Terrence Carolan, MSPT, MBA

Managing Director of Medical Rehabilitation and Aging Services CARF International

  • Tucson AZ

Terrence Carolan has more than 20 years of experience as a provider, educator, and administrator in the medical rehabilitation field.

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CARF International

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Spotlight

2 min

#Expert Podcasts: How CARF Accreditation supports development and adds value

Thinking about accreditation for your rehabilitation facility? The newest Be Advised podcast is for you. Mary Free Bed’s Advisory Group podcast, Be Advised, is diving into the benefits of CARF Accreditation for health and human service organizations. The Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) has been accrediting organizations since 1966. The guest for this episode is Terrence Carolan, managing director of the Medical Rehabilitation and Aging Services for CARF International. Carolan has more than 20 years of experience in the field of medical rehabilitation as an administrator, provider, and educator. He holds two master’s degrees, one in physical therapy and one in business administration. Before joining CARF as the managing director, Terrence was a CARF surveyor for more than 10 years. In his managing director role, Terrence oversees CARF’s medical rehabilitation area which includes standards for: Comprehensive Integrated Inpatient Rehabilitation Program Outpatient Medical Rehabilitation Program Residential Rehabilitation Program Home and Community Services Concussion Rehabilitation Program Interdisciplinary Pain Rehabilitation Program Occupational Rehabilitation Program Occupational Rehabilitation Program–Comprehensive Services Vocational Services Independent Evaluation Services Case Management CARF also accredits specialty programs in the areas of: Pediatrics Amputation Brain injury Cancer Spinal Cord Injury Stroke Be Advised is hosted by Joyal Pavey, vice president of the Mary Free Bed Advisory Group. On this episode of Be Advised, Joyal and Terrence discuss: What makes CARF unique? The national and international span of CARF Common questions about the accreditation process Advice for first time accreditation What’s next for CARF in the coming five years You can check out the podcast here: Looking to know more about accreditation or connect with Terrence? View his profile below to arrange an interview today.

Terrence Carolan, MSPT, MBA

2 min

Turning disability into accessibility

As communities grow and modernize – are we making the proper accommodations for those with disabilities to live a fulfilling, productive, and independent life? It’s a popular topic and one that we are now seeing being advocated more in many areas of everyday life. Accessibility laws and expectations are now ensuring that all aspects of education, business, transit, and health care are made available to everyone. The concept is sound – but how are we as a community developing reasonable accommodations and community resources that allow all people to participate in the community and successfully live their life? Often, it’s not a matter of intentional exclusion, rather the issue simply hasn’t been considered and no plan exists. And there are costs to not having a plan in place. Not addressing these “social determinants of health” (housing, transportation, etc.) affect healthcare outcomes and raise costs of hospitals, social services, and health care. Addressing these issues and improving accessibility may actually increase societal health, decrease long-term societal healthcare costs, and bolster the tax base. But as we move forward there are a lot of questions in the community about how to approach accessibility: What mechanisms are in place to gather input on needs, identify barriers, and consider requests for accommodation? What types of accessibility needs exist of the people who will use different community settings? (Physical, cognitive, sensory, emotional, developmental, etc.)? What types of accessibility barriers exist (architectural, environmental, attitudinal, financial, transportation, etc.)? How much do different accommodations cost? How can community settings partner with people with disabilities and/or health and human service providers? What specific ways can accessibility improve societal health? And that’s where the experts from CARF can help. Christine M. MacDonell is the Managing Director of Medical Rehabilitation and International Aging Services/Medical Rehabilitation at CARF International. She can address the issue of accessibility as it relates to people who have experienced brain injury, stroke, cancer, amputation, and spinal cord injury. Christine is available to speak with media regarding this topic – simply click on her icon to arrange an interview.

Terrence Carolan, MSPT, MBA

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Biography

Terrence Carolan, managing director of the Medical Rehabilitation and Aging Services accreditation areas, has more than 20 years of experience as a provider, administrator, and educator in the human services field. Carolan joined CARF after working in clinical and administrative leadership positions within Select Medical’s Inpatient Rehabilitation Division and the Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation since 2001. Carolan was a CARF surveyor for 10 years. Carolan holds a master-of-science degree in physical therapy from Simmons College in Boston and did his undergraduate work in biology at The College of New Jersey. Also, he recently completed his master’s degree in business administration from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.

