Vice-Presidents

Michael Gorman, M.S., OTR

Mike is our Senior Vice President of Clinical and Regulatory Affairs. He has a wide variety of experience as a clinician, a manager, and an educator. Before becoming an OTR, Mike worked in long term care as an activities aide. In addition to his degree in occupational therapy, Mike has also earned a Certificate in Management Information Systems and a Master’s Degree in Human Services Administration. Mike works with us to assure that our clinical processes are effective, efficient, and smooth. This includes documentation, Medicare and PPS issues, clinical skill development, treatment approaches and outcomes, Intermediary and CMS relationships, Corporate and HIPAA compliance, Medical Reviews by the Intermediary, and supervisory skill development. In addition, Mike coordinates our inhouse training program. Key Rehabilitation provides 50 hours of inhouse training each year for its therapists. Mike works with the other Regional Vice Presidents, the Regional Supervisors, and the VP’s to identify specific training needs, coordinate the overall training and assure that resources are available to meet this objective. Mike can be reached at MGorman@KeyRehab.com or at 1-888-362-8704, ext. 264.

Tracy Cavanaugh, RN

Tracy is our Vice President of Nursing and Program Support Services. She has over 25 years of experience in the field of nursing and long term care. Tracy began her career as a CNA, subsequently moving to a CMA position. She continued her education becoming a Registered Nurse. Tracy has worked in a variety of settings as an RN, including long-term care, skilled care, and a physician’s office. Tracy was a DON for over 10 years in rural Kansas and has worked in facilities that were independently owned and also ones that were part of a nursing home corporation. She has taught CNA, CMA and RNA certification courses at several local community colleges and has presented numerous seminars and inservices for various groups around the country. In her role, she works with the supervisors and the therapists to understand the survey process and to develop knowledgeable working relationships with the facility and nursing staff. She also serves as our Clinical Reviewer – conducting chart audits and documentation review. Tracy regularly visits the programs in order to review patient outcomes, effective Medicare meetings, MDS knowledge and consulting, screening and identification of patients needing our care, and general nurse consulting with facilities requesting this service. Tracy is licensed as an RN and can be reached at TCavanaugh@KeyRehab.com or at 1-888-362-8704, extension 270.

Laura Pfeifer, OTR

Laura is our Vice President of Recruiting and Staffing. She has over 20 years experience in long term care. While receiving her Bachelor’s degree in occupational therapy, she worked as a CNA in a nursing homes and hospitals. Since graduating from Creighton University in 1993, she has worked in a variety of settings including skilled nursing and assisted living facilities, pediatrics, hospitals, and adult developmentally disabled. Currently, Laura’s role is to assure that our staffing levels meet the needs of each patient and facility. She supervises the recruiting department including managing Key’s employee retention programs.  She also maintains her OT license in 3 states and provides occasional OT services for the agency. Laura can be reached at Lpfeifer@KeyRehab.com or at 1-888-362-8704, extension 22.

Gary Scott

Gary is the Vice President of Technology for Key Rehab. Gary graduated from Middle Tennessee University and has been working in the Information Technology field since 1998. He holds certifications in MCSE, Network Plus, and in A Plus. Gary joined Key Rehab in May 2002 and responsibilities include developing the infrastructure, and managing the network and security for Key. Other duties include work as the project manager of software development and implementation including DOTS and Cypress.

Regional Vice-Presidents

Melissa Coester, CPTA

Melissa Coester is Regional Vice President in SE Kansas, Oklahoma and W Missouri. Her office is centrally located in Pittsburg, Kansas. She graduated from the PTA program at NEO in Miami OK in 1999 and has worked with Key Rehab since that time with her focus on the geriatric population. Melissa excels at working with her programs to develop comprehensive plans of care and is able to meet clinical and budgetary goals while achieving quality therapy services. Melissa can be reached at MCoester@KeyRehab.com or at 1-888-362-8704, extension 324.

Larry Nickelson, CPTA

Larry Nickelson is Regional Vice President in Central and Western Kansas. His office is centrally located in Wichita, Kansas. Larry has over 10 years of experience as a physical therapy assistant and has worked primarily with the geriatric population, in addition to hospital in-patient and out-patient settings. Larry maintains his Kansas PTA license and is an integral part in providing quality care in the rehab programs in his regions. In addition to his clinical and financial management responsibilities, Larry is active in the therapy community and is extremely successful with networking and recruiting. Larry can be reached at LNickelson@KeyRehab.com or at 1-888-362-8704, extension 317.

Shayla Meyer, COTA

Shayla Meyer is Regional Vice President for Iowa. Shayla attended the University of Iowa and finished her COTA training at Kirkwood Community College in Iowa. After graduation, she worked on a psychiatric unit as well as on a rehab unit in the hospital setting. When she relocated to Grinnell IA, she began working for Key Rehab. Shayla’s strengths are in working with residents with cognitive and psychiatric difficulties and teaching others these skills. Shayla can be reached at SMeyer@KeyRehab.com or at 888-362-8704 x 473.

Jodi Foster, RPT

Jodi Foster is Regional Vice President in North Kansas and Central Missouri. Her office is centally located in Olathe, Kansas. Jodi graduated with her Master’s Degree in Physical Therapy from Wichita State University in 1999. She has been working with the geriatric population since February 2001 when she joined Key Rehab as a staff therapist in Topeka, KS. After 5 years in Topeka, Jodi transferred to the Kansas City region. Jodi excels in utilizing her strengths of educating staff on caseload building, complete care plans, and program development while maintaining quality patient care. Jodi can be reached at JFoster@KeyRehab.com or at 1-888-362-8704, extension 430.