Know about the company. First start with their website. (If they don’t have one, I’d venture to say that that is a red flag.) Where did the company begin, how long have they been in business, have they expanded in size and geographic area since they were founded? Also be prepared to express how you feel about the company. If the opportunity comes up for you to be able to express why you feel like you’d like to work for the company, be prepared with a response so that you’re not grasping for straws and fumbling over your words. Maybe you’re impressed with the way the company expanded quickly by word of mouth because you see that as a true example of their passion and expertise in the industry. Real world examples of how you can relate to the company will go a long way.

Know about yourself, your skills, your strengths and weaknesses. As much as you want to learn about the company, your potential employer will want to learn about you. Be prepared with this answer so you’re not caught like a deer in headlights. Save the, “I was born on a warm sunny day in South Louisiana…” speech for another time. Here, they want to know what about you makes you employable, what could you bring to the company that would make you an asset. Are you strong and creative with treatment plans, do you excel in patient care, are you very organized? Do you build good rapport with patients and convey a sense of comfort and ease? If you work best in a group setting or prefer to work individually, now might be a good time to say that and also explain why. If you really want this position, you’ve got to sell yourself now. If you haven’t had much on-the-job experience, don’t let it show. Apply your experience as a student observer and take what you’ve learned about yourself in that setting to show off your skills. If time allows, it won’t hurt to share a little about yourself regarding hobbies, family, or other areas of interest. It’s amazing how well you can get to know someone in such a short time frame.

Know your state board requirements regarding licensure and testing, if applicable. Students & new grads, be on the ball with this – it’s impressive. There aren’t too many other things that are more impressive than a therapist who is prepared  and organized with the licensure process and  state board requirements. This shows the potential employer that this candidate takes initiative and won’t depend on somebody else to get the job done for them.

Overall, the interview is your chance to shine. How bad do you really want this position? If you’re goal is to really land this position (and why wouldn’t it be!?), do your best to make it happen! Make sure you’re prepared to leave a lasting impression, even if it means studying for the interview as you would for an exam.

Where are you from? I am from Bunkie, LA. But I have been living in Lafayette, LA for the last 10 years.

How long have you been with Therapy Center? I have been with the Therapy Center for 5 years.

Where did you receive your education? I received my Bachelors degree and Masters degree from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.

Why did you choose to study to work in the therapy industry? I chose to work in the therapy industry because of the variety of populations that I could work with ranging from geriatric to pediatric patients.  Also, it allowed for me to closely interact and bond with patients and assist them in increasing their communication, independence, and quality of life.

What is the most rewarding part of your job? The most rewarding part of my job is when my patients achieve their goals and they are able to communicate with their families and friends.  It is so rewarding to see them smile and laugh!

What is the best thing about working for Therapy Center? The best thing about working for the Therapy Center is definitely my therapy team!  My co-workers are the best anyone could ask for and they are my family away from home.

Do you have any hobbies or any activities you enjoy doing most in your spare time? Currently my time has been spent wedding and honeymoon planning.  In my spare time I enjoy being outdoors, riding my bike, shopping, and walking my two sweet Beagles, Hank and Boots.

May is Better Hearing and Speech Month known to us as Speech Therapy Month! Speech language pathologists, or speech therapists, work within the full range of communication to evaluate and diagnose speech, language, cognitive-communication, and swallowing disorders and treat such disorders in individuals of all ages.  You can read more about speech therapy HERE.

Alyce Benoit is a speech therapist and has been working with Therapy Center for several years. Take a few minutes to read all about her and the reason why she became a speech therapist.

Where are you from? I was born and raised in Lafayette LA.

How long have you been with Therapy Center? I have been with TTC for 6 years

Where did you receive your education? I graduated high school in 1999 from Teurlings Catholic. I received my bachelors degree in Special Education and my masters degree in Speech Language Pathology both from UL Lafayette.

Why did you choose to study to work in the therapy industry? I always thought I would be a teacher because I love children. I took some courses in communicative disorders and fell in love with the field. I love to talk so figured  speech therapy would be a perfect fit for me and it has been. I also had speech therapy as a child and remember pretending to be my speech therapist doing my drills to my dolls.

What is the most rewarding part of your job? The most rewarding part of my job is having a patient on PEG tube who is unable to eat or drink  and progressing them to be able to safely swallow to enjoy their favorite foods and drinks again. It is also rewarding to help a person after an acute CVA with speech deficits who can not express there wants and needs and progressing them to be able to communicate with their loved ones. It is a wonderful feeling having a patient admitted to a nursing home with a decline in cognitive functioning unable to complete activities of daily living and progressing them to return home.

What is the best thing about working for Therapy Center? My great team of therapists at River Oaks Oaks Retirement Manor.  I love working for TTC because the owners are very caring and  hard working and allow for me to balance work and family.

Do you have any hobbies or any activities you enjoy doing most in your spare time? What spare time?!  I dont have much spare time because I am always chasing around my 4 year old little boy, Hudson, and 2 year old little girl, Bella. I am an avid UL fan and spend time at many games.

Therapy services are available for long-term residents, as well as for patients in need of short-term care after an illness or surgery. All of our partner facilities are equipped with a skilled nursing unit to allow for more focused rehabilitation.

Utilizing the internet. How are you required to do your charting? If your potential employer requires notes by  hand, don’t panic. There are many companies out there who are still using hand written notes. But, the question is… how flexible are they? If they aren’t ever willing to evolve, maybe they are resistant to change. Could this be a problem for you? If the potential employer uses electronic, paperless notes, will this be a challenge for you? Ask yourself, are you able to adapt? Are you willing to learn how to use technology in this ever-evolving day & age? If electronic notes are used, here is an important question: are you able to do your notes after work, outside of facility grounds? If flexibility is one of those benefits that was important to you, then you may want to consider this.

Does the company have an intranet? Intranets are different from the internet. An intranet is an inner network within the company that allows the employees to log in and see the most important internal updates. It is an additional means of communication that is not open to the public. Does the company use internal email? If so, can you access your company email from anywhere or only from a company facility? Also, are you required to use your personal email address, or will a company email address be given to you? If none of these options are used, then how does your company communicate important messages to their staff?

Does the company utilize text messages as an acceptable form of communication? If so, what type of messages are they communicating? Will they use this system to tell you that you’ve been given a promotion or been laid off? Yikes! Or do they only use this system for informal topics, such as reminders and birthday messages? If text messages are being used, how often?

Skype. Chances are, if the company doesn’t know what Skype is, then they aren’t up with the times.  If your potential employer is a relatively large company, or spans across a large geographic area, are they going to expect you to drive several hours or several miles to attend a quick meeting? Will they offer Skype as an option? These are things to consider as a therapist. You don’t want to spend your valuable time driving to a meeting while losing time that could be spent treating your patients.

Determining the answers to these questions may help you to get a good idea of what technology era your potential employer is living in. If you are more comfortable with hand written notes and the old fashioned phone call for communication, then don’t bite off more than you can chew by accepting a job with a technologically advanced company. But if you’re willing to learn, adapt, and evolve in this tech savvy day & age, then look for a company that is also willing to do the same.

If you would like to learn more about job openings at Therapy Center, join Team Text!

For PT & PTA position notifications, text Therapy PT to 313131

For OT & OTA position notifications, text Therapy OT to 313131

For Speech position notifications, text Therapy ST to 313131

Team Text members are the first to know about Therapy Center job openings, even before positions are posted on the website.  Enroll in Team Text today and be the first to know about Therapy Center positions as they become available.

In honor of OT month, Therapy Center would like to spotlight a special therapist, Greta Gremillion Bordelon.

Where are you from?

I love to read and work in the yard. I also love to cook.

Greta, thank you for your time and commitment to Therapy Center!

Money. Money is great, sure, but we’ve all heard the old phrase, “Money cannot buy happiness.” The job offer that sounds the best to you might come with the highest salary, but could it also come with a hidden, hefty price tag? If it meant more money, would you be willing to make sacrifices such as working all day, late nights, and every weekend? Are you willing to drive miles and miles every day relentlessly just to ensure that golden salary? Some salaries offered in the initial stages actually are too good to be true. Those salaries can only be obtained if you get the exact number of visits or hours that are needed every day of each week of the year to ensure that big figure that you were promised. Is it possible? Yes… well maybe, if all the stars align. But know that there will be days when obstacles beyond your control get in the way, making it very difficult to achieve that golden salary. Perhaps a better fit for you would be to consider a position with a little more flexibility, maybe a true salaried position, or if you’ve got other major commitments in your life, maybe even something part time, or PRN.

