I want to thank you for the warm welcome thatI have received since joining Peoplefirst as yournew leader. Having justcompleted my first 90 dayswith the company, I’ve hadthe opportunity to visit manyof you in both our hospitalsand nursing centers. Iappreciate your passion forquality care, your commitmentto our Peoplefirst culture, andyour desire to work for acompany that values you. Iam excited to be here and Iwelcome your input as wecontinue to work togethertoward achieving our goal ofbeing the rehab provider andemployer of choice.

As a division, we have experienced double-digitgrowth over the last couple of years. Today weare the largest contract therapy provider withover 650 customer sites and over 8,000employees. We’ve achieved this kind ofunprecedented growth as a result of theinvestments we’ve made in recruiting, trainingand supporting our therapists. Peoplefirst hasearned a reputation for clinical excellence withinthe provider industry, and we will continue toinvest in the clinical resources, educational andtraining programs critical to the success we havehad in attaining and retaining our most valuable

resources – our employees! There will also beadditional emphasis on leadership development

programs and employeerecognition programs as wecontinue to grow and mature asan operating division.

One of the great challenges andopportunities for any company isto demonstrate consistent, excellentcustomer service. Our customersexpect and deserve this fromPeoplefirst. Continuouscommunication and follow-up withour customers is paramount to ourcontinued success and growth asa company. My commitment is toprovide you with the tools andframework to proactivelycommunicate operational

challenges and progress in a manner that buildstrust, credibility and lasting partnerships with ouraffiliated and non-affiliated customers.

In my personal and professional life, I havewitnessed the impact rehab can have onimproving one’s quality of life. When rehabilitationservices are provided with a high level ofcompetence and compassion, the result issignificant in the lives of our patients and theirfamilies. My own family has been touched bythe care of rehabilitation professionals, and I amproud to be a part of our Peoplefirst team.

A Newsletter for Peoplefirst Employees

The Peoplefirst Post

August 2008

Proud To Be a Part Of an Industry-Leading TeamBy Chris BirdPresident, Peoplefirst Rehabilitation

Christopher M. Bird

First Things First! with Chris Bird

PeoplefirstNew BusinessHere are the newestlocations to join ourPeoplefirst family in May,June and July of this year.Welcome to all our talentednew co-workers!

TLC Care CenterHenderson, NV

Jacaranda ManorSt. Petersburg, FL

Durgin PinesKittery, ME

Vibra Healthcare –DetroitDetroit, MI

Mountain View ManorCoal Township, PA

Evergreen Health CenterOshkosh, WI

Hillsdale Nursing andRehab CenterHillsdale, PA

Ruxton Health ofLawrencevilleLawrenceville, VA

Ruxton Health of DentonDenton, MD

Ruxton Health at theVillageFork Union, VA

New Clinical Ladder ParticipantsCongratulations to the following Peoplefirst therapists on their recentacceptance into the Clinical Ladder/Mentor Programs during our Aprilapplication process. These participants will be added to the Ladder/MentorGroup previously listed in our February 2008 issue.*

Christine EveraertMS, OTRWestMentor - Ladder IPulmonary

MichelleLaufenburgerMS, OTR/LWestMentor - Ladder IISeating and Positioning

Jane KumarOTRWestMentor - Ladder ICognition

Jennifer KnightOTR/LWestMentor - Ladder ICognition

Melanie SerpaOTR/LWestMentor- Ladder IUpper Extremity Mgmt.

Kathleen LiliensteinPTWestMentor - Ladder IMedically Complex Pt.

