September 10th, 2024
Lauren Littlefield Awarded Mission Champion September 2024
Lauren Littlefield began her career at St. Joseph Hospital Outpatient Rehabilitation in Merrimack, NH, as a Patient Service Representative (PSR) in August of 2020.
When asked about her favorite part of the job, Lauren highlights the connections she builds with many of the elderly patients who visit our location in Merrimack for rehabilitation services. She enjoys seeing their progress through a series of appointments and takes pride in viewing each patient not just as someone walking through the door, but as an individual with a unique story. For Lauren, being part of their rehabilitation journey from start to finish is especially rewarding.
Since Outpatient Rehabilitation is a satellite location of the main hospital, Lauren acknowledges that it can sometimes feel disconnected. However, she emphasizes that her team puts in extra effort to maintain a sense of unity. She values the strong working relationships they’ve built and relies on them daily. Lauren also enjoys the opportunity to assist other Outpatient Rehabilitation satellite locations during staff leave or vacations, which allows her to meet and collaborate with more people across St. Joseph Hospital.
One of her most memorable experiences was when she and a coworker invented a holiday to help reduce stress. Their location was handling a high volume of referrals in an already busy practice, and things could get overwhelming. The playful holiday was designed to bring laughter and joy during the hectic period, and was a hit with both staff and patients.
Another standout moment for Lauren was helping a lymphedema patient who couldn’t afford essential medical supplies. Recognizing their need, Lauren found a grant that provided the patient with the necessary medical supplies, making a meaningful difference in their care.
“Lauren goes about her day, living the phrase that you consistently hear when she answers the phone, ‘This is Lauren, I can help you.’ She does this for patients she encounters, our providers, and her colleagues. She strives to make each individual feel important, valued, and heard. One of the ways she does this is through active listening. She always responds with compassion to a patient’s situation. If they are in pain, or uncomfortable in the waiting area, she will offer to bring them into a private room so they can change position or lay down,” says Christine Mondi, PT, CLT. She adds, “If she knows a patient needs specific medical equipment or supplies and cannot afford them, she will use all resources to solve that problem. She is keenly aware of ensuring each patient has access to care. She will go out of her way to work the schedule to allow a patient to come in for an appointment. She manages the waitlist of patients and will shift around appointments to make time for another patient to be seen. Lauren always goes above and beyond.”
When Lauren is not at work, you can find her and her fiancée, Tristan, enjoying walks around Livingston Park, in Manchester, NH, with their greyhound dog, Jessie. She can also be found enjoying a good book or checking off an old movie on her watch list with her tuxedo cat, Brick. Lauren also loves to float down Saco River in Saco, ME, with her family and friends during the warm summer months.
Since joining the team at St. Joseph Hospital Outpatient Rehabilitation, Lauren feels that she is supported and accepted by her coworkers. She can ask questions and never feels like she is bothering anyone during the workday. Lauren loves that the mission of the hospital carries over to the satellite locations and that employees are always there to help, support, teach, and find solutions to problems – as a team.
Congratulations Lauren!