What attracted you to the field of rehabilitation services?
I knew I couldn’t go wrong having a career with the mission of helping people be as independent as possible and live life to the fullest.
How would you describe your approach to health care and working with patients?
As an occupational therapist, my approach to health care is very holistic. When evaluating a new patient, I always begin and end with questions aimed at bringing out the individual’s goals. There is nothing more imperative than understanding what is most important to the patient.
What are some of the programs you have spearheaded at Lou Ruvo and how have they affected the patients in Southern Nevada?
With therapy being a skilled service, I encourage sites around the community to think outside the world of reimbursement and get creative with additional methods to encourage people to socialize and be physically active. In the last year, we worked with the Nevada Goes Fall Free Coalition to add Tai Ji Quan: Moving for Better Balance, an evidence-based community program that reduces risk of multiple falls and fear of falling. A couple of years ago, we created a new style of exercise class for people that have difficulty following complex, specific commands. This essential class is co-instructed by a physical therapist and music therapist and the goal is to socially engage, have fun and be active.
What excites you the most about advancements in the rehabilitation field of health care?
The recent shift from volume-based care to value-based care. Although this shift may pose unique problems to the industry, this is an opportunity for health care providers to consider new ways to improve the quality of care, address chronic conditions that may have been overlooked in the past, and ultimately address clients’ individual health priorities.