Celebrate

By Jamie Funk, Therapy Recruiting Resource
Dennis Baloy is one of our more recent additions to the Ensign affiliated therapy leadership team. As the Director of Rehabilitation at St. Elizabeth Healthcare & Rehabilitation Center, Dennis immediately recognized our unique culture: “I just want everyone to know how lucky I feel to be part of this wonderful organization that truly embodies the value of Customer Second, where we as therapists and employees are celebrated, valued and appreciated. I am even more humbled to be surrounded by really bright, talented and passionate leaders. Everyone is so inspiring in their unique ways. Collectively, this is what truly sets us apart!”

Dennis has been a therapist for 15 years and a Director of Rehabilitation for the past eight years. He graduated with his Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy in the Philippines and later completed his Clinical Doctorate in Occupational Therapy with Geriatric Certification in the United States. As a child, Dennis always wanted to become a doctor and thought therapy might be a stepping stone to that career. However, as he immersed himself in his first OT internship, Dennis realized that OT was it for him — a career that would allow him to care for others, be creative and be human. Dennis has two brothers who are his biggest inspiration and mentors: Paul and Kirby. “They are the biggest reasons why I am where I am with my career,” Dennis says.

During the Ensign transition at St. Elizabeth, Dennis saw that culture was a top priority. “It was refreshing to see how involved all employees are in the facility. No longer does each department feel separate from one another. Every staff member is valued equally and has a voice. The support from our resources and Service Center is always present when you need it — this was definitely a big change in mindset for me coming from a corporate hierarchical structure,” Dennis remembers.

Dennis says that his biggest challenge has been being new in our company, new in his role and then having relentless COVID outbreaks in the community to deal with. “It has been stressful at times, but for the most part it is just a big challenge that I am willing to face. I feel like I don’t know a lot of things and that I still need to learn a lot of technical items, but I am excited to listen and grow. There is a huge sense of fulfillment if you know you can be of service to others and spread positive and enriching influence.”

Dennis has shown himself to be a wonderful leader. He loves being able to see his colleagues go out on their own and feel like they can do their jobs well because they feel valued, appreciated, empowered and loved. “Nothing beats the feeling of knowing that they love coming to work, they love their patients and their profession, and they can provide for their families and be themselves,” Dennis explains, “My favorite core value is Love One Another. Love at its core is selfless — the moment we think less of ourselves and more of the betterment of others. This allows us to build a community of trust, and this trust allows us to better serve our facility, our patients and our community.”

Dennis finds mentors throughout his facility. “I see everyone in my facility as my mentor,” he says. “I learn so much from each of the department heads and especially my administrator and DON — they all have strong attributes that complement each other and the whole facility.” Dennis also loves his nursing team and treats them like family. He has been able to build strong relationships with nursing through honest and genuine communication.

In his off-work hours, Dennis is passionate about photography and videography. He owns his own company, and pre-COVID, was very busy providing those services at weddings and other events. He still spends a lot of time taking photos and creating videos for fun. Dennis has also fallen in love with the world of triathlons and has set a goal to complete an Ironman competition in 2021. Favorite movies include “Braveheart,” “50 First Dates,” “Memento,” “Crash,” “Into the Wild” and a variety of Disney movies that he watches with his family.

As for the future, Dennis is focused on both family and work. “I would just love to see my daughter grow to be a nice kid — a good, smiling and happy kid. I want her to get to be who she wants to be and be happy doing that and being helpful to others. I have a goal to spend more quality time with my wife at home and hopefully some future trips together.” Dennis is looking forward to seeing his facility GROW. His goal is to serve more residents with inpatient and outpatient services and be recognized in the community as a skilled nursing facility that provides excellent clinical care that is warm, loving and inviting. He would also love to help spread this to the other Ensign affiliates in his area.

It always seems like something magical and wonderful has happened when a great therapist finds a great place to work and grow. Magic is definitely happening at St. Elizabeth!

