Merianne Higgins, Julie Schott and Leah Martinez, are now certified in the LSVT BIG and LOUD program, which addresses voice, speech, swallowing, memory, movement and self-care abilities. They attended a two-day certification course in Louisville on Nov. 2 and 3, 2012.

“We are excited that we can help patients with Parkinson’s disease and other neurological disorders improve their voice quality, swallowing and communication with others through LSVT,” said Higgins.

All three speech-language pathologists had researched the program and were impressed with the clinical outcomes for patients who have used it. Now Parkinson’s patients in the Manchester community can share the benefits. The BIG and LOUD program is available to inpatients and outpatients alike.

For more information about LSVT or the rehab program at Laurel Creek Health Care Center, please call (606) 598-6163, and ask for the rehab department.

Each Life Care building undergoes an annual audit of its core rehab program, assessing how the team works with other departments to provide a cohesive plan of care. Auditors (regional rehab associates with Life Care) score the rehab teams on four key areas: environment, human resources, clinical programming and systems management.

Facilities that achieve Gold standard are shown to have a strong, stable therapy team that is eligible to develop a specialty program based on the community’s needs.

“For our rehab department to obtain Gold status, all departments and disciplines pulled together and worked extremely hard,” said Tammy Sizemore, rehab services manager at Laurel Creek Health Care Center. “Our main goal is to provide the best care possible for our residents and provide a highly trained and dedicated skilled rehabilitation option close to home for our community members. I think we achieve this goal every day.”