Position Spotlight: Recovery Partner

Stephanie is originally from northern Minnesota, where she graduated from high school in a little town called Aurora. She attended college at the University of Wisconsin to pursue a degree in exercise science and then went on to continue her education in occupational therapy.

In 2014, Stephanie became a certified occupational therapy assistant (COTA) and worked for Ardor Health Solutions, a traveling therapy company. This gave her opportunities to work in multiple settings, mainly in home health and skilled nursing facilities. In 2016, she settled down in Bigfork, Montana, working as a rehabilitation coordinator for a skilled nursing facility. Stephanie joined Contessa in February 2022 as a Recovery Partner (RP). She enjoys hiking and camping with her husband and their dog, as well as traveling and baking.  

What does a Recovery Partner (RP) do at Contessa? 

As a Recovery Partner, I assist with patients’ day-to-day needs while they are on our service, and with the discharge process. Whether that means ordering medical equipment to decrease a patient’s fall risk in the home, coordinating appointments with providers, or answering questions the patient or their loved ones might have, every day is different.  

Why did you choose a career in healthcare? Specifically, this career? 

I always knew that I wanted to do something that involved helping others, so healthcare was a perfect fit. In the RP role, I can do just that.  

How does the work you do at Contessa differ from other jobs?

At Contessa, I feel we have a lot of great resources that are readily available to our patients. They get to experience a more personal level of care than anywhere I have ever seen.   

What is the best part of your job?

Working at skilled nursing facilities, the number one thing I hear patients say is how they would rather be in their own home and would heal faster in their own environment.  Now I can be a part of giving patients that very opportunity, to safely heal at home!  

What’s the most challenging part of your job?

Everyone’s home environment is different, and the most challenging part of my job is navigating occasional situations that require creative problem solving to efficiently address the circumstances.    

What inspires you to come to work every day?

Knowing that I work alongside such a great team and share the common goal to get our patients back to their prior level of function in the comfort of their own home.