Karen MiszlerPTWestMentor - Ladder ITraumatic Brain Injury

Joanne MarionPTAWestMentor - Ladder IFalls and Restraint Management

Kerri Lynn FraserSLPWestMentor - Ladder ILSVT

Patricia MitsudaSLPWestMentor - Ladder IIDysphagia; Cognition

Teri Griffith SchleeSLPWestMentor - Ladder IDysphagia; Cognition

Judy LeonardCOTACentralMentor - Ladder ICognition

Merrin BrownMOTCentralMentor - Ladder IIPediatrics

Shannon MichenorMS, OTRCentralMentor - Ladder ICognition

Tom Pierce-RuhlandOTRCentralMentor - Ladder ILymphedema

Christy RobertsOTRCentralNo Mentor - Ladder ICognition

John BlankPTCentralMentor - Ladder IUI

Andy HaxtonPTCentralMentor - Ladder IWound Care

Raghu NallamothuPTCentralMentor - Ladder IFalls Prevention

Kim ChristensonPTACentralLadder IPain Management

Angela HendricksonPTACentralLadder IWound Care

Jennifer LourainePTACentralLadder IFalls Prevention

John SteelePTACentralMentor - Ladder IPain Management

Sadie GeigerSLPCentralNo Mentor - Ladder IDysphagia; Cognition

Gina BaileyOTREastMentor - Ladder IPain Management

Jennifer ParadisOTREastMentor - Ladder ICognition

Erik FisterPTEastMentor - Ladder IElectro Modalities

Julie KrapfPTEastMentor - Ladder IFalls Prevention

Heidi MallettPTEastMentor - Ladder IWound; Falls Prevention

Frank MoroskyPTEastMentor - Ladder IPain Management

Michelle SeaverPTEastMentor - Ladder IPositioning

Christine MelloPTAEastLadder IFalls Prevention

Althea WilkinsSLPEastMentor - Ladder ICognition; Dysphagia

Brian PhinizyOTRBritthavenMentor - Ladder ISeating and Positioning;Contracture Mgmt.

Donna SempleMPTBritthavenMentor - Ladder IDocumentation

Tracie SparksMPTBritthavenMentor - Ladder ILymphedema;Wound Care

Tina CarpenterPTBritthavenMentor - Ladder IDocumentation;Falls Prevention

Heather HargroveMOTHospitalMentor - Ladder IPulmonary

Kelly LittleMOTR/LHospitalMentor - Ladder IPain Management

TeresaHannemannOTRHospitalMentor - Ladder IDocumentation

Maureen BarrettPTHospitalMentor - Ladder IWound Care

Deborah RossSLPHospitalMentor - Ladder IIIMedical Complexity;Dysphagia; Cognition

* This list representsonly the latestadditions to ourprogram.

Individual WinnersCentral Region

Jacqueline PierreChestnut Terrace Nursingand Rehabilitation Center(formerly KindredHealthCare Center ofMobile)

East Region

Curtis FecteauLaurel Lake Center forHealth and Rehabilitation

West Region

John LaFlaurSiena Care Center

South Region

Roxanne HerleinWinkler Court

Britthaven Region

Denise PowellBritthaven of Charlotte

Hospital East Region

Janice BuziakKindred Hospital Boston

Hospital Midwest Region

Laren AllegrettiKindred HospitalChicago – Northlake

Hospital South Region

James JonesKindred HospitalOklahoma City South

Hospital West Region

Terry EberlyKindred Hospital Denver

Team Winners

Central Region

Savannah SpecialtyCare Center

East Region

Crawford SkilledNursing andRehabilitation Center

West Region

The Tunnell Center forRehabilitation andHealthcare

South Region

Casa MoraRehabilitation andExtended Care

Britthaven Region

Britthaven of Newportand Harelock

Hospital East Region

Kindred HospitalChattanooga

Hospital Midwest Region

Kindred HospitalChicago – Northlake

Hospital South Region

Kindred Hospital BayArea – Tampa

Hospital West Region

Kindred Hospital SanFrancisco Bay Area

Katherine Connors joined Peoplefirst Rehabilitation as the new SeniorDirector of Recruitment in April. In this role, Kathi oversees all fieldrecruitment programs. The Regional Staffing Managers and their teamsreport directly to her, and she in turn reports directly to Ross Johnson,Vice President of Recruitment.

Kathi brings with her a wealth of knowledge and experience inrecruitment management. Raised outside of Boston, she earned abachelor’s degree in economics and business with a concentration inaccounting from Framingham State College. Over the years, she hasacquired a resume that speaks highly of her leadership abilities,particularly in the field of healthcare recruitment.

For the last seven years, Kathi worked for Humana Inc., a Fortune 100company. There she held roles in several areas, including recruitmentstrategies and implementations, vendor management, labor contractrelations, HR reporting development and systems and businessdevelopment. Outside of Humana, she has also served as HR consultantfor Network Engines, Senior Recruitment Manager for Equiserv, Managerof Southeast Recruitment for Olsten Staffing Services and Senior HRRepresentative for the McDonald’s Corporation.

Kathi feels the best way to present success is to focus on the personal

accounts of patients andemployees alike. Part of thatstrategy, therefore, involvesmotivating current employeesinto accepting recruiting roles.

“We have a team of recruiters,but the 9,000 therapists wesupport are recruiters as well,”Kathi points out.

She believes launching refer-a-friend programs with incentives such as raffles is an effective way toencourage therapists and other employees to spread the word aboutPeoplefirst and strengthen its team of compassionate, highly skilledpractitioners.

“Peoplefirst has a lot to offer, so we need to get a consistent brand outthere and make our name available,” Kathi emphasizes. “We want tomake sure people understand we have a great culture here.”

Indeed, Peoplefirst has a celebrated culture, a culture of which Kathiis now an integral part and one that should continue to improve underher guidance and expertise.

