THERAPY 2000’s Karen H. Dowling, Honored with the Prestigious Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE) Status

Congratulations are in order for THERAPY 2000’s Karen H. Dowling, MCD, CCC-SLP, MBA, FACHE on recently becoming a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives, the nation’s leading professional society for healthcare leaders. Fellow status represents achievement of the highest standard of professional development. In fact, only 7,500 healthcare executives hold this distinction.

Karen Dowling is responsible for overall operations at THERAPY 2000 and strategic initiatives for the North Texas Region, East Texas, Amarillo, Austin and San Antonio areas of Texas. Karen holds a bachelor’s degree in speech-language pathology and a master’s degree in communication disorders from Louisiana State University. She also holds a master’s degree in business administration from Texas Woman’s University.

To obtain Fellow status, candidates must fulfill multiple requirements, including passing a comprehensive examination, meeting academic and experiential criteria, earning continuing education credits and demonstrating professional/community involvement. Fellows are also committed to ongoing professional development and undergo recertification every three years.

“Because healthcare management ultimately affects the people in our communities, it is critically important to have a standard of excellence promoted by a professional organization,” says Thomas C. Dolan, PhD, FACHE, CAE, president and chief executive officer of ACHE. “By becoming an ACHE Fellow and simultaneously earning board certification from ACHE, healthcare leaders can show that they are committed to providing high-quality service to their patients and community.”

The American College of Healthcare Executives is an international professional society of more than 30,000 healthcare executives who lead our nation’s hospitals, healthcare systems and other healthcare organizations. ACHE is known for its prestigious credentialing and educational programs and its annual Congress on Healthcare Leadership, which draws more than 4,500 participants each year. ACHE is also known for its journal, the Journal of Healthcare Management, and magazine, Healthcare Executive, as well as ground-breaking research and career development and public policy programs. ACHE’s publishing division, Health Administration Press, is one of the largest publishers of books and journals on all aspects of health services management in addition to textbooks for use in college and university courses. Through such efforts, ACHE works toward its goal of being the premier professional society for healthcare leaders by providing exceptional value to its members.

Home Care 100 Conference

Last week, I was invited to attend the Home Care 100 conference in Bastrop, Texas. I have attended a lot of conferences over the years (and eaten a lot of pastries along the way) and this one was different. The attendees were CEOs from the 100 largest home care providers in the nation. The conference’s informative sessions were designed to stimulate thinking and discussion with an eye towards the future of the industry.

The conference was informative and intense. CEOs from top home care companies were readily available for questioning. I met some new mentors and had some amazing networking opportunities. I attended programs like, Designing the Ideal Healthcare Delivery System in the Home and Partnership is the New Leadership. I learned about strategic planning, and had some great discussions related to employee engagement. I got asked a lot of questions, and came back super energized!

I left the conference feeling really good about our industry and the direction we are moving in with THERAPY 2000. I believe that if we continue to invest in the work experience of our valued employees, and in the quality of care that we deliver, we will continue to grow and thrive. I look forward to the changes that will continue to come in the next five and ten years, and plan on THERAPY 2000 being ready for them. Bring it on!

-Jerre van den Bent (THERAPY 2000 CEO)

Spread the Love- Special Needs Child Seen By THERAPY 2000 Heartwarming Story Goes Viral

Charity, mom of three, didn’t think much of it when she first penned this Facebook post thanking a stranger. It was the next morning she saw how much her story had touched others. Overnight her post had over 160,000 shares.

Dear stranger next to us at the rodeo,

 When my son came up to you and grabbed your arm, you didn’t know he used to be terrified of people. When he talked to you about the bulls, you didn’t know he was diagnosed with a language disorder. When he jumped in your lap and laughed as you tickled him, you didn’t know he had a sensory processing disorder. You also didn’t know as his mother, I sat in my seat, with tears running down my face, sneaking this photo. When we adopted him a few short months ago, we didn’t know how long it would take for him to laugh, play and engage others like this. You didn’t know any of this, but you took time to connect with a child who has had to fight to learn to connect. My heart is full. Thank you.

Here is Charity’s original Facebook post

(https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10206396830016320&set=a.2015271378165.2118332.1135239260&type=1)

In the wake of recent tragedies and negative news stories, this story hit a soft spot for many. Lincoln’s (a sweet two-year-old) adoption was just completed by the Robinson’s in February. The family also have two biological children Tripp (age 3) and Abby Grace (age 12). They began Lincoln’s adoption process last August. The family knew Linc had some developmental delays from the beginning. He was diagnosed with expressive language disorder and sensory processing disorder. He started receiving speech therapy, occupational therapy and physical therapy in his home from THERAPY 2000 in September. When Lincoln began therapy, loud sounds scared him. Pulling a shirt over his head agitated him and tickling him might send him into meltdown mode. Therapy has helped him overcome these issues. His parents worked hard reinforcing everything Lincoln was learning in therapy throughout the other times he wasn’t in therapy. Their devotion paid off, Lincoln has made huge strides. He graduated from speech and physical therapy in March and occupational therapy this June.

That’s why that night at the rodeo touched Charity. The fact that Lincoln was communicating and playing with a stranger, Mr. Taylor, at a loud venue was proof of how far he had come. That stranger has now become a friend as the Robinson’s learned he was a pastor at Bar None Cowboy Church in Tatum, Texas. The story was shared over a million times and landed the preacher and the Robinson family on Fox and Friends (http://video.foxnews.com/v/4309580436001/mom-posts-viral-photo-of-stranger-playing-with-son/?playlist_id=930909787001#sp=show-clips) 

and People.com (http://www.people.com/article/pastor-special-needs-boy-form-special-bond).

Charity thinks the story went viral because people could relate to the same struggles and successes the family shared. Charity shared, “Raising little ones is hard. Raising a kid with special needs is hard. Sometimes you can feel alone.” This story touched many people who could relate. Not only is Lincoln special needs, he is also bi-racial and adopted. It is estimated that one in six kids have a developmental disability in the US. Many people who were inspired by the story have reached out to Charity through Facebook. Families with children with developmental delays, adoptive families and families that now want to adopt are just a few of the segments touched by the story. The story hit home for many different people happy for Lincoln success. The humble Pastor Taylor shared another take on Fox and friends, “Lincoln doesn’t focus on the differences we have – if we focus on differences, it always divides. Lincoln just found the common bond, and that common bond is the love of Jesus.” Charity feels it all comes down embracing diversity. She shared, “No matter our differences at the end of the day we all want to be loved by one another. “ Sweet Lincoln is loved by his family, a new friend in Pastor Taylor and countless new friends across social media.

THERAPY 2000 is a leading pediatric home care agency serving Texas. We provide physical, occupational and speech therapy to children in the North Texas, Amarillo, East Texas, Houston, San Antonio, and Austin areas of Texas. We are active and proud members of the Texas Association of Home Care and Hospice.  http://www.tahch.org/

Click here to refer a child https://www.t2000.com/refer-a-child/ or call us at 877.688.2520.