2012Q1 Newsletter Web
Content
EDITION
2012
As we begin a new year I can’t help but reflect on the hard work and accomplishments of the past year, and look forward to everything to come in 2012. During 2011, we tackled legislative cuts that jeopardized the services our patients receive, participated in various philanthropic events, entered the Waco market and, most importantly, improved the lives of a lot of children in the Dallas/Fort Worth area.
Here’s to a New Year!
Volume IV, Issue 1: 2012
Take a
Look Inside
• Cortney’s Letter .....................................1 • Patient Holiday Parties ..........................2 • Ft. Worth and Waco Clinical Manager.....3 • Special Olympics Bowling Tournament...3 • Canned Food Drive ................................3 • KCT Enters the Waco Market .................4
Cortney Baker, M.S., CCC/SLP CFO/President of Clinical Services
• Refer a Friend .......................................4
with Senator Jane Nelson and Representative Mark Shelton, and Cortney Baker, owner, is working with Representative Dr. John Zerwas and Senator Dr. Bob Deuell. In addition to this, KidsCare Therapy continues to work closely with key legislators in the Dallas area, such as Representative Stefani Carter, who spoke at the KCT office last year. We look forward to working with these contacts in 2012 and continuing to represent pediatric health care. Funding is not the only thing changing for Texas health care in the New Year. Medicaid managed care organizations have also been restructured throughout the Texas area. As many of you know, Unicare will be leaving the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex as of March 1. The remaining Dallas area Medicaid carriers will be Amerigroup, Parkland and Superior with no changes in the Fort Worth area. As for the outlying rural areas, such as in our new Waco market, Amerigroup, Scott & White, and Superior will be the Medicaid carriers for 2012. We look forward to working with these Managed Care Organizations (MCOs). For additional information on legislative cuts, or the reorganization of MCOs in Texas, please check out the HHSC website at http://www.hhsc.state.tx.us/, or contact one of the KCT offices. Although it looks as though 2012 is going to be another busy year, I look forward to seeing all that it brings, with new challenges and accomplishments. Thank you to all who made 2011 such a productive, great year.
Perhaps one of the most challenging events during 2011 was the threat of a cut in spending by the state for the services that KidsCare Therapy, and many other pediatric organizations, provide to Texas children. This threat was increased the most during the last months of 2011. With a proposed 50 percent reduction in reimbursement on the ballot, a group of KidsCare Therapy directors headed to Austin to take action. We are happy to announce that with the hard work of KidsCare Therapy, and many other Texas pediatric health care agencies and families, this was not passed, and there will be very minimal cuts to funding. Now that I am looking forward to 2012, and all that it brings to KidsCare Therapy — I realize that while December’s efforts were victorious for the time being, the fight is far from over. HHSC has indicated that it plans to announce a new proposed rate structure for pediatric home health sometime early this year, with a March 1 implementation date. We continue to monitor this closely, and will take action as needed to work on behalf of pediatric home care to ensure our patients are well represented. Currently, KidsCare Therapy has joined forces with three other agencies across the state to embark on a strategy to keep in constant contact with key legislative contacts in Texas. Each agency is in charge of ensuring that their contacts are receiving support and information from their constituents as needed to make the best possible case for pediatric health care. KCT has four contacts; David Reimer, Executive Director, is working
- Cortney Baker
Central Texas (877) 426-4154
Dallas (214) 575-2999
•
For t Worth (817) 546-8661 www.KidsCareTherapy.com
•
Patient Holiday Paties
Each year KidsCare Therapy hosts two family holiday parties for all of our wonderful patients throughout the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex. This year’s parties were held at the Fort Worth Stockyards and the Dallas Nature and Science museum. As cheerful Christmas carols played throughout each of the venues, patients enjoyed delicious food, crafts and face painting, games, a giveaway table and, of course, Santa Claus.
