Celebrate

Submitted by Jamie Funk, Therapy Recruiting Resource

Meet Avenlea Gamble (pictured Left), a second-generation Ensignista who is the Director of Rehabilitation at Northbrook Healthcare Center in Willits, California. Avenlea has been coming to Northbrook since she was three days old, which may sound strange unless you know that her mom, Shawndee Gamble (pictured Right), is the facility administrator there.

This story is about Avenlea, but it is woven tightly with the story of her mother. Shawndee began working at both our Ukiah and Willits locations when she was 17 years old, first as a CNA, then in medical records, and then as an activities director. Avenlea would help out with bingo and one-on-one activities with the residents and developed a lasting love for the long-term care setting. Shawndee later entered the AIT program and has been the facility administrator at Northbrook for 13 years.

Avenlea began her healthcare career at 16 when she became a care partner for Northbrook residents under the Department of Social Services. She also served as a dietary aide, helped with HR, and basically filled in on any odd job that was needed. She loved helping her small, tight-knit community. Willits has a population of approximately 5,000, so Avenlea cared for many of her friend’s parents and grandparents over the years.

Avenlea loved growing up in a small town, and her graduating high school class had only 18 students! She knew from early on that she wanted a career in therapy and wanted to return to Willits to help alleviate the ongoing shortage of qualified medical professionals there. She ultimately chose speech therapy because it allowed her to support communication and give people a voice.

The University of Pacific is where Avenlea obtained her undergraduate and graduate degrees in Speech Language Pathology, and also where she met her now husband, Jan. An interesting fact is that UOP had the same number of students as the entire town of Willits. Despite the crowd, Avenlea loved her experience there and had great clinical exposure with patients beginning in her junior year.

Jan took Avenlea’s last name when they married since the family history meant so much to her (and she is the namesake for her family). Jan is an opera singer as well as an audiologist and works in a clinic in Santa Rosa. He has a passion for music but also for science, so audiology was a perfect combination of the two. You can find his music and online choir on YouTube. Avenlea says their home is filled with a variety of instruments and full of music most of the time. Her two cats, Belle and Jasper, are happy residents and can be found enjoying a view of the beautiful foothills through a sunny picture window in the Gambles’ house.

After graduating with her Master’s Degree in Speech Language Pathology, Avenlea worked in an acute care hospital setting in Stockton to complete her clinical fellowship year and earn her CCCs. It wasn’t long before a speech therapist position became available back home and she convinced Jan to join her in moving back.

One of the newest members of our therapy team here at Paramount is Rebecca “Becky” Hopkins, OT. Becky comes to Paramount with a unique perspective as a clinician and a unique skill set. Becky was previously involved in a motor vehicle accident that resulted in months of difficult rehabilitation. She has sacrificed and worked very hard to get to where she is today. Many things that Becky requires of her patients, she herself has lived through. This has allowed each patient to trust her and form a special bond. Becky has a unique understanding of the difficulties and hardships involved in rehabilitation, both continence in personal dignity and quality of life. Overcoming incontinence has become a passion and focus for her in her Occupational Therapy career.

In the pursuit of that lofty goal, Becky has established an incontinence program, together with Gia Deeb her COTA, here at Paramount. Becky has lobbied for specific equipment, namely an ACP electrical stimulation unit that aids in reducing tone and spasticity along with eliciting muscle activity and control. This is done through a proprietary protocol called “PENS”. Becky has put together case studies to show its effectiveness prior to our facility purchasing the equipment. She has educated therapy staff on specific pelvic floor protocols to work on in combination with the e-stim modality.

In the short time of initiating this program, Becky has had remarkable results. Patients that were once incontinent of bowel and bladder are now either continent of both bowel and bladder or have demonstrated significant improvement. We are seeing a decrease in the use of supplies such as briefs and wipes. We are seeing the quality of life significantly increase with many of our residents as well as seeing a positive financial impact for our building through this program. As the word circulates of residents’ progress, Becky will often hear requests to come and work with them and bring her “black box.”

Meet Matthew Wayne, our newest therapy leader in Idaho! He will be joining our Bennett Hills team in Gooding, ID, next month and brings with him several years of experience as a PTA in three of our Pennant operations.

A graduate of Idaho State with degrees in Physical Therapy Assistant and Health Science, Matt is looking forward to expanding his leadership experiences. He was inspired to pursue a career in physical therapy when he had the opportunity to shadow several brilliant PTs through a career exploration class in high school. Prior to that, he possessed a passion for helping people through personal training, and combining this training with his new knowledge of physical therapy shaped how he wanted to interact with people and their health through therapy.

