Homegrown Therapy Leader in Idaho: Sarah Prough

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By Dominic DeLaquil, Therapy Resource, Idaho/Nevada
Way back in 2007, an 18-year-old high school girl was looking for her first job. There was an opening at the SNF in her small hometown of Emmett, Idaho, so Sarah Prough became a nursing aide at River’s Edge Rehabilitation and Living Center. As she became familiar with the rehab staff, the DOR, Steve Balle, saw potential in Sarah and encouraged her to consider a career in therapy. Sarah was intrigued, and she enrolled in a nearby COTA program.

Once Sarah earned her COTA license, she had to scramble to pick up PRN work in and around the Treasure Valley in southern Idaho. She was keeping herself busy at various PRN gigs, even going as far away as Burley, nearly three hours from her home in Emmett, to help with an Ensign-affiliated building there, Parke View – Burley. Through her hard work, good rapport with patients, and willingness to be available, she was eventually able to find full-time work at Owyhee Health & Rehab in Homedale, Idaho.

The DOR at the time also saw Sarah’s potential, so he began to teach her the basic Therapy Leader tasks so she could be his back-up. Eventually, the DOR moved to southern Utah, and the Therapy Leader position at Owyhee opened up. The ED felt confident offering a leadership position to Sarah, and, with a mix of excitement and trepidation, Sarah stepped into the Therapy Program Manager role.

Since becoming TPM in August 2017, Sarah has grown tremendously. She attended the Therapy Leadership Summit in 2019, is now the cluster lead for her Therapy cluster, and has more than doubled the size of the rehab team at Owyhee. Sarah has grown into a respected and valued therapy leader in the Idaho-Nevada market. We are lucky to have her, and she is a great example of growing leaders from within.

The Happy Bar Concept

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By Jon Anderson, DPT, Senior Therapy Resource

We truly have heroes working in every department, making miracles happen each day despite tremendous odds. Here in Keystone our Therapy Resources decided that one way to give back is to spread joy with our Happy Bar!

Happy Bar Concept
As healthcare experts, we give a “prescription” for health and happiness along with sweet treats, coffee, tea, or any other goodies.

On the prescription, we can have 10 things:

  1. Take a few deep breaths. We all know that a deep breath helps us relax. No surprise, then, that decades of research have demonstrated that by taking slow, deep breaths, we calm the body and mind by activating the parasympathetic nervous system; when this happens, stress markers, heart rate, and blood pressure all decrease. That’s why taking deep breaths throughout the day can help keep us calmer and more balanced.
  2. Call an old friend. Research suggests that social connections’ impact on mortality is on par with blood pressure, cholesterol and obesity. The benefits likely come from the immediate activation of prosocial emotions and the long-term benefits of social support. This might be particularly helpful for my patients who are facing challenges with their physical health.
  3. Give someone a hug. Hugging releases oxytocin that helps build social bonds and lowers levels of the stress hormone cortisol. When hugging, we also release endorphins that lead to a sense of well-being and relaxation. But does anyone really need a scientist to tell us that hugs are good?
  4. Help a friend in need. Helping others allows us to meet some important psychological needs, such as developing our senses of agency and competence as we strengthen social relationships. When we act on our values by being a good friend and helping those in need, we foster a sense of purpose, which is foundational to a meaningful life. In fact, recent research suggests that those providing help may get more benefits than those receiving it.
  5. Write a thank-you note. Many studies over the last two decades have found that people who express gratitude are happier and less depressed. While one thank-you note is not the kind of gratitude practice that leads to lasting, positive cognitive change, I tell my patients that their notes should be the beginning of a habit of counting their blessings in writing.
  6. Sing in the shower … or anywhere. Making music, and in particular singing, just makes us feel better. And this happens through several mechanisms. We release endorphins when we sing; given this, it is not surprising that singing reduces pain. Stress hormone levels fall, leading to improved immune function. We make meaning as we embody the lyrics. I often add that people should join a choir, as singing surrounded by others greatly magnifies the benefits of singing.
  7. Dance to your favorite song. We all know that moving our bodies improves our health, but moving to music has additional benefits. The mood boost from dancing lasts much longer than from exercise alone. And dancing often has social benefits. There is even data suggesting dancing prevents cognitive impairment in the elderly.
  8. Go on an awe walk in a beautiful place. Awe is the feeling we get in the presence of something vast or beautiful that challenges our understanding of the world. It is something we depend on to keep life fresh. Awe makes us feel more alive, but, importantly, it also makes us more humble, more generous, and less self-centered. The purpose of an awe walk is to move more slowly and look carefully at the surroundings for wonder and beauty.
  9. Forgive someone. First off, forgiving someone doesn’t mean denying we were wronged; it means we let go of our anger and other unhealthy cognitive processes. Forgiveness requires some hard work, but the benefits are profound: Those who have learned to forgive live longer. This occurs from less stress, less depression, and better sleep and relationships.
  10. Talk to yourself in a kinder voice. We are often our own worst critic, and when our health goes bad, we can cast an unhealthy amount of blame upon ourselves. Self-compassion helps us heal ourselves rather than hurt ourselves. Talking to ourselves in a kinder voice is the key to this practice.

