “Occupational therapy focuses on function and enabling people to participate in activities, take care of themselves or their families, work, or enjoy leisure activities.”

One of the main challenges Rand and her colleagues face is helping patients regain mobility and overcome pain and stiffness in the hand. “Stiffness is a big problem if hands don’t get proper rehabilitation in time,” she said. “It’s amazing what a difference early intervention can make.”

Rand is based at the new Bayers Lake Community Outpatient Centre, making the hand therapy program more accessible for patients outside Halifax.

The occupational therapy team at Nova Scotia Health also includes practitioners in community and mental health settings. Rand is excited about the profession’s growth as occupational therapists become more integrated into healthcare teams.

“OT is still a growing field,” she said. “We work with people with mental health conditions and physical disabilities, from babies to the elderly, and even in palliative care. The focus on function is crucial to our wellbeing.”