Congratulations to Our Newest SPARC Award Winner!

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Aubrey Clement, OTA, Grad Date: May 2022, Salt Lake Community College, West Jordan, UT
Read her awesome essay below:
Growing up, we always had a wood stove for heat. I learned that sometimes because of different factors, the fire would go out, but by applying a spark in the right place and by bringing the fuel together with others, the spark could reignite the fire and soon a cheerful fire could be created, generating the heat to warm us all. I envision my education and training, combined with compassion, will be able to provide a spark in the lives of my patients and help them reignite the fire for life as they are able to develop independence. I can accomplish this through a passion for continued learning, accountability and applying evidence-based practice in my daily routine with patients.

As a teen, I spent several months living in the Ronald McDonald house recovering from a double organ transplant. It was the best education I could have received. While I was there I was able to learn empathy, how to communicate with individuals with a disease or disability, and to love, serve and care for others regardless of their circumstances. I experienced this unconditional compassion first hand. Although I was just a teen, this experience was extremely impactful and shaped my perspective on life. I learned the importance of including others without judgment or treating them differently. I was able to share my challenges and how I overcame them and I grew in strength, hope and courage from hearing their stories. As an occupational therapy assistant, I strive to be a practitioner who is truly there for each one of my clients. I will advocate for them and teach them how to advocate for themselves. I will encourage them to find what they are passionate about and give them hope to pursue their goals. I will hopefully be able to share my positive attitude and perspective with them, assisting them in making the most out of their circumstances.

I have had the opportunity to learn Spanish. Learning a new language is difficult. As I persevered and struggled, I received help from many and have seen how it benefits others. I hope to help those who come from a Spanish-speaking background. I hope to inspire others and be an example to them that challenges in our lives can help us help others. For a year and a half, I lived among Latinos and experienced a new culture. This too was challenging but I learned and grew a lot. One thing I learned that I will apply, to be a spark in the lives of my patients, is that everyone deserves care no matter what their background is. Each person we meet has a story that many do not know about. We cannot judge; we can only extend a helping hand and try to reignite that fire. As a practitioner, I will make each one of my clients feel that they are special, that their thoughts and feelings are valid and they are worth my time. I will give them the attention they need to meet their goals towards independence.

Having been a patient myself in several different medical settings, I was blessed to experience the patience and compassion combined with clinical knowledge of physicians and practitioners that made a huge difference in my life. I aspire to be the kind of practitioner that fosters growth, confidence and independence. Being educated on the best practices but also interprofessional interaction, interpersonal communication skills, being client-centered, holistic, empathetic, and an active listener will tremendously help me benefit my clients. I will use my therapeutic use of self to be a spark in my patients’ lives. Using motivational interviewing, it will be my goal to figure out what is the most important thing for my client and help them find their flame. I will take continuing education courses on topics that interest me, themes that I am currently seeing in practice, and things that are completely new and unfamiliar to me in order to broaden my horizons. I will do all this so I can be the best version of myself when I face clients with different needs. I will not get caught up in the mundane. I will always be looking and thinking of new creative invention ideas that are evidence-based and client-centered.

I am passionate about helping others live a meaningful life. The best way I can do that is to strive to constantly be learning and applying new things to my career. I will be accountable by following state and national guidelines, openly accepting constructive criticism and soliciting feedback from the client to tell me if I am not being client-centered. I believe that life is a gift that we need to make the most out of. I believe in having a positive attitude and making the absolute best of our lives, and doing what makes us happy no matter what. We should strive to live a fulfilling life. I want to help people find joy regardless of their circumstances. I understand what it’s like being a patient in the hospital and not being able to do what I love and have felt the negative impact of that. That is why I want to become an occupational therapy assistant. I understand the value of participating in meaningful occupations. Helping people achieve their goals towards independence is a very rewarding job. I am a caring, kind and dependable person who is honest and empathetic. I can think outside the box and don’t have to do things the traditional or conventional way. These attributes will help me succeed as an occupational therapy practitioner.

I will be a spark in the lives of my patients by utilizing my therapeutic use of self, personal experiences, clinical reasoning and applying all I have learned and been trained on in my program. I will bring my fuel closer to others to reignite the fire, help it grow bigger, stronger and hotter and encourage them to then go on and share the flame with others.

When the Going gets Tough, Keystone Gets Tougher

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Submitted by Kari Rhodes, MS, CCC-SLP, Therapy Resource, Keystone West Texas
When the fog lifted from our initial COVID outbreaks in 2020, we breathed a sigh of collective relief. Vaccines were coming, cases were dropping, and visitations were resuming. We thought the worst was over. Small outbreaks here and there were managed, and PPE was easier to find.

Little did we know that the Omicron variant was going to wreak the havoc that it has on our facilities. As we ended 2021 and entered 2022, outbreaks were looming large yet again, affecting residents and more staff than ever before. As we have seen staffing shortages in nursing, we are seeing the effects of unprecedented therapist shortages. As we struggle to find a balance to avoid burnout and meet the needs of our ladies and gentlemen, the Keystone Therapy Markets have worked hard to get tougher!

