Physical therapists Ed Onofrio of Tucson, AZ, and Nina Van Beaumont of Omaha, NE, have been named the 2009 Interim HealthCare Therapists of the Year. Interim is the nation's largest combined home health care and medical staffing provider, employing more than 75,000 health care workers who serve more than 50,000 people each day.

Although physical, occupational and speech therapists and physical therapist assistants were eligible for the award, all of this year's winners are physical therapists.

Tucson physical therapist Ed Onofrio has been a member of the Interim HealthCare Tucson team for nearly seven years, successfully providing care across a very large geographic territory. An active member of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), Onofrio is recognized as a strong advocate for patients and physical therapists alike. He was nominated for his energy, commitment and dedication to patient care.

Onofrio created an exercise video to help senior patients continue their exercise programs after their physical therapy sessions have been completed. He also makes sure the office team at Interim has ergonomically correct work stations, willingly keeps the entire team abreast of all regulatory news, and helps fellow therapists meet documentation and utilization expectations.

Nina Van Beaumont has been a physical therapist with Interim HealthCare's Omaha office for eight years. A proponent of personal choice, Van Beaumont supports patients who want to integrate homeopathic options and traditional therapy. Also known for her compassionate caregiving and enthusiasm, each patient who is discharged from Van Beaumont's care receive a pair of knit slippers in the local football team's husker's red. Van Beaumont also helps communicate with area physicians about the ways in-home therapy benefit patient recovery.

Leadership and staff from Interim HealthCare's more than 300 franchise locations across the country were invited to submit nominations for the 2009 Therapist of the Year. Winners were chosen by a select group of impartial clinical judges.