Flexibility. Are you a creature of habit? Are you able to leave your house each day at 7:05 am faithfully with nothing stopping you? More power to you! Some folks have kids, pets, dependents, or other factors in their lives which require a little flexibility in a job. Make sure to consider this when thinking of a potential position. If you aren’t able to make a commitment to a position that will not allow some flexibility, be sure to remember this and weigh your options before over committing yourself.

Team Environment. Do you work best alone or in a group environment? This is helpful to know when asking your potential employer about your day-to-day routine. Will you be treating in a room with other therapists, or will you be a lone ranger? Will you be on the road treating patients independently? No matter what environment, make sure you will have access to somebody who you can call with questions or problems when the need arises.

Where are you from?

1. You have narrowed down your search and you know what positions are most appealing to you. You’ve applied for the job you’ve been dreaming of ever since your first day of class. Don’t stop there. Keep reading about various companies and the differences between them all. What makes the company unique? What might one company offer that another does not? How do these companies compare to each other? Keep applying.

2. Now you’ve landed an interview! Congrats! Have a list of questions ready to go – How does the company pay their employees; salary, per hour, or other? Are you required to work weekends? What benefits are offered? Are you responsible for finding your replacement if you need a day off? How many facilities will you be required to cover? Are you required to sign a contract or a non-compete clause? Is there opportunity for advancement? This is also your opportunity to sell yourself to the employer and prove yourself as the best applicant for the position. Asking questions and taking a real interest in the company will show that you are looking for a position that will be a great fit and that you’re prepared to make a well informed decision.

3. And finally, repeat! When you are asked to go on another interview, go for it! Ask the same questions. Compare the companies. Go on as many interviews as you’re offered. Don’t pass up a chance to learn more about a potential employer. Keep your list of questions handy and review the answers that you were given from each company. Using this system will provide you with an easy way to determine which companies would be at the top of your list. You will quickly learn what benefits and perks are most important to you when it comes to your new job.

Don’t rush and accept the first job offered to you. Although the application and interview processes can be stressful and tedious, it is well worth your time to investigate multiple jobs. Applying for opportunities with different companies and attending multiple interviews will arm you with very valuable assessment information. You might say, “Oh, this job would be perfect for me!” about every job you apply for, but you won’t really know which position is your perfect match until you have similar information from each company.

Therapy Center currently has Occupational Therapy job opportunities in central Louisiana.

Email Ava Hebert, recruiting@therapyctr.com, to inquire today!

Outcome Reporting:

While the SNF 2013 final rule requires reporting to begin on January 1, 2013, the first six months of 2013 is being considered a transition period. Beginning July 1, 2013, in order to receive payment, CMS mandates that Part B therapy providers document G-codes on admission, discharge, and every 10th visit in the medical record.

While G-codes may not be difficult to report, they will require the coordination of your therapy team and billing department to ensure that these measures are correctly coded. These claims will not be denied nor will they be paid in the event that G-codes are not included. It is critical that your therapy team and biller work together closely to ensure that all therapy provided is coded correctly and reimbursement is received. Click Here to learn more

Therapy CAPS:

CMS has increased therapy caps to $1900 for Physical and Speech Therapy combined and $1900 for Occupational Therapy, a $20 increase from 2012.

Continued use of the KX modifier with an authorized exception for claims beyond $1900 is required until the patient reaches the $3700 threshold. Once the threshold has been met, manual medical review is required to continue reimbursable therapy services.

This process requires immense collaboration in the SNF between Social Workers, Admission Coordinators, Billers, and Therapists to accurately track what services have been received and billed in order to determine at what point modifier use and submission of manual exception paperwork is required. Ongoing collaboration is necessary as significant delays and conflicting information has been received by facilities since implementation of this process 10/1/2012. For more information visit the Novitas website

Additionally, both ZPIC Audits and the OIG pledge increased scrutiny on Skilled Nursing Facilities. During these uncertain times, it is critical to have a dependable therapy team coupled with up-to-date compliance knowledge to ensure that you are being reimbursed for care provided in your facility.

Therapy Center’s dedicated Compliance Department stays up-to-the-minute on the ever-changing and often-confusing rules and regulations. We provide on-going education to staff — our own as well as the staff in our partner facilities — to give you the peace of mind in knowing that new regulations are being met, and arming you with the tools you need to fight denials if necessary.

In these uncertain times, you cannot just continue with the status quo and hope for the best. Take a proactive step to help secure the future of your facility.

Contact Therapy Center today to receive a complimentary, customized review of your facility and a one-on-one consultation to discuss how we can help you continue your success.

Kristi Fredieu
Business Development & Marketing Manager
337-384-9791
kfredieu@therapyctr.com

1. First things first…determine what setting is the best fit for you.

Pediatrics, hospital, home health, skilled nursing facility, inpatient rehab, outpatient clinic, traveling therapy, or something else? Each setting has certain characteristics that may or may not fit your lifestyle and personality. For example, do you prefer to work in a single facility and know that you will work the same schedule every single day? If so then an outpatient position might be the place for you. Perhaps you enjoy a constant change of scenery and you like to work independently; then you may consider a position in home health. If you enjoy daily interaction with other therapists and those of different disciplines, a job in skilled nursing or inpatient rehab may best suit your needs. Whatever the case, you should determine this before you go out on your quest for the perfect position.

2. Next, narrow down your choices and do your research on the top picks.

What type of atmosphere does the company have as a whole? Who runs the company and makes all the major decisions? Will you ever interact with these decision makers? Does the company have a website, and is it functional and up-to-date? Does the company participate in social media? If so, visiting the company profiles on those sites can really help you to learn what the company is doing internally and within the community. Arrange an on-site tour. Nothing will give you a better feel for the company than spending a few hours or a day in the facility shadowing a therapist. See for yourself how working for that company would make you feel.

3. And finally, ask around.

Do you know anyone who works for the company? Ask them for their opinion. Get the inside scoop… What is it really like to work for this company?

Job hunting can be a tedious process and it’s easy to make a quick decision. Know this ahead of time and try not to act impulsively. Take time to do your research so that you can make an educated decision that you are happy with at the end of the day.

Did you know that Therapy Center was named as “One of Acadiana’s “11 Great Places to Work”? Read the article here.

For more information on Therapy Center careers, contact:
Ava Hebert
337-207-3493
ahebert@therapyctr.com

With regards to quality patient care, providing all disciplines of therapy provides a more thorough assessment and intervention program for your patients. From fall prevention to pain management, dysphagia monitoring to ADL’s, each discipline of therapy provides a unique set of offerings to benefit patients.

Physical, Occupational, and Speech therapists should not only be present in your facility daily, but should be available to your staff and patient families for in-services and training to ensure individualized patient care. Timely screens should be conducted by all disciplines prior to Case Mix assessments to determine if there have been changes in function that would warrant therapy, thus increasing CMI regardless of payor source.

Part A reimbursement is greatly impacted by availability of therapists as treatment minutes provided over the 7 day window are most easily maximized when all warranted disciplines are involved. Absence of one or more discipline can leave patient needs unaddressed and Part A money on the table.

Part B revenue can best be increased by having a full team actively participating to improve early identification of patient issues and reduce risk of falls, wounds, contractures, aspiration pneumonia, and the like.

Therapists who sporadically fly in and out of facilities are not able to detect mild changes in patient function in order  to proactively address patient needs — often costing facilities revenue due to recurrent hospitalization, need for equipment, increased dependence on staff and the potential of other illness related to regression.

Knowledgeable, available, and involved therapists are critical to maximizing your Part A RUG rate reimbursement and Part B revenue and Case Mix Indices. Therapy Center provides geriatric-focused therapists of all disciplines to its partner facilities ALL day, EVERY business day. Does your therapy provider?

For more information on Therapy Center’s programs, contact us today!

Kristi Fredieu
kfredieu@therapyctr.com
337-384-9791

Therapy Center is always available – not only to provide the best quality care to our patients but also to provide valuable guidance on RUG planning to our partner facilities. Our Compliance Director maintains open communication with MDS Coordinators to ensure that the best decisions are made in those tricky cases where a variety of options are possible. Administrators should arm themselves with information regarding the number of “extra” assessments being done and the potential financial impact of those assessments on their facility.

Everyone knows the challenge of finding and keeping a good MDS nurse. Is your therapy provider working with you to make sure that additional work is not being added to your MDS nurse’s role due to under-staffing, poor planning, or mismanagement on the part of your therapy department?