www.KidsCareTherapy.com
Fort Worth and Waco Clinical Director
We are excited to introduce Micki Roget, SLP, as our new Clinical Director over the Fort Worth and Waco KidsCare Therapy branches. Micki has been working part time for KidsCare Therapy for the past year, however, she comes to us with over 28 years of pediatric and adult clinical experience. Micki began her career as a school based clinician, and then began a private practice with a clinical psychologist in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Upon arriving to Texas, she worked in the public schools as a supervising SLP. Later, she transitioned to a skilled nursing facility in order to gain the knowledge necessary to take care of her parents as they got older in life. She became the Director of Rehab, and supervised a team of therapists that included all disciplines. During this time, she was able to learn the business side of her profession as the expectation was that the facilities she managed would be profitable. Micki’s most recent position held was the Regional Director of Operations for a rehab company, where she oversaw the daily operations of a territory within a health care company. Her job was to insure profitability through adequate staffing, strategic planning, training, clinical operations and procedures following Medicare and Medicaid guidelines.
While Micki says she has thoroughly enjoyed all the settings she has worked in during her career, she is excited to be working in pediatrics again, as she has always felt that her mission revolved around children. Micki believes that her eclectic background will help her bring different perspectives to the KidsCare team, and she is excited to help KidsCare Therapy grow into the Waco market. We are thrilled to have her clinical experience, combined with her business skills on the KCT team, and look forward to great things to come from Micki!
Special Olympics Bowling Tournament
On Saturday, November 12th five KidsCare Therapy patients walked into USA Bowl in Dallas determined to bring home the gold. Coaches, volunteers, family members and friends lined the back railing with posters and pompoms, wearing authentic KCT bowling t-shirts, cheering louder than any other team in the building. The enthusiasm, energy, and support were untouchable as the KidsCare Therapy Special Olympic bowlers surpassed all expectations. The coaches were comprised of a team of KidsCare Therapy employees ranging from therapists to administrative employees — all dedicating their Saturdays for an eleven week season to see this team come to life. KidsCare Therapy Clinical Director, Jennifer Morgan started this program due to the lack of opportunities for many of our patients to participate in recreational sports programs. She believes this is a great social outlet for these kids, and provides the parents an opportunity to spend time with families similar to themselves. When asked how she felt the season ended, she responded, “I am really proud of each one of them, and I am looking forward to Special Olympics 2012.”
Angel Hill, Bronze • Karina Velazquez, Silver • Jacori Ray, 4th Place Ribbon • Guadalupe Mendoza, Gold • Daniel Neponuceno, Gold
Canned Food Drive
Throughout the months of November and a portion of December, the administrative staff and therapists were divided into six teams in order to challenge each member of the KidsCare Therapy staff to donate canned food items to the North Texas Food Bank. Overall, KidsCare Therapy was able to donate 516 cans to help families in the North Texas metroplex have a better holiday season.
www.KidsCareTherapy.com
KCT Enters the Waco Market
January 19th OU Career Fair January 20th Internal Lunch and Learn Training January 27th Therapist Meet and Greet February 2nd Dallas Office Meeting February 3rd Fort Worth Office Opening 3 year Anniversary February 15th Fort Worth Office Meeting
Our most exciting challenge for 2012 is going to be the growth within the company, especially in our new Waco market. We are proud to announce we now have two therapists in Waco, and are actively working on hiring more. In addition, a group of KidsCare Therapy clinical employees have been working closely with Baylor University to let students know about the new and exciting opportunities available with KidsCare Therapy. We would like to give a very special thank you to Baylor for allowing us to come speak to their students, and we look forward to a wonderful partnership with them in the future. While entering a different market brings forth challenges, this is not anything in which KidsCare Therapy is not familiar with. We entered the Fort Worth market only three short years ago and are proud to say that it has been a great success. New Medicaid providers, new physicians, and a new market bring struggles, but a wealth of opportunity for growth on which we are excited to embark.
