The constellation award recognizes strong teams that come together to serve patients and each other. They demonstrate a calling to care, live the network’s values, and show exceptional performance as defined by the network’s Standards of Behavior.
You can read their nomination story and see their picture below. Congratulations to our recipients!
Anne Liberio, Sharon Rains, Rachelle Janning – Kettering Medical Center
“These three employees work at NeuroRehab and Balance Center and represent our ALS team. (ALS/Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis or Lou Gehrig’s Disease). ALS is a progressive neurological disease that results in loss of muscle function. One of the major difficulties is the transition from our clinic discharge to home care. Home care just does not meet the needs of the ALS patients. Unfortunately, these patients reach a point in which coming to our clinic is not physically possible.
Shelly, Sharon, and Annie partnered with a member of the southern Ohio ALS association and an occupational therapy doctoral student from Kettering College to determine what we could all do to improve care and transition. The group wrote a grant proposal to the National ALS Foundation to provide a smart home technology kit for these patients. The smart home kit would include items such as a Google Dot or a Google Show, smart plugs, Firestick, and lightbulb.
This kit will be life changing for the ALS patient. The Google system will allow the patient to speak to operate the T.V. and lights. Additionally, as the patients lose the ability to speak, the Google Show can use the eye gaze system that will continue to allow the patient’s independence in their home. The long-term goal of this program is for the patient to continue to utilize the support, treatment, and knowledge of NeuroRehab & Balance Center through telehealth. The Google system will make this transition smooth and keep the patient at Kettering Health. Shelly, Annie, Sharon, the OTD student, and the member from the ALS association have been meeting in the evenings, on their own time, to coordinate the plan. I cannot put into words how grateful our ALS patients/families will be and the impact this will have. Our staff, Sharon, Annie, and Shelly, are giving up time at home with their families to make this impactful difference to the ALS population.”