Occupational Therapy Month: A Path to Independence and Meaning

April 8, 2026

April is Occupational Therapy Month, a time to celebrate the dedicated professionals who help individuals of all ages regain independence, safety, and joy in their daily lives. Whether recovering from an injury, managing a chronic condition, or navigating the challenges of aging, occupational therapy (OT) offers personalized support to help you return to the activities that matter most.

At Cook Hospital & Care Center, we’re proud to provide comprehensive occupational therapy services across three key settings: hospital, Care Center, and outpatient services.

What Does Occupational Therapy Do?

Our Occupational Therapist, Amy, OTR/L, works with patients in multiple settings and with a wide variety of diagnoses/conditions, including:

  • Orthopedic conditions/injuries
  • Lymphedema therapy
  • Activities of daily living
  • and so much more!

“One thing that I wish people knew about OT is that I don’t help people find jobs!” Amy says with a laugh. “Occupations refers to anything that occupies a person’s time. We ALL have occupations: gardening, work, school, and taking care of kids are all meaningful occupations. My goal is to help you recover from an injury, illness, or setback, and get you back to your occupations.”

“My goal is to help you recover from an injury, illness, or setback, and get you back to your occupations.” – Amy Kemp, OTR/L

Occupational Therapy in the Hospital

For patients recovering from illness or injury at Cook Hospital, occupational therapy plays a critical role in facilitating a safe return home. In the hospital setting, OTs focus on **daily living skills**, helping patients relearn essential tasks such as dressing, bathing, and mobility. By addressing physical, cognitive, and emotional challenges, occupational therapists empower patients to regain their confidence and independence as they transition to the next phase of their recovery.

Occupational Therapy in the Care Center

At our Care Center, occupational therapy focuses on **restoring independence** and improving quality of life for patients with complex medical needs. OTs work closely with individuals to enhance **self-care, functional mobility, and wheelchair assessments**, ensuring that each patient can move through their day with confidence and dignity.

Whether it’s relearning how to cook a meal, manage personal hygiene, or navigate a wheelchair safely, our occupational therapists provide hands-on support and adaptive strategies. The goal? To help patients live as independently as possible, regardless of their physical or cognitive challenges.

Outpatient Occupational Therapy & Specialized Treatments

For those seeking outpatient care, we treat a wide range of upper-extremity conditions including elbow, wrist, and hand pain related to injury, surgery, arthritis, or general pain.

We also provide specialized care for individuals with Parkinson’s disease and other neurological conditions through LSVT BIG treatment, offer certified lymphedema therapy services, and support pediatric patients in developing important functional skills.

We use evidence-based techniques to reduce pain, improve strength, and restore function, so patients can return to the activities they love—whether it’s typing, gardening, or playing a musical instrument.

Neurological Conditions: LSVT BIG for Parkinson’s Disease

For individuals with Parkinson’s disease or other neurological conditions, we offer **LSVT BIG treatment**, a research-backed program designed to improve movement, balance, and confidence. This intensive therapy helps patients retrain their brains and bodies, fostering greater independence and mobility.

Lymphedema Therapy

Our certified lymphedema therapists provide compassionate care for individuals managing swelling and fluid buildup. Through manual lymph drainage, compression therapy, and education, we help patients reduce discomfort and improve their overall well-being.

Pediatric Occupational Therapy: Building a Foundation for the Future

We also support our youngest patients, helping children develop the **functional skills** they need to thrive. From fine motor development to sensory processing, our pediatric OTs create engaging, playful interventions that set the stage for lifelong success.

Why Occupational Therapy Matters

Occupational therapy is more than just rehabilitation—it’s about helping people stay engaged in the activities that give their lives meaning. Whether it’s returning to work, playing with grandchildren, or simply enjoying a morning coffee, OT helps individuals of all ages live life to the fullest.

At Cook Hospital & Care Center we believe everyone deserves the opportunity to live with dignity, purpose, and joy. This Occupational Therapy Month, we invite you to explore how our services can support you or your loved ones on the journey to independence.

Let’s work together to build a brighter, more independent future.

Happy Occupational Therapy Month! 🧡

About Amy Kemp, OTR/L, Occupation Therapy Supervisor

Amy graduated from St. Scholastica in 2017 with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology.  She then went on to graduate again from St. Scholastica in 2020 with her Master of Science in Occupational Therapy degree.  After graduation, she began working at the Cook Hospital and has been here for 4 years.