New Hires:
October Kristina Wyman, SLP, Dallas Jade Williams, SLP, Dallas Carla Juarez, Therapy Service Coordinator, Dallas November Kelsey Plichta, ST, Dallas Felisha Drake, OT, Dallas Diana Connor, OT, Dallas Donna Nieswiadomy, ST, Dallas Bethany Lacombe, Therapy Service Coordinator, Fort Worth December Jessica Guazzone, Receptionist/Translator, Dallas Johnna Goen, SLP, Fort Worth Kristen Gary, PT, Dallas Tara Kimbell, Community Relations Specialist, Waco Erin Carter, SLP, Waco Crystal Turner, OT, Fort Worth
February 24th Sensory Integration and More CEU Course - Open to Public March Social Worker Appreciation Month March 2nd Quarterly Therapist Meeting March 3 - 4th HSD Special Needs Activities and Resource Fair March 8 - 10th TSHA 2012 Convention San Antonio
March 16th Best Practices: Documentation Free CEU Course - Internal Course
Refer a Friend!
Congratulations to Ashley Pattison, the most recent winner of the KidsCare Therapy “Refer a Friend” promotion. As the winner, Ashley received a trip for two to Santa Fe, New Mexico! The next winner will receive a one night stay at Hotel ZaZa in Dallas, dinner for two at Ocean Prime, and two tickets to the Mavericks game — so be sure to email Krystal Szczsponik at [email protected] if you know any licensed PTs, OTs, or SLPs interested in an exciting career opportunity. Contest ends March 2nd, so get your referrals in today!
Scan this code with your smartphone app to visit us on Facebook and see what KidsCare Therapy is all about!
We recommend the Qrafter app for scanning Learn more about our company by visiting our page on Facebook.
Dallas (214) 575-2999
•
For t Worth (817) 546-8661 www.KidsCareTherapy.com
•
Central Texas (877) 426-4154
KIDSCARE EVENTS
February 17th TWU Reception
2012
As we begin a new year I can’t help but reflect on the hard work and accomplishments of the past year, and look forward to everything to come in 2012. During 2011, we tackled legislative cuts that jeopardized the services our patients receive, participated in various philanthropic events, entered the Waco market and, most importantly, improved the lives of a lot of children in the Dallas/Fort Worth area.
Here’s to a New Year!
Volume IV, Issue 1: 2012
Take a
Look Inside
• Cortney’s Letter .....................................1 • Patient Holiday Parties ..........................2 • Ft. Worth and Waco Clinical Manager.....3 • Special Olympics Bowling Tournament...3 • Canned Food Drive ................................3 • KCT Enters the Waco Market .................4
Cortney Baker, M.S., CCC/SLP CFO/President of Clinical Services
• Refer a Friend .......................................4
with Senator Jane Nelson and Representative Mark Shelton, and Cortney Baker, owner, is working with Representative Dr. John Zerwas and Senator Dr. Bob Deuell. In addition to this, KidsCare Therapy continues to work closely with key legislators in the Dallas area, such as Representative Stefani Carter, who spoke at the KCT office last year. We look forward to working with these contacts in 2012 and continuing to represent pediatric health care. Funding is not the only thing changing for Texas health care in the New Year. Medicaid managed care organizations have also been restructured throughout the Texas area. As many of you know, Unicare will be leaving the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex as of March 1. The remaining Dallas area Medicaid carriers will be Amerigroup, Parkland and Superior with no changes in the Fort Worth area. As for the outlying rural areas, such as in our new Waco market, Amerigroup, Scott & White, and Superior will be the Medicaid carriers for 2012. We look forward to working with these Managed Care Organizations (MCOs). For additional information on legislative cuts, or the reorganization of MCOs in Texas, please check out the HHSC website at http://www.hhsc.state.tx.us/, or contact one of the KCT offices. Although it looks as though 2012 is going to be another busy year, I look forward to seeing all that it brings, with new challenges and accomplishments. Thank you to all who made 2011 such a productive, great year.