Let the Therapy Center team assist your facility in establishing its place in the continuum of care and provide the therapy required to utilize short-term Part A stays. Your patients will benefit — and your revenue will too!

Kristi Fredieu
Business Development & Marketing Manager
337-384-9791
kfredieu@therapyctr.com

It is vital, in the face of ongoing healthcare reform and cuts to Medicare and Medicaid funding, that Skilled Nursing Facilities clearly define their place in the continuum of care in local communities.

Increased scrutiny on length of stay for acute hospitalizations and rehab placements has forced early discharge on patients with a variety of medical events. When faced with discharge options, families and caregivers often opt for discharge to home with home health or outpatient services, even though reduced mobility, frequency of treatment, and convenience all pose risk to returning to prior level of function.

Why would a family member choose an option that will likely not produce the best possible outcome for their loved one? Simple: fear.

There is a long-standing and commonly-held perception that nursing homes are only for long-term and low-function with little to no promise of returning home. This could not be further from the truth and Therapy Center is committed to providing the education and services to change that image.

- All of the homes that Therapy Center partners with benefit from full-time Physical, Occupational, and Speech therapists with specialized training in geriatric medical issues. Our therapists are available 5 days-a-week and as needed on the other 2 days, to provide the necessary intensity of therapy to allow for functional return to home.

- Therapy Center’s marketing team works tirelessly to communicate with and help educate discharge planners, physicians, families, and patients on the importance of intense treatment in the early aftermath of illness or injury and the vital role that nursing home facilities play in the patient’s continuum of care.

- We work closely with in-patient rehabs, home health agencies, and health care providers to guarantee that patients are given every possible opportunity for independent or aided living in their own homes with length of stay varying from one week to a full 100 days of skilled care, depending on diagnosis and progress. Short-stay residents frequently return for visits and if their skilled nursing experience is a successful one, there is no better way to get the word out to the local community than through the words of a former patient!

Let the Therapy Center team assist your facility in establishing its place in the continuum of care and provide the therapy required to utilize short-term Part A stays. Your patients will benefit — and your revenue will too!

Kristi Fredieu
Business Development & Marketing Manager
337-384-9791
kfredieu@therapyctr.com

Watch and read more student interviews here….

In celebration of Better Speech and Hearing Month in May, we are highlighting some of our longest tenured therapists…

Katy Brennan, originally from Broussard, Louisiana, received her Master of Science Degree in Speech/Language Pathology from the University of Louisiana @ Lafayette. She began working for Therapy Center in 2009 and is currently a full-time SLP at Tri Community Nursing Center in Palmetto, Louisiana. Katy has been a true asset to our team and here is what she had to say about her life and career as an SLP.

Why did you choose the field you work in? I honestly thought that I wanted to be a nurse.  A lot of my family members are nurses, including my mom, so I thought that was what I wanted to do until I realized that the sight of blood and seeing people in pain wasn’t my cup of tea.  I chose this field my first semester in college knowing that I could change to another major if it wasn’t for me but I realized that it was exactly what I wanted to do.   I love to talk and I love to eat so what better job for me than to help people communicate while improving their ability to enjoy all the foods of our culture.

What is the most rewarding part of your job? The most rewarding part of my job is helping my residents reach their personal goals, whether it’s improving their swallow so that they can eat the foods that they love, communicate with their family/peers, or safely return home after a stroke/fall.   Sometimes the most rewarding part is helping caregivers/family understand the progression of a specific disease process , cope with the loss of the person they remember, and helping them to find ways to continue to communicate and emotionally connect.

Favorite part of working at Therapy Center? The best part of  the Therapy Center is the people that I work with.  It’s another family to me.  I’m very grateful for all of the relationships I have with my coworkers company wide.  We laugh together, cry together, sometimes have drinks together.   I work for good people and I work with good people who are good therapists.

Hobbies/areas of interest: I’m the mom of the cutest little boy I know.   His name is Briggs and he’s 18 months old.  He keeps me incredibly busy and is relentless with his love for playing outside and making sure that every toy he owns is pulled out several times a day, every day.   I don’t know if my hobbies have changed or if I’ve just learned to better appreciate long uninterrupted baths, 20 extra minutes of sleep, small efforts of friends and family to help in any way, and a good glass of wine.

Learn more about Therapy Center’s team members here…

Where did you complete your rotation with Therapy Center?
I completed my second rotation at the Hessmer nursing home, but I also had the opportunity to observe at Rio Sol, Valley View and Colonial nursing home.

Why did you choose the field you are studying in?
I knew that I always wanted to work in the medical field because I wanted to help people. The only problem is that I’m not a big fan of dealing with blood and needles so I needed to find something less graphic but still have a “hands on” approach. I was able to observe and work in an outpatient clinic which then made me realize that this is truly what I want to do for the rest of my life. I can still help others throughout their healing phase so they can return back to work/ADLs with less graphics. I love interacting with people and this would soon be a career that I could honestly say that I will love.

What is the biggest thing that you learned while on rotation with us?
The biggest thing I’ve learned would have to be documentation on Smart! Because I was taught to document on a SOAP method, it was a challenge to document according to the company’s and Medicare guidelines especially on a computer program. I did feel more comfortable with my documentation towards the end of my rotation. Also, I learned how to effectively treat and communicate specifically with the geriatrics which was a new learning experience for me.

Favorite part of working with Therapy Center staff:
I will definitely miss working with the Therapy Center staff! They are like  a big family and made me feel like I was a part of that family instead of just being a student! They made it a fun and positive atmosphere to work in. I loved the teamwork aspect they incorporate into their daily treatment with the collaboration of PT, OT and ST. They are an awesome crew to work with and I learned so much from all of them. They even convinced me to start my career here in the nursing home.

Hobbies/other areas of interest:
I love to cook especially any recipes by Paula Deen, walking, playing tennis and golf, being in the great outdoors, dancing, watching movies, photography, facebook, trying out new restaurants, big dog lover especially labs (I want one in each color), going to LSU/Saints games and spending time with family and friends.

Anything interesting about yourself that you want others to know:
I’ll be having a precious baby girl, Olivia Grace in September and I can’t wait to be a mother!

To see more student interviews, visit our blog, Therapy Center Student News!

Watch and read more student interviews here….

Jennifer Nuce’s hometown is all the way in Largo, Florida. She is currently in the DPT Flex program at The University of St. Augustine and graduates in August 2013. She recently completed her clinical internship with Therapy Center at Rio-Sol Nursing Home, but during this time she was also able to work at Hessmer Nursing Home and Colonial Nursing Home.

Here is what Jennifer had to say about her time with our team:

Why did you choose the field you are studying in? Since I took high school anatomy years ago, I was so amazed in how the human body works and repairs itself.  I wanted to be a part of that and felt physical therapy was the best way to help injured or deconditioned people regain their strength and abilities.

What is the biggest thing that you learned while on rotation with us? The biggest thing I learned while on rotation with Therapy Center was performing the initial evaluations and learning how to document electronically.

Favorite part of working with Therapy Center staff:  My favorite part of working with the Therapy Center staff is how supportive they’ve been and ready to lend me a hand as a student.

Anything interesting about yourself that you want others to know: Outside of school I enjoy Yoga, running, and spending time with my husband and two children, ages 8 and 5. Something interesting about myself you may not know is that I served in the US Army as a field combat medic in the 1990s and on top of being a DPT student, I am currently working as a PTA in a retirement community furthering my education.

To see more student interviews, visit our blog, Therapy Center Student News!

Watch and read more student interviews here…

In celebration of Occupational Therapy Month in April, we are highlighting some of our longest tenured therapists…

Danielle Keyser, originally from Lafayette, Louisiana attended LSU Baton Rouge and the University of Alabama at Birmingham. After working with other rehabilitation providers, she began with the Therapy Center in 2005.
Danielle is currently a mentor and, as of now, primary treating Occupational Therapist at Maison Teche Nursing Home in Jeanerette, Louisiana. Soon she will be moving toward an education role where she will provide Therapy Center’s team of therapists with new treatment ideas and geriatric treatment techniques. Here is what Danielle has to say about her time working as an OT for the Therapy Center:

Do you have any certifications? Certifiably CRAZY

Why did you choose the field of occupational therapy? I love the involvement with people on a very personal and intimate level that our field allows. I love that we care about every little detail that is important to a person’s life, and that we get to creatively come up with ways to help them do the things that are most important to them.

