Taylor Nelson Empowers Excellence in the Therapy Department

Taylor Nelson, MRHC Physical Therapist

Taylor Nelson, MRHC Physical TherapistAs the Therapy Director at MRHC, Taylor Nelson, PT, DPT, is committed to elevating the therapy department to new heights, offering cutting-edge treatments, and fostering a culture of excellence. As a Vestibular Rehabilitation Specialist, Nelson specializes in orthopedic-type conditions, implementing a multifaceted approach, including hands-on and exercise-based treatments to help patients achieve their physical therapy goals. Since starting at MRHC in 2021, Nelson has been dedicated to providing high-quality, evidence-based care.

“I enjoy working with individuals, and I like to think that I am a good listener. I believe this helps in determining what patients have going on and planning different strategies to improve their condition,” Nelson shared. “MRHC has been more than willing to listen to new ideas and develop new service areas that not only help our department grow but more importantly, provide patients with new treatment methods that will help them achieve their overall goals.”

Most recently, the therapy department collaborated with the respiratory therapy department to develop a Pulmonary Conditioning Program for patients suffering from respiratory issues. This was a service that the hospital was not able to offer previously. This collaborative initiative underscores MRHC’s commitment to meet evolving community healthcare demands.

“I feel like MRHC is a great representation of what the community of Manning strives to be: progressive in accepting new possibilities while maintaining their core values and respecting each individual that comes through the door,” said Nelson.

While expanding and enhancing treatment options and services for physical, occupational, and speech therapy at MRHC is one of Nelson’s main priorities, his vision for the therapy department goes even further.

“My broad, overarching goal for the department is to be experts in our field so that people know they will receive top-notch, evidence-driven care for whatever condition they are coming to us for,” Nelson emphasized. “I realize that it can be frustrating when it seems like to receive the care you expect and deserve, you must travel long distances. I want our department to have the reputation that we can help, and we are the experts you can rely on.”

Central to Nelson’s success is the supportive environment cultivated by MRHC administration and his peers. In addition to the support he receives, he is also appreciative of the emphasis on teamwork and mutual respect that fosters a positive work culture where every voice is heard. He points out the administration’s dedication to creating an enjoyable workplace, where collaboration thrives, and professional development is encouraged.

“A good team environment is always a selling point for a job. At MRHC that is the genuine truth. It is a goal of our administration as well as every department lead to create an environment that listens to each other as well as make it an enjoyable place to work long term,” Nelson shared.

It is also evident that Nelson plays an important role in helping young professionals grow in their healthcare careers. As Therapy Director, Nelson oversees the physical, occupational, and speech therapy staff. His team is made up of four additional individuals, Physical Therapist, Lucas Schwery; Occupational Therapist, Amy Osbahr; Speech Therapist, Carrie Scharfenkamp; and Intake Coordinator, Stacy Arp – who all share Nelson’s vision of helping the therapy department continually grow and improve.

“Taylor has been a major help in preparing me for my career as a physical therapist,” shared Lucas Schwery, DPT. “He leads by example as to what it means to be a good physical therapist and is always there to answer any questions that I may have.”

For aspiring physical therapists or those interested in pursuing a general career in healthcare, Taylor offers advice rooted in his own experiences.

“Take advantage of all the opportunities afforded to you in high school. Many schools provide training to get your CNA before graduation. This would be a great way to get your foot in the door and gain experience in general with the healthcare world. Having that experience would be greatly appreciated when starting the interview process to get into PT school or just expose you to other jobs in healthcare that you initially might not be aware of,” Nelson recommended. “If someone is dead set on PT, having a solid plan for the steps necessary to become a PT would help in terms of looking into which schools offer direct paths into their PT programs.”

If you are interested in joining the MRHC team, visit www.mrhcia.com/careers or call (712) 655-2072 for more information.

MRHC Welcomes Carrie Scharfenkamp, New Speech Therapist

Carrie Scharfenkamp

Carrie ScharfenkampThe therapy department at MRHC is excited to welcome Carrie Scharfenkamp, M.A. CF-SLP, a new speech therapist offering services for adults and children.

Speech therapy services include evaluation and treatment in the areas of speech, language, swallowing, voice, cognition, and augmentative communication. Scharfenkamp can address issues with speaking, reading, listening, writing, thinking, and swallowing. While she has a pediatric background, Scharfenkamp will provide services for all age groups from birth to geriatrics.

“After working with children with disabilities at ChildServe I realized how much I enjoyed helping them communicate and complete tasks in their daily life,” shared Scharfenkamp. “Many of the children I worked with had communication difficulties and would see a Speech-Language Pathologist. I became interested in the field, began to do some job-shadowing, and instantly loved it. While studying speech-language pathology, I realized my passion was much more than just working with children. I love helping all populations with their deficits and disorders. Nothing is more rewarding than helping patients reach their goals, no matter how small.”

Common deficit areas Scharfenkamp works with are apraxia, aphasia, articulation, augmentative communication, dysarthria, expressive/receptive language disorders, oral motor disorders, fluency, swallowing, voice disorders, and pragmatic disorders. She also works with a wide range of diagnoses such as MS, dementia, autism, developmental delays, stroke, Parkinson’s, cancer, ALS, TBI, cerebral palsy, speech/language delay, and more.

“Speech therapy services will look different for everyone depending on their deficits and diagnoses,” said Scharfenkamp. “For adults, some common service areas would be communication, voice, dysphagia, and cognitive deficits. Common service areas for children include communication, speech, language, social skills, and behavior. Regardless of the person’s age or deficit, it is extremely important to find out what their needs and goals are to make functional improvements in their everyday lives.”

Some warning signs that someone may need speech therapy services would be unintelligible speech, delays in speech/overall development, issues answering questions, difficulties with fluency (stuttering), coughing or choking while eating, or problems with any aspect of communication.

“I am excited to begin offering services that are needed in the area, individualized to the population’s needs, and trying new things that the hospital has not been able to offer in the recent past,” said Scharfenkamp. “I would love to offer co-treatment sessions with occupational or physical therapy if appropriate and expand services to a wider variety of populations like adults and inpatients. Manning has a great, supportive community with an expanding hospital, and I look forward to being part of its continued growth and excellent services.”

Scharfenkamp grew up in the Carroll area and received an associate degree from DMACC in Liberal Arts and bachelor’s degree in Linguistics from Iowa State University. She attended the University of South Dakota for her Master of Arts in speech-language pathology while completing clinical work in various settings for clients including an elementary school, Scottish Rite Children’s Clinic, SESDAC, and University Clinic. After graduating college, she began working at Northwest Area Education Agency as a speech-language pathologist where she currently works with children from birth to five years old.

“Although I will continue to work in the schools, I chose to work at MRHC as a PRN because I am passionate about many aspects of the field of speech-language pathology,” shared Scharfenkamp. “I want to continue to work with a variety of patients with a range of deficits and learn more in the medical setting to expand the services that I can offer.”

To schedule a speech therapy appointment with Scharfenkamp, call (712) 655-8298.