Revitalized Vital Signs! The Winners Are…..

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By Tamala Sammons, M.A. CCC-SLP, Senior Therapy Resource
A huge thank-you to everyone who submitted information on how vital signs in therapy are being integrated at their facilities. We had amazing entries from across the organization. We were blown away by how vital signs have become such an integral piece of therapy services. We read the most clinically comprehensive documentation and saw how decisions around care were driven by vital signs during therapy sessions. We also were impressed on how vital signs data collected in therapy was used for IDT communication to ensure the very best collaborative care.

Overall we want to thank everyone – whether you submitted something in or not – for your focus on providing the best care using all resources, including integrating vital signs.

Here are this year’s Revitalized Vital Signs champions! Please join me in congratulating and celebrating the following facilities:

Vital Signs Grand Champions

● Shawnee PARC – Angie Taylor, Therapy Leader
● The Oaks at Lakewood – Glenn Aricaya, Therapy Leader
● Keystone Ridge – Tara Meyerpeter, Therapy Leader
● Cedar Pointe – Dustin Rex, Therapy Leader
● Legend Oaks Waxahachie – Evette Ramirez, Therapy Leader
● City Creek Post-Acute – Ray Yarman, Therapy Leader
● San Marcos Rehab – Ashley Keenan, Therapy Leader
● Rowlett Health and Rehab – Dana Pike, Therapy Leader
● Hays Nursing and Rehab – Reed Edwards, Therapy Leader
● Victoria Post-Acute – Dawn Thompson, Therapy Leader
● Kirkwood Manor – Heidi Gulley, Therapy Leader

Vital Signs Champions

● Legend – Gladewater – Jason Goza, Therapy Leader
● Northern Oaks – Sarah Adams, Therapy Leader
● Legend – Greenville – George Palin, Therapy Leader
● Windsor Rehab – Augustus Gray, Therapy Leader
● McCall – Ellie Toscan, Therapy Leader
● Rose Villa – Loren Penuliar / Lito Ortiz, Therapy Leaders

Vital Signs Honorable Mentions

● Hunter’s Pond – Sonia West, Therapy Leader
● Mesa Springs Health Care Center – Monica Sharpe, Therapy Leader
● Cambridge – Kapil Thakkar, Therapy Leader
● Legend – Paris – Quinn Hall, Therapy Leader

“Driving on the Healing Pass”

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(Photo of June with therapists Joseph Zaldua, OT, and Camille Navata, OTA)

Submitted by Donald Millares, TPM, Glenwood Care Center, Oxnard, CA
Today, we celebrated with one of our outpatients who successfully drove herself to the facility, something she could have not done in the last six months. Our Occupational Therapy Assistant who mainly has her for sessions cried in joy with our patient, celebrating her achievement. Words cannot describe the emotion that was seen as the whole rehab department clapped in joy.

