KM Pediatric Therapy is proud to announce our 2nd clinic location!!!
Now serving our community in two convenient locations located at
8514 Six Forks Road Suite 102
Raleigh, NC 27615
and
500 Wait Avenue Unit 8
Wake Forest, NC 27587
Services provided by KM Pediatric Therapy
The speech-language pathologists of KM Pediatric Therapy have been trained in the area of Gestalt Language Processing and many are registered with the Meaningful Speech organization. There are two styles of language development. Analytic language processors develop language in the sequence of sounds first, then words, phrases and sentences. Gestalt language processors develop language in chunks. A child who is a gestalt language processor will often use phrases, sentences or long strings of sounds that are rich in intonation to communicate. For example, does your child sing parts of "Old MacDonald Had A Farm...EIEIO" every time they see an animal versus use of animal names or sounds? Does your child use lines from their favorite Disney movie to label, request or comment? This is one indication that your child may be a gestalt language processor. If so, speech therapy should be approached in a manner that is supportive to this style of language development in order to elicit ideal progress. For more information, please contact Stephanie Molina at smolina@kmpediatrictherapy.com
KM Pediatric Therapy is a private practice focused on providing skilled speech and language pathology services to children of all ages. Services are provided within your child's daycare, preschool or the KMPeds clinic. Our objectives are to help children reach their highest potential and increase their quality of life. Services are provided under the direction of their attending physician.
Speech-language pathologists are required to hold a master’s degree in speech-language pathology. SLP’s are also required to have state licensure and national certification from the American Speech-Language Hearing Association. SLP’s are trained to evaluate, diagnose, and treat disorders of language (including both the understanding and use of), articulation and phonology (how clearly words are spoken), fluency, pragmatics (understanding and use of social language), oral motor skills, and voice.
Many of our SLPs are also trained to provide assessment, diagnosis and treatment of swallowing and feeding disorders. Some of the most common disorders that require speech-language intervention include:
The occupational therapists of KM Peds provide skilled intervention to children with a variety of needs in order to assist them in reaching their full independence and/or developmental potential. Services are provided within your child's daycare, preschool or the KMPeds clinic. OTs determine a child’s functional status through screening, assessments, observation, and parental interviews before creating a plan of care with individualized goals to address the child’s needs. Children have many important occupations, such as, sleep, play, feeding, bathing, and functional mobility that we address through play and participation. Interventions such as establishing routines, increasing fine motor dexterity, modulating sensory stimuli, and teaching coping mechanisms are all used. We use a family-centered approach to increase involvement and outcomes. OTs are required to hold either a bachelors, masters, or doctorate, depending on the year of training was completed, to practice. OTs must also uphold active state licensure and a national board registration. OTs provide intervention for various disorders, some of which are listed below
KM Pediatric Therapy was started by Loraine Allen. Kyle Murphy (KM) is Loraine's nephew. He was born 14 weeks premature in the summer of 1991. Kyle weighed 1.5 pounds. At that time Loraine was at a crossroads in her career. School psychology no longer held her passion. She wanted to change lives! From day 1 Kyle was a fighter! As he grew, various interventions were added to his schedule. One of these wonderful people was a speech language pathologist.
Loraine soon found herself in graduate school for speech language pathology. She loved it! Towards the end of her graduate program, Kyle was diagnosed with cancer and left us. He was 3 1/2 years old. Loraine credits her career choice and the happiness in it to Kyle. So, when she opened her practice, who better to name it after than the angel who guided her?
In the spring of 2017, Loraine moved to MA to pursue new opportunities with her family. I have been with KM Pediatric Therapy since 2004 and was truly honored to take over as owner and team leader. Over the course of my career, I have had the absolute privledge of working with countless children and families who all have a story to tell.
As in-home therapists, we share the ups and downs that our families and clients experience as they navigate their particular diagnoses. Some are mild and others are quite challenging. But at the heart of it all is a child. And just like Kyle, each child deserves the opportunity to be the best they can be. I am proud to lead this team of dedicated therapists.