Peoplefirst Welcomes Kathi Connors

Second Quarter Commitment FIRST and Team FIRST Award Winners Anounced

We are pleased to announce the secondquarter winners for our Commitment FIRST andTeam FIRST awards. Congratulations to all ouremployees who were nominated forexemplifying our FIRST values. We are currentlyaccepting nominations for the third quarter.

Nomination forms can be found on Knect underRehab Division/Human Resources/EmployeeRecognition. As a reminder, all non-exempt(non-management) staff employees may benominated for the Commitment FIRST awards.ARDs/RRDs may nominate entire rehab teams,

including the manager, for the Team FIRSTaward. We look forward to your continuedparticipation in these programs. Congratulationsagain to our quarterly winners!

Let’s Celebrate Our Winners!

COPYRIGHT © 2008 Peoplefirst Rehabilitation CSR 83476

Update From RehabLeadership AdvisoryCouncil (RLAC)Recently, some of the members of the RLACrotated off the council and new memberswere added. We would like to formally thankthe following individuals, who have rotatedoff, for their service to the RLAC: AnthonyBertoni, Lyle Black, Jaclyn Davin, SharonFleming, Judy Freyermuth, Misty Grover,Stephanie Madrid, Jay Mower, DeePerkins, Dan Schaeffer, Anita Schaul,Melissa Szamet, Marisa Velez-Spina andJennifer Williams.

The current members are Julie Feasel,Allyson Wolfe, Jen Miraglia, Kelly Coffey,Cheryl Martin, Julie Ruhana, ChristyNguyen, Catherine Byrne, Jason Perez,Heather Hargrove, Nick Galvez, JohnyLee, Preston Martin, Mary Pat Gravil,Lesley Blackford, Dana Bettenhausen,Laura Dunn, April Weldon, SuzanneMasino, Vienna Lafrenz, Mary Moretti,Kathy Lamb and Vicki Buns.

In May 2008, the RLAC met to plan thefocus of the group for the next 12 months.The Council is working on the following fiveareas: Use of CEU Benefit, ImprovingPerformance Evaluations, RM and DORMentoring and Tools, EmployeeAppreciation, and Cluster Market Sharing.The RLAC welcomes your suggestions. Pleasefeel free to contact any member of the RLACdirectly or with the suggestion form below.

Task Force Members:

Jessica Risinger, Student Program Manager

Amy Gallant, SLP – Brewer Rehabilitation andLiving Center

Cory Sebert, PT – Brighton Care Center

Erin Mayer, OT – Regency Place of Castleton

Katie Lodge, OT – Kindred Hospital Ocala

Katy Finch, OT – Harborlights Rehabilitation andNursing Center

Laura Mitchell, PT – Pettigrew Rehabilitation andHealthcare Center

Maricia Cole, SLP – Whispering Oaks

Richard Gonzales, PT – Desert Life Rehabilitationand Care Center

Tiffany Jackson-Ponder, PTA – Kindred HospitalOklahoma City

Pictured left to rightare New Grad TaskForce MembersRichard, Maricia,Erin, Tiffany, Jessica,Laura, Katie, Katy,Cory and Amy.

Peoplefirst would like to recognize the “New Grad Task Force” chaired by Student ProgramManager Jessica Risinger. Nine employees, all recent graduates who participate in the studentloan repayment program, were selected to participate on the Task Force. The kick-off meetingwas held at the Support Center May 22-23.

This group identified the main reasons they were attracted to Peoplefirst and will help us stayon top of new ideas for hiring new grads. During their visit, they participated in brainstormingsessions, on-camera interviews and photo shoots for use in our upcoming student recruitingmarketing campaigns. This group will provide feedback as we make key decisions to build astronger Student Program and direct the message to students and new grads across the country.“This is a phenomenal group of new grads and their participation on this Task Force is hugeas we continue development of the Student Program,” Jessica said.

The RLAC Wants to Hear From You!Complete the form below if you have ideas or suggestions on topics that you would like the RLAC to explore.

Name/Title:

Location: Phone:

Topic you would like the RLAC to explore:

Send to: Peoplefirst Rehabilitation • 680 South Fourth Street • Louisville, Kentucky 40202Attn: The Voice, or fax to 502.596.4902

Rehab Leadership Advisory Council Mission StatementThe Rehab Leadership Advisory Council (RLAC) will serve as a collaborative body to advocate for the interests of both hospital andnursing center-based leaders, therapists, and support staff. The Council is dedicated to serving as an agent for facilitating division-wide change, assisting in the development and promotion of best practices, and as a voice for conveying information to the field. Theultimate goal of the RLAC is to enable Peoplefirst to be the leading national provider of rehabilitation services.

Recent Grad Task Force – Student Program