What is the most rewarding part of your job? Watching patients succeed and seeing how we work together as a group to make that happen for each individual.

What is your favorite part of working at Therapy Center? Christmas Party!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! In all seriousness, I love the team work that our company is built upon. We don’t function as individual homes or environments; we are an entity that, which makes us bigger and better than the services that any one therapist can provide.

Hobbies/other areas of interest: A good party, fishing, hunting, socializing

Anything interesting about yourself that you want others to know? Well, I am a little shy. Hahahaha! There is not much about me that people DON’T know! One thing that I hope people do know is that I am very passionate about life in general. How much I love what we do as therapists, how much I love my friends, and everything else that I love, is always very sincere. I know it makes me a bit eccentric, but it’s how I roll!

In celebration of Occupational Therapy Month in April, we are highlighting some of our longest tenured therapists…

Jennifer Gremillion, originally from Simmesport, Louisiana, attended Delgado Community College in New Orleans. She began working for Therapy Center in January of 2009. Currently Jennifer is a COTA at our partner facility, Tri Community in Palmetto, Louisiana.

Why did you choose the field of occupational therapy?
I choose the field of occupational therapy because of it’s holistic nature.  It treats the whole person and addresses the importance of people’s psychological and emotional well being as well as physical needs. It enables people of all ages and abilities to engage in the activities and occupations that are meaningful to their lives.

What is the most rewarding part of your job?
The most rewarding part of my job is work directly with clients and seeing their face light up when they have accomplished a goal or activity that they have worked so hard to achieve and returning home.

Favorite part of working at Therapy Center?
My favorite part of working for the Therapy Center are my co-workers.  They make me laugh even on the most stressful days.

In celebration of Occupational Therapy Month in April, we are highlighting some of our longest tenured therapists…

Sherie Soileau is originally from Marksville, Louisiana and is a graduate of ULM -University of Louisiana at Monroe. She has worked as an occupational therapist for the Therapy Center since 2006.
Currently, Sherie is the supervising therapist at Valley View and Colonial nursing home and is responsible for COTA supervision/documentation , evaluations and assisting with patient treatment.

Why did you choose the field of occupational therapy? I always knew I wanted a profession in the medical field and a profession that was friendly for a woman especially one who wanted to raise a family. I was introduced to the field of OT by my cousin and observed several treatments in the out-patient field an immediately draw to idea of being able to help rehabilitate people with injury/disabilities. It seemed fun, interesting and rewarding.

What is the most rewarding part of your job? The most rewarding part of my job is initially evaluating a resident with a disability and having the chance to work with them until discharge and being a witness to their progress to PLOF or return to their homes. Also just doing simple little tasks such as applying makeup to painting their fingernails to help put a smile on their face!

Favorite part of working at Therapy Center? My favorite part of working at the Therapy Center is getting to work with awesome co-workers every day.  Having great team work and collaboration together with treatment of patients helps make it rewarding to come to work. Also the trust, flexibility and understanding of management towards employees when it comes to completing their jobs.

Hobbies/other areas of interest: Enjoy gardening, scrap booking, camping/boating/skiing, enjoy being outdoors spending time with family and friends.

We want to thank Sherie for her team work and dedication to the Therapy Center!! We are lucky to have her as part of our team…

Kathryn’s peers describe her as friendly, knowledgeable, and the ultimate team player. Her mentor praises her excellent documentation and willingness to always help wherever she is needed.

Congratulations to Kathryn on being voted by her peers as Therapy Center’s Employee of the quarter!

• Therapy began with transporting patients in/out of the vans.
• The patients had a shopping list and had to follow and problem solve on what we needed to make a garden in pots.
• Patients worked on scanning the environment for items on our list.
• Patients assisted with picking out plants and then we took the ladies down the makeup isle for them to browse and the men went to look for a kits to make motorcycles and vehicles.
• Patients assisted with our purchases for check out.

Everyone had a great time, but most importantly the patients enjoyed their trip to Wal-Mart.  Physical Therapy worked on transfers and ambulation while shopping, and Speech Therapy worked on problem solving and sequencing for shopping.  Occupational Therapy worked on socialization and play/leisure exploration and performance for improving their psychosocial and psychological skills while also addressing safety on our trip.

Staff present on the trip included:  Alayna Brewer, PT and Jennifer Nuce, PT student, Amber LaPrairie, OT, Clintin “Spencer” Wallace, COTA, Elise Kelone, OT student, Brooke Normand, ST, Stacy Bordelon, Tech and Althea Benjamin, Tech.  Mrs. Cynthia (social worker); Megan (ward clerk); and Kim (activity director)

Where is your hometown?

School/University are currently studying:
LSUHSC at New Orleans

Where did you complete your rotation with Therapy Center?
Maison Teche in Jeanerette, LA

Why did you choose the field you are studying in?
Desire to help individuals live life to the fullest.

What is the biggest thing that you learned while on rotation with us?
How to maintain independence and function in geriatrics

Favorite part of working with Therapy Center staff:
Energetic staff and wonderful residents

Hobbies/other areas of interest:
Fishing; I can catch a red fish from a kayak!

Andrea and her OT class at LSUHSC New Orleans made this video for Occupational Therapy Month, which is celebrated during the month of April. Check out their entertaining and educational video they made to get on the Ellen show.

Without this awareness, valuable patient care and Medicare dollars are being left on the table. Compounding this is the increased burden placed on already stressed MDS nurses created by the need to perform additional MDS 3.0 assessments. Poor planning on the part of inadequately trained and educated therapists by their therapy company can result in unnecessary drops in RUG levels and reimbursement. It is important to remember that there can also be valid reasons for COT assessments and that COT’s can result in increased RUG levels in cases where patient tolerance for treatment improves between regularly scheduled PPS assessment windows.

It is now more critical than ever before that your therapy provider understands the intricate details associated with the 2012 SNF Final Rule to ensure adequate reimbursement.

Therapy companies who have historically struggled with staffing will likely find their staffing issues compounded due to the decreased flexibility for facilities, MDS Coordinators, and therapists, to adjust ARD windows to avoid COT and EOT situations. This will inevitably result in an increase in problems due to the increased demands on staff.

We encourage nursing home administrators to be aware of the challenges posed by the new guidelines and communicate with therapy and MDS coordinators to ensure that additional work and loss of revenue is being minimized.

Therapy Center is prepared. We have provided our therapists with detailed training on COT’s and EOT’s – both the benefits and the risks. Our dedicated Compliance Department serves as another layer of support to work through patient scenarios to avoid negative COT or EOT situations. Our managers are constantly monitoring patient treatment for potential issues, coordinating staff where needed and taking a proactive approach to ensure that EOT OMRA’s and negative COT’s are minimal or negated completely.

Call us to find out how we can help your facility.

Kristi Fredieu
Business Development & Marketing Manager
337-384-9791
kfredieu@therapyctr.com

Watch more Therapy Center News student spotlights…

Watch more Therapy Center News student spotlights…

Why did you choose the field you are studying in?
The reason I chose physical therapy is because of my brother. He was in a motor vehicle accident 4 years ago that lead to him having a traumatic brain injury. He was in a coma for many months and when he woke up, he had to start from scratch. He couldn’t walk, eat, talk or even remember who we were. Through his many months of recovering, the one main thing I recall the most is when he took his first step in the hospital. My family and I were all in tears because it was such a big accomplishment for him. Because of that day, I decided to go to school for physical therapy. I want to be able to give someone that feeling that I experienced and be able to help others achieve their fullest potential.

What is the biggest thing that you learned while on rotation with the Therapy Center?
I learned that teamwork plays a big role. Not just between physical therapy, but with all of the health care members, such as the speech therapist, occupational therapist/assistant, physical therapy technician and the nurses. By working all together, so much gets achieved which in return helps the patients’ progress towards their goals.

Favorite part of working with Therapy Center staff?
I love working with the Therapy Center staff at River Oaks Retirement Manor because they are so friendly, funny and helpful! These past weeks have flown by so quickly because I got along so great with all the workers here. If I had any questions, they would do their best to help me. They made me feel as part of their group and would always try to include me in everything, even lunch! They didn’t make me feel at all an outcast or a student who didn’t know any better. Even though they are the silliest people you may meet, they are the best therapists I’ve ever met.

