Therapists take high caseload in stride

With flu cases spiking and episodes of severe weather, this winter has kept healthcare teams everywhere exceptionally busy.

During a particularly hectic weekend in January, the physical and occupational therapists at PeaceHealth Peace Harbor Medical Center saw to the needs of an overwhelming number of patients needing physical and occupational therapies.

Steve Maden, Steve Jones, Pat Mills and Nikki Harklerode brought their “A” game to the “all hands on deck” situation.

One of the hospitalists, Dr. Christy Horton, marveled at the team’s extraordinary contributions in the demanding environment.

“They all worked with smiles on their faces for both patients and staff,” even if it meant changing plans for what would have been their day off, she said.

All of the patients—in the hospital and clinics—received the care they needed that weekend.

Happily, one of the occupational therapists who had kept pace with the physical therapists through the day, finished in the nick of time to watch the Green Bay Packers game, “equivalent to a national holiday in her household,” Dr. Horton wryly noted.

Such a challenging season has everyone counting the days to spring—and for Packer fans, counting the weeks to the fall opener.