She enjoys having the opportunity that rural health provides to work with individuals across the lifespan.  Since starting at the Cook Hospital, Amy has become a Certified Lymphedema Therapist (CLT) and has been certified in LSVT-BIG for Parkinson’s Disease and other populations.  

In her free time, Amy enjoys the outdoors, being at the lake, reading, and spending time with her family. She is looking forward to continuing her career here at the Cook Hospital and welcomes all new patients.

 

About Carrie Rahikainen, PTA/L

Carrie is a 1992 graduate of the College of St. Scholastica where she earned her Bachelor’s  degree in Natural Science and minor in Psychology.  She continued her education at Lake Superior College where she earned her A.A.S. degree as a Physical Therapist Assistant in 1996. 

For the first four years after obtaining her degrees, Carrie and her husband lived and worked in Wausau, WI.  While in Wausau, she worked in various units specializing in long-term care, out-patient Orthopedics, in-patient and out-patient Psychology, specialized Dementia and Alzheimer’s units, and an Early Intervention/Pediatric Program. 

They then returned to the Iron Range, where both she and her husband were born and raised.  When returning to the area, Carrie was employed by St. Louis County Schools/Northland Special Education Cooperative.  For six years, she provided physical therapy services in various independent school districts, working with children from birth through the age of 21.

In February, 2006 she began her employment at the Cook Hospital and Rehabilitation and is a full-time employee.  Since starting her position at the Cook Hospital, she has been expanding her Physical Therapy skills by attending a variety of courses focusing on such things as Strain-Counter-strain Technique for pain management, Vestibular Rehabilitation, Therapeutic Exercise for the Geriatric Spine,  Manual treatment of the Lumbar Spine, and Kinesio-taping.

Carrie lives in Britt with her husband and three children, ages nine, ten, and twelve.  In her free time, she enjoys cross country skiing, reading, and supporting her children with their extra-curricular activities such as volleyball, basketball, baseball and Scouting.  As a family, they enjoy spending time on their pontoon boat, camping, hunting, and various types of fishing.

 

About Brian McCarthy, PT

Brian began working in Physical Therapy in 1984 as an enlisted member of the U.S. Air Force. After an honorable discharge in 1988 returned to Duluth, MN where he attended ST. Scholastica and eventually PT school at the University of Wisconsin, La Crosse where he graduated in 1993 with honors.

He then began work as a PT at St. Mary’s “Center Therapy” in Duluth in Occupational Medicine, Chronic Pain Management, Orthopedic-Spine, and the Adult Neuro-Rehab departments. In 1996, Brian began working as a contract therapist traveling within the Northern Midwest. During this time he worked in home care, private practice, and out-patient orthopedic settings. His last assignment in 1998 lead him to Cook where he continues to work as the Director of Rehabilitation and physical therapist.

Brian’s career goals are to be well-rounded in all areas of physical therapy, but is especially interested in manual therapy techniques related to orthopedics conditions and wound care interventions. Brian is an active member of the American Physical Therapy Association, National Ski Patrol, and hospitals wound care team. Brian has attended, and continues to attend, yearly continuing education in the field of Physical Therapy and wound care to bring the most current and up-to-date treatment methodologies to the patients he treats.

About Stephanie Elling, PT, DPT, CIMT

Stephanie graduated from The College of St. Scholastica in 2013 with a Bachelor’s degree in Exercise Physiology and again in 2016 with a Doctorate degree in Physical Therapy.

After graduation she worked at a private practice in Cloquet, MN in outpatient orthopedics for over two years. Here she gained experience in post-surgical care, manual therapy, return to sport training, and aquatic rehab. Then she transitioned into travel therapy and completed contracts across Minnesota, Wisconsin and Florida in skilled nursing, memory care, pediatrics, acute care at critical access hospitals, and multiple outpatient clinics treating a wide range of orthopedic and neurological conditions.

Stephanie has additional training in TMJ, headaches, sports rehab, dementia care, pediatrics, kinesiotape and manual therapy techniques. Stephanie has a passion for rural healthcare and enjoys working with patients of all ages and diagnoses.

She is excited to join the rehabilitation team at Cook Hospital and looks forward to getting to serve to Cook community and surrounding areas.