See more Therapy Center student spotlights here…

Article written by Gisele Menard, PTA with the Therapy Center

“Our strength will continue if we allow ourselves to feel scared, weak, and vulnerable”-Melody Beattie

Lovenia Abshire’s story is one of courage and determination. When illness struck this winter, she found herself hospitalized for an extended period of time. When she returned home, she was very weak, bedbound, and had every reason to give up. But she was nearing her 92nd birthday, and family members were determined not to let her continue to decline physically. Mrs. Abshire’s daughters set up an around the clock schedule to care for her, teaming with physical therapy to receive training in bed mobility and transfers to sitting bedside.

In just two weeks, she has made miraculous progress. She is now transferring to her wheelchair and is able to walk short distances with minimal assistance from family and therapists. The Abshire family is a wonderful example of what can happen when a team approach to recovery is made. As home health therapists, Amy Deloach and I feel that every patient should be given the encouragement and support to get stronger, even in the later years of life.

Mrs. Abshire is so excited to begin each day, ready to show off her new skills to anyone who comes to visit; she is not ready to give up trying. She is looking forward to the spring time and is determined she will be able to walk outside and enjoy her plants and flowers once again.

Learn more about Therapy Center’s nursing home services, clinic services & mission.

Watch more Therapy Center News student spotlights…

Candice “Candi” Cooley has been essential in the successful operations at Jeff Davis Living Center. She always goes above and beyond to help with anything she can.  Candi is a Therapy Center advocate at all times, never complains and is a model employee!!  CONGRATS CANDI!!!

Susan Webb is an employee in our Marksville Clinic. Susan has been going above and beyond in helping get set up their new system “CLINICIENT” ready!! Susan has been contributing alot of her weekends, holidays, and taking work home to make sure that this program was ready to begin on January 3rd. She has been dedicating herself to the clinic’s success in being prepared for this big change in computer systems!! WAY TO GO SUSAN!!!

Here is a full list of all employee nominees:

Elisha Duhon
Susan Webb
Kimberly Lacombe
Amber Craft
Jodi Landry
Lisa Parker
Hollie Bonin
Kelli Gremillion
Jodi Regan
Melinda Chenevert
Greta Gremillion
Callie Soileau
Roschelle Scallan
Candice Cooley
Corrie Walton

Watch more Therapy Center News student spotlights…

Watch more Therapy Center News student spotlights…

Watch more Therapy Center News student spotlights…

Why did you choose the field you are studying in? I love working with people, especially those in need of assistance in some way. Speech Pathology has always interested me.

What is the biggest thing that you learned while on rotation with us?
I learned firsthand, how to work with the geriatric population and those cognitively impaired.

Favorite part of working with Therapy Center staff?
I thoroughly enjoyed the personalities of each of the team members working in close relation with speech therapy. They had unique characteristics and ways of doing their job that contributed and expanded my overall knowledge base. The atmosphere was light hearted, and I felt comfortable being there.

Hobbies/other areas of interest:
I am relieved to say that after working this semester, I am still just as interested and maybe even more so, in working with this population and in the nursing facility. I am interested in the medical aspect of Speech Pathology, especially in the areas of swallowing and cognition.

Anything interesting about yourself that you want others to know:
I will be graduating from graduate school in May 2011 with a readiness to get into the work force and enthusiasm to put into practice the knowledge I’ve acquired throughout my educational years.

See more Therapy Center News student spotlights…

The Truth Behind Speech Therapy

Read more Therapy Center News student spotlights…

Why did you choose to be a speech therapist?
To be perfectly honest, I have always enjoyed helping others. I know this sounds cliché for one to say; however it is what describes me the best. Speech therapists help individuals from many different populations improve quality of life and regain the ability to communicate. They possess the ability each and every day to make a positive difference in the life of a patient, whether it is regaining speech after a stroke or speaking for the first time with a speaking valve after a tracheotomy or eating foods by mouth following return of a functional swallow with elimination of tube feeding. This career I have chosen will benefit me just as much as the people I will treat. There is no better feeling than knowing you have made a positive impact on another person’s life. My grandmother would always tell me the way to lead a fulfilling and meaningful life is created through service to others in need and as a future Speech Language Pathologist, I intend to keep this in perspective.

What is the biggest thing that you learned while on rotation with us?
This past semester I had the honor of completing my rotation with the Therapy Center at Jeff Davis Living Center. As a student, working with the elderly and older adults has taught me many things. Foremost, the greatest thing I have learned from this rewarding experience is my dedication to this population. Daily life becomes a challenge as people age and I want to help alleviate their burdens.

Favorite part of working with Therapy Center staff?
The Therapy Center staff provides meaning to the old saying “respect your elders” as it is demonstrated in their admirable delivery of services to each and every resident. I had the privilege to shadow the facility’s Speech Therapist, Candice Cooley, who in my eyes possesses all the positive qualities a future clinician should strive to acquire. Her knowledge about the field, dedication, and empathy for others is communicated through her work. Her willingness to take the time and talk to patients to find out what is bothering them is admirable. Often times I watched as she would peek her head in a resident’s room just to say hi, providing the idea that yes someone cares and hasn’t forgotten about them. She listens and asks questions to understand each individual’s concerns. She has shown me to always implement laughter and love as an objective in each therapy session. Not only will this improve the quality of life in others, but I too have felt in just a short period of time the fulfillment in life that is created through service to others. I will follow in the footsteps of this great clinician.

What are your hobbies and other areas of interest?
I am very interested in observing and learning more about Modified Barium Swallow Studies. These studies are designed to test the safety of different foods and liquid consistencies.  I enjoy viewing the anatomic structures, the motions of these structures, and passage of the food through the oral cavity, pharynx and esophagus. The results of an MBS help determine the safest foods/liquids that patients can consume orally as well as appropriate exercises to be utilized in therapy.  I am also fascinated by individuals with memory loss and overall cognitive impairments. I look forward to helping those with dementia use strategies to preserve communication and cognitive functioning for as long as possible.  Below is a beautiful poem I found online and wanted to share with the Therapy Center.

Anything interesting about yourself that you want others to know?
I am the first person in my family to attend, graduate, and further my education in college. I have held a full time job since I was old enough to work and have paid my way through college while obtaining some debt along the way. I have experienced hardship and struggle; however the experience I obtained while working has taught me responsibility, courage, compassion, appreciation, teamwork, and humility. These are qualities I will demonstrate in my future career as a Speech Language Pathologist.

Dedicated to every family whose parent is suffering with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease.

Living With Dementia
© Annabel Sheila

She’s trapped inside the prison walls
That used to be her mind.
The woman that she used to be,
Has long been left behind.

There are times she’s quite alert,
Her memory’s still intact.
Then there are days when she disappears,
And we know it’s not an act.

No longer able to care for herself,
We couldn’t leave her alone.
Her safety had to be assured,
So we placed her in a home.

Good days are when we visit her,
And she calls us by our name.
She’s grateful for the company,
And thankful that we came.

Most of the time it’s difficult,
To see our Mom that way.
All we can do is love her now,
As we take life day by day.

Source: Living With Dementia, Aging Poem, 5 Stories http://www.familyfriendpoems.com/poem/living-with-dementia#ixzz1fBUOL42m
Family Friend Poems

Other related Articles:
- The Truth Behind Speech Therapy

- Check out other student blogs here

CMS Announces New Demonstrations to Help Curb Improper Medicare, Medicaid Payments

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced it will launch demonstration programs beginning in January 2012 targeting some of the most common factors that lead to improper payments. The cost saving projects will help protect Medicare and Medicaid, according to a news release posted on its site yesterday.

Beginning on January 1, 2012, CMS will conduct demonstration projects that will strengthen Medicare by aiming at eliminating fraud, waste, and abuse.  Reductions in improper payments will help ensure the sound future of the Medicare Trust Fund and protect Medicare beneficiaries who depend upon it, CMS said.  Additionally, noted the agency:

•    Recovery Audit Prepayment Review: The Recovery Audit Prepayment Review demonstration will allow Medicare Recovery Auditors (RACs) to review claims before they are paid to ensure that the provider complied with all Medicare payment rules.  The RACs will conduct prepayment reviews on certain types of claims that historically result in high rates of improper payments.   These reviews will focus on  seven states with high populations of fraud- and error-prone providers (FL, CA, MI, TX, NY, LA, IL) and four states with high claims volumes of short inpatient hospital stays (PA, OH, NC, MO) for a total of 11 states. This demonstration will also help lower the error rate by preventing improper payments rather than the traditional “pay and chase” methods of looking for improper payments after they have been made.

