If I had any doubt that patient-focused healthcare was a thing of the past, I don't anymore. Last weekend, a situation arose that showed me charging for services was more important than patient care. I work full-time at one facility and help out at another. The second facility is an hour drive away by highway. It fell to me because I'm the only ...

  Well as I mentioned in my last blog I have retired as a COTA. I don't miss getting up in the mornings to get ready for work, but I already miss meeting and working with people. That was one of the key matters considered as this decision was made because I knew it would leave a blank in my life.   As much as there were always a few ...

Years ago, I began working at a large nursing facility that also had an assistive living complex attached to it. The place was immaculate in every detail (except one), had a large library and two fancy dining rooms. There were multiple levels with stairs and elevators located at the end of the halls. To get to the therapy room with patients we had ...

  Hello readers, sorry I've been gone for a while. I had to take a bit of time away from the blog in order to deal with some personal issues. Life is always challenging, and sometimes a break is needed. Sometimes a break is just to refresh your spirit. For me this was both.   One personal issue is my mom, who fell recently and broke ...

An interesting article came out in the British popular press last week that states some chronic low-back pain can be cured by antibiotics. The writing is fairly clear that only certain cases would benefit from this approach and it includes links to the two scientific abstracts the article is based on: ...

Last week I described being warned not to make trouble by reporting the nurses watching the baby camera while at work. I've been thinking about that. Why would I be the troublemaker for reporting someone else doing something wrong? Shouldn't it be the other way around? You would think the person bringing it to attention would be thanked. I ...

I've spoken to patients from many countries and places around the globe. Sometimes it's like watching the movie Billy Elliot or trying to understand the lyrics of South African rap-rave crew Die Antwoord. I'm aghast, did they just curse? I wouldn't know because they speak so fast my mind can't keep up. It sounded like a curse word but there was an ...

Where is the objective data regarding gait distances in hospitals, rehab centers and SNFs? What I mean is, when we write down a patient used a FWW and walked 100 feet, where is the data to prove the distance was exactly 100 feet? Did someone measure the distance and quantify the data and calibrate the measuring device to ensure its accuracy? Maybe ...

The positive influence of animals on healing is well known. Caring Critters now make regular visits to various facilities within the Houston area. Dogs can be certified as therapy animals. Horses are used for hippotherapy with great results. Now I'm going to try to combine the two. Last Friday, my horse Expsychment (pronounced ''excitement'') ...

I've been fortunate over the past two years to have very few life-related interruptions in my attempts to excel at this whole ''PT'' thing. However last weekend, right before the start of finals week, I received news that my grandfather passed away. The last week has been a complete whirlwind, and obviously final exams and presentations took a ...