Mercy Health/Love County Hospital and Clinic

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 Physical Therapy to Expand with New Hospital

(October 30, 2026)  Since 2002, patients needing rehabilitative therapy have found it at Mercy Health Love County Hospital.

“After the tornado damaged the hospital in 2024, our services have been temporarily limited to physical therapy. We are very excited about what is ahead with the opening of a new hospital, when we restore occupational therapy, speech therapy, and inpatient rehabilitation services,” said Jeri Gill McKenzie, PT, MBA.

McKenzie is co‑owner of Odyssey Health Care, an Ardmore company that employs therapists and staffs the Mercy program. She has practiced for more than 30 years, choosing physical therapy over medical school after observing how deeply therapists understood human anatomy and human function.

In the expansive Therapy Building east of the hospital, therapists help individuals recover from surgery, fractures, ligament injuries, joint replacements, falls, weakness, balance problems, and other conditions that affect mobility and independence.

Back, hip, knee, shoulder, and wrist injuries are among the most common reasons Marietta‑area patients seek treatment. All of the hospital’s therapists describe strong job fulfillment in helping injured or ill individuals improve their movement and manage pain.

The rehabilitation department is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The telephone number is (580) 276-3347 extension 2.

Josh Utt, PT, develops each patient’s plan of care, outlining goals and expected outcomes. He has treated patients here since 2004, as well as at other Mercy hospitals served by Odyssey Health Care. “I see former patients everywhere I go,” Utt said. “They greet me with, ‘Hey, look what I can do now!’” Utt has been practicing since 1998.

Most patients attend therapy for one hour, twice a week. They complete guided workouts on gym equipment (see sidebar) and often receive home exercises to continue building strength and the ability to perform daily tasks without difficulty or pain.

Marnie Rutledge, PTA, is an experienced therapist with a six‑year association with Mercy Health Love County and 28 years in the field. She was among the first to greet patients on July 1, 2024, when the Therapy Building reopened following the tornado that struck the hospital and other locations that April.

Erika Salas, PTA, joined the department in 2026. “She already has developed a wonderful rapport with patients,” McKenzie said. “She is fluent in both English and Spanish, making therapy more comfortable and accessible for the families we serve.”

Salas is a 2017 graduate of Marietta High School. After completing basic studies at East Central University, she earned an Applied Science degree from Murray State College’s well‑regarded program blending classwork with clinical experience in physical therapy assisting.

“I thought I wanted to become a dental hygienist, but observing physical therapists changed my mind. A patient told me how beneficial therapy had been for them, and I knew I could be helpful, too,” Salas said.

Success came quickly. After treating a patient who needed help with gait‑training and balance, she heard them report, “I can now go upstairs without holding the rails.”

Trista Carney began in the new role of Patient Access Representative for the Therapy Building in 2025. She trained in medical billing and coding from Ed2Go online, a program of Southern Oklahoma Technology Center. Carney previously spent 23 years in administration with the Chickasaw Nation.

“I take the doctors’ referrals and contact each new patient to set up their first appointment. Patients choose us for physical therapy even if they had surgery in Frisco, Denton, Sherman, Edmond, Oklahoma City, Ardmore, or other cities. After Josh evaluates their needs, I schedule treatments and help them gain clearance from their medical insurance company,” Carney said.

“I enjoy seeing all of their care, from beginning to end. Some may start in a wheelchair or using a walker and be walking on their own by the end of therapy. It’s very rewarding to see that.”

Carney takes time to listen to patients and encourages them to start and finish therapy. A great deal of success comes from following the treatment plan.

With the opening of the new hospital, the rehabilitation department will be significantly improved, McKenzie said. “The new space will be larger, providing more room and additional therapy equipment. We hope to have separate areas for inpatient and outpatient treatment.”

 Sidebar: Therapy Building Gym Equipment

Therapy Stepper — Patients sit in a recumbent position and rhythmically move arms and legs against the pedals and handles as though walking or climbing stairs. The gentle push/pull motion works the major muscles of the arms and legs at a pace suited to each patient.

Training Stairs — A mini staircase with six‑inch steps and a platform helps patients relearn sloped motion, one of the most difficult movements for those learning to walk again. Techniques are taught using handrail only or handrail and cane.

Therapeutic Cycling — Patients pedal a recumbent exercise bike under supervision. The semi‑reclined position works major leg muscles with low impact on joints.

Weights — Dumbbells from 1 to 10 pounds are used in lifting routines that build strength without overtaxing muscles.

Electro and Ultrasound Therapy — Electrical or ultrasound stimulation can speed healing in soft‑tissue injuries. In ultrasound treatment, the therapist moves the applicator over the skin, vibrating tissue and generating heat. In electrotherapy, electrical energy is transmitted through four electrodes placed on the injured area.