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Samantha Gstalder-Tatham, SPTA: Non-Traditional Student

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Samantha Gstalder-Tatham, SPTA Susque-View Nursing and Rehabilitation Center Non-Traditional Student             What is my story of being a non-traditional student? Well to begin with, I decided to go to college right out of high school and I chose to pursue a degree with my first passion, baking. I graduated from Pennsylvania College of Technology in 2012 with an Associates degree in Baking and Pastry Arts. After graduating, I started as a baker at Weis Markets in Montoursville and after a year I was offered the full-time baking position. I worked as the full-time baker for five years until I decided I needed something else in my life. It just felt like something was missing. That was when I made a tough decision to go back to school for something else.             After researching different majors, I decided that becoming a Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) would be a good fit for me. I enrolled back at my Alma Mater to take a chance on the new PTA program whi
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Debbie Williams: Lung Cancer Awareness

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Debbie Williams Office Manager Advantage Home Health Services and  AdvantageCare Rehabilitation Lung Cancer Awareness It was first thought that I may have laryngeal cancer on December 8, 2014. It was positively confirmed one week later. During the treatment planning phase following my first PET scan, it was found that I also had lung cancer. For 14 months, I endured surgeries, invasive procedures, the implantation of a port, chemotherapy, and radiation treatment. Halfway through my radiation treatments, I needed a pep talk to convince me to continue because I felt that I could no longer continue. But I did decide to continue knowing that my son needed me and that life was just too precious. I am so glad that I did! In addition to the support of my family, and the awesomeness of the medical doctors who took care of me, I would be amiss if I did not mention that my work family was there for me every step of the way. My wonderful bosses made sure I didn
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Bella Cafardi - Bella's Slime Shoppe

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Bella Cafardi Owner of Bella's Slime Shoppe Advantage Home Health Services RN, Lisa Cafardi's Daughter An Entrepreneur in the Making Earlier this week, the Advantage marketing department sat down with Advantage Home Health Services RN, Lisa Cafardi’s daughter, Bella, who currently has her own slime-making business and has BIG plans for the future! Check out the full interview below conducted by Advantage Marketing Coordinator, Allie DeBor. Allie: Hi Bella, thank you so much for coming to the Advantage corporate office and spending some time with us! Can you tell me a little bit about yourself? Bella: Yes! I am 10 years old, in fifth grade and live in Mt. Lebanon. I have had my slime business for a little more than a year.  Allie: Wow! That is so amazing! What made you want to start your own business? Bella: I started making slime and was really good at it and I had an idea one day to just start my own business selling it!
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Shannon Sicher, COTA/L: An Employee Review

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Shannon Sicher Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA/L) Cedarbrook Nursing Home - Allentown An Employee Review AdvantageCare Rehabilitation (ACR) has come a long way since I started in 2014. I started working for ACR fresh out of college where they helped build my skills as a COTA and professional. I am appreciative of the way ACR has helped me grow as it speaks highly of their leadership. I have nothing but wonderful things to say about my co-workers, specifically how we all have each other's backs and are always willing to lend a hand. Whether someone isn't feeling well or under an enormous amount of pressure, we are quick to help with their caseload, so their patients get the high-quality care they deserve. AdvantageCare Rehabilitation is always flexible and understanding. They work with each employee on their weekly schedule and understand that things come up that can limit daily capabilities - they have no problem with make-up work over
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Carly Engel, Level II OTA Student: SNF Expectations v. Reality

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Carly Engel Level II OTA Student Susque-View Nursing and Rehabilitation Center SNF Expectations v. Reality of Health Care Before beginning my time at Susque-View Home Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, I truly did not know what to expect and what exactly healthcare was like in a SNF. I think many people expect nursing homes or SNF's to be sad or depressing places, but that is not the reality I experienced during my time at Susque-View. Aside from the healthcare aspect of an SNF, the environment alone upon entering Susque-View Nursing Home is uplifting. There is a beautiful garden with numerous plants and clear windows on the ceiling allowing sunshine to shine down on the garden and brighten the room. Also, based on previous experiences, I expected a lot of the healthcare in a SNF to be focused on maintenance with the residents. I was pleased to learn the reality is that healthcare in a SNF is all about reha
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Allie DeBor: Childhood Cancer Awareness

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Allie DeBor Marketing Assistant Childhood Cancer Awareness “Your child has cancer.” Those were the words my parents heard the afternoon of August 5, 1995. At the age of two, we were just beginning what would be a long journey none of us were prepared for. A few weeks before, I had a persistent cold that wouldn’t seem to go away. I was more tired than usual and in most situations, was found curled up on my mom’s lap, hunched over in pain. After an appointment that felt like days at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, the doctors told my parents that I had been diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, a type of blood cancer commonly referred to as ALL. From there I started chemotherapy that caused me to be an insomniac, lose all of my hair and for a period of time even made me paralyzed. I wouldn’t change any of it though, because without it, I wouldn’t be here today. I don’t think I’ll ever forget what I went through those years I had cancer. That being said,
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Carmen Bauer, M.S. CCC-SLP: Impact

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Carmen Bauer, M.S. CCC-SLP Speech Language Pathologist Valley View Rehabilitation and Nursing Center Impact As I sat back in my car tonight, I reflected on the positives on the day and the things I could have done or reacted to differently. This has been an attempt at decompression before driving home after work. As many you know, the age-old adage of leaving work at work often doesn't bode well for those of us in healthcare. The lives of those we treat become interwoven in our days, and we find ourselves pausing and wondering how X, Y, or Z is panning out for our patients. Today, I found myself struggling to find a positive. After a long week, I could hardly pinpoint exactly if what I did was therapeutic, let alone something positive. As I pulled out of the parking lot, it donned on me: Impact. We have impact on these patients and their families. We have impact on lives just as they have impact on ours. We are incredibly blessed to be in a profession that all
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