To me, maintaining Kyle's story and initials in our company name are important. They are a constant reminder of the positive impact we can have on the people's lives with which we work. As long as my team and I stay true to our guiding principles, we will honor our namesake and KM Pediatric Therapy will thrive!
- Stephanie Molina
The year 2020 has been like no other. Since the arrival of COVID-19 in March, KM Pediatric Therapy, Inc. has outlined several policies and procedures to maintain the safety and health of our clinicians and patients. As essential workers, we are proud to continue serving the needs of our community to ensure that our patients continue to develop and thrive during this difficult time. Our special needs patients continue to face difficult challenges during this pandemic. We strive to exceed the therapeutic needs of our patients, while empowering parents and caregivers to do their best while we are all working to navigate the complexity and uncertainty that encompasses daily life at the moment. We wish you all health, happiness and peace of mind.
As the new year of 2023 begins, it is exciting to anticipate all that is to come. It has certainly been an eventful 3 years since our last major posting. We are beyond proud of the KM team for how we handled the immense complexities that defined a new pandemic reality that no one saw coming. Those days are forever a part of our DNA and for some, the impacts of COVID-19 will last for generations. But to this current pediatric population that we are so honored to work with, we want to express our eagerness and commitment to help each child reach their maximum potential. The clinicians on our team continue to learn, develop and hone their professional skills in a variety of ways to provide the best care possible. For example, we have two clinicians who were recently awarded credentials as autism specialists, with two more clinicians anticipated to receive this same credential in 2023. KM's OT department is expanding as we speak, with our OTs learning new skills, such as feeding intervention techniques and constraint therapy approaches, to serve an increasing demand in our community. We have an SLP who is quickly becoming an assistive technology guru; her work with AT devices has given nonverbal children the ability to finally communicate their own thoughts, ideas, needs and wants. To all those who have and continue to work with a KM clinician, we thank you for your commitment to this therapeutic process. To those who are searching for a dynamic SLP or OT, reach out to us! And to all those professional SLPs and OTs out there who are looking to foster real progress and change in the lives of children with dynamic needs, get on board! We are moving forward in all the best ways. Watch us go and grow!!!
Stephanie is a native of New Orleans. She graduated from UNC-Greensboro with an MA in Speech-Language Pathology. After a time with geriatrics, Stephanie returned to pediatrics with KM in winter of 2004. Although she has extensive experience treating a variety of diagnoses, such as developmental delays, apraxia, autism, cerebral palsy, and numerous syndromes, her particular passion is treating feeding delays and disorders. Stephanie is a supervising SLP and lead feeding specialist with KM Peds. She has specialized in evaluation and treatment of oral-pharyngeal dysphagia, sensory-based feeding dysfunction, and behavioral issues during meals since 2005. Stephanie has worked extensively with clients with g-tubes to transition them to oral consumption. In her spare time, she enjoys family time with her husband and two young children, completing house projects, and gardening. She is licensed by the board of North Carolina and has her Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech Language Hearing Association.
Rosie is the KM Family dog who enjoys nothing better than a solid day at the office. She has extensive experience in napping all hours of the day and avoidance of walks at all costs. Rosie specializes in exceptionally loud snoring. In fact, many who call the office phone question the office staff about the loud noise they hear in the background, which is of course Rosie snoring under the owner's desk. When not napping, Rosie enjoys attacking the boxes of copier paper and nudging the staff for attention.
Jackie grew up in the mountains of NC before moving to Raleigh to receive a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication Disorders and a minor in Linguistics from North Carolina State University. She completed the master’s degree program for speech-language pathology at East Carolina University. She has been a SLP for KM Peds. since June 2010. Jackie is a supervising SLP and also a pediatric feeding specialist. She has extensive experience with a variety of pediatric speech and language deficits and feeding issues including, but not limited to, developmental delays, phonological delays, autism, numerous syndromes, verbal apraxia, fluency disorders, attention deficit/learning disorders, and prematurity. Jackie enjoys observing her clients excel and reaching their full potential through integrative, motivated familial support. During her spare time, Jackie enjoys hiking, art projects, reading, and collecting vinyl records. Jackie is licensed by the board of North Carolina and has her Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech Language Hearing Association.
