Jessica Herness

Town: McAdoo.

Work location: LVH-Carbon.

Job title: Rehab Operations Team Lead.

Department: Inpatient Rehabilitation.

How long have you worked there: I have worked for LVHN since 2009 but I have been at LVH-Carbon since it opened June 8, 2022.

Background, Education: I graduated from MMI Preparatory School in 2001, then graduated from the University of Scranton in 2005 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Health Science and 2006 with a Master’s degree in Physical Therapy. I have worked in outpatient, home health care and acute care settings over the last 17 years.

About your job: I currently evaluate and treat patients who are admitted in the ICU or on the med/surg floor. I also at times see patients in the emergency department. I evaluate their pain ROM strength balance and mobility levels to make safe discharge recommendations and to rehabilitate patients so they can hopefully return home on discharge. I like my job because I like working with people and it is very gratifying when you help someone recover from an illness or injury so they can return to their prior level of function and previous activities. We spend a lot of time with our patients and get to know them on a more personal level developing a bond and sense of trust.

Challenges/proud moments of your job: One of the biggest challenges of the job is trying to see all of your patients because in the hospital sometimes patients are out at testing or there are other providers trying to see the patient at the same time. The proud moments of the job are seeing patients that come in sick with their mobility impaired walk out of the hospital on discharge knowing that you helped contribute to their recovery. We as physical therapists also can contribute valuable information regarding a patient’s vital signs or response to activity to the hospital medicine team that can aid in diagnosis and developing that patient’s plan of care. Other rewarding moments are seeing our joint replacement patients get up and walk for the first time or with our vestibular patients that have positional vertigo, correcting their dizziness with one repositioning maneuver which nearly immediately allows them to change positions and function without dizziness.

Family: I live with my husband Tim and our three cats Boots, Maverick, and Loki; avid golfer and bowler and also enjoy playing pickleball.

Why you like working for LVHN: I like working for LVH – Carbon because of the teamwork that takes place. Working here gives you a sense of family with my colleague which I believe creates the best experience for patients.