MEET THE TEAM
Working Together to Provide Collaborative & Connected Care
Your treatment team
We believe the best rehab therapy for you is delivered by an inspired team of therapists, nurses, and physicians who seamlessly coordinate individualized therapy and medical care based upon established expected outcomes.
Because this ensures you have the highest chance of regaining independence to safely return to your life, we are committed to hiring professionals with the highest levels of education, experience, and integrity possible.
Because quality begins and ends at the top, our Indianapolis Rehabilitation Hospital at Carmel management team members are selected and appointed based upon their proven track record of success, personal and professional integrity, inspiration to others, and their ability to lead by example to carry out our mission, vision, and values.
This skilled and dedicated treatment team collaborates daily on your goals and makes revisions to your plan of care as needed to achieve your goals within our specialty services.
The ongoing plan and corresponding progress are communicated to you and your family/caregivers throughout the patient’s journey. This plan serves as the road map back to independent living at the highest possible level. Click the down-arrows to the right to learn more about our team.
GET TO KNOW OUR TEAM!
JOSEFINA GUNTHER - NURSING SUPERVISOR
Meet Josefina Gunther, Nursing Supervisor, who joined the Indianapolis Rehab Team back in June of this year. As a nurse and supervisor we try to take each day as it comes and make sure we advocate for the patients as best we can and make sure the entire staff is supported.
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I truly enjoy what I do because while it has ups and downs, it is still fun and challenging. It's overcoming these challenges and learning from it is what makes this job enjoyable.
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I live each day by my mantra. "I do it because I can. I can because I want to. And I want to be cause you said I couldn't"
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LAURA THOMPSON - OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST
Meet Laura Thompson, Occupational Therapist, who enjoys what she does and the challenge to help her patients achieve even the smallest gains.
She feels the connections she makes with her patients and their families make their day just a little better. Laura tells us she has learned over the years that listening means listening with all of her senses since it’s often what a person doesn’t say is just as important.
In Laura’s 18 year career, she finally has the opportunity to work in her own community, and we are excited she chose Indianapolis Rehab Hospital.
DAVID KIRUBAKARAN - CHIEF THERAPY OFFICER
Meet David Kirubakaran, who joined us as our Chief Therapy Officer on Day 1, January 4th, as we prepared to open our hospital.
David has been a Physical Therapist since 1991. A typical day for David starts with rounding with the clinical team of therapists and nurses. The rest of the day is a combination of engaging with patients, families, the care teams, and physicians.
To prepare for those interactions, David participates in the hospital leadership meeting to review the current patients being cared for and rehab staffing and goals for the day.
As David rounds with the case management team, he talks with the patients and their families and also with the physicians as they examine and assess the patients' progress. It's evident to those who know David that he loves his job.
In talking with David, he will mention that he feels fortunate to have a competent leadership team for the operational aspects of the hospital. He also talks about working with clinicians and having the opportunity to mentor young, compassionate clinicians.
Ironically, during David's high school and college years, he was very shy and an introvert, which is very different from today's engaging personality. David's mantra is "Always do what is right for the patient."
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The Medical DirectorLeading the medical team and treatment team is a Medical Director, a physician Board Certified in Physical Medicine & Rehab. This Medical Director serves as the primary physician leader accountable for management of the treatment team and medical staff, patient care, quality of care, safety initiatives, and the physician processes.
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Physicians:Rehabilitation physicians coordinate and develop your rehabilitation plan and directly manage your medical care. This may include consulting a physician specialist. Our medical staff includes the following physician roles that work together in an interdisciplinary approach with the treatment team and patient to achieve the desired goals. Physical Medicine & Rehab Physician (Physiatrist)Supporting our Medical Director for the overall rehab care are additional Physiatrists. These physicians specialize in the treatment of medical conditions and injuries that have caused a disability or debilitation to the brain, nerves, spinal cord, bones, joints and muscles. Internal Medicine PhysicianInternal Medicine physicians are a vital part of the treatment team in ensuring that your medical needs are managed. For instance, you may have other medical conditions such as high blood pressure or heart problems that are worsened by the new onset of the debilitating injury or illness. Consulting PhysicianConsulting Physicians may be asked to consult, recommend or treat patients depending on other injuries or circumstances unique to you. Specialists in pulmonary disease, orthopedics, cardiology, gastroenterology are a few examples of types of physicians who may be asked to provide additional consultation when requested by the our Medical Staff.