By Doug Haney, CEO/ED, Bella Vita Health & Rehabilitation Center, Glendale, AZ

I wanted to recognize this very special “Moment of Truth-esk” gesture that the entire staff of Bella Vita experienced recently. A couple weeks back, our staff was pretty worn down and experiencing a wide range of emotions dealing with the effects felt from this coronavirus. Everyone was especially hurt when we lost several of our long, long-term residents we all called family. We loved each and every one of those we lost and needed some serious support for those who knew them well.

Out of the blue, Michael and Mitch stepped in, offering a memorial service to honor and remember those we lost over the past several months. They set everything up, even though I knew their services were widely needed during that time. I can honestly tell you we cried and held each other a lot during that time. We were grateful for Emblem’s offering and kindness when we needed it the most. One of them brought a grill on wheels (not sure whose it was, but it is pretty sweet) and cooked up burgers and hot dogs for all the staff over a four-hour period. It was hot outside, but Michael didn’t seem to mind it — it was 115 that day.

At 2 p.m. in our main dining room, staff joined together and were allowed to share special memories about their lost friends and then place a leaf with their name on a potted tree. It was good to get together to reminisce, reflect, and realize we were blessed to be a part of their lives.

On behalf of the entire Bella Vita Team, THANK YOU MITCH, MICHAEL AND EMBLEM HOSPICE. You truly made our day!

By Jon Anderson, Therapy Resource, Texas
I wanted to take a few moments to celebrate our newest CTOs (Chief Therapy Officers) in Keystone. The CTO designation is the highest designation a therapy leader in the organization can receive; it is a tall order to be in this elite club. Please join me in congratulating this elite group of Texas leaders!

There is so much to say about these two incredible ladies, but I’ll keep this short and just share a few highlights.

Cara Koepsel, SLP, DOR, CTO, Golden Acres, Dallas, TX
Cara became the DOR at Golden Acres in May 2018, after being one of our first DORITOs (Director of Rehab in Training) in Keystone, and then successfully transitioning to DOR (Director of Rehab) at Lake Village for nine months. When Cara came to Golden Acres, the therapy department was doing well financially and operationally in key therapy metrics; however, Cara reminded us that GOOD is the enemy of GREAT.

Cara truly is the epitome of ownership, and quickly jumped in at Golden Acres. In fact, there isn’t a function in the facility that she is not willing to take on herself or assist with as needed. She has learned how to run payer verifications for when the BOM is off; she reviews the 24-hour report and clinical documentation to identify skill in place patients; she coaches the MDs on peer-to-peer reviews for insurance authorizations, and also plays a vital role in the Keystone North market with the education and training of our other DORs.

Cara has sprinkled her expertise in the market by assisting in the training of three additional DORITOs that are now also DORs of facilities in Keystone. She has been asked to present at many therapy leader meetings, and even at the annual Ensign leadership meeting in Dallas this past year. PNSD has steadily been above $60 for well over a year (amazing!), and Golden Acres is always in the top few buildings for productivity and cost per minute. It has been truly amazing to watch Cara grow into this tremendous therapy leader and watch her partner with an amazing CEO, Rick Forscutt, and COO Karen Calma to finish out the trifecta here, and we are so thrilled to announce her new title as a Chief Therapy Officer (CTO).

Agatha Pedro, OTR, DOR, CTO, Timberwood, Livingston, TX
Agatha relocated from outside the state of Texas into a city with such charm, known as Livingston, TX, four years ago to help lead the therapy team at Timberwood. The shift from what she was familiar with could have been a tough adjustment for some, but Agatha stepped right in and embraced the city and facility with open arms.

The transition came with some growing pains such as a very limited therapy team, ever-changing department heads, and very linear therapy services that were offered. In a short amount of time, Agatha has nearly doubled her therapy team through strong partnership efforts with our Keystone Therapy Recruiter, Richard Johnson. Agatha made a conscious decision to create an interview process that was inclusive with other team members. She prides herself on her onboarding process so each new team member can be fully immersed with the Ensign experience.

