Rehabilitation Facility Staff Provide Better Care Through Teamwork

By Jack Richert, CBIS, Special Tree Rehabilitation

COVID-19 has changed the way we do our jobs at Special Tree Rehabilitation System. The how, where, and what have certainly changed – but the why remains constant. Clients are family at Special Tree and that is why we work to keep them safe during the pandemic.

Technology has played a big role in our rapid response to the pandemic. With visitor restrictions, we are working together to keep our clients connected to their loved ones. Kristin Claerhout, recreational therapist and CBIS, stepped into a void to fill the needed role as the Activity Coordinator at the Neuro Care Center. Along with Jessica Bahny, CBIS and activity aide, she spearheads a communication effort with assistance from our onsite therapists. These therapists literally put smart phones and tablets in the hands of our clients and facilitate video chats with their loved ones. While the smiles, laughter, and even tears make it clear the family members appreciate the effort, our team members also light up with each heartfelt interaction while we shelter in place.

Pairing different platforms with Android and Apple users was no small undertaking. Quick research was needed to overcome technology barriers. The same held true with our speech-language pathologists, physical and occupational therapists, psychologists, and dieticians who launched telehealth visits. While an essential service, Special Tree made a decision in the interest of our clients and coworkers to temporarily suspend services in our outpatient therapy centers. Those clients who opted into telehealth benefit by keeping current with a portion of their programming. All the other outpatients are still circled in during the pandemic and receive a weekly check-in phone call from a therapy team member. This check-in is vital to maintaining the important connection for both the clients and therapists. Megen Allen, CBIS and director of therapy services, knows firsthand how different – special, actually – it is to work with clients with a traumatic brain injury. The bond that forms over a longer course of treatment can be more meaningful than one found in a typical outpatient clinic. The friendly call is a simple “how are you doing?” check to ask if general needs being met.

In addition to treating clients via telehealth, our psychology and social services professionals established an employee hotline and video series called Mental Health Minutes to foster the emotional and mental wellbeing of the Special Tree team. Kristin Claerhout describes it best; she says that a beautiful togetherness has occurred in the halls of Special Tree. Talent has been redistributed to meet immediate needs. Examples of this include Jessica Briggs, CBIS and case manager, who currently serves as a unit clerk. Sarah Roan-Nguyen, R.D., is warmly welcomed (and appreciated!) by our hospitality team in the kitchen as she cooks the meals for the clients. We have a group of female employees, dubbed “Rosie the Riveters” by CEO Joe Richert, reassigned from their administrative duties, sewing hundreds of masks to augment supplies available to their colleagues.

It is difficult to see the dining halls and activity rooms empty with the clients quarantined to their rooms. To fill the void, activities are being brought to the clients. Hallway activities such as bingo were created, and a traveling beauty cart rolls from room to room while staff style hair, paint nails, or provide a massage. A staff and client favorite is our weekly Hallway Dance Party where staff go down each hallway singing and dancing to brighten everyone’s day. This is great for staff and client morale during these challenging times. Outdoor activities are encouraged, and staff to take clients out when they can in team huddles to improve the mental and physical health status of clients and counter the influx of behaviors associated with quarantine.