Keystone North Hosts Advanced Kinesio Taping® Course
Last fall over 50 therapists from throughout Texas attended our Kinesio Taping 1 and 2 classes. On Saturday March 16, thirty of these therapists went on to learn advanced fundamentals of Kinesiotaping and are now eligible to sit for the exam and become a certified practitioner. The University of North Texas Science Center (UNT HSC) [...]
Stepping Stones Fall Prevention Course
Mike Johanson, MSPT for Horizon Home Health in Idaho, wrote and has trained Cornerstone and other therapists with his Stepping Stones program of fall prevention. The one-and-a-half-day course helps therapists to further their understanding of differential diagnosis regarding symptoms of dizziness, disequilibrium motion sensitivity, imbalance, gait instability resulting from BPPV, central dizziness, visual weakness, somatosensory [...]
Implementing the Claims-Based Data Collection Requirement for Part B Therapy Services (aka Functional G Codes)
The Middle Class Tax Relief and Jobs Creation Act of 2012 (MCTRJCA; for more information, see http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CRPT-112hrpt399/pdf/CRPT-112hrpt399.pdf ) states: “The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall implement, beginning on January 1, 2013, a claims-based data collection strategy that is designed to assist in reforming the Medicare payment system for outpatient therapy services subject to [...]
Managed Care Control
One of the golden opportunities for becoming the rehab facility of choice in your community is to be an extraordinary partner and a preferred provider with managed care organizations. Superior communication is the remarkable simple key to success, yet so many facilities do not implement systems and organizational strategies to keep the external case manager [...]
AOTA Fieldwork Educators Certificate Program Workshop
As an occupational therapy fieldwork educator, your knowledge, supervision, and direction are critical to the success of your students and to the future of occupational therapy. AOTA is pleased to offer you the opportunity to advance your skills in this important area at the AOTA Fieldwork Educator Certificate Program!
Compliance Corner: CPT Code for Electrical Stimulation Treatment
Which CPT code, 97032 or G0283, do I use to document the electrical stimulation treatment I am providing? CPT code 97032 requires the continuous skilled intervention of a therapist. Most electrical stimulation treatments that are provided in therapy for non-wound care fall under CPT code G0283.
Preventing Back Pain
As therapists, our job is to help others. At work, we spend countless hours in the service of our patients. We expend a great deal of physical and emotional energy each day as we assist those who are entrusted to our care. But what about us? Are we taking the time and putting in the [...]
Compliance Corner
Q. How do you manage the ABN notice when a resident refuses therapy for three days? A. CMS has clarified that an Expedited Review notice is not required when Medicare ends due to therapy refusals. If the resident is going to remain in the facility, give them the SNFABN (or Denial Letter), whichever you are [...]
Success Equals Passion
The passion that leads a person to start a business (think Ensign Group) … that thing you would do (therapy) regardless of monetary compensation (and I realize that for some, money itself — or the pursuit of it — is that passion) … that thing that makes your heart beat fast … is the work [...]
Outpatient Services — Why Bother?
As a rehab-providing entity, we must consider our future clientele and how they tend to make health decisions. Undoubtedly, we will face a different mindset than that of the patients whom we are currently treating. Whereas the current pre-baby-boomer generation does not like to exercise or maintain healthy habits, the baby boomers take a much [...]
Reported Knowledge of Dementia and Competency in Treating Clients
by Ciara Cox, PhD, Therapy Resource – Six Samuel Merritt University OT students and I just completed a study on rehab professionals’ self-reported knowledge of dementia and self-reported competency in treating clients with dementia. We wanted to see if there was a gap between knowledge of dementia and feelings of competency in treating clients with [...]
Dementia Capable Care Instructor Program
by Ryan Hough, Therapy Resource – What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think of a patient who has dementia? Many people tend to think of what dementia patients typically can’t do — such as remember names, get dressed, brush their teeth and so on. However, I had the opportunity recently [...]
