Professional Development:

A motor vehicle accident, lifestyle challenges managing juvenile diabetes, and passion to help and encourage others led me to the field of physical therapy. I graduated with a Master of Science in Physical Therapy degree from Des Moines University, May of 1998.  Primary certifications are completing 60 hours of study on “The Work Injury Practice”, and “Return to Work Consulting” from 2000-2002 by Lauren Hebert of Smartcarept.  200+ hours in Applied Functional Science from the Gray Institute from 1999-2009.   I completed my Certification of Applied Functional Science (CAFS) in February of 2016.  I was awarded WELCOA faculty status in November 2011, and have completed 15 WELCOA certifications.

Demonstrated Success:  

The most successful intervention was leading the Industrial Athlete IMPACC (Injury Management Prevention and Cost Containment) WorkSmart Ergonomics Injury Prevention Program since 2001 at UnityPoint Health – St. Luke’s.  St. Luke’s has seen an 88% reduction in OSHA recordable Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs) to the lower back and shoulders for workers involved in patient care from 2001 to 2015.(3,7)  This was made possible by all parties from senior leadership to every employee taking ownership and accountability to transform the MSD injury prevention efforts. (1, 2, 6) 

From senior leadership giving the resources to upgrade to an electronic medical record and make sit to stand adjustable workstations available in all patient care areas, and in December of 2015 purchasing $131,000 of new Safe Patient Handling Mobility Equipment (SPHME) in December of 2015 and creation of a minimal-lift environment policy and procedure, with trained WorkSmart SPHME Champions for each patient care department, and improved daily body mechanics and posture habits of all employee’s.(1-7)  Industrial Athlete WorkSmart Ergonomics Training for Management and Employee’s was critical to our success, as was performing dynamic stretching based on data collected for each worker and work area needs assessment.(5)  I was appointed the leader of the SPHME program and training of employee’s in 2006.(5)   

In 2015, St. Luke’s saw a 44% reduction in OSHA recordable musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) to the lower back, and shoulders for patient care staff, and saw a 62% reduction in workers on restricted duty from 13 cases in 2014 to only 5 cases in 2015.  Through June of 2016, only 1 OSHA recordable MSD has occurred for workers involved in patient care, where 9 occurred in 2015.  Health care workers have 6x the incidence rate for MSD injuries than private industry and 3x higher than construction workers more than any other industry.(3,7)

The intervention that worked best was our systematic approach of getting leadership and management buy-in and support (1, 2) on St. Luke’s mission to be pro-active and to “prepare and prevent” MSDs vs “the repair and repent” of previous programs.  The continuous process improvement of transforming the work environment and by greatly reducing or abolishing the MSD risk factors of patient care jobs with the purchase of new SPHME and the creation of a formal policy and procedure minimal-lift environment where SPHME must be used when > 35 pounds of manual force or 2+ patient care staff is required to perform patient care mobility, transfers and the ambulation of patients. (1-6).  The purchase of sit to stand adjustable computer workstations for all patient care areas of St. Luke’s and employee’s using the staggered stance “athletic-ready” posture when performing material handling jobs, and by getting all employees, supervisors, and administration to understand their specific roles in the MSD injury prevention program through education and training.(6)

We used our OSHA log and variance log history to see where hot spots were with MSDs to target first.  We evaluated all of the departments performing an ergonomic profile getting a sample of employee’s input into the process improvement and performed an ergonomic work risk analysis for MSD risks factors, awkward posture habits and forces, long working hours of shift-work, tools and equipment used, and lifestyle habits of employees.(3)  We set up management and employee training based on findings from the data collection.(2-6)  We began to lead ergonomic principles, dynamic stretching and WorkSmart posture habits training and thus greatly reducing MSD injury risk factors.  This industrial athlete education takes place at employee orientation, yearly department meetings, nursing skills days, in newsletters, and each year in our mandatory net learning.(5, 6)

Appendix:  Welcoa’s 7 Benchmarks:  1. Capturing CEO Support 2. Creating Cohesive Wellness Team 3. Collecting Data to Drive Health Efforts 4. Carefully Crafting An Operating Plan  5. Choosing Appropriate Interventions 6. Creating A Supportive Environment 7. Carefully Evaluating Outcomes

Leadership:

I believe it is essential to lead by example with your daily actions of hard work and perseverance, and by looking for the “Bright Spot” or masterpiece in others by encouraging their strengths or what they do well.  As a Physical Therapist, that has lived with juvenile diabetes (T1D) since my senior year in high school and currently wear a medtronic 530G insulin pump.  Some of my lifestyle habits include; healthy eating based with whole foods and drinking water, physical activity with fitbit watch, dynamic stretching 2-3+ times daily, strength and circuit training 3-5 days/ week, 7-8 hrs of sleep daily, sit to stand workstation, growing family garden and performing daily prayer and reflection.  As a Christian, I think of my body as a temple of the Holy Spirit and it is my passion and mission to lead workers and companies to optimize their body’s vital mobility™.  

Leadership experience working with 300+ companies to reduce OSHA recordable MSD injuries, claims, and costs by 30-90% in 1-3 years, and my work onsite at St. Luke’s that has reduced patient care related MSDs by 88% since 2001. In February of 2015, I was voted a top 10 health promotion profession by the first WELCOA dish competition.  I also lead a wellness ministry at Sunnybrook Community Church since 2005.

To become a transformational leader in health promotion or injury prevention, I recommend you must first lead yourself well.  I highly recommend that you lead from your personal strengths and giftedness, where I am passionate about encouraging others daily and looking for the “bright spot” or masterpiece in every situation and person I meet.  Your passion and purpose should lead your daily work, actions, and words, and will keep you resilient for the long term.  You must find great mentors and never stop learning.  Become an active Welcoa member.

Innovation:

Led creation of business plan to purchase $131,000 of new Safe Patient Handling Mobility Equipment (SPHME) for St. Luke’s in December of 2015, wrote minimal- lift environment SPHME policy and procedure March 16, re-formed WorkSmart SPHME champions in all patient care areas, created You Tube channel to review SPHME videos of all equipment and policy/ procedures used at St. Luke’s that led to only 1 OSHA recordable MSD injury for patient care employee’s through end of June 2016, compared to 9 total in 2015 which was a 44% reduction from the 16 in 2014.
I developed the WorkSmart Dynamic Stretching Plan in 2001.  This has helped transform St. Luke’s and 300+ companies to see 30-90% reduction of OSHA recordable musculoskeletal disorder (MSD) injuries. 
I began treating St. Luke’s employee’s after MSD injuries in 2009, which has greatly improved return to work by 83%.
I had expert interview and podcast published with Ryan Picarella, president and CEO of WELCOA and myself in June of 2016 on the Value of Workplace Ergonomics.  I led a webinar titled “WorkSmart Ergonomics – Transforming Your Musculoskeletal Well-Being by Working Smart and Living Well” through Welcoa on July 13th, 2016.
Created 3D Lifestyle Athlete™, LLC and have created a DVD of the Dynamic Stretching Program to reduce MSD injuries.  There are recommended dynamic stretching routines based on the type of job you perform daily, and based on your body’s stiffness and pain to improve your well-being and optimize your body’s vital mobility™.

Compelling Vision:

Opportunities for Health Promotion next 5 years;

87% of workforce is overweight or obese with recurring physical pain. 
33% percent of workforce is affected by Sitting Disease (physical inactivity).  
The number one cause of disability worldwide is osteoarthritis (OA).
Creation of Blue Zones Project communities and workplaces where the healthy choice is the easy choice, and working in your purpose and strengths are encouraged.
Transformation of our work environments with Sit to Stand adjustable desks, ergonomic innovations, electronic medical records, Safe patient handling mobility equipment, and wireless fitness and well-being trackers.

3D Lifestyle Athlete™ - Optimizing Your Body’s Vital Mobility™

Dynamic stretching to reduce stiffness and pain, improve energy level, reduce stress, and improve well-being. 
Musculoskeletal self-care techniques like the snakebite technique, and ice massage to reverse and treat tendonitis, and carpal tunnel syndrome. 
Improved posture and body mechanics using the staggered stance “athletic ready” posture to protect lower back, shoulders, and knees when lifting, or squatting.
Ergonomic principles of sit to stand adjustable desks.
Encourage healthy lifestyle habits to become resilient and soar like eagles through the storms of life!

Check out the website at www.3dlifestyleathlete.com.