Unyte was proud to host four special guests from M Health Fairview in this webinar, featuring a discussion on how providers can leverage the Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) in conjunction with other modalities, such as occupational therapy, to support clients’ emotional regulation, sensory processing and rehabilitation.
M Health Fairview is a healthcare partnership that combines the expertise of the University of Minnesota, University of Minnesota Physicians, and Fairview Health Services to deliver innovative, patient-centered care.
In this session, the M Health Fairview team illustrated how the SSP can be dynamically delivered and integrated to aid people across the lifespan. Expert SSP providers evaluated and explained the strategies, clinical impacts and success stories created through delivering the SSP to 400+ clients, including adults with traumatic brain injuries (TBI) and neurodiverse children at M Health Fairview.
You can expect to learn how the SSP can help these populations, be built into a client’s treatment plan and prepare clients to be more receptive to therapy.
Learn how the SSP can support the following treatment goals:
- Reduce anxiety, sensory sensitivities and emotional dysregulation
- Facilitate better participation in therapy and daily activities
- Calm the nervous system, enhance cognitive and emotional processing, and promote recovery
- Reduce stress responses that can interfere with rehabilitation efforts
John Henry, MBA, MS, CCC-SLΩ – Director of Pediatric Therapy and Clinical Quality at the University of Minnesota-Fairview Health system.
John is a speech-language pathologist by background and joined Fairview in 2005 where he worked in patient care for many years specializing in head & neck cancer. From 2010-12, John has worked internationally in the United Kingdom before returning to the US and assuming various leadership roles. In addition to John’s operational accountability at the University of Minnesota Masonic Children’s Hospital, he supports the system program development of pediatric therapy services as well as overall clinical quality for the system. John works closely with pediatric providers and health system leaders to ensure that the vision and initiatives of rehabilitation services align with those of the larger organization. Finally, John has a passion for lowering healthcare costs and improving quality through the use of innovation and technology.
Angela Kell, MBA, OTR/L – System Director, Rehab Services for Neuroscience and Oncology, University of Minnesota-Fairview Health System
Angie is the System Director of Rehab Services for Neuroscience and Oncology at the University of Minnesota-Fairview Health System. With 25 years of experience as an occupational therapist and healthcare leader, Angie specializes in caring for adults with spinal cord injuries, stroke, movement disorders, and traumatic brain injuries. She oversees multiple clinics in Minneapolis and St. Paul, as well as driving alignment across neuroscience and oncology service lines to support programmatic growth and innovation as it pertains to Rehabilitation Services.
Angie is deeply committed to employee engagement, fostering a collaborative environment that encourages staff-led improvement initiatives. Her leadership focuses on enhancing both patient outcomes and the care experience within Rehabilitation Services.
Beyond her professional achievements, Angie is dedicated to community involvement, actively supporting Special Olympics, Minnesota Special Hockey, and the Minnesota State High School Adapted Sports programs.
Renae Witta, OTR/L – University of Minnesota-Fairview Health System
Renae is an outpatient adult therapist at M Health Fairview’s location in Edina, MN. She earned her Master’s degree in Occupational Therapy from the University of North Dakota in 2014 and more recently completed her Master’s certification in Low Vision Rehabilitation from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Renae has experience working with adults who have experienced neurological injuries including CVA, concussions and dementia umbrella diagnoses. Renae has enjoyed utilizing SSP since its integration in the M Health system over 2 years ago. When not in the office, you can find her spending time with her three kids- more likely acting as their personal UBER service.
Elle Stienessen, OTR/L – University of Minnesota-Fairview Health System
Elle is a pediatric occupational therapist at M Health Fairview’s outpatient location in Woodbury, MN. Elle earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the College of Saint Benedict in 2017 and her Master of Arts in Occupational Therapy from St. Catherine University in 2019. Elle has experience working with children with sensory processing disorders, trauma and mental health histories, self-regulation difficulties, and feeding difficulties. She employs a holistic approach to patients’ skill development and enjoys collaborating with care team members to deliver interdisciplinary care. Elle has been a SSP provider for 2 years. Outside of work, she enjoys reading, crafting, running, and cooking.
