We have spent this past month talking about work and life balance. Let's finish up this week with a talk about therapists and patients who suffer through the holidays. Many patients may be silently suffering because they have lost a spouse or someone close. Holidays can be tough, especially for those who have lost others. The holidays bring up ...

For a couple of weeks we have talked about licensure and burnout. Let's focus on some things to avoid the burnout and help us through the licensure trials. Some may question why I write about such things, but being a well-rounded therapist means you have to look at life from all angles, not just from inside the hospital walls. A respiratory ...

Last week, we discussed options in the workplace that can help us to achieve work/life balance. This week, let's look at things outside the workplace but still relevant to our professional life. The best starting place may be volunteerism. Volunteering for a position on a local board, the senior center or even a committee in the hospital is a ...

I just returned from Joplin, Missouri. The town took a direct hit from a tornado, with St. John's hospital and emergency services taking the brunt of the storm. I realized the importance of having a good emergency plan in the hospital and communities where we work and live. The death toll is still climbing, up to 89 so far, with hundreds ...

Spring is here again. In Missouri, we go from cold days to hot days, with little in between. The winds are brisk, and the air is full of a sure sign of the season: pollen! Allergy season is upon us, my friend. Whereever you are, whereever you go, there is little doubt that if you have allergies, you will be suffering. Take appropriate precautions ...

We saw the passing of several high school athletes in 2010. Almost monthly, a news article appeared about a young athlete dying on the playing field or shortly after engaging in a sports activity. And just last week 16-year-old Wes Leonard sunk the winning shot in a basketball game in Fennville, Mich., then collapsed and died. The ...