Areas of Expertise

Assisted Living
Continuing Care Retirement Communities
Respite Care
Adult Day Services
Performance Management
Cancer rehabilitation
Case Management
CARF Accreditation
Physical and rehabilitation medicine
Healthcare quality oversight
Brain injury programs
Stroke Rehabilitation
Interdisciplinary pain management
Evidence-based practice initiative
Aging with a disability
Care for Older Adults
Elder mobility needs
Concussion Rehabilitation

Media Appearances

Terry Carolan brings more than two decades of field experience to medical rehabilitation managing director role

CARF International  online

2021-08-02

Following more than 20 years in the field of medical rehabilitation as an administrator, provider, and educator, Terrence Carolan has accepted an appointment as managing director of medical rehabilitation for CARF International beginning August 30.

Carolan will join CARF staff after working in clinical and administrative leadership positions within Select Medical’s Inpatient Rehabilitation Division and the Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation since 2001. Both Select Medical and Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation operate CARF-accredited programs. Carolan has been a CARF surveyor for 10 years.

Carolan holds a master-of-science degree in physical therapy from Simmons College in Boston and did his undergraduate work in biology at The College of New Jersey. He is currently pursuing a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.

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Event Appearances

Connecting Person-Centered Practices and Quality Outcomes

Reykjalundur Rehabilitation Center Conference  Reykjavik, Iceland

2025-02-12

Introducing International, Interdisciplinary Palliative and End-of-Life Care Program Accreditation Standards

2025 Annual Assembly of Hospice & Palliative Care  Denver, Colorado

2025-02-06

Medical Rehabilitation: Patient Perspective

American Medical Rehabilitation Providers Association  Miami, Florida

2024-10-28

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Education

University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire

Master in Business Administration

Simmons College, Boston

Master of science

Physical therapy

The College of New Jersey

Bachelor of Science

Biology

Answers

How can senior living communities better prepare for future health crisis?
Terrence Carolan, MSPT, MBA

Residents and staff in senior living were hit particularly hard by the COVID-19 virus and learned a great deal in how to respond in the case of a public health emergency. They also learned that CARF standards can position assisted living providers to prepare for and respond to a pandemic using an approach that promotes the health and safety of residents and staff, fosters a culture of transparency, and focuses on individual needs. Promotion/prevention - Each community must adhere to the regulations set forth by the state in which it operates; however, CARF policies can help organizations prepare for infection control well in advance of an outbreak to reduce implementation times when a public health crisis occurs. Communication and transparency - The CARF standards foster a culture of transparency and require an organization to implement written procedures for reporting critical incidents to CARF and all external authorities. In addition to complying with legal and regulatory requirements, CARF-accredited-programs must communicate emergent and ongoing issues with staff.Person-centered approach - The CARF standards require an adequate workforce to deliver care, and CARF’s person-centered approach extends to staff as well. It is important to balance the risk of infection spread with the risk of deteriorating emotional well-being due to resident isolation and loss of support.Continuous quality improvement - CARF’s comprehensive standards go beyond state regulations to guide assisted living providers in their response to a pandemic and mitigate risk to residents and staff.

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How to prevent burnout in caregivers
Terrence Carolan, MSPT, MBA

Caring for a loved one can be a full-time commitment. Recognizing the physical, mental, and emotional challenges of being an unpaid caregiver is crucial in keeping yourself from becoming overwhelmed. Asking for help does not mean you are any less committed to your loved one; it will only make you a better caregiver to arm yourself with resources in order to provide the best care possible. Here are three ways you can reduce your threat of burnout.Don’t expect perfection. You may not be able to handle every element of your caregiving job on your own, or you may need to go part-time. Believe you are doing the best you can and making the best decisions you can at any given time.Set realistic goals. Establish boundaries by saying no to actions and events you know to cause too much stress, such as taking your loved one on a distant trip or hosting a major family gathering on their behalf.Don’t isolate yourself. Spending every day focusing on your loved one without other socialization can make you feel alone. Schedule time with other family and friends who can support you in your caregiving goals, and pursue activities you find relaxing and enjoyable.

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