Department Spotlight: Inpatient Rehab Hospital Therapy

Take a moment to think about your favorite hobby. Perhaps you enjoy going for walks or runs. Maybe you prefer painting or singing. Or you might like playing video games or doing jigsaw puzzles. Whatever hobby you love surely brings joy to your life, right?

Now, imagine you suffered a stroke, a traumatic brain injury, a broken hip, a limb amputation or another physical health obstacle. You notice that it is more difficult to participate in your favorite pastimes. And beyond that, even the activities of daily living are now a struggle – getting dressed, taking a shower, brushing your teeth, the list goes on.

But guess what? There is a care team whose sole purpose is to help you regain the independence and confidence you need to embrace your life once again and return to a sense of normalcy.

Meet the Inpatient Rehab Hospital Therapy (RRH Therapy) department at Renown Rehabilitation Hospital. Whether it’s helping a patient learn to walk again or showing them how they can cook and clean in a new and accessible way, these tenacious rehab therapy technicians, occupational therapists (OT), physical therapists (PT), recreation therapy specialists, speech language pathologists and OT/PT assistants will stop at nothing to ensure their patients stay on the road to recovery.

One Step at a Time

Renown’s Inpatient Rehab Hospital Therapy team is more than your talented rehabilitation specialists; they are also your trusted confidantes, helping you take the steps you need – physically and emotionally – towards independence. Serving patients at the region’s only Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) accredited rehab hospital, these professionals specialize in helping patients achieve the best recovery outcomes possible.

The conditions they treat include:

• Strokes
• Spinal cord injuries
• Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
• Amputations
• Hip fractures
• Central nervous system diseases
• Cognitive disorders
• ...and many more

“Our goal is to teach our patients ways of safely achieving a higher level of independence than they came to us with,” said Lisa Stiegman, Manager of Inpatient Rehabilitation Therapy Services.

Let’s start by meeting our RRH Therapy team's friendly occupational therapists. Their role focuses on helping patients become more independent in their self-care, mobility, balance and daily routines.

“In this setting, we evaluate and treat patients with a focus on self-care and activities of daily living—things we often take for granted, like feeding ourselves, showering, getting dressed, using the bathroom or brushing our teeth,” said Tamara Jones, Occupational Therapist. “We see them for up to three hours a day across all three disciplines—occupational, physical, and speech therapy—for 15 hours each week and may stay anywhere from a few days to a few weeks depending on their medical and rehab complexity, progress and insurance coverage. That concentrated care allows us to witness incredible progress in a relatively short amount of time. Most of our patients come to us after a brain injury, stroke or a serious injury like a broken hip. If they’re experiencing limitations, we identify the barriers and work with them to regain a level of independence and return to a meaningful life.”

“Patients receive a daily schedule, so they know when to expect therapy sessions and medication; that consistency can make a big difference in their confidence and comfort,” added Nicki Tobias, Occupational Therapist. “I’ve had patients tell me, ‘Thank you for making me do that’—especially when it comes to tasks that may feel intimidating at first, like taking a shower. Showers can be anxiety-inducing due to fear of falling, but once patients experience them in a safe environment, their confidence grows."

Now we head on over to the dedicated physical therapists, whose focus is to train patients and caregivers on basic mobility and activities of daily living (ADL) tasks. They work with their patients on exercise for strength, balance, endurance and more.

“Our patients come to us with life altering conditions, so our care is unique because we are here to help support the transition to the next phase of recovery,” said Ashley Marsh, Licensed Physical Therapy Assistant-Advanced. “Tasks we help them with include getting in and out of a vehicle, accessing the home and going up stairs. We also teach patients safe techniques for bed mobility and how to use an assistive device. We want to ensure patients are discharged safely so they can continue their rehabilitation journey.”

“Over the course of the day, therapists see four to seven patients,” added Sara Sullivan, Physical Therapist-Advanced. “During our PT sessions, we focus on basic functional mobility – whatever is needed to help prepare the patient for the next level of care . Because we get to work with patients on a daily basis, we get an opportunity to get to know our patients and make sure we are working together to meet their goals of rehab.”

“Each morning, we begin with a thorough chart review and a team huddle to prepare for our day,” added Katie Rada, Physical Therapist. “We see patients for 30–90-minute increments and perform intermittent paperwork to document our interventions and patient performance. We participate in interdisciplinary team conferences to reflect on patient progress and determine their rehab length of stay.”

Moving on to our recreation therapy specialists, these devoted professionals hold the belief that healing extends beyond the physical. They bring this philosophy to their creative and individualized therapy approaches to help patients rediscover joy and purpose.

“As a Recreation Therapist, my role uses recreation and other activity-based interventions to improve physical, cognitive, emotional, social and leisure skills to improve recovery and quality of life,” said Julie Baum, Recreation Therapy Program Specialist. “This includes setting up a spinal cord mentor, helping someone find accessible ways they can still fish in a wheelchair, teaching a patient with a brain injury new coping skills, encouraging a patient to use an affected hand to put together a puzzle after a stroke or helping someone improve their balance by getting them on the Wii Balance Board. It is rewarding to help individuals regain hope that they can still participate in their favorite activities with their loved ones.”

