Stephanie Wheeler
Gainesville,TX
Summary
Respected physical therapist with 27 years of experience in the healthcare industry, possessing a comprehensive understanding of therapeutic evaluation skills and interventions for a wide range of orthopedic, neurological, cardiac, and respiratory diagnoses. Demonstrated expertise in diverse settings, including acute inpatient hospitals, Long-term acute care hospitals, rehabilitation facilities, wound care clinics, home health care, skilled nursing facilities, and specialized therapies such as hippo-therapy and aquatic therapy. Extensive leadership experience in supervising physical therapists, physical therapist assistants, therapy technicians, and support staff as both a staff physical therapist and rehabilitation department manager. Committed to securing a full-time position with a stable organization to utilize my clinical therapy expertise and communication skills to enhance patient services and outcomes.
Overview
28
28
years of professional experience
Work History
Full-time Physical Therapist for Acute Care Hospital
Texoma Medical Center
09.2017 - Current
- Work FT in neuro trauma ICU and Main ICU with critical care patient populations
- Attend all monthly and quarterly ICU meetings as part of a multi disciplinary medical team
- Attend daily ICU rounding to discuss current patients with Intensivists and other multi-disciplinary team
- Conduct physical therapy evaluations, re-evaluations, and discharges
- Plan, develop and administer therapeutic and progressive early mobility treatment plans
- Supervised PTAs and rehab techs
- Developed and complete ongoing educational in-services for nurse training which include patient transfer techniques, proper use of lift equipment, spinal bracing, knee/shoulder bracing, post op precautions, physician protocols, and body mechanics
- Assist with new hire orientation and annual skills fair for hospital wide competencies
- Perform Clinical Instructor (CI) duties yearly for DPT students completing clinical rotations
- Evaluated assistive devices such as braces or prosthetics to provide recommendations for improved function and comfort.
Director of Rehabilitation Services at LTACH
Integrity Transitional Hospital
12.2016 - 09.2017
- Responsible for all daily operations of rehab department for PT/OT/ST services
- Manage contract PT/OT/ST therapy services to a second LTAC hospital located in the same facility
- Conduct physical therapy evaluations/re-evaluations/discharges
- Plan, develop and administer rehabilitation treatment plans for patients with critical orthopedic, neurological, TBI, respiratory – vent/trach, and/or cardiac conditions.
- Collaborated with other departments to create seamless transitions for patients throughout their recovery journey.
- Liaised with patients, families and support departments to adequately plan for patient rehabilitation needs.
- Recruited, hired and trained all staff, providing direct supervision, ongoing staff development and continuing education to employees.
- Employment ended secondary to Hospital Permanently Closing
Full-time Physical Therapist - Home Health Agency
1st Choice Home Health
01.2016 - 12.2016
- Joined multi-discipline team of professionals to provide home health care services to patients in their homes, care homes, and at assisted living facilities within Denton County. Worked closely with local physicians and staff for patient referrals, therapy prescriptions and equipment needs.
- Conducted physical therapy evaluations/re-evaluations/discharges
- Planned, developed and administered rehabilitative treatment plans
- Supervised multiple PTAs
- Remained with this company as PRN staff
Full-time PT - Surgical Hospital
Baylor Medical Center at Uptown
09.2014 - 01.2016
- Full-time PT for surgical hospital setting for evaluation/treatment of acute post-op orthopedic patients including spine, cervical, foot/ankle, total joints, and shoulder surgeries for both inpatient and outpatient procedures.
- Participated in PSU/PACU nurse training for patient transfers, ambulation, DME needs and various UE/LE braces utilized post operatively.
- Worked effectively in fast-paced environments.
- Assisted with hospital orientation for new employees, annual skills fair and teaching group wellness classes for all joint replacement patients
- Self-motivated, with a strong sense of personal responsibility.
- Supervised PT technicians
Full-time Physical Therapist
Continuum Rehabilitation Hospital of North Texas
02.2010 - 09.2014
- Full-time Physical Therapist in an inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation setting for evaluation/treatment of patients with orthopedic, neurological, TBI, respiratory, and/or cardiac conditions.
- Obtained LSVT certification for treatment of Parkinson’s patients
- Aquatic Therapy – SwimEx
- Clinical Instructor of Physical Therapy and PTA students
- Participate in weekly Interdisciplinary Staff Team Meetings
- Supervision of PTA staff, therapy technicians, support staff/office personnel
- Assisted with therapy program development with start-up rehab hospital
- THIS HOSPITAL CLOSED PERMANENTLY
PRN Staff PT
Self-Employed – PRN Staff PT (at multiple sites)
01.2006 - 02.2010
- Integrity Hospital – LTAC – Denton
- North Texas Hospital – Surgical Center - Denton
- Century Rehabilitation – LTC/SNF – Gainesville
- Daybreak Therapy – LTC/SNF–Denton/Ft Worth
- Legend Healthcare – LTC/SNF – Gainesville
- Senior Rehab Solutions – LTC/SNF - Gainesville
- Mayhill Inpatient Rehab Hospital – Denton
- JSCCS–Denton-Home Health
- Wise Regional Health Systems Hospital – Decatur (Aquatics, Outpt Orthopedics, Acute Rehab, Inpatient Rehab, Home Health)
Full-time Physical Therapist
Daybreak Therapy
08.2004 - 01.2006
- Full-time Physical Therapist with a long-term care facility company
- Provided PT services - evaluations/re-evaluations/discharges/treatments to residents at 5 LTC facilities owned by Daybreak within the DFW area.
