front&center Larry Green

Rehabilitation manager helps patients on the path to recovery

By Sara Greene

LITTLE ROCK — Larry Green helps people get back on their feet, not

just physically, but emotionally.

Green, 36, is manager of the rehabilitation depart

ment at Ozark Health in Clinton, which provides physi

cal, occupational and speech therapy for residents in a

50-mile radius.

“I’ve learned age is not a determining factor of some

one’s level of function,” Green said.

Green manages more than a dozen health care pro

fessionals who help patients recover from surgery and

injuries.

He explained that physical therapy focuses more

on movement, balance and pain management after

surgeries such as knee, hip and shoulder joint replace

ment, as well as injuries such as bone fractures, ten

donitis and ligament repairs. Rehabilitation also helps

with neurological rehabilitation for patients recovering

from a stroke, brain or spinal cord injuries or conditions

such as cerebral palsy. Occupational therapy can help

patients after surgery or injuries to regain fine motor

skills needed for everyday tasks such as dressing, cooking

and writing. Speech therapy helps people who have a

physical or neurological interruption of their language

or swallowing skills including stuttering, slurred speech,

voice weakness and swallowing difficulties. The reha

bilitation department is well outfitted with a variety of

exercise and therapy equipment, including an isokinetic

machine, weights and other equipment one would find

at a therapy center.

“As a physical therapist, you do take your work home

with you, because you’re constantly thinking about your

patients and techniques you can use to help them realize

their full potential,” Green said.

He works in the Van Buren County Memorial Hos

pital, which is operated by Ozark Health. The hospital

is connected to the Ozark Health Nursing Center by a

enclosed glass walkway. During a brief tour of the facili

ties, Green said the hospital is a 25-bed facility and the

patient census varies from one to two dozen. According

to the hospital’s Web site, it started as a 12-bed facility in

1950. In 1982 the hospital changed its name to Ozark

Health, and four years ago moved to its current location

on Arkansas 65 S. in Clinton.

The advantage of the hospital being connected to

the nursing home means Green and his staff can pro

vide treatment for nursing home residents, without

getting them out in the weather or making them get

in a vehicle.

In addition to providing therapy services in the hos

pital and nursing home, the therapists get to treat pat

ents in the inpatient rehabilitation, home health and

outpatient settings.

“In a rural environment, we get the unique opportu

nity to work with our patients from the acute stage in the

hospital to the comforts of their homes,” Green said.

Kirk Reamey, chief executive officer of Ozark Health,

agrees with Green on not judging people by their age.

“Larry has a depth and breadth of experience that

belies his chronological age,” Reamey said.

He said Green and the rehabilitation staff are patient

centered and do outstanding work.

“The work they do is nothing short of phenomenal,”

Reamey said.

A native of Greenbrier, Green was born in Benton

Harbor, Mich. His family moved to Greenbrier when he

was 9. He gradulated as Valedictorian in theGreenbrier

High School class of 1990 and received his Master of

Science degree in physical therapy from the University

of Central Arkansas in Conway.

His parents, Bob and Barbara Green, run B and G

Custom Auto in Conway. His sister Jennifer Turner is

a dietitian at Conway Regional Medical Center andhis sister Bobbie Thornton is a homemaker in Conway.

“My parents always let me decide what I wanted to do and raised me to be independent. When I was in college, I stopped going to classes and I got a construction job. I was out framing houses in the middle of July and that was a real turning point. It made me realize the importance of finishing my degree,” Green said.

He’s been working in physical therapy for 10 years, with most of that time spent at Conway Regional Medical System. He has been at Ozark Health Medical Center for the past four years.

Green lives in Greenbrier with his wife of nearly 14 years, Angela, their son Taylor, 11; daughter Maggie, 6, and Mario the cat and a dog, Cocoa the Corgi. Green said living in Greenbrier is a good place to raise children and a good halfway point for his job in Clinton and Angela’s job as a social worker in Conway.

A self-described optimist, Green said he enjoys reading for both work and recreation. The last book he read was The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey. He also coaches his children’s soccer teams.

One thing Green said he’d like to see Clinton get is a community center with a swimming pool and social activities for teenagers. The swimming pool would also provide a venue for the people who need to exercise in water as part of their physical therapy treatment.

“We’ve talked about one day retiring up here in Clinton. We like the small town atmosphere and people just know each other,” Green said.

As a child, Green said he thought about becoming an engineer and said being a therapist is similar because he is building people back up, physically and emotionally.

“I have always been the type to help people, and this way, I help them go back to their homes and back to their lives. I really feel lucky to be able to do what I do,” Green said.

matter of

fact

The world leader I’d like to meet is: Former

President Bill Clinton. I like some of the stuff he’s

done, and I don’t like some of the stuff he’s done, but

being governor at 33 is impressive.

Most people don’t know I: Like to race four

wheelers.

I find daily inspiration in: Knowing I’m going to

make a difference in someone’s life.

My biggest fear is: Not making a difference.

The people I admire most are: Teachers, because

they give so much into what they do and have such

a responsibility.

I cannot live without: My kids.

The world would be a better place if: People would

self-evaluate on what they can do to make the world

better instead of waiting on someone else to do it.

My favorite memory is: Camping with my parents at

Choctaw recreation area

I am most comfortable in: My shorts and T-shirt

working in my yard.

My motto is: Keep moving forward.

River Valley Ozark, Pages 126, 127 on 08/03/2008