Beth is responsible for employee payroll and benefits, bookkeeping, insurance billing and patient invoicing for KM Pediatric Therapy, Inc. Beth was born in Ohio and moved to Apex, North Carolina as a child. She graduated from Appalachian State University with a Finance degree and has worked in medical settings most of her career as an accountant. Beth is married and has two children. Passions and pastimes include spending time with her family, attending App State football games and reading.
Caitlin grew up in Eastern North Carolina before attending Appalachian State University where she received her Bachelor of Science degree in Communication Disorders and a minor in Spanish. She then returned to East Carolina University, receiving her Master of Science degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders. Caitlin has worked in the home, daycare, and school settings. Her clinical experience includes articulation and phonological delays, childhood apraxia of speech, fluency disorders, developmental delays, language disorders, autism spectrum disorder, Down syndrome, tongue thrust and feeding delays. She has a particular passion for working with bilingual children and is also a pediatric feeding specialist. Caitlin enjoys building relationships with her patients and their families while in their natural environments to promote functional communication skills and overall success. As a new mom of two, she enjoys spending time with her growing family, being outdoors, audiobooks and hiking with her golden retriever, Lucy. She is licensed by the board of North Carolina and has her Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech Language Hearing Association.
Update: Effective August 2022, Caitlin Clark has completed in depth training and received her credentials as a Certified Autism Spectrum Disorder Clinical Specialist. The KM Pediatric Team congratulates Caitlin on her professional achievement!
Nancy lived in the mountains of North Carolina for over 35 years while providing services to a varied population in that area for over 30 years. She received a Bachelor of Science degree in Speech Pathology and Audiology in 1982 from Appalachian State University and a Master of Arts in Speech Pathology from Appalachian State University in 1987. While living in the mountains, Nancy acquired extensive knowledge in evaluating and treating speech and language disorders and has interest in serving children with articulation, phonological and language delays but also enjoys treating children with verbal apraxia, autism spectrum disorder, feeding delays, cognitive delays and Down Syndrome. Nancy enjoys watching her clients and families become empowered to make positive changes in their communication within their natural environment and home setting. She has recently moved to the triangle to be closer to her family and loved ones and finds pleasure in spending time with family and friends, walking and cooking. Nancy is licensed by the NC Board of Examiners and has her Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech Language and Hearing Association.
Amanda Scanlan grew up in Charlotte, North Carolina, before attending Appalachian State University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders with a minor in Special Education. She went on to receive her Master of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders from North Carolina Central University. Amanda has worked in a variety of setting including schools, early intervention, homes, and daycare centers. She has experience providing speech therapy to children with expressive and receptive language delays, articulation and phonological deficits, down syndrome, autism, apraxia, social communication needs, and those using augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). Additionally, she has experience writing Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) and collaborating with teachers and parents to promote carryover of speech and language goals. Amanda is passionate about creating therapy sessions that meet children where they are. She believes in therapy that is fun, engaging, and family-oriented to help each child thrive. In her free time, she enjoys reading, watching reality TV, doing yoga, and spending time with her friends, husband, and cat, Pork Chop. She is licensed by the board of North Carolina and has her Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech Language Hearing Association.
Olivia grew up in Charleston, South Carolina, just a short drive from the coast. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Public Health from the University of South Carolina in Columbia, followed by a Master of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders from North Carolina Central University in Durham. Between her undergraduate and graduate studies, Olivia worked as a preschool teacher and regularly provided childcare for children ranging in age from 4 months to 12 years. These early experiences sparked her passion for working with young children and supporting their developmental milestones.
During graduate school, Olivia gained hands-on experience with clients across the lifespan—from early intervention to older adults—in a variety of settings including homes, non-profit healthcare centers, schools, and clinics. She has worked with children from infancy through adolescence with a wide range of diagnoses, including but not limited to autism spectrum disorder, down syndrome, global developmental delay, childhood apraxia of speech, cerebral palsy, cleft palate, ADD/ADHD, and executive functioning deficits. Olivia has also supported clients with complex communication needs who use Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) systems, as well as those navigating sensory integration differences.