For any patient who needs help re-learning how to speak or write, building their memory and problem-solving skills or even swallowing, our speech language pathologists step in to provide individualized care.

“As a speech language pathologist, most of my day is spent one-on-one with patients who are recovering from strokes, brain injuries or other neurological conditions,” said Casey Wootan, Speech Language Pathologist-Advanced. “A big part of the job is tailoring each session to where the patient is that day – some need a lot of encouragement, and others are pushing to get back to work or home life. It’s rewarding to see someone go from struggling to speak or eat to regaining those abilities and feeling like themselves again.”

Behind every successful therapy session is a team working tirelessly to ensure our patients and therapists have the support they need. Our rehab therapy technicians provide essential care and coordination, helping patients feel seen, supported and safe.

“My day in the life involves assisting therapists before, during and after their treatments; ensuring the facility and equipment are clean and ready to be used again; preparing wheelchairs for newly admitted patients’ and repairing broken equipment,” said JC Reid, Rehab Therapy Technician.”

“When I come in, I open the gyms, so therapists have everything they need for therapy; sometimes therapists have complex patients, and I'll assist them with patient care,” added Aly Black, Rehab Therapy Technician. “Next, I get up all the patients who are in our therapeutic dining program, help them dress, use the toilet and get them ready for breakfast at 8 a.m. I also do a fair amount of wheelchair maintenance ensuring patients are comfortable and safe. I feel like my job is so important and rewarding! I get to be an encourager and assistant.”

The RRH Therapy team is more than just a team of professionals – they’re compassionate partners in each patient’s recovery story. They help bridge the gap between limitations and newfound independence, one meaningful moment at a time.

The Rewards of Rehab

Caring for patients in a not-for-profit healthcare environment resonates with our Rehab Hospital Therapy employees. They share in the spirit of Renown’s new mission statement of saving lives, nurturing minds and caring for all people – and they incorporate that spirit into how they care for patients and create new processes to enrich that level of care even further.

Throughout it all, the rewarding feeling they experience is priceless.

“We treat patients the same regardless of their background,” said Sara Sullivan. “Everyone deserves the opportunity to have the best care as they recover from medical events. The best thing about our team is that everyone really cares about their patients. Over and over, I see my coworkers go above and beyond to help others. It's remarkable.”

“Sara created a streamlined documentation system that integrates beautifully with EPIC; she spent countless hours developing it,” added Tamara Jones. “Thanks to her efforts, our documentation is more efficient, and we have clearer communication across disciplines, improving continuity of care. Megan, our new manager, has also brought incredible value to our team. She performs comprehensive assessments to support patients with visual impairments in regaining function and independence in daily life. She’s mentored many of us and helped expand our skill sets and helped us build built a PT/OT mentorship. We’re proud to have a truly collaborative team with diverse experiences and certifications, and we’ll often co-treat to make sure our patients get the most comprehensive care.”

Healing takes many forms, and human connection can make a world of difference. The RRH Therapy team emphasizes the importance of social engagement and emotional support as powerful tools in the recovery process.

“We strive to have a positive impact on every patient and shine a little light to brighten their day,” said Katie Rada. “I recently established an informal lunch club for 20-year-olds to bond with one another and support each other's journeys. Social health is an important component of healing. We always encourage our patients to use the dining room for meals to avoid feeling isolated and create meaningful connections with other patients.”

“We have been able to take our patients on several outings to Urban Roots, hosted a group mindfulness activity for the Head Injury Association of Northern Nevada and began bringing in patients to the Stroke Support group virtually,” added Julie Baum.

Like many of these team members have said, a key element of successful rehab outcomes is helping patients regain the confidence and skills they need for life beyond the hospital. They use their collective knowledge coupled with leading-edge technologies – including the longest overhead harness walking system on the West Coast – to create meaningful, functional therapy experiences that mirror everyday challenges.

“Our patients are incredibly fortunate—and so are we as therapists—to have access to the specialized equipment available here," said Tamara Jones. “One of the things that sets us apart is how much we’re able to simulate real-life environments to prepare patients for going home. We have access to a full kitchen where patients can practice making meals. Our facility also includes laundry areas, a simulated bathroom with tub and walk-in shower options and even a standard bed to practice safe transfers. Our physical therapists use harness systems that allow patients to re-learn how to walk safely while minimizing the risk of falls. Our Bioness Integrated Therapy System (BITS) allows patients to work on cognitive, visual and balance tasks with an interactive and adjustable screen. We also have Transitional Living Apartments, where patients and family members can do a ‘trial run’ in a typical home environment.”

“One of the things I’m most proud of is being part of an incredibly knowledgeable and dedicated speech therapy team—with over 50 years of combined experience, we’re constantly learning from each other and pushing ourselves to provide the best care possible,” added Casey Wootan. “This past year, we’ve really leaned into that by participating in the Advanced Therapist role, which has given us the chance to share ongoing education across departments. It’s been exciting to help bring current best practices into daily care.”