•    Prior Authorization for Certain Medical Equipment: The second demonstration announced yesterday will require Prior Authorization for certain medical equipment for all people with Medicare who reside in seven states with high populations of fraud- and error-prone providers (CA, FL, IL, MI, NY, NC and TX).  This is an important step toward paying appropriately for certain medical equipment that has a high error rate.  This demonstration will help ensure that a beneficiary’s medical condition warrants their medical equipment under existing coverage guidelines. Moreover, the program will assist in preserving a Medicare beneficiary’s right to receive quality products from accredited suppliers.

CMS said the Prior Authorization demonstration would be implemented in two phases. During the first phase (the first three to nine months), the Medicare Administrative Contractors will conduct prepayment reviews on certain medical equipment claims. The second phase, for the remainder of this three-year demonstration, will implement prior authorization, a tool utilized by private-sector health care payers to prevent improper payments and deter the fraudulent provision of items or services.

•    Part A to Part B Rebilling: The third initiative will allow hospitals to re bill for 90 percent of the Part B payment when a Medicare contractor denies a Part A inpatient short stay claim as not reasonable and necessary due to the hospital billing for the wrong setting.  Currently, when outpatient services are billed as inpatient services, the entire claim is denied in full.

This demonstration will be limited to a representative sample of 380 hospitals nationwide that volunteer to be part of the program. This demonstration will allow hospitals to resubmit claims for 90 percent of the allowable Part B payment when a Medicare Administrative Contractor, Recovery Auditor, or the Comprehensive Error Rate Testing Contractor finds that a Medicare patient met the requirements for Part B services but did not meet the requirements for a Part A inpatient stay.  In addition, this demonstration is expected to lower the appeals rate which will protect the trust fund and reduce hospital burden. Beneficiaries will be held harmless with respect to changes in hospital coinsurance liability.

New Projects Build on 2011 Savings

The 2012 projects announced yesterday will build on accomplishments in 2011 to reduce Medicare and Medicaid improper payment rates.
For example, the Medicare fee-for-service improper payment rate dropped to 8.6 percent, or $28.8 billion in estimated improper claims payments.  This rate was calculated using a refined methodology, after consulting with the Office of the Inspector General, that reflects the impact of late documentation and the results of appeal activities that typically occur after the cut-off date.  For consistency and comparison purposes, CMS adjusted the 2010 error rate to 9.1 percent or $29.7 billion. When comparing the adjusted rates, the 8.6 percent error rate for 2011 represents a 0.5 percentage point reduction in the improper payment rate from 2010.

In addition, for 2011, CMS noted the following:
•    The Medicare Advantage (Part C) improper payment rate, based on the 2009 payment year, is 11.0 percent, or $12.4 billion, a reduction from last year’s rate of 14.1 percent, or $13.6 billion.  The Part C improper payment rate dropped 3.1 percentage points (or 21 percent) from 2010, a result of the Administration’s aggressive corrective actions, including ongoing audits – with an emphasis on contract-level risk adjustment data validation audits – designed to recover over payments to Part C plans.

•    The Medicaid improper payment rate is 8.1 percent, or $21.9 billion in estimated improper payments.  This rate reflects a three-year average of the 2009, 2010, and 2011 cycle rates.  The Medicaid improper payment rate declined by 1.3 percentage points, reflecting ongoing efforts by the States and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to educate providers on the root causes of improper payments.
CMS also reported for the first time a composite improper payment rate for the Medicare Part D prescription drug program.  Based on payment year 2009, the improper payment rate is 3.2 percent, or $1.7 billion.  The Part D payment improper payment rate combines five component payment error measures: Medicare Advantage prescription drug payment system error; payment error related to low income subsidy status; payment error related to incorrect Medicaid status; payment error related to prescription drug event data validation; and payment error related to direct and indirect remuneration.

The improper payment rate for the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) will not be published until 2012, CMS stated.  The agency said it was prohibited from calculating or publishing a rate until six months after the August 2010 Payment Error Rate Measurement (PERM) program rules went into effect.  Due to the timing, HHS began measuring CHIP improper payments under the new program rules in 2011, and will publish the results in 2012, CMS said.

While improper payment rates are not necessarily an indicator of fraud in Medicare, Medicaid or CHIP, they do provide HHS, CMS and states with a more complete assessment of factors leading to error rates and new ways to help prevent them, noted CMS.
The CMS announcement coincided with a news release from the White House yesterday reporting that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) announced that the Administration had cut improper payments by $17.6 billion dollars in 2011 as part of the Obama Administration’s Campaign to Cut Waste, fueled by decreases in payment errors in Medicare, Medicaid, Pell Grants, and Food Stamps.

Read other related blogs here…

Article written by Ava Hebert, Recruitment Manager for Therapy Center

After being surrounded by the world of therapy lately, I realized something… Growing up in a small town, I was simply not exposed to many professions and completely unaware of occupational therapy, for one. From that, I have drawn the conclusion that it is simply unfair to make an 18 year old choose what profession they should pursue and study in college as they begin a life of their own. Looking back, maybe I would have chosen a career as an occupational therapist (Nah, too much science involved; anatomy, physiology, kinesiology, oh my! That’s why I stuck with a good ole business degree).

Until recently, I’d never had any personal dealings with an occupational therapist. That all changed on June 19th, when my husband decided to stick his hand under the lawn mower while it was running.  After a trip to the emergency room, several x-rays and doctor visits, surgery to repair a nail bed and tendon, many stitches, three pins, and a husband with injured pride, we met an occupational therapist. My husband tells me that the therapy has been very challenging due to the amount of pain and loss of motion. After exercising his right ring finger for 30 minutes of attempting to write, type, and make a fist, he is dripping with sweat as though he were attempting to run a marathon. But I’m here to say that after a couple of visits to his therapist, several at-home exercises and a lot of determination, he is now using that finger as though the accident never happened. This is why occupational therapists are so very important.

The Difference Between an Occupational Therapist and a Physical Therapist

Many people struggle to understand the difference between an occupational therapist and a physical therapist. I sat down with Lauren Lemoine McCraine, an occupational therapist and Mentor with Therapy Center. She has been with Therapy Center for over seven years and she was very informative regarding the difference between the two professions. “The best way to describe the difference between occupational therapist and physical therapist is that PTs will teach you to walk to the kitchen, but OTs will teach you what to do once you get there. OTs are considered “holistic” therapists, in that we not only treat physical ailments, but we also address the social and psychological aspects of one’s life. We wear many hats on any given day– from OT to social worker, patient advocate to nurse, friend, or family.”

Where and How Occupational Therapists Treat

Occupational therapy is defined as the therapeutic practice of everyday actions in order to establish, recover, or maintain a person’s typical daily living activities. Occupational therapists help others to improve their basic motor functions and/or compensate for permanent loss of function. They are especially helpful to people who have a disabling condition or those recovering from an injury, as they can work with them to regain skills. Occupational therapists can also make the smallest adaptations, and with simple training techniques can give your loved ones the independence they need. For example, OTs can provide assistance for school aged children who suffer from disabilities by helping them to fully participate in school or social situations. In a skilled nursing facility, an OT is well known for providing support to the elderly population who may be experiencing physical or cognitive changes. Activities such as self-feeding, picking out clothes for dressing themselves, and performing grooming/hygiene tasks are all ways occupational therapists help to improve the patient’s quality of life and maintain a sense of dignity.  In all clinical settings, the main goal of an OT is to provide a better quality of life for the patient by helping them to achieve independent and productive daily functions.

Common Conditions Occupational Therapists Treat

Within her 7+ years of skilled nursing experience, Lauren tells me that the most common conditions she has worked with include strokes, osteoarthritis, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, fractures, poor vision, COPD, depression, and age related decline. I wanted to know what types of exercises are commonly incorporated into an OT treatment plan, and what purpose these exercises serve. Just like other therapists, an occupational therapist will conduct assessments and evaluations to determine the areas in which a person may need help. But from there, how does an OT treat these conditions if they aren’t all physical? As Lauren explains it, “The thought behind this is that if an OT can discover an activity that is purposeful and meaningful to someone through conversations or evaluations, then there is more commitment to the task, it’s useful and familiar to the patient in regards to returning to prior level of function, and it can help build rapport between the therapist and patient. A simple task such as folding clothes while standing is something familiar, yet purposeful to the patient and can help to build motor skills, balance, and range of motion, among other things.”

Through my time with Therapy Center, my knowledge about occupational therapy has grown tremendously. I’ve learned that therapists in this field can develop a treatment plan out of almost any daily task; whether it be sweeping a room, putting a golf ball, painting, fishing, writing letters, brushing teeth,  and even making coffee, all of these activities are purposeful and meaningful to someone. Occupational therapy truly helps patients, young and old alike, maintain dignity and develop skills that help them live more independently.

