Meet Kim Martin, Manager of Rehabilitation Services at Longview

Kim Martin, Manager of Rehabilitation Services at Longview, has been with Christian Health for almost 10 years. Although she was originally interested in special education as a career, a guidance counselor convinced her to consider occupational therapy. “Senior year of high school I was sure I wanted to be a special education teacher,” she said. “But when I went to my guidance counselor for help with applying to colleges, she asked me if I had ever considered occupational therapy. When I told her I had never heard of that profession, she encouraged me to look into it and even helped me set up a visit to a local facility to meet with an OT and do an observation.”

After the attending the scheduled observation with an occupational therapist to learn about the field, Kim’s mind was made up. “That was all it took,” she said. “That OT took the time to tell me all about the wide range of opportunities to work with patients, from pediatrics to geriatrics, including patients with physical limitations, developmental disabilities, and emotional, psychological, and cognitive issues.”

“To seal the deal, the last patient I observed was an elderly woman who had a stroke,” she continued. “During that session she was finally able to sit up and eat her lunch with her nondominant hand. With a tear in her eye, she looked at us and said – ‘I did it!’ My career path changed to occupational therapy at that moment.”

Kim finds fulfillment in her career at Christian Health through her connection with her fellow team members as well as the positive impact she has on her patients. “Being an OT for 40 years, I have had the opportunity to work in several facilities, and although I have enjoyed them all, Christian Health is special,” she said. “There is a true sense of teamwork – it's a place where you can share your experience and learn from others every day.”

“Whether helping someone relearn the basic skills needed to maximize their independence and safety after an injury or due to the progression of a medical condition, assisting in the selection of adaptive equipment, doing wellness presentations, or just listening to a resident who is in need of support, I find personal satisfaction in knowing I made a difference each and every day,” she continued. “I love helping people and improving their quality of life.”

Learn More About Rehabilitation Services at Christian Health

If you or a loved one needs short-term rehabilitation services following an injury, an illness, a surgery, or a hospitalization, Christian Health can help. Our skilled physical, occupational, and speech therapists provide a wide range of inpatient and outpatient rehab services for anyone who requires some extra help to get back to their daily routine.

Return to health and wellness in the comfort of a safe and separate environment – conveniently located on Christian Health’s Wyckoff campus. For more information about inpatient short-term rehab at Christian Health, please call (201) 848-5855. For outpatient short-term rehab, please call (201) 848-5518.