At a small gathering of Keystone Therapy Resources in San Antonio in December, we talked openly about how we can best support each other in times of need. There were honest conversations about asking for help, text threads with motivating statements, and a lot of loving competition between the recently separated markets. In times of high levels of burnout, it often seems like a contraindication to challenge each other. However, the extra challenges put forth between us and a healthy amount of friendly competition work well to spur us on to do better work for each other, our teams, and our residents. Additionally, the open level of communication allows each member of the team to feel heard and supported, a necessary component of forging onward through the crises at hand. These methods of support then trickle out to our clinical resources, our market leads, and our floor staff.

As we tell the family members of our residents frequently, you cannot care for someone else if you are not caring for yourself! Taking time to rest and surrounding yourself with others who support you are essential for being essential personnel. When times in Keystone are tough, we are tougher because we are better together!

Veranda’s Fun Group Thursday

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Submitted by Aaron De La Torre, Therapy Resource, Keystone Borderstone Market, TX
Providing therapy services during the COVID-19 pandemic has been more essential than ever to improve the outcomes of the residents we serve. With all the social distancing mandates that have been implemented to keep our residents safe, our interdisciplinary teams have been hard at work to ensure that therapy is provided in a safe and efficient manner. However, with social distancing also comes more time alone, which can lead to unwanted consequences.

If you were to visit Veranda Rehabilitation & Healthcare in Harlingen, Texas, on Thursday morning at approximately 10 a.m., you would witness the amazing way they encourage safe socialization while improving residents’ functional skills. You would find several groups of residents playing an adapted version of volleyball, where residents are holding pool noodles and working on their dynamic reaching and core strengthening as they hit a balloon over the net. Do not be surprised if you see some friendly competition between residents and therapists! You will likely also see another group of residents with ankle weights kicking balls of different sizes and playing a makeshift version of soccer, all the while strengthening their lower extremities. Music that ranges from oldies to reggaeton will be playing as patients enjoy their group activity.

Fun group Thursday is possible thanks to a collaborative team approach. Vanessa Munoz, DOR, helps identify the patients who would benefit from group therapy and creates a master list on Wednesday. She then emails the master list to Jason Hess, ED, and the rest of the IDT team. Each team member ensures that every patient is up and ready for the fun group activities after they have had a delicious breakfast. The CNAs, nurses, Activities, and of course every therapist who is available plays a crucial role in helping fun group Thursday occur. Pictured are some of the equipment that is used and the amazing Rehab team at Veranda Rehabilitation & Healthcare.

Teamwork Makes the Dream Work

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Submitted by Aaron De La Torre, Therapy Resource, Keystone Borderstone Market, TX
Having a decline in health can be an extremely challenging time for the individual and their family members. Typically, individuals who are admitted to the hospital can expect to be discharged to a skilled nursing facility, where they will receive therapy and nursing care and then be discharged home, where they will be serviced by a new set of therapists at home. At McAllen Transitional Care Center, the team has specialized in helping individuals receive an excellent continuity of care to assist them in their journey to return to their prior level of function. Jennifer Ybarra, DOR, and Ediel Barrera, ED, have worked hard to create a culture where patients are cared for from the time they are referred to McAllen Transitional Care Center until they have returned to their desired environment.

Upon admission into the facility, the evaluating therapists start discharge planning from day one. Once the patient has met all of the inpatient goals and is ready to go home, the physician and team determine the need for continued services. If outpatient services are indicated, the team starts the planning to ensure continuity of care.

Every individual who serves the patient at the facility plays an important role in ensuring that the patient receives the highest continuity of care possible. The patients are excited to discharge home and continue services with the therapists they have made strides with to return to their prior functional level. Below are pictures of the amazing team at McAllen Transitional Care Center that goes above and beyond to make the outpatient dream work!

Bridging the Gap at Copperfield

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Submitted by Kai Williams, Therapy Resource, Keystone East, TX
The Copperfield team is at it again! They continue to create a bridge between Therapy and Nursing by having dedicated activities for all to enjoy together. The Therapy Department spearheaded this most recent event. Loretta Johnson provided a beautiful description of the event and why it was so very much needed.

Bridging the Gap represents a means for the Nursing and Rehab departments to bring together diverse individuals with different skills and areas of expertise to develop and generate new ideas and unique solutions to enhance team performances.

At Copperfield, we believe in the tower of strength and togetherness as we withstand many obstacles on a daily basis. By combining our physical energy, knowledge, proficiencies and skills, we take charge in maintaining consistent communication. This allows us to truly appreciate and maintain the respect we have for one another.

Our Bridging the Gap program has created a warm and supportive environment for our Nursing and Rehab team. The Therapy department presented a Hot Cocoa Bar for our Nursing department. The Rehab team was ready and served up hot cocoa, tea, apple cider and with a variety of toppings and sweets. Just as these drinks and toppings blend together in unique flavor combinations, we see Nursing and Rehab working together to develop new ideas and solutions for success.

