Waiting

Elizabeth Hansen, PT

The laundry basket is long since gone from the living room
No need to strip bare for the world to see (as if people were out in the world then)
My hands recovered from red raw angry sanitized skin
We suffer now from fatigue—ourselves and others
Still beyond capacity
No return to daily grind
Vacant desks, exam rooms, cockpits and classrooms
While the waiting grow in number and impatience

Elizabeth A. Hansen is a physical therapist with a focus on post-brain injury rehabilitation. As a therapy manager at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, she leads a team of therapists providing comprehensive occupational, physical, and speech therapy to patients. Her passion for the field was sparked in high school while serving as a student athletic trainer and talking to physical therapists. During the pandemic, Hansen and her team faced unique challenges, including adapting to remote rehabilitation approaches and assuring patients’ loved ones of their therapy quality. Today, partially due to the pandemic, her work integrates virtual elements to accommodate patients’ busy schedules and other obstacles. With a Doctorate of Physical Therapy, she is well-versed in treating a variety of neurological disorders, including strokes, and has specialized expertise in casting and Lokomat training.

You can find more about her on: https://www.linkedin.com/in/beth-hansen-34a6505/