Our patient June has been coming to our facility for Occupational Therapy Outpatient Services to work on both of her hands to regain function and take her life back into control. Prior to coming, she was one of our in-person residents who then discharged out of our facility and became our very first outpatient. During her stay, she developed a strong bond with the nursing staff, housekeepers, and our amazing Occupational Therapy Assistant Camille Navata and Occupational Therapist Joe Zaldua. She regained her ability to do her daily routines while wearing a soft cast that covered all the way up to her PIP joints of her fingers. Once the soft cast was removed and she was cleared for discharge, she declined to attend other outpatient clinics in the area that were recommended by her MD and decided to work with Camille and Joe once again for our outpatient services.

June knows how they work and established a great client/therapist relationship and entrusted their expertise on her road to recovery. Working together, they were able to break down scar tissue to allow her to regain strength for functional grasp patterns and increased ROM for both hands and upper extremities. With the constant intensive Occupational Therapy sessions, June was able to complete her main goal of driving her car again – something she could have not done ever since her incident that left her hands immobilized for quite some time.

Now with the regained ability, June has the freedom to go places and not have to rely on others to drive her. Camille and Joe’s dedication shows exactly why we do the things we do and celebrate the achievements of our patients – to better our patients and guide them on the healing path of independence.

Leadership Highlight: Rehab Tech to BOM

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Submitted by Mira Waszak, Therapy Resource – Pennant WA
After graduating college in 2010, Russell Sells found himself in a tough job market in the greater Sacramento area. Unable to find full-time work as someone without much job experience, he settled for multiple part-time positions while still searching for full-time work. After a conversation with a friend from college who was living in the Olympia, Washington, area, he decided to apply for work up in Washington.

Russell says: “One of the first positions I applied for was a Therapy Assistant position (thinking it was a Rehab Tech job). The first person I spoke with was Mira Waszak. She informed me they were looking for licensed assistants but also offered to put me in contact with someone who needed a Rehab Tech for a new building acquisition in Olympia. The next person I spoke with was Scott Hollander, who at the time was the Therapy Director for Olympia Transitional Care and Rehabilitation. After spending about six months at Olympia as a Rehab Tech, Scott pushed for me to apply for the open Admission’s Coordinator position within the building. I spent the next two years as the Admissions Coordinator for OTCR, which turned out to be a very challenging time for the building as a whole, but also helped me grow enormously as a leader. I was ultimately offered the open BOM position near the end of 2017 and have been going strong ever since!

“Truth be told, I fell in love with LTC thanks to working with Scott and the therapy team at Olympia Transitional Care. Their passion for the residents they care for and willingness to teach me what they knew about the industry helped foster my interest in LTC as a career opportunity.”

Leadership Highlight: Roohi Kapoor

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Submitted by Kai Williams, Therapy Resource, Keystone East, TX
Roohi Kapoor, PT, DPT, CTO Operations Manager of Copperfield Healthcare and Rehab, Houston, TX

Don’t you love a good story about the person who never, ever thought they would be in a certain position, and then they really impress us and surpass the mark that they thought was set for them? Yeah, me, too!

Roohi Kapoor, PT, DPT, is the current Operations Manager at Copperfield Healthcare and Rehab. Prior to that, she ran a powerhouse program as the DOR at Mason Creek. As a DOR, she hesitantly stepped into that role about three years ago and quickly shifted the clinical and operational metrics upwards — so much so that she earned the coveted honor of Chief Therapy Officer in early 2021. She likes to say that she has grown up within Ensign-affiliated facilities. She began her start as the PT at Misty Willow, even then she challenged the status quo beyond the assumed expectations of a staff PT. I would be crazy to ignore that while she has been on her leadership journey, she was also feeding her passion for learning and working on her transitional Physical Therapy Doctorate, which she earned in mid-2021. Talk about one to watch! This example of intentional growth further supports that we are a leadership development company that just so happens to be in healthcare.