Matt looks for positivity in his colleagues and practices that quality in his own profession. “I figure if I try my best in all things and give encouragement to others to do their best, then I have given all that is possible. It feels so much easier to make advancements in challenging circumstances when we have strong support and have positive words spoken around us and our situation.” He believes in building strong relationships with nursing and other facility departments through communication, collaboration, respect and having a lighthearted attitude. Matt is inspired in leadership by numerous colleagues and friends and most especially his wife, whom he says inspires him every day. At his core, Matt carries the biggest lesson learned from his parents: “To think decisions through, pray about them and follow peace. Most important decisions shouldn’t rush you to make them,” he explains.

When not working, Matt is busy enjoying the outdoors, both land and water, in beautiful Idaho. He is an avid exerciser and also enjoys traveling to new places with his wife, target shooting, reading, and going to auto/truck performance exhibitions. Like many of us, he also spends much of his off-work time improving his home and yard. Demonstrating his diversity in interests, Matt’s favorite movies include It’s a Wonderful Life, The Fast and The Furious, and The Greatest Showman.

Matt loves all of our core values but if asked to pick his favorite (at the moment), it is Passion for Learning because our organization has given him so many learning opportunities in the past two years.

We are looking forward to working with another strong Pennant leader in Idaho and can’t wait to see what great things are in store for Bennett Hills!

Submitted by Jennifer Raymond, Therapy Resource – Northern CA

Shell was first admitted to BWV on Nov. 29, 2019, following a devastating CVA. At that time, she was nonverbal due to severe expressive aphasia, NPO on a feeding tube and had significant sensory disturbances. She was unable to follow a very simple command, required max to total assist to perform basic self-care and was unable to ambulate at all.

Prior to the stroke, Shell had been independent with all of her mobility, ADLs and communication and lived with her daughter. She had an extensive course of skilled care with all three disciplines and made impressive gains. However, she did not acquire the level of independence necessary to return home, so she was discharged from therapy to RNA and considered a long-term care placement at Broadway Villa.

As a true advocate, DOR Shobha Neupane-Gautam is always looking for ways that therapy can make a difference. During her daily rounds in April, she interacted with Shell and saw positive changes in her and the potential for her to do more. OT re-evaluated and began to see marked improvements during their treatments such that PT and ST also started new courses of care a month later.

Shobha writes:
“Due to our persistent/compassionate care and comprehensive approach, this resident is singing, dancing with rehab folks. She is able to perform functional transfer/ambulation/ADLs requiring supervision to modified independence. She is very interactive and demonstrates happy expression. Rehab folks have coordinated with IDT/family members, based on her progress. Family is ready to take her home and enjoy her life.”

Shobha’s approach demonstrates an ability to not simply interact with our long-term care patients every day, but to really “see” them as individuals who can change and grow and thrive. Thank you, Shobha, and all the Broadway Villa therapists for your commitment to facilitating the “Can Do” in the residents you serve, for never giving up on human potential and always believing in the power of therapy to change lives.

Submitted by Jamie Funk, Therapy Recruiting Resource
Introducing Nicole King, one of our newest Directors of Rehabilitation at Ridgeview Post-Acute in Commerce City, Colorado.

Nicole King is an SLP with over 12 years of experience who joined the Ensign family in March to help us transition Ridgeview Post-Acute in Commerce City, Colorado. Nicole has had her work cut out for her with many significant challenges, including a newly acquired facility that had been neglected and did not have a strong culture, building out her therapy team with several new hires, and almost immediately post-acquisition, dealing with the COVID-19 crisis. She has maintained a “let’s get this done” spirit and positive attitude in the face of these challenges and is already having an impact at Ridgeview.

Nicole’s most rewarding therapy experiences have revolved around getting to know her residents. “We have the opportunity to learn and grow with each new patient we meet,” she explains. Nicole also loves celebrating successes with her patients. “Any time I’ve gotten a patient off a PEG tube and back to eating solid foods again, I always celebrate with a lunch filled with their favorite foods!”

Like many of us, Nicole came from an organization with a very corporate structure. The freedom and empowering culture at her Ensign affiliate has been a breath of fresh air. Her vision for Ridgeview is to successfully transition the facility through the acquisition and get the Abilities Care Program up and running. “I have a great therapy team who is behind this goal and I am so grateful for them. I know our reputation (Ridgeview Post-Acute) in the community will rise to the top!”

