Cara Wickham

Administrator - April 2024 - Current

Administrator/Operations Coordinator - February 2017-April 2024

• Assisted with company start up as Assistant Administrator/Operations Coordinator under guidance of the Administrator.
• Team Leadership: lead and motivate interdisciplinary teams of healthcare professionals.
• Staff Development & Training: Recruit, train, and retain qualified staff, including continuous professional development.
• Offer training/programs to help employees grow professionally within the organization.
• Employee Engagement; create programs that encourage employee satisfaction, morale and loyalty to the organization.
• Workplace culture; foster an inclusive, respectful and motivating workplace.
• Budgeting and Financial Management: Proficiency in managing budgets, cost control, and financial forecasting to ensure the organization’s financial stability.
• Operational Oversight: Manage day-to-day operations and implement new operational practices to maximize efficiency and productivity.
• Supervise administrative support staff members, offering guidance, feedback, and mentorship that contributes to their professional growth and development.
• Policy Development and Implementation: Develop, implement, and maintain policies and procedures to ensure high-quality care.
• Effective Communication: Ability to communicate clearly and effectively with families, patients, and healthcare providers, particularly in emotionally sensitive situations.
• Serve as a liaison between departments, fostering open communication channels that improved overall organizational function.
• Conflict Resolution: Skills in mediating and resolving conflicts, whether among staff, patients, or families, to maintain a positive and cooperative environment.
• Quality Improvement: Knowledge of quality assurance practices in healthcare and the ability to implement initiatives that improve patient care and organizational performance.
• Regulatory Compliance: Familia with federal, state, and local regulations regarding hospice care, including HIPAA compliance, safety standards, and billing practices.
• Accreditation Management: Joint Commission Regulatory Prep/Successful Accreditation Survey and Re-surveys.
• Data Analysis & Reporting: Analyze performance data, prepare reports for company Owner and Vice President, and adjust processes based on findings.
• Risk Management: Identifying potential risks to patient safety and implementing procedures to minimize those risks.
• Electronic Health Records (EHR): Proficiency with MatrixCare.
• Healthcare Management Software: Proficiency with scheduling, billing, and reporting software specific to hospice care.
• Contracting/Credentialing: Obtain, negotiate and execute contracts and agreements.
• Human Resources:
• Performance evaluations; regularly assess employee performance, provide feedback, and identify areas for improvement or advancement.
• Salary and wage management; ensure fair compensation for employees based on industry standards, job role, and experience

• Physical Therapy (PT): Performed physical therapy treatments, including mobility and strength exercises for patients recovering from surgery, injury, or illness.
• Neurological Rehabilitation: Treated patients with neurological conditions (e.g., stroke, brain injury, or spinal cord injuries).
• Geriatric Rehabilitation: Understood the unique rehabilitation needs of elderly patients, including balance, fall prevention, and cognitive therapy.
• Pain Management: Proficiency in utilizing therapeutic techniques to manage pain and improve the quality of life for patients.
• Team Leadership and Supervision: Managed and lead a team of therapists, technicians, and other healthcare staff, ensuring high standards of patient care.
• Staff Training and Development: Completed hiring, training, mentoring, and developing rehabilitation staff to enhance skills and ensure quality services.
• Interdisciplinary Collaboration: Worked closely with other departments within the facility to ensure complete continuity of care, trained/educated floor staff on safe transfer and ambulatory practices.
• Resource Management: Managed rehabilitation equipment, scheduling, and ensuring the proper allocation of resources to meet patient needs.
• Budget and Financial Management: Managed budgets, cost control, and financial oversight of rehabilitation services.
• Skilled Rehabilitation : Worked under the Physical Therapist to perform skilled interventions, educate patients and create exercise programs to facilitate successful outcomes.
• Progress Monitoring: Tracked patient progress, making adjustments to care plans, and ensuring optimal outcomes.
• Patient Education and Support: Educated patients and their families on treatment options, therapy techniques, and recovery processes.
• Electronic Health Records (EHR): Used Rehab Optima to document patient information, treatment plans, and progress notes.
• Regulatory Knowledge: Understood healthcare regulations affecting rehabilitation services, including HIPAA, OSHA, and local healthcare laws.
• Quality Improvement: Implemented and executed quality assurance and performance improvement initiatives to enhance patient care and departmental efficiency.
• Risk Management: Identified and addressed potential risks related to patient safety, treatment outcomes, and departmental processes.
• Effective Communication: Used verbal and written communication skills to convey treatment plans, progress, and concerns to patients, families, and staff.
• Conflict Resolution: Handled disputes or disagreements within the team or with patients' families, ensuring resolutions that align with the best interests of the patient.
• Empathy and Compassion: Provided emotional support to patients and families, especially when dealing with the challenges of recovery and rehabilitation.

