I do some OT in acute care and the doctors ALWAYS interrupt both OT and PT!  LOL -- But the other staff (nurses, nursing assistants, social services, even respiratory) let us know they need the patient also, but usually don't interrupt, unless it is urgent or the patient has to go for a test. In acute care, you have to work as a ...

I agree, in my state PRN positions are plentiful and pay well, and if you are going to go this route, you should sign up with several companies. PRN is also nice because it seems you don't get caught up in all the department or facility politics -- you just show up to work and go home! That said, it can be a little stressful juggling your ...

Don't forget assistive devices for ADL's -- especially for hip or back surgery patientsSplints and splinting materialIf you will be doing acute care OT, look for some OT books or reference materials about acute/ICU OT interventionI found the KELS eval helpful for discharge planning -- if you are doing acute care OT, making recommendations for ...

Hello out there -- PT's do GAIT training. Anyone can AMBULATE a patient, even nursing. Of course, it would be prudent to ''check'' with the PT's regarding the patient's ambulation status before you walked them to the bathroom. I like the idea of toileting management or toileting process, as that would include all the skills and activities that ...

Maybe raising the entire chair with either a platform or the newer leg risers. These are available from Sammons or North Coast. Making the seat higher and having arm rests on the chair, may make it easier for the client to move from sit to stand.

Scary that the next generation of therapists may be illiterate --

Besides feeding equipment, I would look at what is happening with his arm/hand: lack of ROM? lack of strength? increased tone? and then work to correct these problems or reduce their influence on the feeding activity.

I have used estim to reduce subluxed shoulders due to hemiparesis from CVA with very good results. You would want to stim the rotator cuff muscles, I believe we did the supraspinatus/teres minor and anterior deltoid/infraspinatus 2-3x week for 4 weeks. If the patient had active movement, I followed up with isometric ex to shoulder in ...

I usually see adult rehab and hand patients, but I recently had a 5 year old child who had thumb surgery when she was one or two years old and had not had follow-up therapy -- she hyperextended and adducted her thumb for a modified-type lateral pinch. This was becoming problematic as she got older, with handwriting and other hand functions. eg. ...