When not working, Nicole spends time with her husband and two daughters, Fiona and Stella, and enjoys cooking, reading and going to the mountains – one of the many perks of living in the Denver area. She also loves comedies and enjoys any movie with Will Ferrell or Paul Rudd (no wonder I like her!).
Dare to Lead by Brene Brown is Nicole’s favorite business book. The book focuses on the idea that vulnerability is the heart of courageous leadership and offers strategies for leading from the heart rather than leading from fear. Nicole has embraced CAPLICO and relates to each core value, with Love One Another being her favorite. “Without Love One Another, the others aren’t achievable,” she says.

I am excited to watch what Nicole and her team accomplish at Ridgeview in the coming months. Welcome to the Ensign family, Nicole!

Submitted by Paola DeLuna, Therapy Resource
Hope Eaton (DON) and Sunny Chahal (DOR) at Eastview Healthcare in Houston, TX, have worked together for five years as a DOR/DON team. They both started working together while being new and have grown up by making mistakes together and finding solutions as a team. They call each other out on one another’s shortcomings and/or unproductive behaviors, but always make sure they genuinely apologize to one another when saying something inappropriate or something damaging to each other.

Having faith in each other, being honest with each other and building trust between them has allowed them to form a partnership where they can challenge each other. They admit their weaknesses and mistakes; they show “Love one another” by talking positively about each other; they are loyal and care about one another’s personal lives. They have created a partnership where they can push each other out of their comfort zone to initiate new programs that they both feel would benefit the facility and the residents.

Hope’s drive has pushed Sunny to implement programs like: Heart PARC Recovery program, Outpatient Therapy, Contracture Management and Wheelchair Positioning programs. The building had an IJ in the past due to wounds, and Hope partnered with Sunny and guided him to start a Wheelchair Positioning program for the LTC residents. The facility currently has 25% of the LTC residents in customized wheelchairs and have received no harm tags since then. Through accountability and ownership, they are passionate and unguarded in any discussion issues and have shown what a true partnership can accomplish.

By Gary McGiven, Therapy Resource, Milestone
The employees at City Creek Post-Acute in Salt Lake City, Utah, truly are superheroes. City Creek has partnered with the state to become a COVID-only building. As part of this partnership, City Creek was required to temporarily place their residents in sister facilities throughout the Salt Lake valley. This was a huge undertaking in and of itself and was the beginning of building something very special at City Creek.

In order to make this venture work, there needed to be some blurring of discipline lines with an “all hands on deck” approach. Those working in the facility needed to be on board with helping these residents in any way that was necessary. This meant therapy staff would spend time performing housekeeping, CNA and other duties in addition to treating patients for their therapy needs.

In speaking with Ray Yarman, the Director of Rehab at City Creek, she has expressed, many times, the appreciation she has gained for our nurses and CNAs as she and her staff have been working alongside them, in the COVID trenches. Ray says she wishes all therapy staff could gain this personal perspective of the amazing things our nurses and CNAs do on a daily basis. This experience will most definitely change the way Ray and her team operate, as they have bonded with the nursing staff and have built long-lasting relationships.

Many thanks to our amazing nurse partners for all that you do to give our residents the quality of life they deserve.

By Dennis Baloy, OT/DOR, St. Elizabeth Healthcare and Rehabilitation, Fullerton, CA

The acquisition of St. Elizabeth Healthcare and Rehabilitation happened in May 2019. The transition was remarkably successful, but it did not come without challenges. Equipped with knowledge and guidance from our resources, we were ready for the speed bumps ahead — from changing guidelines of our managed care partners, new state and federal regulations to the Star Rating Data, onset of PDPM and many more. Our relentless, action-oriented and fearless yet compassionate leaders, Rand (Administrator) and Mady (Director of Nursing), knew that the only way to achieve these things is staying the course toward our true north — that of providing the best individualized care to all our residents while continuing to embody the CAPLICO values toward one another.

Fast forward to January 2020, when the Department Heads of St. Elizabeth decided to jumpstart the year with a team-building/planning event. In this meeting, they picked the brains of all the adroit minds (fueled with everyone’s genuine love and compassion), and the best ideas in each department were laid down on the table to create a blueprint for “greatness” of St. Elizabeth.

From St. Elizabeth to St. E! Yes, plain and simple St. E!

Why the “E”s? We have narrowed down the core values that each St. Elizabeth employee embodies. They serve as our cornerstones and foundations for each intention and action we make when we go to this second home we call “St. E”!