• Therapeutic Exercise: Proficient in guiding patients through prescribed exercises aimed at improving strength, mobility, flexibility, and balance.
• Manual Therapy Techniques: Ability to perform hands-on techniques such as joint mobilization, soft tissue manipulation, and stretching to alleviate pain and improve function.
• Patient Assessment: Experience in monitoring patients' progress, measuring outcomes, and adjusting treatment plans as directed by the physical therapist.
• Pain Management: Knowledge of various methods to reduce pain, including modalities like heat, cold, electrical stimulation, ultrasound, and other physical agents.
• Assistive Devices: Knowledge and experience in fitting and educating patients on the use of mobility aids, such as crutches, walkers, canes, and prosthetics.
• Post-surgical Rehabilitation: Expertise in assisting patients through recovery from surgeries, including joint replacements, fractures, and other orthopedic procedures.
• Patient Education: Ability to explain exercises, home programs, and self-care strategies to patients and their families to facilitate healing and independence.
• Motivational Skills: Encouraging patients to stay engaged in their treatment plan, maintaining a positive outlook on their progress.
• Documentation: Skill in documenting patient progress, treatment techniques, and outcomes in compliance with legal and ethical standards.
• Patient Safety: Ensuring patient safety during treatment by maintaining proper body mechanics, monitoring vitals, and adjusting treatment as needed.
• Geriatric and Pediatric Care: Knowledge and experience in providing physical therapy for both older adults and children, understanding the different needs and challenges of these populations.
• Effective Communication: Clear and compassionate communication with patients, physical therapists, and other healthcare providers to ensure coordination of care.
• Empathy and Compassion: Providing emotional support and understanding to patients dealing with pain, injuries, or recovery challenges.
• Collaboration with Healthcare Teams: Working closely with physical therapists, physicians, nurses, and other healthcare providers to ensure comprehensive patient care.
• Rehabilitation Equipment: Proficiency in using various physical therapy equipment such as treadmills, resistance bands, weights, parallel bars, and other assistive devices.
• EHR (Electronic Health Records): Familiarity with documenting patient data in electronic health record systems and maintaining accurate treatment notes.
• Modalities Application: Skill in applying various physical agents like heat, cold, ultrasound, TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation), or electrical stimulation.
• HIPAA Compliance: Ensuring the confidentiality and protection of patient information according to healthcare regulations (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act).
• Infection Control: Understanding and applying infection control protocols to ensure the safety of patients and staff, especially in healthcare settings.
• OSHA Guidelines: Adherence to Occupational Safety and Health Administration standards to maintain a safe working environment for both patients and staff.
• Efficient Patient Scheduling: Organizing and managing patient treatment schedules, ensuring that all patients are seen in a timely manner.
• Prioritization: Managing multiple patient needs simultaneously and adjusting priorities based on urgency or progress.
• Treatment Plan Documentation: Keeping detailed and organized records of patient assessments, progress notes, and treatment interventions.

• Document Management: Organized and maintained office records, files, managed inventory.
• Data Entry: Accurate entry of data into state databases, spreadsheets, and office management software.
• Correspondence Management: Handling incoming and outgoing communications, including phone calls, emails, and letters, professionally and promptly.
• Team Leadership: Leading and supervising office staff, delegating tasks, and ensuring productivity and efficiency.
• Workplace Compliance: Maintained compliance with state regulations regarding licensing services.