This week’s spotlight is on Maryanne Kelley, OTR/L, a Non-Clinical 101 graduate who is now Implementation Specialist for MEDITECH!
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What is your full name, title, and company name for your current, primary role?
Maryanne Kelley, OTR/L — Implementation Specialist for MEDITECH
What additional roles do you currently have?
Trainer.
Where are you located?
Massachusetts.
Where did you go to OT school, and what year did you graduate?
Quinnipiac University, 1995.
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If you’re a Non-Clinical 101 student, you can network with many of our spotlight participants in the alumni groups!
What did you do when you first finished school, and for how long?
I started in acute rehab and worked at that for two years.
In what setting(s) did you work, and what types of patients did you treat?
I’ve worked in many settings:
- Acute inpatient
- Adult and pediatric outpatient
- Skilled nursing
- School based
What did you enjoy about your early roles? What didn’t you enjoy?
I loved trying to figure out what I could do to help my patients gain or re-gain independence. I loved seeing people evolve, thrive, and knowing that I helped.
Eventually, I just got very burned out by the demands of the job and not ever feeling appreciated.
What else have you done since then, prior to your current role?
I’ve worked in many settings. I’ve also done some virtual coaching for kids with ADHD and executive functioning challenges.
When and why did you decide to do something non-clinical?
About four years ago, I decided to look for something else.
I was burned out and really suffering from compassion fatigue. I felt completely under appreciated.
In the school setting, I felt like the model of service delivery was broken and that, no matter what I did, I’d never get all of my work done or make everyone happy.
What are you doing these days?
I work at MEDITECH, a medical software company, as an implementation specialist.
Are you still treating patients, or are you solely non-clinical?
No, I’m not treating patients.
How long have you been in your current implementation specialist role?
Since May 2022.
Did you get any special certifications or training along the way to help you get into your current role?
I took Non-Clinical 101 and watched a ton of YouTube videos. Non-Clinical 101 was invaluable!
Plus, you’ll get early access to curated non-clinical job listings and a bonus lesson on AI!
How did you find your job? Did you apply or find it through a connection?
My friend’s daughter works for MEDITECH and suggested the position.
Did you do anything special to your resume and cover letter to land the job?
I tailored my resume to highlight my transferable skills, such as training and teaching, as well as technology I’ve worked with and skills that were listed in the job posting. I used the templates in Non-Clinical 101 to help with my resume and cover letters.
What was the interview like for the implementation specialist role?
I had to prepare a presentation on a healthcare topic and present it to four people on a Zoom meeting. I used suggestions from Non-Clinical 101 on how to answer interview questions. I also watched a lot of videos on interviewing and actually did a mock interview with a friend.
It was a little intimidating interviewing with four people over Zoom, but I had rehearsed my presentation and my responses to typical interview questions, and that was really helpful.
How have people reacted to you leaving patient care?
It’s been a while, but initially people were shocked. I’m a pretty upbeat and positive person, so many people didn’t realize how burned out I was. My close friends and family were excited for me.
What’s a typical day or week in the life like for you? What types of tasks and responsibilities fill your time?
Every day is different. As part of my role, I do troubleshooting for the software, train customers, have customer calls, and meet with other specialists to collaborate on the customer’s systems and workflows. I also do a lot of research to troubleshoot issues.
I go on site visits to do in-person trainings and some other things, and I really enjoy that time. Travel is about 40% of my job. That was a big sell for me, as I hadn’t really traveled much outside of New England prior to getting this job.
What are some of the rewards of your role? What are the biggest challenges?
I like solving challenging problems. I really enjoy training customers. I love being able to travel to different areas and see the country.
One of the biggest challenges was not knowing what I was doing for the duration of my training. It was hard to be a newbie after having been an OT for so long.
How did your clinical background prepare you for this role? Which skills transferred?
All of my skills transferred! Being in the medical field and having patient care experience has been very helpful.
Roughly speaking, how are the hours and pay compared to patient care?
The hours are similar, except when I travel. When I do site visits, I’m gone for five days at a time.
I did take a bit of a pay cut, but the benefits are so good, I take home almost the same amount.
What type of person do you think would do well in your implementation specialist role?
The type of person who would do well in my role is:
- Detail-oriented
- Collaborative
- An independent worker
- A critical thinker
Do you work remotely or onsite?
I’m hybrid. During the weeks I don’t travel, I do two days per week in office and three days per week from home.
Does your organization hire PT, OT, or SLP professionals into non-clinical roles? If so, what type of roles?
We do! We hire lots of people who are changing careers. The roles are mainly Implementation Specialist and Client Support, but they also have some EHR tester roles.
Did you read any books, take any courses, or do anything special overall to get you where you are today?
I took the Non-Clinical 101 course, and I watched hours upon hours of YouTube videos. I worked hard at figuring out what I didn’t want to do, and then I was open to other opportunities.
What is a typical career path for someone in your implementation specialist role?
Implementation Specialist is an entry-level role. You can become a supervisor or a manager. There are many opportunities for change within the company.
What is next for you? What are your high-level career aspirations?
I’m currently taking a data analytics course. I want to add that to my repertoire of skills.
What would you recommend to someone who is considering going into a role like yours? Do you have any special words of wisdom for the readers?
I would recommend people be open to all possibilities. I never thought I could transition into technology, but here I am!
We have amazing skills as therapists. We just need to put them into words and make them tangible.
What career advice would you give yourself that you wish you had during school?
Be open to possibilities.
There are so many things we can do other than direct patient care. Dream big!
Do you have any special advice for others who want to follow in your footsteps?
Do your homework. Really examine which things you want to do. Use the personality tests and such that are in Non Clinical 101.
Also, don’t be afraid of change. I’ve been an OT for a long time. I never thought I could successfully work in technology.
Ask questions, and network.