Excellence. Empathy. Extraordinary. Engaged. Empowered …

Our building was undergoing a considerable renovation (front yard, room renovation, repainting) — an extensive overhaul. We also had a series of fun and educational inservices for all the staff. Keeping the blinders on and riding on this momentum, we were set to relaunch “St. E” to the community this May 2020.

Then COVID-19 came, and the world was shaken.

We paused.

It took only a few moments of realization that all our plans and efforts for our big relaunch were perhaps meant for this. Our facility is more prepared, more reinforced and better structured. The staff’s culture and morale are at an all-time high — bonded tighter than ever.

Yes, it is a different calling now, and everyone is well aware of it. The next few days and weeks will be a grueling test of the core values that is St. E. To say it will be a hard battle is an understatement, but united together we will succeed.

Bottom line is, surely now more than ever, nothing can replace the E’s that all the employees of St. Elizabeth/St. E embody: Excellence, Empathy, Extraordinary, Engaged, Empowered.

Congratulations to Jarrett Henderson, First Place SPARC Winner, and Primo Arredondo, Runner Up! Read their awesome essays below:

Jarrett Henderson, OT (have photo)

Grad Date May 2020, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT

While contemplating the “SPARC” program, I started thinking about the origination and culmination of a spark. A high energy source initiates a spark. They can produce a light that can be seen by many, but it also can ignite a flame that can burn bright, providing light, warmth, and means to perform tasks of everyday living. As a future Occupational Therapy (OT) provider, I want to be that energy needed to spark clients to overcome barriers and ignite the fire within to achieve their rehabilitation goals.

When thinking about how I can become this energy source, I realized much of my school experience has already prepared me. If you had the opportunity to sit in my OT classes, you would see my hand regularly raised. I would be asking questions about theories, evaluations, treatments, and current evidence for OT practice. My consistent inquiry for clarification has not only helped me academically but has inspired my work in research, as noted on this application. Whether it is in a classroom, doing research, or with a client, I like to know the “whys.” Wanting to know about the “Whys” helps me better understand and utilize client factors to develop more efficient interventions that will result in better outcomes. For example, when you ask why someone is experiencing paralysis, you get the information needed to select the appropriate evidence-based treatment. If the “why” was not addressed, someone could mistakenly use the theory of motor control to guide the treatment of a peripheral nerve injury. Doing so would lead to disappointment and unmet goals. This kind of defeat is something that cannot be afforded by patients or therapy specialists. I want to help avoid this defeat by continuing to ask the whys in my practice and push a little deeper to help come up with answers to the “hows.” How can this be fixed? How can we do better? How can therapy be more efficient? Below are some of the ways I plan to contribute to this movement.

CONTINUAL LEARNING:

Through fieldwork, I have developed the understanding that education is not only in a classroom, but opportunities to learn are everywhere. Becoming a valuable therapist means I will use patient homes, clinics, and other work environments to continue to develop an understanding of individuals, groups, and the community’s needs. Allowing the world to be my classroom will allow me to cater my skilled therapy services in any setting.

BEING A TEAM PLAYER:

As is commonly stated, Rome wasn’t built in a day, nor was it made by one person. Significant accomplishments are a result of the combined effort of many. During my second year of OT school, I found value in an interdisciplinary approach while participating in the Hotspotting program. This program identified individuals in a specific geographical area that utilized healthcare services more than normal. Once a patient was detected, we created targeted interventions that addressed all client factors with the goal of better health, well-being and reduced healthcare costs. Team members included OTs, SLPs, NPs, RNs, and other health professions; by collaborating with these clinicians, we developed more effective and efficient client-centered interventions that resulted in quantifiable positive outcomes. As I reflect on those outcomes, I have started to interact more with other health professionals. I have come to the belief that I must be an active interdisciplinary team member if I hope to create dynamic approaches to patient care.

ADVOCACY:

I have seen the value therapy brings to rehabilitation and general well-being. Unfortunately, this value is not always recognized, resulting in policy changes that decrease coverage for therapy services like OT. These changes affect patient outcomes and increase medical charges due to such things as hospital readmission. As a future OT practitioner, I will stay current on evidence-based practice and advocate when legislative action is needed. My documentation of patient outcomes will support the need for skilled therapy service and ensure patients’ well-being.

SEARCH OUT NEW TECHNOLOGY:

In the last few years, I have seen the development of 3D printing, AI, biometrics, and now NASA just announced the creation of a supersonic aircraft. Growth with technology is constant. If complacent with incorporating it, rehab treatments will quickly become outdated, resulting in decreased return on client performance and satisfaction. Decreased performance is not why I decided to become an OT. To prevent this, I will be actively engaged in learning about new technology through conferences, expos, and other continuing education courses.