There have been changes within the leadership team at Timberwood, but those changes did not impede the flow of progress. With humility and vocal confidence, Agatha supports the needs of other departments by being an actionable leader. Patient care has always remained at the forefront, as evidenced by Agatha’s competitive productivity standards that she maintains as an Occupational Therapist. She understands the operational demands of her role as Director of Rehab, but she knows that her clinical impact provides greater depth in the overall scope.

As a DOR, some may be intimidated to comfortably partner with their ED and DON … not Agatha. Agatha will initiate meetings, bring ideas, and execute tasks through strategic implementation processes. Prior to Agatha, the therapy department had very limited programs and led a very traditional process in the services that were offered. In four short years, the Timberwood facility now offers a variety of programs and therapy services that rival competitors.

Prior to the start of the pandemic, Timberwood was on track to have a strong growth in outpatient, far more than they have ever had in the past. The reputation of the therapy department created a pathway for patients to discharge and return for outpatient services. Agatha is LSVT Big certified; this is a world-recognized certification used in treating movement aspects of Parkinson’s disease. Long-term care programming has been a goal for Agatha, and she has steadfastly kept her focus there for the last two years. Through her passion for learning and intelligent risk taking, she has transformed long-term care at Timberwood.

We are half-way through 2020, and Agatha is projected to finish the year with her highest revenue performance to date. More importantly, the clinical backbone has remained solid. Therapy continually finishes with exceptional MSCA scores, and therapy has also maintained a vested interest in helping to support the quality metric performance. Agatha has only begun to tap into her potential as a therapy leader, and we are honored to recognize Agatha Pedro as Chief Therapy Officer.

 

Submitted by Jamie Funk, Therapy Recruiting Resource
Meet Joe Pergamo (pictured top left), the Director of Rehabilitation at Rainier Rehabilitation in Puyallup, Washington. Joe joined our organization in March 2019 and has become a huge part of the Pennant Washington team, not only as a stand out leader in his own facility, but also as someone who pitches in for any of our Washington facilities if they need help. He has even driven five hours (one way) to Walla Walla on a repeat basis when they were short a physical therapist.

“Joe is a remarkable leader! He has been instrumental in increasing the awareness amongst the staff at Rainier’s rehab team of the benefits of providing therapy services to residents to maintain their optimal function,” says Brett Watson, the ED at Rainier Rehabilitation. “He has demonstrated through his leadership how to improve the quality of life of our residents through consistent rehab interventions and skills. Joe is patient, kind and long suffering. He is not only supportive of his therapy team, but he gets in and supports nursing, activities, and business office staff with their needs. He does this while maintaining a strong productivity percentage.”

“Joe leads with humor, kindness, and the altruistic belief that therapy changes lives for the better. He is humble and leads by example with true ownership of his program,” says Mira Waszak, the Therapy Resource for Washington.

Joe was inspired to become a therapist because he wanted to work in health care and enjoyed working out and fitness. Initially, he obtained his PTA degree but went back to school to earn his Master’s Degree in Physical Therapy. He heard about a DOR opening at Rainier from a former supervisor who put him in contact with Mira to learn more. “I had spoken to Mira several times, and she was very helpful and encouraged me to become a rehab director. She provided excellent mentoring to ease me into the role. I met Brett and Stacy (the ED and DNS at Rainier) along with several RCMs, and I believed it was an excellent opportunity for me to be a director. I was impressed with Brett and Stacy’s approach and style and the way they cared for long-term care residents,” Joe remembers.

Joe’s favorite Ensign core value is Ownership. “I believe when employees take pride and responsibility in and for their work, it elevates everyone’s quality of care. Pride and ownership are contagious. When you are around other people who have ownership, it makes the ‘work’ more rewarding. You don’t want to let yourself, your co-workers or residents down. I feel that there are many owners at Rainier in the therapy department and throughout the facility and we all feed off of that positive energy.”