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NursesNurses provide uniquely specialized care focused on the rehabilitation process to include educating the patient and family in managing the disease process, medication management, adaptive equipment and encouraging the patient to return to the highest level of independence Our rehab nursing team plays several roles in your care at Indianapolis Rehabilitation Hospital. We are proud of our high nurse-to-patient ratio, assuring the very best level of care and attention possible. In addition to caring for your rehab needs, the rehab nurse also cares for your medical needs. A primary role for all rehab nurses is to serve as your advocate, assisting you to adapt and live to the fullest of your ability following your debilitating illness or injury. Rehab nurses collaborate with the rest of the treatment team to create a comprehensive plan of care to achieve your maximum potential. Throughout your journey, the rehab nurse educates not only you, but family and caregivers as well to ensure a triumphant return to living.
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Case ManagersCase Managers/Social Worker: This specialist coordinates your inpatient stay from admission to discharge working with insurance companies, you, your family and interdisciplinary team to maximize functional status and return to home or community. The rehabilitation Case Manager works directly with you and your family around decisions that impact your transition to different care settings, including the home, following the inpatient rehabilitation stay. This information and planning include the financial and discharge decision process. Case Managers act as a resource for you and your family members, coordinating many aspects of care that include education, team conferences, communication with insurance companies and discharge planning. They also function as your representative and are available to address any other questions that arise during your rehabilitation stay.
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Physical Therapists (PT)Physical Therapists work to improve your movement and mobility, including walking, strengthening, endurance and manage pain. Physical therapy may include working with assistive devices such as wheelchairs, canes, or orthotic/prosthetic devices. Our Physical Therapists (PTs) focus on strength and mobility training as well as your overall fitness. Often, a medical event or major traumatic injury leaves muscles atrophied and weak, resulting in your inability to perform simple tasks such as sitting, standing, or walking. Your Physical Therapist’s goal is to restore the basic function required for successful, independent daily living. PTs use a variety of disciplines and treatments such as exercise, mobility techniques, hands-on-care, pain management, stimulation and assistive technology devices depending on the illness or severity of your injury.
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Speech Language Pathologist (SLP):The role of the Speech and Language Pathologist (SLP) is to assist patient with cognitive issues related to illness, address any articulation or speech deficit. This may include assessment and treatment of any swallowing disorder Speech Therapists care for you when serious events have impaired speech, language or cognitive ability. SLPs treat you in relearning how to use your muscles and skills to be able to think and verbally communicate effectively. Words such as aphasia (difficulty communicating/understanding verbally and/or written), apraxia (difficulty carrying out commands) dysarthia (difficulty articulating words-slurred speech) may have been mentioned to you by your physician. As an example, a stroke patient may struggle with dysarthia from the weakness in their facial and vocal muscles. Cognitive retraining strategies Speech Therapists may use and teach include speaking more slowly, practicing words over and over to strengthen the vocal muscle, demonstrating mouth movements with the patient, and reading aloud.
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Occupational Therapists (OT)Occupational Therapists (OTs) treat injured, ill, or disabled patients to regain function of normal daily activities through the therapeutic use of everyday activities with modification techniques. Our OTs focus on assisting you in regaining your ability to perform activities of daily living (ADLs) including dressing, bathing, eating and other self-care. They help you recover, develop, improve, and maintain the skills needed for daily activities and work within the home, work, school and community environments, preparing you for discharge from the IRF. Examples of typical activity focus and modification may include: Bathing and getting dressed Laundry and housekeeping Helping adults prevent falls in their homes and public places Eating without help from others Enjoying leisure activities Improving balance, building muscle strength, adapting to memory and speech challenges Organizing medications Performing work tasks on computers, ipads and smartphones
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DieticiansNutitional counceling will be provided by a registered dietician. They will make recommendation on diet and how it relates to disease process to maximize nutritional status. The Dietician plays a significant role in the success of the rehab therapy. If you have altered nutrition status due to inability to consume nutritious food, or even swallow, these situations can result in poor muscle mass and challenging or incomplete therapy sessions. Our dieticians work with you and the Speech Therapist as needed to ensure that patients are consuming appropriate and adequate nutrition. This provides the sustenance needed to actively participate in the strenuous and intense daily therapy required, achieve and maintain optimal health.
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Rehabilitation TechsRehabilitation Techs are rehabilitation professionals who assist nursing and therapy staff with daily medical care and therapeutic interventions. They provide an additional support for you, increasing the staff available to care for you. This added level of support ensures that you always receive the care and attention you need.
Learn more
Indianapolis Rehabilitation Hospital at Carmel is a NOBIS- MANAGED rehabilitation hospital and is one of a group of state-of-the-art hospitals across the continental US. The Nobis-operated hospitals all have a mission of delivering exceptional care through inspired people, industry-leading programs, innovation, and strong partnerships within the communities they serve.