While attending the 2018 and 2019 annual American Occupational Therapy Association conference, I learned about new technology. I had conversations with OTs about how client needs could be met with such technology. By continuing to search out and learn about new technology, I will provide the needed resources to spark change in patients’ lives. These actions are all a part of my drafted professional development plan. I plan to continue to add to this list so I can produce the needed energy to create that “SPARC” and ignite positive change in my patients and future team members. As an upcoming OT, I look forward to creating evidence-based resources, and toolkits, that will support therapy practitioners and patients with a way to reach their goals. If chosen for this award, I would be honored by your support in helping me work towards excellence as an OT, allowing me to continue to provide the needed “SPARC” in our field.

 

Primo Arredondo, PTA

Grad Date: December 2020, Navarro College, Midlothian, TX

My motivation to attend college is to attain the skills necessary to help improve a person’s quality of life. I graduated from Texas Woman’s University with a Bachelor of Science degree and a major in Kinesiology. My plans were to continue with school and earn a master’s degree to become a Physical Therapist. However, after graduating college, I held a job as a Cardiac Tech at a Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Center in Lewisville, TX. Shortly after that, I was fortunate enough to land a job at Lake Village Nursing and Rehabilitation Center as a Rehabilitation Technician.

Becoming a Physical Therapist was no longer in my plans, but rather to become a Physical Therapy Assistant. By becoming a Physical Therapist Assistant, I will be able to advocate for the elderly as well as positively influence their quality of living. I can only imagine how self-rewarding it might be to actually execute your knowledge and skills to improve a patient’s well-being! My passion for learning will ensure that I will stay up to date on new therapy interventions that are most beneficial to my patient population. Also, by acquiring continued education to enhance my professional competence, I will demonstrate accountability as a therapy professional. Only by keeping up with updated literature, current technology, and innovative therapeutic methods will I see the best outcomes in my patients’ rehabilitation.

As I notice changes within Medicare, there are a lot of opportunities for changes in regards to therapy interventions. As group therapy becomes a very resourceful tool in providing therapy interventions, I would expand therapy gyms to better accommodate therapy treatment sessions. It would be high dollars invested; but therapists, the facility, and above all, our patients, will ultimately benefit from this investment. Current literature shows that group therapy increases participation, decreases depression, increases patient motivation, gives patients a sense of inclusion, and improves overall rehab potential and experience.

Evidence-based practice is one of the most fundamental elements that makes a therapist an exceptional clinician. EBP allows a therapist to distinguish from effective therapy interventions and non-effective interventions and implement the most effective to acquire the greatest outcome in therapy rehabilitation. My daily routine will consist of incorporating evidence-based practice to every one of my patient’s cases in order to find the most effective intervention to attain the greatest rehab outcomes. My co-workers’ expertise is also a valuable resource to use to improve patient rehab outcomes. While I grow as a clinician, I look forward to attaining valuable expertise and sharing it with co-workers and patients.

Meet Dora Alvarez, a quiet Tucson superstar who prefers to be out of the spotlight! Dora has been with Sabino Canyon Rehabilitation & Care Center for eight years and loves being able to oversee the wonderful work and dedication her team demonstrates in helping one patient at a time. According to Shelby Donahoo, Tucson therapy resource, Dora has really come into her own in the past year and is one of our strongest therapy leaders in the Tucson market.

Dora was inspired to pursue a career in therapy after her mother’s terminal illness. She wanted to be able to help her mom have the best quality of life possible in the time she had remaining, and therapy was a way in which to accomplish that goal. As a leader, she emphasizes CAPLICO in her department by working with her therapists, facing all challenges as a team and helping her team believe in what they do to help improve the lives of others.

Dora would not change a thing about her demanding job — she believes that all the challenges and successes in the past have been a direct path to the positive place the facility is in now. Her favorite thing about her ED and DON is the trust they have in her as a leader, but from an outside perspective, I think Dora has earned that trust over the past eight years!

On a personal note, Dora’s favorite food is seafood, particularly shrimp and lobster. Her favorite Disney character is Simba from the Lion King because he was given a second chance to make a difference in his kingdom, which then helped him to become a great leader. When she is not working, Dora loves to spend time with her family. If you have met Dora, you might be surprised to know that one of the pastimes she shares with her family is big game hunting and fishing!