Leadership Highlight: Carly Kenney

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Submitted by Asa Gardine, Sunstone Therapy Resource – Utah
Carly Kenney began with our facility when she wasn’t actually intending to. She came to Coral Desert Rehab for a job interview to be a rehab tech. She didn’t realize that we shared a parking lot with a competitor outpatient therapy company where she had the actual appointment. As the rehab director at the time, I was looking for a rehab tech anyway, so I went ahead with the interview and offered her the job on the spot, and she accepted. We’re all so blessed that she did!

After spending a few years making our Therapy department shine by taking on every kind of responsibility we could throw at her, Carly saw an opportunity for growth within Coral Desert in the admissions and case management department. As much as we missed her influence in therapy when she left, Carly made an immediate positive impact with our admissions team and made great relationships with her hospital contacts and insurance case manager contacts. After completely owning her job responsibilities and even more duties, beyond that she saw another opportunity for growth within our Sunstone Market. She is now officially the Managed Care Part B Authorization Resource and is using her skills to support many buildings. It has been remarkable to watch someone share their talents with our organization and affect so many lives of staff and patients. It will be exciting to see what more she is capable of as she grows and progresses.

CTO Recognition: Todd Burgener, PT, DPT, CBIS, CTO/DOR Paramount Health & Rehabilitation, Salt Lake City, UT

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Submitted by Gary McGiven, Therapy Resource, Milestone, Utah

Todd (pictured left with Gary McGiven) has done amazing things as the Therapy leader at Paramount in Salt Lake City. He has grown a team from all PRN employees to a full PT, OT, and SLP staff with an ADC ranging from 45-60. Todd and his team have set the bar in our market for what is possible with long-term care. They have gone from a sub-$5 PNSD to $40+ PNSD. They have some of the happiest residents you will ever see and have some amazing rehab stories. They have also partnered with Nursing and Rec Therapy, providing amazing groups in a time where the socialization that groups bring has been vital to quality of life.

CTO Recognition: Michael Ong, PT, DOR, Legacy Rehabilitation and Living, Keystone West

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Submitted by Jon Anderson, DPT, Senior Therapy Resource, Keystone, Texas

When Michael Ong began his studies in the Philippines, he set out on a course to be a surgeon. As he continued his studies and began his internship, he realized that he wanted to provide more hands-on care. He discovered a passion for exercise and patient progression, which he sees as the backbone of physical therapy. Michael started his career in the United States in Florida as a physical therapist. He established core skills and a love for his profession and his patients.


After 11 years in Florida, his job as a travel therapist took him to a position in Amarillo, Texas. Even though he was originally scheduled to be there for only three months, he decided to become a permanent member of the team and took a full-time position under then DOR, Marisa Parker. When Marisa became the executive director of the facility, Michael stepped into the DOR role in September 2019. Hesitant at first, he grew into a true leader. The facility program had already been successful and expectations were high. Michael stepped up to the challenge, seeking out ways to learn everything he could about leading his team. He has been a trailblazer in long-term care programming and frequently leads Keystone West and the top one-third in all Keystone therapy metrics, all while finding new and creative ways to improve patient outcomes.


Michael has worked tirelessly to improve relationships in the Amarillo community and continues to lead the West market in outpatient development. He displays true ownership, leading in the important metric of DOR productivity while continuously providing teachings and trainings to members of his department and their clinical partners. Michael is certified as a wound care specialist, LSVT BIG, Clinical Instructor, and is credentialed in the cutting-edge incontinence program of PTNM. He utilizes all these skills to improve outcomes and develop future leaders on his team. He has embodied CAPLICO in his own facility as well as with our newest West market acquisition, The Medical Lodge of Amarillo, assisting with training and development with the Therapy team. Michael continues to grow and evolve, joining IDT committees to better Keystone, and we are so proud to honor Michael, recognizing him as Chief Therapy Officer! Congratulations, Michael!