Perhaps one of the most challenging events during 2011 was the threat of a cut in spending by the state for the services that KidsCare Therapy, and many other pediatric organizations, provide to Texas children. This threat was increased the most during the last months of 2011. With a proposed 50 percent reduction in reimbursement on the ballot, a group of KidsCare Therapy directors headed to Austin to take action. We are happy to announce that with the hard work of KidsCare Therapy, and many other Texas pediatric health care agencies and families, this was not passed, and there will be very minimal cuts to funding. Now that I am looking forward to 2012, and all that it brings to KidsCare Therapy — I realize that while December’s efforts were victorious for the time being, the fight is far from over. HHSC has indicated that it plans to announce a new proposed rate structure for pediatric home health sometime early this year, with a March 1 implementation date. We continue to monitor this closely, and will take action as needed to work on behalf of pediatric home care to ensure our patients are well represented. Currently, KidsCare Therapy has joined forces with three other agencies across the state to embark on a strategy to keep in constant contact with key legislative contacts in Texas. Each agency is in charge of ensuring that their contacts are receiving support and information from their constituents as needed to make the best possible case for pediatric health care. KCT has four contacts; David Reimer, Executive Director, is working
- Cortney Baker
Central Texas (877) 426-4154
Dallas (214) 575-2999
•
For t Worth (817) 546-8661 www.KidsCareTherapy.com
•
Patient Holiday Paties
Each year KidsCare Therapy hosts two family holiday parties for all of our wonderful patients throughout the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex. This year’s parties were held at the Fort Worth Stockyards and the Dallas Nature and Science museum. As cheerful Christmas carols played throughout each of the venues, patients enjoyed delicious food, crafts and face painting, games, a giveaway table and, of course, Santa Claus.
www.KidsCareTherapy.com
Fort Worth and Waco Clinical Director
We are excited to introduce Micki Roget, SLP, as our new Clinical Director over the Fort Worth and Waco KidsCare Therapy branches. Micki has been working part time for KidsCare Therapy for the past year, however, she comes to us with over 28 years of pediatric and adult clinical experience. Micki began her career as a school based clinician, and then began a private practice with a clinical psychologist in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Upon arriving to Texas, she worked in the public schools as a supervising SLP. Later, she transitioned to a skilled nursing facility in order to gain the knowledge necessary to take care of her parents as they got older in life. She became the Director of Rehab, and supervised a team of therapists that included all disciplines. During this time, she was able to learn the business side of her profession as the expectation was that the facilities she managed would be profitable. Micki’s most recent position held was the Regional Director of Operations for a rehab company, where she oversaw the daily operations of a territory within a health care company. Her job was to insure profitability through adequate staffing, strategic planning, training, clinical operations and procedures following Medicare and Medicaid guidelines.
While Micki says she has thoroughly enjoyed all the settings she has worked in during her career, she is excited to be working in pediatrics again, as she has always felt that her mission revolved around children. Micki believes that her eclectic background will help her bring different perspectives to the KidsCare team, and she is excited to help KidsCare Therapy grow into the Waco market. We are thrilled to have her clinical experience, combined with her business skills on the KCT team, and look forward to great things to come from Micki!
Special Olympics Bowling Tournament
On Saturday, November 12th five KidsCare Therapy patients walked into USA Bowl in Dallas determined to bring home the gold. Coaches, volunteers, family members and friends lined the back railing with posters and pompoms, wearing authentic KCT bowling t-shirts, cheering louder than any other team in the building. The enthusiasm, energy, and support were untouchable as the KidsCare Therapy Special Olympic bowlers surpassed all expectations. The coaches were comprised of a team of KidsCare Therapy employees ranging from therapists to administrative employees — all dedicating their Saturdays for an eleven week season to see this team come to life. KidsCare Therapy Clinical Director, Jennifer Morgan started this program due to the lack of opportunities for many of our patients to participate in recreational sports programs. She believes this is a great social outlet for these kids, and provides the parents an opportunity to spend time with families similar to themselves. When asked how she felt the season ended, she responded, “I am really proud of each one of them, and I am looking forward to Special Olympics 2012.”
