Movers & Shakers

Carolyn Peterson, MA-CC, SLP, has joined the Libby Care Center team to provide speech therapy services to the care center’s patients and residents.

Peterson earned her Master’s Degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Washington State University in 1992. She took her first position at the public schools in Libby.

“I quickly realized that there were no services available for the adult population in regards to communication and swallowing issues” recalls Carolyn.

To fill that void, she contracted with both St. John’s Lutheran Hospital and the Libby Care Center, treating patients with disorders such as: ALS, Alzheimer’s, Dementia, Parkinson’s, Multiple Sclerosis, Strokes and Traumatic Brain Injury.

“There was also a lot to learn about the normal aging brain and how to maximize its use. I came to love serving adults and the geriatric population with their diverse medical needs.”

To ensure that she was staying current with new treatments and changes in the field, Carolyn has been working as a traveling therapist, providing care for nine different facilities across five different states.

“Traveling exposed me to so many different types of disorders and methods of treatment that I would have never had just working in Libby. Now, I get to bring that experience back to my patients here at home. I have learned so much and I’m excited to bring that experience and education to back to my community.” I think the best education comes from the people I serve. These disorders don’t just happen to the patient, they happen to their entire family.”

“Carolyn is an amazing therapist, she knows how to get the most out of her patients in order to achieve the highest function and recovery possible” boasts Robert O’Rourke, an administrative team member whose focus is on quality assurance and improvement for the care center. “We are thrilled she chose to return to Libby Care Center.”

Libby Care Center has been focusing on developing a highly skilled rehabilitation team in a concerted effort to provide the highest level of care for patients requiring both transitional and long-term care.

Libby Care Center provides speech, occupational and physical therapy through a highly qualified professional team with state of the art equipment. Patients receive therapies throughout the day, including weekends, to assure that patients recover to their highest levels of ability, as quickly and safely as possible.