UAB Training for Constrained-Induced Therapy
by Franco Yap, PT, Alta Vista Rehabilitation & Healthcare, Brownsville, TX – The 1990s has been considered the decade of the brain. With advancements in neuro-imaging and the publication of more and more research in the realm of neurologic recovery, there has been a greater awareness and understanding into the mysteries of the brain. Recovery [...]
Helping Family and Caregivers Connect with the Person Inside
by Gina Tucker-Roghi,Therapy Resource One of the most exciting aspects of the Dementia Capable Care Model for me has been the ability to tap into the unique personhood that remains in each of our residents and longs to be acknowledged. Even those at the late and end stages of the dementia process have the ability [...]
May is Better Hearing and Speech Month!
This annual event provides opportunities to raise awareness about communication disorders and to promote treatment that can improve the quality of life for those who experience problems with speaking, understanding, or hearing. We have many resources to help you celebrate BHSM every day. The American Speech-Language and Hearing Association (ASHA), provides a variety of [...]
April is Occupational Therapy Month!
Did you know that April is National Occupational Therapy Month? What a perfect time for us to share a closer look at this important profession helping to make a difference in the lives of so many. On the American Occupational Therapy Association site (www.aota.org), the theme for Occupational Therapy is “Living Life to its Fullest”. [...]
Kinesio Taping 3
When: April 14, 2012 Where: South Texas College Allied Health Campus 1103 E Vermont McAllen, TX 78501 Ensign Facility Services hosts seminars in facilities that are ADA accessible. Please let Jon Anderson know if you need any special accommodation: jonanderson@ensigngroup.net Kinesio Taping® Certification KT3 Course, also called Kinesio Taping® Certification Course – The Kinesio Taping® [...]
Football has a Playbook; We have the RAI
Football has a play book, but sometimes, the plays get changed. Troy Palamalu picks up on the quarterback’s audible at the line of scrimmage and calls for a blitz and “BAM,” down goes the quarterback. Troy got it right and made the play. Rehabilitation in the Skilled Nursing Facility has regulations. The therapist is comfortable [...]
Case Management and Therapy Working Together
One of the most important relationships often overlooked in a facility is between the Case Management Team and the Therapy Team. Support and communication is critical to manage the care of these patients and to maximize reimbursement from the managed care companies.
Why Take a Student?
Think back to when you were a therapy student. What did you love about your clinical experience? Most likely your favorite internships were with energetic and excited therapists in a lively learning environment, and I bet you that you can still remember that clinical instructor who mentored you on the way to becoming a professional.
The Yellow Flag – Being Accountable
By Carissa Podesta, Compliance Officer A couple of recent therapy compliance incidents caused some Ensign facilities to part ways with good therapists who made poor decisions. I want everyone to know that these situations could have been avoided had those therapists sought help and support instead of acting in a way that placed their license [...]
Splinting Workshop
NOR CAL~Be sure to register your interest in participating! When: Saturday, March 17, 2012 Note: Therapists and Assistants working for facilities supported by Ensign Facility Services, Inc. may register by e-mailing Kelly Wallerstedt at kwallerstedt@ensigngroup.net. There is no charge to Therapists or Assistants supported by EFSI. Where: Samuel Merritt University 3100 Telegraph Avenue Oakland, California 94609 Instructors: [...]
Kinesio Taping Seminar
Date: Nov 17 and 18, 2012 Time: 8 AM – 5:30 PM each day (1 hour lunch break) : University of North Texas Allied Health Center Fort Worth, TX Ensign Facility Services hosts seminars in facilities that are ADA accessible. Please let Jon Anderson, jonanderson@ensigngroup.net know if you need any special accommodation. Instructor: [...]
Top 5 Steps to Developing a Managed Care Program
Get patients to the next Level of Care in a shortened amount of time, with quality outcomes. The expectation is that patients will achieve their highest level of function with the support of community resources (eg., Home Care, Outpatient therapy.) Manage clinical needs and financial implications according to contracted levels. Pay attention to over and [...]