Angel Hill, Bronze • Karina Velazquez, Silver • Jacori Ray, 4th Place Ribbon • Guadalupe Mendoza, Gold • Daniel Neponuceno, Gold
Canned Food Drive
Throughout the months of November and a portion of December, the administrative staff and therapists were divided into six teams in order to challenge each member of the KidsCare Therapy staff to donate canned food items to the North Texas Food Bank. Overall, KidsCare Therapy was able to donate 516 cans to help families in the North Texas metroplex have a better holiday season.
www.KidsCareTherapy.com
KCT Enters the Waco Market
January 19th OU Career Fair January 20th Internal Lunch and Learn Training January 27th Therapist Meet and Greet February 2nd Dallas Office Meeting February 3rd Fort Worth Office Opening 3 year Anniversary February 15th Fort Worth Office Meeting
Our most exciting challenge for 2012 is going to be the growth within the company, especially in our new Waco market. We are proud to announce we now have two therapists in Waco, and are actively working on hiring more. In addition, a group of KidsCare Therapy clinical employees have been working closely with Baylor University to let students know about the new and exciting opportunities available with KidsCare Therapy. We would like to give a very special thank you to Baylor for allowing us to come speak to their students, and we look forward to a wonderful partnership with them in the future. While entering a different market brings forth challenges, this is not anything in which KidsCare Therapy is not familiar with. We entered the Fort Worth market only three short years ago and are proud to say that it has been a great success. New Medicaid providers, new physicians, and a new market bring struggles, but a wealth of opportunity for growth on which we are excited to embark.
New Hires:
October Kristina Wyman, SLP, Dallas Jade Williams, SLP, Dallas Carla Juarez, Therapy Service Coordinator, Dallas November Kelsey Plichta, ST, Dallas Felisha Drake, OT, Dallas Diana Connor, OT, Dallas Donna Nieswiadomy, ST, Dallas Bethany Lacombe, Therapy Service Coordinator, Fort Worth December Jessica Guazzone, Receptionist/Translator, Dallas Johnna Goen, SLP, Fort Worth Kristen Gary, PT, Dallas Tara Kimbell, Community Relations Specialist, Waco Erin Carter, SLP, Waco Crystal Turner, OT, Fort Worth
February 24th Sensory Integration and More CEU Course - Open to Public March Social Worker Appreciation Month March 2nd Quarterly Therapist Meeting March 3 - 4th HSD Special Needs Activities and Resource Fair March 8 - 10th TSHA 2012 Convention San Antonio
March 16th Best Practices: Documentation Free CEU Course - Internal Course
Refer a Friend!
Congratulations to Ashley Pattison, the most recent winner of the KidsCare Therapy “Refer a Friend” promotion. As the winner, Ashley received a trip for two to Santa Fe, New Mexico! The next winner will receive a one night stay at Hotel ZaZa in Dallas, dinner for two at Ocean Prime, and two tickets to the Mavericks game — so be sure to email Krystal Szczsponik at [email protected] if you know any licensed PTs, OTs, or SLPs interested in an exciting career opportunity. Contest ends March 2nd, so get your referrals in today!
Scan this code with your smartphone app to visit us on Facebook and see what KidsCare Therapy is all about!
We recommend the Qrafter app for scanning Learn more about our company by visiting our page on Facebook.
Dallas (214) 575-2999
•
For t Worth (817) 546-8661 www.KidsCareTherapy.com
•
Central Texas (877) 426-4154
KIDSCARE EVENTS
February 17th TWU Reception
