Dena D Johnston-Powers
San Angelo,TX
Summary
Goal: To seek and maintain full-time position that offers professional challenges utilizing interpersonal skills, excellent time management and problem-solving skills.
Strengths:
Highly skilled and enthusiastic professional with more than 26 years of experience managing a Habilitation Therapy Department. Successfully created and implemented multiple processes related to auditing and monitoring Ht services. Knowledge in the Settlement Agreement including sections for OTPT, Communication, and PNM as well as the sections that require integration of services. Deep understanding of the importance of communication and integration within disciplines and teams to achieve the highest quality of care.
Core principles
Lead with Integrity
Ensure to provide the tools to be successful
Always look for ways to improve
Listen before you speak
Always be a leader and not a boss
Fix the root of the issue not the symptom
Overview
27
27
years of professional experience
Work History
Director of Habilitation Therapy
San Angelo SSLC
10.1996 - Current
- Responsible for recruiting, hiring, and training all staff by providing direct supervision and ongoing staff development to employees.
- Responsible for supervision of HT department including: Dietician, Physical Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Speech Therapists, PNMP Coordinators, Physical Nutritional Management nurse, and administrative assistant.
- Contract Manager for supplementary therapy resources including: Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy
- Implement quality improvement initiatives to provide curate clinical picture of Habilitation Therapies/PNM services for individuals served.
- Complete program reviews for OTPT, Communication, and PNM to ensure adherence to policies, processes, and protocols.
- Participate in workgroups at facility as well as within State Office to identify improvements allowing for provision of quality integrated care and compliance with current provisions of Settlement Agreement involving State Centers and Department of Justice.
- Conduct monitoring of processes for identification of areas of need related to staff training and improvements necessary to increase staff knowledge with outcome focused on staff implementation of PNM practices to achieve reduction in negative health outcomes.
- Maintain effective communication with supervisor, Discipline Coordinator, and other department heads to ensure quality care is provided.
- Responsible for reviewing assessments, plans, and plan implementation with follow up of constructive feedback for employee growth and development.
Staff Occupational Therapist
San Angelo SSLC
05.1996 - 10.1996
Single staff occupational therapist. Evaluation and treatment of young adults and elderly individuals, with IDD and mental health diagnoses. Experience in evaluation of sensorimotor, fine motor, and Dysphagia. Performed assessments for contracture management, adaptive eating equipment, dysphagia management, assistive devices, positioning, and sensory integration disorders.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Occupational Therapy
University of Kansas School of Allied Health
Kansas City, KS03.1996
Skills
- Accomplished written and verbal skills
- Ability to successfully work independently and in large group environments
- Ability to successfully lead groups of people made of of various disciplines and educational backgrounds
- Proficient computer skills
- Experience in performing oral motor/eating assessments for dysphagia management
- Experience in assessing and providing treatment for sensory integration dysfunction in adults
- Experience in providing contracture management through use of splints, serial casting and modalities
- Experience in wheelchair assessment, fabrication, and modification
- Experience in prevention of pressure ulcers through use of supportive devices, pressure mapping, and consumer/caretaker training
- Experience in Physical Nutritional Management including identification of risk levels, creation of integrated healthcare plans, assessing effectiveness of plans
- Root cause analysis process facilitator
- Experience in Quality Improvement initiatives including identification of trends with corrective action implementation
- Proficient trainer in PNM skills as well as process implementation related to root cause analysis and mealtime process program
Additional Information
Past and Present Workgroups:
- IRIS development- Member of State Office workgroup developed to design and test Iris forms.
- Risk process - Member of State Office workgroup with focus of revising the format of the Integrated Risk tool and the Integrated Health Plan.
- HT assessment workgroup- State Office HT directors workgroup designed to review content of HT assessments to ensure essential elements of the Settlement Agreement are met.
- Falls Process- State Office workgroup created to modify the standardized falls policy to improve outcomes by reducing falls.
- Member of State Office HT workgroup designed to review data related to effectiveness with entry into MATs
- Current member of the O.5 Cap workgroup designed to improve outcomes related to staff implementation and knowledge of PNM plans.
- Previous member of state office peer review groups (1998-2001)
Participation in committees
- Previous member of the Integrated Clinical Services Governing Body which is a select group of clinical professionals who create, guide, and implement a Clinical Integration Program at San Angelo State Supported Living Center.
- Previous member of the Interdisciplinary Support Plan (ISP) monitoring team- Responsible for monitoring ISP meetings at San Angelo State Supported Living Center to ensure essential elements were discussed and provision of constructive feedback to assist IDTs in thorough discussions for development of meaningful plans.
- Previous member of the Skin Integrity Team responsible for review of process and effect on outcomes.
- Previous chairperson of the Nutritional Management Committee at San Angelo State School- September 1996- February 2012
- Current member of the Physical Nutritional Management Team.
- Member of Incident Management Review Team- Team designed to review and study trends in consumer injuries insuring plans of action are created to reduce incidents.
- Co-chair of the Mealtime Improvement Committee designed to improve safety, skills training, and independence during meals.
- Member of QA/QI council. Review trends related to department processes and outcomes and create action plans for improvement of services.
- Member of a Pneumonia Committee which reviews aspiration and respiratory pneumonia cases and systems.
Presenter
- Presenter at Habilitation Conference September 2010. Discussed PNMP and Wheelchair Positioning. Presented case studies.
- Presenter at habilitation Therapy Conference in 2017. Topic: RCA for Behavioral Issues resulting in Serious Medical Conditions
Timeline
Director of Habilitation Therapy
San Angelo SSLC
10.1996 - Current
Staff Occupational Therapist
San Angelo SSLC
05.1996 - 10.1996
Bachelor of Science - Occupational Therapy
University of Kansas School of Allied Health
Similar Profiles
Jose RomeroJose Romero
DIRECT SUPPORT PROFFESIONAL at SAN ANGELO SSLCDIRECT SUPPORT PROFFESIONAL at SAN ANGELO SSLC
Zane CappsZane Capps
Server/Bartender at San Angelo Country ClubServer/Bartender at San Angelo Country Club
Robert HaggertonRobert Haggerton
Supervisor of Operations at San Angelo State Supported Living CenterSupervisor of Operations at San Angelo State Supported Living Center