- Supervision of PTAs at multiple facilities
- Managed high-volume caseload and organized daily schedules of assistants and patients.
- Maintained open lines of communication with referring physicians to ensure coordinated care efforts.
Full-time Physical Therapy Manager
Wise Regional Health Systems
10.1999 - 08.2004
- Full-time Physical Therapy Manager Dec 2002 to Aug 2004
- Full-time Staff Physical Therapist Oct 1999 to Dec 2002
- Joined an outpatient rehabilitation team to provide therapy services for various diagnoses which included neurological, orthopedic, and cardiac/respiratory conditions. Performed PT evaluations/treatments within land based programs, aquatic programs, in the wound care clinic, work hardening, work conditioning, and in the pain management program. Also provided coverage for inpatient/acute and home health patients as needed and on rotational basis.
- As a PT manager, my focus of practice was primarily outpatient services, aquatic therapy and pain management intervention. Worked closely with Denton, Decatur, Dallas, and Ft. Worth physicians for patient referrals, therapy prescriptions and equipment needs.
- Supervision of 12 licensed therapists, 5 therapy technicians and three support staff personnel while also managing my own patient caseload.
- Worked closely with an OT, a PTA and hospital administrators to establish a reputable aquatic program.
- Designed post-physical therapy programs for patients to transition into a community based wellness program along with providing supervision of the exercise specialists.
Full-time Physical Therapist
Karen Schuck Physical Therapy
05.1999 - 12.1999
- Full-time Physical Therapist at a privately owned outpatient clinic that also provided inpatient PT coverage at Denton Community Hospital
- Conducted physical therapy evaluations/re-evaluations/discharges at outpatient and inpatient settings
- Planned, developed and administered rehabilitative treatment plans
- Supervised PTAs, therapy technicians and office staff
- Worked closely with case managers for patients’ hospital discharge needs in regards to equipment or family/long term care placement
- Worked with wound care team and multi-disciplinary team of professionals to provide the best quality of care for that specific patient population
Full-time Contract Physical Therapist
Jean Seward Contracting and Consulting
05.1997 - 05.1999
- Full-time Contract Physical Therapist with a home health contract/consulting company
- Joined multi-discipline team of professionals to provide home health care services to patients in their homes, at various long term care facilities, and assisted living facilities within Denton County. Team consisted of PTs, PTAs, OTs, COTAs, SLPs, a staff Psychologist, insurance and front office personnel. Worked closely with local physicians and staff for patient referrals, therapy prescriptions and equipment needs.
- Conducted physical therapy evaluations/re-evaluations/discharges
- Planned, developed and administered rehabilitative treatment plans
- Supervised PTAs and therapy technicians
- Participated in the local Denton County Parkinson’s support group
Education
BS - Physical Therapy
University of Texas – Southwestern Medical Center
Dallas, Tx05.1997
BS - Kinesiology
Texas Woman’s University
Denton, Tx05.1995
Associate of Science - undefined
Navarro College
Corsicana, Tx05.1990
Skills
- Critical thinking in clinical reasoning
- Patient communication
- Patient-focused therapy
- Verbal and written communication
- Patient management
- Direct patient care
- Staff education and training
- Team development
- Orthopedic rehabilitation
- Injury prevention
- Geriatric therapy
- Neurological rehabilitation
- Comprehensive patient evaluation
- Patient-centered treatment design
Timeline
Full-time Physical Therapist for Acute Care Hospital
Texoma Medical Center
09.2017 - Current
Director of Rehabilitation Services at LTACH
Integrity Transitional Hospital
12.2016 - 09.2017
Full-time Physical Therapist - Home Health Agency
1st Choice Home Health
01.2016 - 12.2016
Full-time PT - Surgical Hospital
Baylor Medical Center at Uptown
09.2014 - 01.2016
Full-time Physical Therapist
Continuum Rehabilitation Hospital of North Texas
02.2010 - 09.2014
PRN Staff PT
Self-Employed – PRN Staff PT (at multiple sites)
01.2006 - 02.2010
Full-time Physical Therapist
Daybreak Therapy
08.2004 - 01.2006
Full-time Physical Therapy Manager
Wise Regional Health Systems
10.1999 - 08.2004
Full-time Physical Therapist
Karen Schuck Physical Therapy
05.1999 - 12.1999
Full-time Contract Physical Therapist
Jean Seward Contracting and Consulting
05.1997 - 05.1999
BS - Kinesiology
Texas Woman’s University
Associate of Science - undefined
Navarro College
BS - Physical Therapy
University of Texas – Southwestern Medical Center
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