To learn more about occupational therapy as a career, see the following articles.

•    Check out the following link to learn why occupational therapy was named one of the best careers of 2009: http://money.usnews.com/money/careers/articles/2008/12/11/best-careers-2009-occupational-therapist

•    To learn more about occupational therapy and find a school program near you, visit this link: http://www.aota.org/

•    And, if you’re an occupational therapist who is looking to expand your career and learn from the best, please visit this link:  http://www.therapyctr.com/employment-opportunities/current-job-openings

Here are six situations where a women’s health PT might be able to help you.

Incontinence

“Fifty percent of adult women will have incontinence at some point,” says Jennifer Klestinski, MPT, communications director for the Section on Women’s Health of the American Physical Therapy Association, who has a private practice in Madison, Wisconsin. “Because of anatomic differences, the effects of pregnancy and childbirth, and the effects of decreasing estrogen, women leak far more often than men. But with proper strengthening, the data shows there’s an 85-percent chance of complete resolution.”

The regimen: Weak pelvic muscles are a major factor in incontinence, so in addition to Kegel exercises, Klestinski recommends doubling up: “Engage the pelvic floor muscles while doing other daily core exercises—like Pilates—to strengthen the abs, back and hips.” Another surprising cause is osteoporosis, because a rounded back causes our thoracic cavity and abdomen to press on the bladder. A WHPT would recognize this during an evaluation and could prescribe appropriate exercises for bone density loss.

Organ Prolapse

Think of prolapse as a hernia that mostly affects women. When the muscles that hold the pelvic organs become weak or stretched, the organs—the bladder, uterus, small bowel, rectum—can drop from their normal spot and push against the wall of the vagina. As many new mothers know, pregnancy is the most common cause of prolapse. However, it’s not just the trauma of the childbirth that’s a factor—it’s also the extra pounds. “There could be 15 to 25 pounds plus the weight of a baby pushing on the perineum,” says Klestinski. This means that excessive weight gain (no baby necessary) can also put you at risk. Weight maintenance is key to avoid risk of prolapse.

The regimen: Klestinski explains how a WHPT would take a holistic approach to address organ prolapse. “We work from the top down and from the bottom up. From above you may have extra body weight and extra downward pressure from poor posture, dysfunctional bladder habits or from adhesions due to prior surgeries or injuries. From the bottom up, we have the pelvic floor muscles, which act as a supportive hammock to the pelvic organs.” Many WHPTs can help women work on weight management through exercise. To further improve the “top down” issues, the therapist would use manual techniques, patient education and posture training. At the other end of the, um, spectrum, she’d put the patient through workouts to strengthen and tone the pelvic muscles. This gives us yet another reason to do those darn Kegels.

Pregnancy and Recovery

Pregnancy causes profound anatomical and hormonal changes to our bodies. “Some women’s bodies accommodate those changes quite well, and some women require a fair amount of work and assistance,” says Jill Boissonnault, WCS, PT, PhD, past president and founder of the International Organization of Physical Therapists in Women’s Health.

The prenatal regimen: Pushing out a baby is never going to be easy, but some WHPTs say that massaging the perineum with a lubricant, as well as stretching the hip and pelvic muscles, can help a woman “open up” during delivery, which could make her less likely to tear. There’s also evidence that pregnant women can be taught how to bulge and flex their pelvic muscles correctly during labor, which can help avoid C-sections.

The postpartum regimen: “There are things a woman can do to mitigate some of the risk for future dysfunction, like strengthening her pelvic floor with Kegels throughout her pregnancy and after she delivers,” says Boissonnault. She adds that in France, where postpartum wellness visits are included under national health coverage, new mothers are likely to be advised by a WHPT about strengthening their pelvic floor muscles, their abs and their posture.

Pelvic Pain

Because many women avoid talking about this with their friends, family members and even their sexual partners, pelvic pain can be emotionally exhausting as well as physically unbearable.

Vulvodynia: An excruciating affliction of the vulva which affects an estimated 16 percent of women at some point in their lives, vulvodynia is described in this video from the Dr. Oz show as feeling like “acid burning the skin” or a “constant, knife-like pain.” It can be caused by trauma to the pelvis, which may result from chronic yeast or bacterial infections, physical force, accidents, surgery, or physical or sexual abuse.

I know a woman in her mid-20s who has suffered from vulvodynia since childhood. She suspects the cause may have had something to do with an ill-fitting waist harness on a forceful carnival ride. In her quest for relief, she was referred to gynecologists, dermatologists and psychologists, and tried topical anesthesia, antidepressants, talk therapy and the patronizing advice to “have a glass of wine and you’ll be fine.” She was finally told that pain-free sex would require surgery, and her doctor advised her to visit a women’s health physical therapist to prepare for the procedure.

“Many doctors assume that women’s health physical therapy can only take you to a certain point,” says my friend’s therapist, Gopi Jhaveri, PT, DPT, co-owner of Brooklyn Health Physical Therapy, “but we know it can take you all the way to recovery.” Jhaveri discouraged the surgery and instead worked with my friend to develop a rehab program. Four months later, my friend joyfully credits Jhaveri with her “cure.”

The regimen: This varies depending on the patient’s anatomy and type and severity of symptoms, but treatment often includes regular in-office manual therapy, at-home stretching using dilators, exercising daily to strengthen the pelvic muscles, avoiding harsh cleansers like soap in favor of sweet almond oil, and using a local anesthetic like lidocaine during sex.

Vaginismus: A 2010 episode of MTV’s True Life featured three women in their 20s whose pelvic conditions prevented them from having intercourse. Tali, an aspiring singer, had a condition called vaginismus, which involves painful, involuntary spasms and tightening of the vagina. As part of Tali’s treatment, Isa Herrera, MSPT, clinical director of Renew Physical Therapy in Manhattan, showed Tali and her boyfriend how to manually stretch Tali’s vagina (it was more clinical than kinky).

Herrera specializes in intra-vaginal massages to release tight or uncooperative muscles, and also in teaching patients and their partners to do this as home. “One out of three women has some sort of pelvic pain,” says Herrera, who is also the author of Ending Female Pain: A Woman’s Manual. However, she says, many women don’t admit it. “I’ve heard excuses like ‘it hurts unless I keep changing positions’ or ‘it hurts because my partner is so big.’ But the vagina is a wonderful thing and should be able to accommodate just about any man.” Herrera says WHPTs empower women to recognize and alleviate their physical discomfort.

The regimen: Techniques vary, but Herrera says she often follows a full pelvic muscle evaluation with manual massage, including trigger-point release technique to “release knots.” Herrera stressed that although the pain may occur in the pelvic area, the most successful approaches are holistic and involve the entire body. “Pain during sex can cause enormous anxiety, which results in the tensing up of different muscles groups, from the pelvis and the legs to the neck and back.” An important aspect of treatment includes diaphragmatic breathing and relaxation techniques to help the patient deal with the anxiety as well as the pain.

Contact one of our clinics today if you are interested in talking with one of our women’s health professionals.

Visit our Women’s Health section on our blog…click here

On Thursday, July 7th, I noticed an article in the Gueydan newspaper about a dog who was looking for a “forever home”.  Her foster parents were concerned that she may never be adopted, and resorted to putting an ad and photo in the newspaper seeking a family for her. I’ve never owned a dog, and didn’t consider myself to be a “dog person”; however, I was wrong. It was love at first sight.  I learned that Abbey, the Border Collie mix, had been surrendered by her owner at the local animal shelter and was scheduled to be put to sleep due to her age and the need for space at the shelter.  Second Chance Paws, a volunteer organization dedicated to help give rescued dogs a second chance, pulled Abbey from the shelter the day she was scheduled to be euthanized. She was given that second chance.

Abbey immediately displayed love and affection for her new family.  She was very attentive when spoken to and was easily trained in basic obedience skills.  With 3 children, I quickly noticed that Abbey preferred to be in a calm, quiet room of the house where she could nap in peace.  At times when the children accidentally stepped on her tail or bumped into her, Abbey was able to walk away without showing aggression toward them. Abbey was reliable with her good manners and social skills.  Although I thought Abbey was going to be our family dog, Abbey decided that she wanted more…

After a wonderful weekend of getting to know and love Abbey, I returned to work on Monday raving about her!  The Gueydan Nursing home had a “pet” once before, a cocker spaniel who lived outside the therapy room.  However, he was so mischievous and rambunctious that he hardly stepped a paw into the nursing home.  Fortunately he was adopted by a family and loves his new home!  Knowing the kind of dog my Abbey was, I spoke with our administrator and staff at the nursing home about the possibility of Abbey joining me at work.  With their blessing, Abbey has been coming daily to Gueydan Memorial Guest House with me for the past four months! Upon veterinary exam, Abbey was guessed to be about 8-10 years of age. And as a senior citizen herself, Abbey fit right in at the nursing home!

