Amazing what can happen in one week. In a major healthcare system of a large metropolitan area surrounded by water, we've successfully accomplished separating pediatric from adult rehabilitation in preparation for our growth as the Rehabilitation Institute of South Florida. Every day of this mission has started at 5 a.m. with communication with ...

A short break between semesters has proven to come at the best time for me. Today brings with it a major change in my facility, where one department is becoming two. Employees have been preparing for months for this change, with hopes that everything goes smoothly. In a large department where things don't always go smoothly on a regular day, we ...

Last November my daughter experienced her first migraine-free month -- at the hands of gabapentin. The GI effects were worse than the headaches, so she stopped taking the medication. The headaches immediately returned. When my daughter's neurologist put gabapentin on the table, I was already familiar with it from two decades earlier -- when I ...

I posted last month about PT Night, the tradition in my program where at the end of our second year, students put together a sort of ''roast'' of the faculty and poke fun at our most memorable moments in the program. Leading up to Friday night, I was unbelievably nervous that somehow, the night would be a complete flop. I mean let's be honest -- ...

As we move toward the formation of a major rehabilitation provider in the region, meetings, conference calls and webinars fill my schedule. My new role is quickly becoming a challenge, in that therapists are being designated as working for the adult hospital, while others for the children's hospital. Still yet, there are those who work for both ...

I've read about social security running out of money, reduced reimbursement rates, a decrease in the number of qualified providers, quicker discharges and supposedly better recovery after surgery. Where does this leave everyone? Social security has to be there to provide care for the blind and disabled; a reduction in reimbursements will always ...

All aspects of this busy schedule are coming together, finally, with much loss of sleep, sweat and tears. Attending classes for the Guardian Ad Litem program after work twice a week, with one more week to go, I'm determined now more than ever that this will keep me focused on an issue that's so important to me. After this evening, I'll attend only ...

One thing most people think of my schedule is that I have a very well-balanced work and personal life. Unfortunately, this isn't true. When I think of balance, I think of a controlled environment, even as obstacles get in the way. This is definitely not the case with me. Last week I realized that the week I'm in now would be one of the busiest ...

Last month saw a unique occurrence for ADVANCE. In an effort to highlight interdisciplinary collaboration, we scheduled a staff-written article to be the cover story of two different publications, ADVANCE for Occupational Therapy Practitioners (Feb. 4) and ADVANCE for Physical Therapy & Rehab Medicine (Feb. 18). That article focused on JAG ...

Literature reviews, reading case reports, contemplating how to approach this case study, gathering sources for a case report. A hectic week has kept me on my toes, as I work in an extremely busy outpatient department and juggle my school responsibilities, family and what's left of my ''social life.'' This is the time of year when many fundraising ...