This affinity for ownership is not going unnoticed by the facility administrator. “Joe is faced with multiple challenges in caring for residents that have many needs. Joe is providing care to residents who need airway support — patients who need a level of care that is unique and challenging. He has not been afraid to get in and learn how to provide services to these individuals that have benefited these folks in many ways,” says Brett Watson.

Joe loves his facility and team because the entire facility is very devoted and dedicated to their residents. They practice holistic and selfless interaction with their patients. Joe is a strong believer in co-treatments and collaborative care and he works hard to be mindful of recommendations from all disciplines. “I always try to be open to opportunities to provide therapy services to improve residents’ quality of life,” Joe says. ”I believe all residents are therapy candidates and we just have to be open to all opportunities.”

When not working, Joe is spending time with his wife, son and three dogs. He is in the midst of a home and yard renovation and also makes time to exercise. He loves living in Washington, which he feels is the perfect mix of metropolitan life and breathtaking nature, home-town charm and cultural diversity. For any of you science fiction buffs out there, Joe’s favorite movie is the “Back to the Future” series.

“I call Joe my diamond in the rough,” says Mira. “He is very introverted but he doesn’t let that impact his effectiveness as a leader. I have had the privilege to treat patients with him side by side, so I have first- hand experience of his clinical excellence! On top of everything else that has been thrown at our leaders this crazy year, Joe has gone through some serious personal challenges but continues to show up 150% every day – #belikejoe!”

The feeling is mutual. “Mira is an excellent mentor and resource,” Joe says. “She provides motivation and encouragement every time we interact. Although I have only known her for just over a year, it seems like we have been friends for many years. Mira provides hard truth, sound advice, humor and truly listens to my concerns.”

April Trammell from Beacon Harbor in Rockwall, Texas, recently joined our Compassionate Hearts Team. She shared some ways she is bringing compassion to her team:

A personal goal of mine is to be more present for my team. This means both physically present and to develop a greater awareness of my team’s individual strengths and needs. I decided to give them all a survey with questions that captured our CAPLICO values
1. Provide an example of a teammate’s compassion
2. Provide an example of a teammate’s accountability
3. Provide an example of a teammate’s effective treatment technique/out of the box thinking
4. Is there a topic/area of interest for your personal goals?
5. Provide a characteristic/trait you value in a teammate, in a leader, in yourself
6. What are your professional goals/leadership interests?

The responses from my team were overwhelming! I am reviewing one question’s responses per week in our team meeting so that each staff can see/hear the great things they have to say about each other/see in each other. Here are the examples of Compassion shared by my team:

• Kristen and Tibitha checking in on me while I was out for surgery. They have been extremely understanding. Receiving a very nice bag of thoughtful health products from April when returning from surgery.
• Reggie’s ability to make the residents feel more at home /at ease.
• Blair always goes above and beyond to make sure her patients are well taken care of and that they have everything that they need.
  Blair brought in a warm outerwear garment for a resident to wear who is cold all the time.
• OT taking time to have a video call for patients with family members
• Esther always has nice things to say about a patient or co-worker no matter how challenging that person’s attitude is. Even when everybody gave up on Resident SH, Esther was still attentive to her needs.
• Being kind to patients even when they are difficult and stubborn
• Jessica! She is always willing to help in any situation. She is very passionate about each and every patient and is willing to learn.
  Reggie is always checking on each patient and making sure they always have what they need.
• Rhonda- always eager to help.
• One of our therapists going above and beyond their responsibility by providing shoes to a patient to help them ambulate.
  Neeraj going the extra mile and caring about patient’s pressure sores and mental health.
• Reggie and Neeraj going above and beyond to help our patients.
• Kristen Erickson was very compassionate on the COVID unit. She ran around each day going out of her way to get the patients clean and anything they needed.
• All of the current team members are compassionate and have demonstrated it during COVID times.

Needless to say, COVID was our Moment of Distinction with so many Silver linings that came out of it. We are a stronger team because of it. This survey has been a moment of distinction for me personally and professionally. This has been a great team-building activity—some squeals of delight when names were heard, giggles, heads nodding in confirmation. Hearts are filled here!