Rayme Pullen, PT, OCS
W
hen asked why she became a Physical Therapist, Rayme Pullen, PT, OCS said that she was inspired by the 1991 Harrison Ford, Annette Bening film, Regarding Henry. In the beginning of the film, Harrison Ford’s character, Henry, is shot during a convenience store robbery and suffers a serious brain injury. He spends the rest of the film, with the help of therapists, relearning to walk, talk, read, write and interact with his family and the world. It was this journey of recovery that put Rayme on the path to becoming a physical therapist herself. “In my life and in my practice, I have witnessed the transformative power of physical therapy,” Pullen said. “It means everything to me when I hear a patient say, ‘You guys helped me walk again,’ or the knowledge that we’ve cared for patients who, themselves, are the primary caregivers for their elderly parents, young children, or family members with disabilities.” Pullen, who was raised on the Westbank, earned degrees and certifications at both Tulane (B.S. in Cellular and Molecular Biology, 2000), and LSU’s Health Sciences Center (Masters in Physical Therapy and Orthopedic Clinical Specialist, 2002). She and her husband moved to Slidell in 1998, as it was halfway between his work in Mississippi and her schooling in New Orleans. She began practicing her chosen vocation after graduation, and eventually landed her current role with Wellness Physical Therapy in 2010. Wellness Physical Therapy has been locally owned and operated in Slidell since the late 1990’s, and though they have relocated several times, they have occupied their current location (at 1311 Gause Blvd - next to Italian Pie) since 2006. Wellness PT employs around 14 staff members, including two full-time physical therapists and two full-time physical therapy assistants (PTA’s). Besides offering a full complement of Physical Therapy treatments and services, like Orthopedic PT, Parkinson’s therapy, Workers Comp related therapy, FCE’s, Dry Needling, ASTYM and MED-X, it is their Aquatic therapies (assisted by the on-site, indoor pool) that truly makes them unique. They are the only in-house aquatic therapy program in East St Tammany Parish.
Rayme is not just one of the full-time Physical Therapists, she is also one of the owners. During her time with Wellness PT, they have become the Pre-Employment and Return To Duty Clinic for St. Tammany Fire District One, and the clinic continues to grow and offer new services. She attributes their success to her amazing staff, the more than 20 years they have been serving the Slidell community, and the relationships they have built with their patients. “We often are privileged to be able to spend several hours a week with some patients,” she explains. “When it is just you and them, working toward concrete goals, we really get to know them.” When asked why she loves Physical Therapy, Rayme had this to say: “I love the trouble-shooting aspects of this job. Being able to figure out how best to serve and treat my patients is incredibly rewarding. This profession may not be for everyone; but, from my perspective, there are so many opportunities for our young people to pursue. The science of physical therapy is evolving rapidly, teaching and research opportunities are everywhere, and therapists are called upon to work in many different settings and in many different industries.” In the coming year, Rayme is looking forward to earning her doctorate in Physical Therapy and adding “Doctor” to the front of her name; growing the clinic’s Industrial Health offerings; adding more Dry Needling specialists; and hiring more Physical Therapists so that they can offer greater, and more specialized, care to their patients. Rayme’s typical patients include pre- and post-surgical individuals, chronic pain sufferers, geriatric patients, and those people experiencing “limited activity” due to muscular or skeletal issues. Most of the clinic’s new patients come from referrals, either from doctors, current and former patients, or from their participation in organizations like the East St. Tammany Chamber of Commerce. Additionally, Rayme was quick to point out that since Louisiana passed the “Direct Access” law, patients are no longer required to obtain a doctor’s referral before selecting the physical therapy they want to work with. Contact Rayme at Wellness Physical Therapy for your appointment or consultation today!
1.) Rayme at work in the pool with a patient 2.) Volunteering with Habitat for Humanity 3.) With husband, Kenny 4.) Fun times for Halloween with the staff of Wellness Physical Therapy
Wellness Physical Therapy • 1311 Gause Blvd • Slidell, LA • 985-649-6577 www.WellnessPTSlidell.com Wellness-Physical-Therapy-of-Slidell