One of the primary factors that control salaries of long term care therapists is the reimbursement fee schedule that is established by Medicare. Basically, dollar amounts are set for various levels of care, and each higher category means a higher reimbursement rate. Therapy minutes ...

  ''I can explain it to you, Joey, but the understanding is up to you.'' - Dennis the Menace (by H. Ketcham), 11/23/09   What guidelines do you use when seeking informed consent from your clients? I have often thought about the challenges inherent in the concept of informed consent when interacting with and providing services for ...

Hey, all!  Here we are heading toward Thanksgiving and ''all you can eat Turkey Day!''  I crack up when people say, ''Gosh, I feel so tired after Thanksgiving dinner because of all those tryptophans!''  I can't imagine that it just might be from simply eating too much!  But who am I to judge, especially when I am ...

  One of the questions I get asked often is why I remain a COTA, and not further my degree to an OTR. This is a question I ask myself, and as much as the change would be nice sometimes, there are many reasons why I remain a COTA. Of course the educational factor is first. As much as I enjoy school, the things that come with it such as ...

  Hi, again!  I'm afraid you caught me in another ''I wonder how people can BE that way'' mood!  I'll try to keep the frustration from weasling its way into my ''voice'' today; but it will be difficult.  So, let me tell you my story and get it over with. As an occupational therapist, I have had the distinct pleasure of ...

''What strategies are occupational therapists interested in mental health going to develop to both assert the field as an effective treatment and practice it as such?'' This question was posed by an OT student in her comments on my assertion that advocacy groups such as the Icarus Project can provide new ideas - and ''re-emergent'' practice ...

  And we meet again here in blog land, my friends!  I trust that you and yours are finding this fall season to be calming and peaceful after those busy, hectic days of summer!  (Remember when they used to be called the ''lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer''?)  I am using this season to re-connect with family and friends.  ...

  Healthcare reform, the economic depression, reduced insurance reimbursements, Medicare and Medicaid cutbacks, how will this affect the future of the COTA?             Some people are quite nervous right now, thinking that Obama's healthcare reform will eliminate the COTA position. ...

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  Well, I must admit that talking to others with different experiences and listening to the other side of the story is one good way to learn. This past weekend my thoughts were changed on the health care reform issues, and simply by listening to another opinion from someone who sees another side of the story. ...