We have a truly great Rehab team at Copperfield. We work tirelessly to support the needs of our residents and our team members. We know team building takes work, and we take great pride in our commitment to remain the best team ever!

Introducing Jace Briggs PT, DPT, DOR, Temple View Transitional Care Center, Rexburg, Idaho

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Submitted by Cory Robertson, Therapy Resource, Idaho
Jace has been DOR at Temple View since October 2021 after being a staff PT at Gateway Transitional Care Center in Pocatello with Angela Anderson PT, DOR, who prepped him for leadership. Jace stepped in and hit the ground running and is such a pleasure to work with. He has a growth mindset and exemplifies CAPLICO. He is loved everywhere he goes and we are so fortunate to have him. He recently gave some perspective about some of the great things about being a PT in skilled nursing and specifically at an Ensign-affiliated facility:


I had no intention of working in a SNF through school. I, like many students who enter PT school, had every intention of working an outpatient ortho-type job. COVID-19 made that very difficult. When I graduated, I spoke to two OP clinics and one pediatric clinic who had some interest in me working with them, one of them a specialized manual therapy clinic that really interested me, but the general response was “We don’t know what our caseload will look like right now with COVID-19; we will get ahold of you in a few months.” I took a job at Gateway in the meantime, as it was the only interview that had offered me the job and there was no contract if I did leave earlier. I even did accept a job at the manual clinic part time for just a few days and quit to stay at Gateway.


SNFs have a really bad reputation in PT school, and the truth is I don’t really know why. There is a lot to love about working in an Ensign-affiliated SNF. First, the ‘customer second’ core value does make me feel valued and appreciated at my job. I know that Gateway has put effort into training me and helping me to become the best practitioner I can be, and they care about my professional development. I know that I have the freedom to take that professional development wherever I want. Do I want to focus on manual therapy, orthopedic conditions, neuro conditions like stroke or TBI, vestibular therapy, wound care, or functional interventions? Gateway is happy to support education and development in that direction, and the SNF setting does have enough variability in the patient population to get practice with those patients and develop what I want to do.


This leads well into the next point that is great about my job: there is a lot of freedom in this setting. There are general requirements for visits, but they are generally pretty broad and within those requirements there is a lot of freedom with what I want to do with them, how to get them to their goals, how long to work with them, and when to see them. The patients on my schedule need to be seen, but I can see them early in the day or late, I can leave work to make appointments and come back, however I need to work things out so they are seen but I can still fit that in however I need.


The last major point about what is so great about Gateway is the team and teamwork. Because there is so much care in developing the staff, the teams at our Ensign-affiliated facilities are excellent. They work well together, are great sources of more information and education, and are a great support. The teams I have worked with in our facilities have made the workday enjoyable, they have been fun to work with and have made me a better practitioner, too.

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.

Walla Walla, Washington is a Hidden Gem!

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Walla Walla Valley has much to offer its residents and visitors. Miles of road and mountain biking trails are available for cyclists of all abilities. For those who like to move fast or experience speed from the bleachers, head out to the local drag racing strip. In the winter, Bluewood Ski Area is a gathering place for many of the locals who enjoy skiing and snowboarding on a less crowded mountain. There are 120 wineries in Walla Walla Valley. You can go on tasting tours, drive through the vineyards for spectacular views, or head out to the many restaurants that serve wines from the local wineries. Many city parks including a dog park are available to residents and visitors. Lakes in the area provide places for hiking, camping, fishing, and paddle boarding. This truly is a wonderful place to live and work. 

Another great place In Walla Walla is Park Manor Rehabilitation Center. A skilled nursing facility that some residents of Walla Walla call home or come for a short time to recover before heading back home. Park Manor has a strong nursing and therapy team and are looking for a Speech Language Pathologist to join the them. Come see what Walla Walla and Park Manor have to offer!

Pacific Care - Grays Harbor Now Hiring!

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What do Kurt Cobain (Alternative Rock Star), Bryan Danielson (WWF wrestler Daniel Bryan) and Peter Norton (Norton Anti-Virus) have in common? They are all from Aberdeen WA, Grays Harbor county. Grays Harbor is also known for its history in the lumber industry, top surfing spots on the Washington coast, amazing cranberry bogs, and some of the best offshore fishing and clamming in Washington State. Only an hour away from Olympia on the scenic Olympic highway. Quaint communities make up all of Grays Harbor and the residents love living in and being from the area.

Among these communities in Hoquiam, WA, Pacific Care and Rehabilitation is a skilled nursing facility that provides the best therapy and nursing services in the area. The staff at Pacific Care love their residents and live their mission to dignify long-term care and skilled rehab in the eyes of the world.

They have an opening on their in-house therapy team for an Occupational therapist. The facility is locally owned and operated with decisions made by local leaders. Let your voice be heard and be able to practice at the top of your license. Be a part of amazing clinical development, career growth, and leadership training opportunities. Come be part of something great! 

Pacific Care is currently offering an amazing career opportunity for an Occupational Therapist. Find out more about this amazing opportunity and browse our complete list of therapy job opportunities.