2012q1 newsletter web

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with Senator Jane Nelson and Representative Mark Shelton,

and Cortney Baker, owner, is working with Representative D

John Zerwas and Senator Dr. Bob Deuell. In addition to this,

KidsCare Therapy continues to work closely with key legislato

in the Dallas area, such as Representative Stefani Carter, wh

spoke at the KCT office last year. We look forward to working

with these contacts in 2012 and continuing to representpediatric health care.

Funding is not the only thing changing for Texas health care

the New Year. Medicaid managed care organizations have a

been restructured throughout the Texas area. As many of yo

know, Unicare will be leaving the Dallas/Fort Worth metrople

as of March 1. The remaining Dallas area Medicaid carriers w

be Amerigroup, Parkland and Superior with no changes in th

Fort Worth area. As for the outlying rural areas, such as in o

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 reorgani

tion of MCOs in Texas, please check out the HHSC website at

http://www.hhsc.state.tx.us/, or contact one of the KCT offic

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.

- Cortney Baker

Take a

Lo o k I n s id e

Dallas (214) 575-2999 Fort Worth (817) 546-8661

Volume IV, Issue 1: 2012

2012EDITION

Heres to aNew Year!

Cortn eys Lett er . . . . .. . . . . .. . . . . .. . . . . .. . . . .. . . . . .. . .1

Patient Holiday Part ies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

Ft . Wor t h and W aco Cl in ical Manag er . . . ..3

Spec ia l O lymp ics Bowl in g Tournam ent . . .3

Canned Food Dri ve . . . . .. . . . . .. . . . . .. . . . . .. . . . .. . . .3

KCT Enters the Waco Market . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

Refer a Friend .......................................4Cortney Baker, M.S., CCC/SLPCFO/President of Clinical Services

As we begin a new year I cant 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 jeopar-

dized the services our patients

receive, participated in various

philanthropic events, entered the

Waco market and, most impor-

tantly, improved the lives of a lot of

children in the Dallas/Fort Worth

area.

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 percentreduction 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 Decembers 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 onbehalf 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

Central Texas (877) 426-4154

www.KidsCareTherapy.com


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Pat ien t Ho l iday Pa t iesEach year KidsCare Therapy hosts two family holiday parties for all of our

wonderful patients throughout the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex. This years

parties were held at t he 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.


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www.KidsCareTherapy.co

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 t ime for

KidsCare Therapy for t he 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

Albuquer que, New Mexico. Upon arri ving to Texas, she

work ed in the public schools as a supervising SLP. Later, she

transitioned to a skilled nursing facility in order t o gain the

knowledge necessary t o take care of her par ents as they got

older in life. She became the Director of Rehab, and

supervised a team of therapists that included all disciplines.

During t his tim e, she was able to learn t he business side of

her pr ofession as th e expectation was that the facilities she

managed would be profitable.

Mickis most recent position held was the Regional Director ofOperations for a r ehab company, where she oversaw the daily

operations of a territ ory within a health care company. Her

job was to insure profitability thr ough adequate staffing,

strategic planning, t raining, clinical operations and procedures

following Medicare and Medicaid guidelines.

For t W or t h and W aco Cl i n i ca l D irec to r

Cann ed Food Dr iv e

While Micki says she has thoroughly enjoyed all the

settings she has worked in during her career, she is

excited to be w orking in pediatrics again, as she has

always felt that her m ission 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 t o great th ings to come from Micki!

Throughout the m onths of November and a portion of December, the adm inistrative staff and therapists were divided into

six teams in order to challenge each mem ber of th e KidsCare Therapy staff to donate canned food items t o the North

Texas Food Bank. Overall, KidsCare Therapy was able to donate 516 cans to help families in the North Texas metroplex

have a bett er holiday season.

Specia l Olym p ics Bow l ing Tour nam en tOn Saturday, November 12t h five KidsCare Therapy patients walked into USA Bowl in Dallas determ ined to br ing home

the gold. Coaches, volunteers, family m embers and friends lined the back railing wit h posters and pompom s, wearing

authentic KCT bowling t-shirts, cheering louder than any ot her 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 t eam of KidsCare Therapy employees ranging from therapists to adm inistrative

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 progr am due t o the lack of opport unities for m any of our patients to

participate in r ecreational sports program s. She believes this is a great social outlet for these kids, and provides the

parents an opportun ity t o spend time w ith fam ilies similar to t hemselves. 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


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New H i res:

Refer a Fr ien d!

KCT Ent ers t he W aco Mar k et

Learn more about our company by visiting our page on Facebook.

Our most exciting challenge for 2012 is going to be the growth within the

company, especially in our new Waco mark et. 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

opportunit ies available with KidsCare Therapy. We would like t o give a v ery

special thank you to Baylor for allowing us t o come speak to their students,

and we look forward to a wonderful partnership with them in the future.

While entering a different mark et brings forth challenges, th is is not anyt hingin which KidsCare Therapy is not familiar wit h. We entered t he 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.

Congratulations to Ashley Pattison, t he m ost recent winner of the KidsCare

Therapy Refer a Friend prom otion.

As the winner, Ashley received a trip for two to Santa Fe, New Mexico! The next

winner will r eceive a one night stay at Hotel ZaZa in Dallas, dinner for tw o 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 r eferrals in today!

January 19t h

OU Career Fair

January 20t h

I n te r na l Lunc h and Lear n T r a in ing

January 27t h

Therap is t Meet and Greet

February 2nd

Dal las Of f ice Meet in g

February 3rd

For t Wor t h O f f i c e Open ing3 y ea r A nn i v e r s a r y

February 15t h

For t Wor t h O f f i c e Mee t i ng

February 17t h

TWU Recept ion

February 24t h

Sens o r y In t eg r a t i on and Mor e

CEU Cour se - Open t o Publ ic

March

Soc ial Wor k e r A pp r ec ia t i on Mon t h

March 2nd

Quar te r l y The r ap i s t Mee t i ng

March 3 - 4th

HSD Spec ia l Needs Ac t iv i t ies

and Resource Fair

March 8 - 10th

TSHA 2012 Convent ion

San Anton io

March 16t h

Best Prac t ices : Docum enta t ion Fre

CEU Course - I n t e rna l Course

Scan t h is code w i th y osm ar tph one app t o v i si ton Facebook and see w

KidsCare Therapyis a ll abou t !

We recomm end the Qrafter app for scan

October

Kristina Wyman, SLP, Dallas

Jade Williams, SLP, Dallas

Carla Juarez, Therapy Service Coordinator, Dallas

Novem ber

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, Reception ist/ Translator, Dallas

Johnna Goen, SLP, Fort Worth

Kristen Gary , PT, Dallas

Tara Kimbell, Community Relations Specialist, Waco

Erin Carter, SLP, WacoCrystal Turner, OT, Fort Worth

Dal las (214) 575-2999 For t Wor th (817) 546-8661


Centr al Texas (877) 426-4154

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