Anniversary of Caring
June 2021 marked the 30-year anniversary for Kathy Cappello Elinski as a physical therapist. Home healthcare has been her primary focus for 25 of those years. Kathy has been with UPMC Home Healthcare - Kane since August 2019. Kathy began her career at Warren General Hospital in June of 1991 after graduating from the University of Pittsburgh Physical Therapy Program. Kathy was born and raised in Kane, the youngest of seven children to John and Josephine Cappello. Upon graduating from Kane High School, Kathy attended Gannon University where she attained a bachelor’s degree in social work and an associate degree as a lawyer’s assistant. Kathy was employed by the Lutheran Home in Kane as a social worker until she felt the calling to help more people through her passion to become a physical therapist. Kathy returned to Pittsburgh to pursue her physical therapy degree. Over the course of her career as a physical therapist, Kathy has honed her skills on gait assessment, transfer, and balance training. Kathy strives to individualize her physical therapy treatments so that her patients receive the most effective course of therapy. She provides patients and caregivers with extensive safety and fall prevention education. Kathy has the expertise to determine the optimal assistive device to best help the patient while also helping to obtain this equipment. These assistive devices may include a walker, cane, or bedside commode. Kathy ensures the device is the correct height and fit for the patient. Additionally, Kathy provides large, simple illustrated home exercise programs so that a patient can best understand the exercises, which enhances patient compliance. There are many perks to Kathy’s job as a UPMC Home Healthcare physical therapist. She travels between three counties, meeting new people all along the way. She has the privilege of having one-on-one visits with patients in their own homes. Kathy’s favorite aspect of her job is having the opportunity to help people. Additionally, most of her patients have some connection to Kathy, whether they are her friends, parents of her friends, or friends of her parents. Kathy lives in Wilcox and is married to Jim Elinski. They have two sons, Jimmy, 23, and Joey, 21, along with two German Shorthair dogs, Fritz and Moose. To qualify for home healthcare, a patient must have a skilled need, be under the care of a physician, and meet homebound criteria that renders it difficult for a patient to leave their home to obtain services in an outpatient clinic. If you or a loved one think you may benefit from physical therapy in your home, ask your physician or provider for a referral for home healthcare physical therapy.
THIS ARTICLE IS COMPLEMENTS OF UPMC HOME HEALTHCARE KANE. FOR QUESTIONS OR MORE INFORMATION, CALL 814-837-5171.