At the end of October, we start the interview process that will ultimately determine our clinical rotations during our third year. In my program, the final year of the program is entirely clinical with either two six- month placements or one 12-month placement. While everyone is required to attend two general interviews, one inpatient and one ...

During this summer ''break'' from school, I have come to realize how appreciative our patients are. I have the best days only because I am lucky enough to hear the praise of our patients about the staff at our facility. Even on the most difficult of days, where a patient calls to ask (again) why haven't I tried ultrasound and pelvic traction to ...

My current clinical is the first where I have worked primarily with an older population; most patients being more than 70 years old. I am surprised by how much I am enjoying the experience. I don't mean to sound like I wasn't looking forward to the opportunity to work with an aging population, however I should admit I had certain expectations that ...

Many times when I work with my patients, they are not the happiest people. Some patients are in a lot of pain, some frustrated with their physical deficits. Although I explain to patients the course of treatment and estimated timeline for recovery, there are a few patients who cannot see the light at the end of the tunnel and are consistently ...

I have been following along with the reports from Danielle Bullen, Rebecca Mayer and Lisa Lombardo on the goings-on in Tampa last week. I find the outcomes interesting and validating. One of my contentions with Vision 2020 is that it seemed too isolating. That seems to be holding up now. As a profession, we are finally starting to realize that no ...

As I recently blogged, I've been clinical instructor to a first-rotation PTA student. I share the duty with my colleague, who happened to graduate with me from the same PTA program our student is now attending. To say she is in sympathetic company is a humorous understatement. It was only a short two years ago that we were stressing over clinical ...

I don't really follow a lot of political news. I found myself reading a few more political news pieces and articles recently, partly because this is an election year. I came across this article about the John Edwards trial and his defensive strategy relying on the definition of the word ''the.'' This brings back vague memories for me of the Bill ...

As of the beginning of April, I reduced my work week from five to four days a week. Initially, I felt guilty that I couldn't ''hack'' a full-time schedule and then I realized I was being far too hard on myself. My usual work day starts around 8:30 in the morning and I'm not coming up for air until 12 or 12:30 for a quick bite to eat and then back ...

Another eventful week in outpatient rehabilitation. Seems as though we are seeing many ''repeat offenders,'' as some call them; however, for different diagnoses than before. Working in the same facility for 20 years, we have patients who started with us when the hospital opened. They are proud of the fact that they knew us ''back in the day,'' ...

I vividly remember writing a blog nearly a year ago about the importance of being a member of the ''Skilled Nursing Team'' when it comes to patient care in a large facility. If I remember correctly, I was in awe of the seamless interdisciplinary networks, including nursing, aide staff, PT, OT and social services, who aid each other in the ...