“We have a therapeutic pool at the hospital, and we love to incorporate this tool into the patient's recovery if they are appropriate candidates,” added Ashley Marsh. “This modality can greatly assist with the recovery process in many ways.”

All these efforts are supported by the community-minded mission, vision and values of our not-for-profit health system.

“I believe by being a not-for-profit health system, we are able to provide more sincere care and focus on our patients, which is how it should be,” said JC Reid.

"Here at Renown, the focus is truly on the patient—not the bottom line,” added Nicki Tobias. “Everyone is aligned in delivering the highest quality care. Therapy is an essential part of the care continuum—from home health and outpatient to acute and inpatient rehab. There’s a strong commitment to our work that gives us a real sense of security and purpose. As a not-for-profit, our mission is to provide the best care possible so every patient can return home safely or transition into outpatient therapy or home health."

Renown Rehabilitation Hospital is proud to have the rallying support of our community, all in the name of enhancing patient care. Thanks to the efforts of Renown Health Foundation, the RRH Therapy department has been fortunate to receive generous gifts from several businesses and foundations, including the Estelle J. Kelsey Foundation and Dolan Auto Group, for a new therapy garden, an accessible car and more.

“We opened our Rehab Therapy Garden and are incredibly thankful for the Estelle J. Kelsey Foundation,” said Ashley Marsh. “This has been monumental to our patients and their families. When they come to the Rehab Hospital, often they have not been outside for weeks to months. This is an excellent way to allow patients and families to enjoy being outside and getting fresh air.”

“Having the donated car from Dolan on-site is incredibly helpful—it gives our physical therapists the opportunity to practice car transfers with patients, which is often the very first transfer they’ll make when they leave rehab,” added Tamara Jones. “Whether they’re walking or using a wheelchair, it’s a functional, real-world skill that helps build confidence and independence. Thanks to generous grants, we have tools like a training van for car transfers and offer therapeutic community outings to places like bakeries, coffee shops, parks and SCHEELS. We’re always looking for ways to integrate therapy into fun and meaningful activities.”

With immense support from many different people and organizations on their side, our RRH Therapy team is laser-focused on ensuring patients have a safe return back into their community.

Join the Recovery Crew

Are you an expert collaborator with a knack for organization and working with a diverse array of people? If you have experience in the rehab therapy setting, discover a career that cares about you at Renown Rehabilitation Hospital!

Renown Rehab is hiring people like you to bring your therapeutic skills to life in a supportive environment that inspires you to drive real change for your patients.

"Collaboration is absolutely key in this setting—and one of the things I love most about working at Renown Rehab Hospital,” said Nicki Tobias. “We’re in constant communication. Every week we hold patient conferences, where a full care team—nurses, PTs, OTs, speech therapists, pharmacists—meets to discuss each patient in detail. Everyone has a voice. What also makes Renown unique is the opportunity for leadership at every level—whether it's upgrading our documentation system, reorganizing shared spaces or streamlining workflows. Each employee brings something valuable to the table."

Beyond your collaboration skills, leading with compassion with both patients and your fellow team members is a must.

“For our team, compassion really stands out to me,” said Casey Wootan. “Working in inpatient rehab, we see patients at some of the most vulnerable points in their lives. Every day, I see my team go above and beyond to not just treat the diagnosis but also to support the whole person. Whether it's taking extra time to reassure a nervous patient, involving families in care, or just showing up with patience and kindness, compassion is at the core of everything we do. It’s what helps us build trust, motivate our patients and create a space where they feel seen and supported during a tough time.”

“Our team gets the opportunity to work with people in very difficult health situations, and we need to have compassion to assist these patients through their difficult times,” added Sara Sullivan.

Renown is a proud People First organization. The notion of putting our people first is significantly engrained throughout every department’s culture, especially Rehab Hospital Therapy. If you align yourself with this value, this team may be a great fit for you.

“Being a People First organization and providing patient-centered care is always a priority,” said Katie Rada. “Positivity, flexibility and the ability to build rapport with colleagues, patients and their families are all important qualities to have. Smiling is effortless and can always lift spirits.”

And what’s a People First workplace without enthusiastic coworkers to share your experience with?

“All the therapists are eager to help and support,” said Julie Baum. “Besides seeing patients get better, my coworkers are what make coming to work each day enjoyable.”

“A good coworker in inpatient rehab is someone who’s a team player,” added Casey Wootan. “Things move fast, and patients have complex needs, so it takes all of us working together to make things run smoothly. The best coworkers are the ones who communicate well, jump in to help without being asked and bring a positive attitude.”

“I like to work with people I can laugh with,” added JC Reid. “I believe it is a lot easier to get yourself excited to come to work when you are having fun, and I have had so much fun.”

Jump at the opportunity to reward your career and your life with the Inpatient Rehab Hospital Therapy team. Apply today at renown.org/careers.

“I feel lucky to be part of such a dedicated and experienced team. Working in inpatient rehab is challenging, but it’s also incredibly rewarding, especially when we get to see patients make meaningful progress and regain parts of their lives. I’m proud of the work we do every day, and I’m excited to keep learning and growing alongside my team,” closes Casey Wootan.