Where I Work

When I first started my new job I intended to write about it--that was on Sept. 11, 2006. And now I'm finally getting around to it! I work as the Office Manager at Western New York Physical and Occupational Therapy Group. The office I work in is in Ellicottville, NY, which is a ski resort town. It is a small office and up until this month we had two employees--the therapist, who is the director of the clinic, and myself. We just hired a second therapist for part time. Let me say right off that it is a wonderful job and I love working there. In a small town most of the patient's know each other, and on some days you'd think it was a social center not a clinic! We are known as a very warm friendly clinic and our patients really like us (and we like them). We are located in a brand new (1 year old) medical building, which is also very nice to have everything new! It's also great to have other medical offices in the same building, as we get alot of patient referrals right from them. There is the Olean Medical Group, the chiropractor we go to who is really great, a pharmacy (very handy), a dentist, and Northtowns Orthopedics (more about them in a minute). This is the front of the building:

The Olean Medical Group and pharmacy are on the front. The rest of the offices are around back. So, let's go around back to our office...

Our office is a pretty much open area. There are really only 3 separate rooms--the kitchen/lunch room, the exam room, and the laundry room. The rest is the gym, with our office areas

partially divided off.

Along one wall we have a stationary bike, an "upper body cycle", a treadmill, a Total Gym, and 3 plinths (fancy name for the tables). At the end you see some pulleys and weights. Looking back the opposite direction you see balls of various weights and sizes, an incline board, and various types of tubing.

Below you see another plinth, an ultrasound machine, and a Reebok step. Behind the half wall is Jeanette's office area (she's the PT).

And below is my office area. I greet patients when they come in, put new patient data in the computer, contact insurance companies for authorizations, take copays, type dictations, answer the phone, keep patient charts up to date, wash and fold laundry, disinfect tables, put away heat and cold packs, etc. There's alot of variety, which I like.

This is my photo wall by my desk. I have pictures of all my family members. See if your eyes are good enough to find the picture of me with Richard Simmons. Sometimes young patients make me personalized artwork.

This is me with a very special patient. She is so sweet. She is always bringing us in little gifts of love. She has "graduated" from physical therapy and is in our Fitness program. She helped me plan and put together a surprise party for Jeanette when she received her doctorate in May. The lady in the red sweater is Jeanette.