November is National Diabetes Month and the 2023 theme, “Take Charge of Tomorrow: Preventing Diabetes Health Problems”, is one I love and agree with! I will even go one step further and propose a response – add OT to every healthcare team treating diabetes. Diabetic patients are asked to make significant changes in the way they care for themselves. From learning medication management and health monitoring to adding exercise routines and even accessing and prepping healthier food, occupations have to be supported. OT is valuable for helping patients deliberately build a regime of care that supp ..read more

A doctor in the UK became a patient herself and realized not all healthcare providers introduced themselves. The doctor, Dr. Kate Granger MBE, firmly believed the thought and care around a simple introduction could set the tone for the remainder of the relationship. Dr. Granger was inspired to start the campaign, “Hello, My Name is” to change the beginning of each healthcare experience for patients. Her passion around what seems like a very small gesture revolved around four core values: Communication: Effective communication is the bedrock of good healthcare and starts with a proper and thoug ..read more

Should I be an OT? Should I be an OT or an OTA? Are there enough OT jobs? Is OT a good career choice? I see this type of question from students all over social media and thought the beginning of the academic year was a good time to share some advice John F. Kennedy gave to a young Leonard Nimoy. Leonard Nimoy was driving a cab while trying to launch his acting career when he picked up John F. Kennedy. At the time, Kennedy was also at the beginning of his career and serving as a Massachusetts state senator. The two had a conversation about life and careers and Kennedy gave this advice to Nimoy ..read more

Social Determinates of Health (SDoH) focuses conversations about improving patient health and wellbeing outward. Where people live, who they live with, what they do for a living, and how they live can have a larger impact on their health than any medical intervention. So where is occupational therapy in this conversation? Hasn’t OT always focused on improving a patient’s access to and navigation of the five domains included in the SDoH? I think the answer to that is a resounding YES! OT’s holistic approach, skilled assessment of patient strengths and barriers, and clinical expertise at creatin ..read more

Social Determinates of Health (SDoH) focuses conversations about improving patient health and wellbeing outward. Where people live, who they live with, what they do for a living, and how they live can have a larger impact on their health than any medical intervention. So where is occupational therapy in this conversation? Hasn’t OT always focused on improving a patient’s access to and navigation of the five domains included in the SDoH? I think the answer to that is a resounding YES! OT’s holistic approach, skilled assessment of patient strengths and barriers, and clinical expertise at creatin ..read more

June is Alzheimer’s and Brain awareness month and a perfect time to talk about why OT is a key member of the healthcare team treating patients with this disease. While I worked with all ages as an OT, one of my most rewarding experiences was assisting patients and caregivers managing Alzheimer’s. OT’s person-centered, holistic approach to patient care focuses on creating a supportive and safe environment for patients while maintaining as much independence as possible, for as long as possible. Occupational therapy works with patients in all stages of Alzheimer’s disease with a focus on function ..read more

The tradition continues with my fifth year of great products discovered at the annual AOTA Conference. Enjoy reading about these standouts from 2023! Note: I am not affiliated with any of these products or companies, nor am I receiving any compensation – just passing on product ideas I thought were cool! Active Hands – Products for Reduced Hand Function Active Hands are aids that hold the hand in a gripping posture allowing someone to use a variety of objects even if their grip is compromised. Active Hands can be utilized for a range of uses including exercise, cooking and gardening, plus ther ..read more

I love social media for its power to raise awareness. The occupational therapy online community does its part to answer the question “What is an OT?” every day. By engaging in positive conversations about OT and sharing stories of OT’s impact on patient well-being, purpose and health, they elevate the profile of OTs. In honor of Occupation Therapy Month, I challenged myself to write my best description of OT that was short enough to easily share across my social media sites. See what you think! “As clinical healthcare professionals, occupational therapists provide patient-centered care focused ..read more

Arthritis can significantly impact a person’s mobility and independence leading to poorer health and quality of life. The U. S. Centers for Disease Control finds arthritis is a leading cause of disability in the United States and currently impacts nearly 69 million patients with those numbers projected to continue to grow over the next 2 decades. Occupational therapy is an effective treatment option for an arthritis patient that meets each patient’s unique needs and goals. OT evaluates patients’ abilities and limitations, develops customized treatment plans, and provides education to help them ..read more

As all therapists know, time with an individual patient is extremely limited and the real progress is often the result of the work the patient completes between health care appointments. So how can therapists set patients up for the most successful outcome? One important component is deliberately incorporating pertinent and impactful patient education materials into every appointment. If you are evaluating patient education resources for your practice, ask these questions before you invest! Client-Centered What is the reading level of the material? Are materials translated into the patient’s ..read more