Olivia is especially passionate about early intervention and has chosen to specialize in working primarily with children from preschool through early elementary-aged (roughly 1-8 years). She believes these foundational years are critical for promoting early learning, language development, and the highest level of skill acquisition. Olivia strives to protect and uplift every child in her care, ensuring they know that their voice matters—no matter how it is expressed. She is particularly drawn to cases where articulation and language are influenced by both functional and anatomical factors, as well as the various ways to communicate (sign, AAC, etc.). Above all, she finds joy in celebrating children’s creativity and individuality while building meaningful relationships with them and their families.
She is a strong advocate for parent and caregiver education, believing that collaboration and shared understanding not only enhance the quality of care but also directly support long-term progress and generalization of skills. Olivia is licensed to practice in the state of North Carolina and is dedicated to lifelong learning and ongoing advocacy for children with communication challenges.
In her free time, Olivia enjoys spending time outdoors, reading, swimming, sewing, thrifting, and attempting to keep her plants alive.
Emilie grew up in Texas and earned her Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy from the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. Shortly after finishing OT school, Emilie moved to North Carolina, where she met her husband.
Since graduating, Emilie has devoted her career exclusively to pediatric occupational therapy, working in a variety of settings including clinics, homes, daycares, and schools. With over 20 years of experience, she has had the privilege of working with children with a wide range of diagnoses, including autism spectrum disorder, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, rare genetic conditions, ADHD, visual impairments, sensory processing disorder, and other developmental disabilities.
Emilie is passionate about helping children reach their full potential through engaging, play-based therapy in a supportive and inclusive environment. She truly enjoys celebrating everything from the smallest to the greatest successes with children and their caregivers during therapy. Emilie loves seeing children smile and engage as they grow in confidence and ability. She strives to ensure that every child feels accepted and that their families and caregivers feel confident and empowered.
Emilie is licensed by the North Carolina Board of Occupational Therapy and certified by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT).
In her spare time, Emilie enjoys spending time with her husband and four children, gardening, swimming, and biking.
Dr. Emily Ketchum, OTD, is originally from Richlands, North Carolina. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science from North Carolina Wesleyan University and went on to receive her Doctorate of Occupational Therapy from Shenandoah University. Through her clinical fieldwork, Emily gained diverse experience working with both pediatric and adult populations across outpatient clinics, hospitals, and community-based settings. Most recently, Emily worked in an outpatient pediatric clinic serving children ages 18 months to 15 years. She supported clients with a wide range of diagnoses, including autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, cerebral palsy, sensory processing challenges, handwriting difficulties, emotional regulation needs, developmental delays, oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), dyslexia, brachial plexus injuries, and mental health conditions. Emily is passionate about helping children thrive in their everyday lives. She is committed to creating individualized, engaging, and meaningful interventions that are tailored to each child’s interests and unique strengths. She is excited to be relocating to Raleigh to join her fiancé and the KM Pediatrics team. In her free time, Emily enjoys playing sports, spending time with her golden retriever Harper, thrifting, and going on adventures of all kinds.
Isabella graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill with an undergraduate degree and then from Lenoir-Rhyne University with a Master’s of Science in Occupational Therapy degree. She has experience working with children with sensory processing challenges, autism, Down syndrome, and cerebral palsy. She is so excited to work with families to make a difference in their children’s lives. She strives to provide client-centered care to help clients achieve their full potential. Isabella loves all things Carolina basketball, spoiling her niece, spending time with her husband, and going on adventures with her Aussie named Koya.
Isabella is licensed through the North Carolina Board of Occupational Therapy. She is registered with the National Board Certification of Occupational Therapy and is a proud member of the American Occupational Therapy Association.
KM Pediatric Therapy, Inc. is an in-network provider for Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, United Healthcare, Cigna, Medicaid/NC Healthchoice, BCBS NC State Health Plan, Medcost and Friday Health Plan. We are contracted providers with the Raleigh and Durham Children’s Developmental Services Agencies (CDSA). KM Pediatric Therapy, Inc. is also a participating provider with BCBS Healthy Blue, AmeriHealth Caritas, United Healthcare Community Plan, WellCare, Carolina Complete Health, Alliance, Vaya and Trillium. Our in-network status does not guarantee that services will be covered by your insurance plan. It is important that you understand your individual benefits as they pertain to speech, feeding and/or occupational therapy services. It is your responsibility as the policyholder to contact your insurance company to find out if speech, feeding and/or occupational therapy is a covered service under your policy and whether you have any exclusions or visit limits. KM Pediatric Therapy, Inc. is not responsible for obtaining or tracking benefit information. It is your responsibility to provide KM Pediatric Therapy, Inc. with a copy of the front and back of your current insurance card so we can determine if prior authorization is needed for your child’s services.
KM Pediatric Therapy, Inc. will submit claims to your insurance company. While we will assist in filing claims, payment for all services is ultimately charged to you, not to your insurance company. Parents/guardians are responsible for payment of any portion not covered, or denied, by insurance. Statements for services are mailed around the 1st of each month. Payment is due by the due date listed on your Statement. In the event that payment is not received in full and on time, then a $25 late fee will be added to unpaid accounts every 15 days until payment is made. Also, if payment is late, your child’s services may be placed on hold, or terminated. Please note that if services are placed on hold, we cannot guarantee your time slot will be held. In the event collection efforts are necessary, then any costs incurred, including attorney’s fees and court costs shall also be due and payable as part of any post due amount.
KM Pediatric Therapy, Inc. is NOT responsible for claim denials. KM Pediatric Therapy, Inc. will not enter into a dispute between you and your insurance provider regarding a claim. Please be advised that insurance companies process claims according to their own timelines, independent of KM Pediatric Therapy, Inc. Some companies will take 30-45 days before providing their initial response. If your insurance company requests medical records, we will fax or mail those to your insurance company but it is up to you to follow-up with the claim. If the claim remains unresolved after 60 days following the initial claim submission date, the parent/guardian will be billed the estimated charge of services provided. If your insurance eventually processes the claim and it results in a change of financial responsibility, KM Pediatric Therapy, Inc. will either bill or refund the parent/guardian the difference.
It is your responsibility to inform KM Pediatric Therapy, Inc. of any and all changes of insurance coverage during the course of treatment, including changes in your address, phone number, employment and medical benefits. Failure to provide this information will result in the parents/guardians being responsible for payment of all non-covered and/or unauthorized services that may result.
The appeals process is between you and your insurance provider, and not KM Pediatric Therapy, Inc. However, we can assist in providing you with clinical documentation. You will be responsible for submitting the documentation to your insurance provider and any follow up communication required. During the appeals process, KM Pediatric Therapy, Inc. is not receiving payment from your insurance provider. This in turn will result in you paying in full for the treatment sessions your child receives. If you cannot pay in full for the treatment sessions, therapy will be placed on hold until the appeals process is complete.
All client cancellations require at least a 48 hour notice. Cancellations without a 48 hour notice will incur a $25 missed appointment fee which is not covered by insurance. Special consideration may be given to emergency situations and/or illness. Children who receive services through Early Intervention (CDSA) or who have Medicaid cannot be charged this fee but we still ask for advanced notice for any missed appointments. If you repeatedly miss your scheduled appointments, the therapist has the right to discontinue services. Please refer to the KM Pediatric Therapy Cancellation Policy for specific details.
The following cancellation policy has been adopted by KM Pediatric Therapy, Inc. to be applied to all scheduled evaluation and therapy appointments. This policy is enforced in order to be respectful of your work schedule, personal schedule and that of our therapists. It is also important that service delivery is consistent in order to elicit the progress that is important for your child and required, per insurance regulations, for ongoing therapy to remain justifiable. By maintaining the prescribed and agreed upon frequency of treatment, your child will optimize their benefit from the provided skilled intervention and the duration of therapy can occur at its most efficient length.
We look forward to learning more about you!