Abbey’s expressive eyes confirmed what I felt all along.  She wanted to be a part of something bigger.  In the nursing home, Abbey was embraced by dog lovers of all ages, and she was able to become part of the Gueydan Memorial family.  Abbey’s story quickly spread throughout the nursing home, and many residents brought their families and loved ones by the therapy room to see her.  Abbey’s presence in the nursing home had many residents reminiscing of their former pets and sparked a joy for animal lovers. At that time, Abbey’s role in the therapy setting was both casual and unstructured. Abbey was able to “socialize” within the nursing home community as a companion to those around her.

With her changing role in the nursing home, both Abbey and I will be participating in a series of tests in order to become a “trained human-animal team” through Pets for Health and Delta Society Pet Partners.  These organizations provide strict guidelines, training, evaluations, registration and liability insurance for Abbey and I to become a registered therapy team.  As a therapy team, we will be trained and tested in the Canine Good Citizen Test, which consists of nine parameters including accepting a friendly stranger, sitting politely for petting, appearance and grooming, walking on a loose leash, walking through a crowd, sit and down on command/staying in place, coming when called, reaction to another dog, and reactions to distractions.  As Abbey’s handler, I must complete either a Delta Pet Partner Weekend Workshop or a Home Study Course, pass a written exam, and pass the Aptitude and Skills Test with Abbey. In addition to re-evaluation every two years, and continuing education requirements, Abbey will be required specific inoculations as suggested by LSU Veterinary School, and a systemic medication regime for heart worms, fleas, etc.  As a team, we will be trained to provide volunteer services including Animal Assisted Activities (AAA) and Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT). Typically AAA involves visiting in hospitals, nursing homes, pediatric units, emergency rooms and intensive care units where we would bring joy, comfort and compassion to those in need, while AAT is typically goal oriented.  In my case, as a Speech Therapist, I would direct the interaction between Abbey and the patient as a therapeutic modality, such as assisting with memory skills and increasing social interactions.  Examples of these human-animal teams are seen during the week in places such as Lafayette General Medical Center’s inpatient rehabilitation unit, Our Lady of the Lake, Women’s and Children’s Outpatient Rehabilitation, as well as several other hospitals and nursing homes.

Every morning when we arrive at Gueydan Memorial, Abbey greets the residents with a friendly sniff and a wagging tail! In the past four months, several residents in Gueydan have purposefully participated in Abbey’s care by supervising her outdoor activities, brief dog-sitting, and grooming.  Because we work in the “Duck Capital”, Abbey has been invited on several hunting trips in the marsh and has posed with resident hunters and their trophies for photos. In a way no medication or no one else could, Abbey has brought meaning and purpose as well as joy to one particular woman suffering from depression.  Another patient suffering from severe Alzheimer’s disease and has difficulty expressing meaningful speech, was able to speak directly to Abbey with love and was easily understood.

Abbey has a huge heart and just wants to give love to those around her. Although it would be easy for me to take the credit in Abbey’s good behavior and mannerisms, the truth is, she is so attentive and eager to please that she simply trained herself to be the perfect dog for both my family and the Gueydan Memorial family. Every time I think about the joy she brings to all of those around her, and how grateful I am for finding her, I know Abbey is even more grateful to continue her life and share it with those around her.

A special thank you to my employers at Therapy Center, the administration and staff at Gueydan Memorial Guest Home, the volunteers at Second Chance Paws, and the volunteer coordinator at Pet’s for Health, Ms. Merlyn C. Hering.  Abbey and I are grateful to have this opportunity to increase public awareness of the therapeutic benefits of human-animal teams in the rehabilitation setting.

Please continue to follow Abbey and Jeanne’s story on our blog.

Here are a few other interested links to the therapeutic benefits of pets.

The Therapeutic Benefits of Pets

5 Ways Pets Can Improve Your Health

New Calculation of Group Therapy Minutes

The new calculation system on group therapy requires that, regardless of group size, the minutes provided to a group of 2-4 patients be divided by 4, making group therapy an inefficient way to deliver treatment unless absolutely necessitated by the patient’s condition. In addition, the new rule calls for increased documentation requirements requiring therapists to justify the use of group as opposed to individual treatment. This regulation could result in the need for increased staff to provide the same level of care.

End of Therapy Tracking (EOT)

New 2012 PPS rules now consider all SNF providers to be 7 day per week facilities, meaning if therapy is missed on a Monday or Friday without any therapy over the weekend, the SNF is required to perform an EOT OMRA resulting in the patient’s RUG level to fall into a Nursing PPS RUG. If therapy is not resumed within 5 consecutive days, therapy must discharge their patient and a SOT OMRA will be required to continue the patient under Part A therapy. Planning patient care and appointment tracking are critical to ensure avoidance of EOT OMRA situations. Weekend, holiday, or evening coverage may be required to avoid these default situations.

Change of Therapy OMRA (COT OMRA)

The  Change of Therapy (COT) OMRA forces the monitoring of delivered days and minutes every 7 days beginning the day after the last scheduled or unscheduled PPS assessment. Under this new regulation, patients are essentially in perpetual assessment and if a patient falls into a lower or higher RUG category in each 7 day look-back, and additional assessment will be required. Payment will be impacted for the previous 7 days and potentially into the future.

Increased flexibility and availability of full-time therapists is a MUST!

Has your current therapy provider discussed their pans for coverage at your facility to ensure that you will be minimally impacted by these changes?

Therapy Center has remained proactive in preparation of the changes and has provided on-going training to our partner facilities and team members.

Call us to find out how we can help your facility.

Kristi Fredieu
Business Development & Marketing Manager
337-384-9791
kfredieu@therapyctr.com

Nursing homes plan to lay off an estimated 20,000 workers nationally in light of the final SNF PPS rule for FY2012 that went into effect on October 1, according to a new Avalere Health survey conducted for the Alliance for Quality Nursing Home Care.

The facilities surveyed also reported cancellations of facility expansions or renovations, and nearly 50 percent expect to make cuts in staff benefits. An earlier analysis by Avalere Health LLC, also found the new CMS regulation will reduce Medicare funding to the nation’s SNF sector by $79 billion over 10 years.

The survey, held from October 3-17, generated 292 responses representing at least 2,932 facilities, according to Avalere. Small providers (fewer than 100 beds) comprised 37 percent of the respondents; medium providers (100-1,000 beds) 44 percent of respondents; and large providers 19 percent of respondents.

Specifically, the new survey of SNFs reports the following:

●  Staff reductions. More than one-third (36 percent) of facilities plan layoffs, which include a reported 113 registered nurses, 125 licensed practical nurses and 458 certified nursing assistants.

●  Postponed hiring. More than one-third (37 percent) of facilities replied “yes” regarding the postponement of hiring direct service staff; 40 percent of facilities replied “yes” regarding corporate or other non-direct service staff.

●  Postponed/canceled expansions and renovations. Almost one-fourth (24 percent) of facilities will put off an expansion or renovation project in light of the PPS rule, which represents a delay or cancellation of 80-85 facility projects.

●  Changes to staff wages. Almost three-fourths (74 percent) of facilities will modify staff wages, including wage freezes, across-the-board percentage cuts to wages, cuts to therapy wages, reductions to starting salaries for new employees and elimination of bonus plans. Fifty-eight percent of those respondents indicated that they were already under, or were likely to implement, a wage freeze or reduction in annual increases.

●  Changes to staff benefits. Nearly half (48 percent) of facilities will reduce or eliminate contributions to 401(k) plans, reduce or freeze contributions to health insurance premiums, and increase cost-sharing for employee health insurance plans, among other changes.

Avalere noted that survey respondents were self-selected and the survey itself distributed via associations representing nursing facility providers, therefore casting doubt on whether the findings are a representative sample of all facilities nationwide.

Sara Taylor grew up in Grand Lake, Louisiana, a small town south of Lake Charles. She is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Occupational Therapy at the LSU Health Sciences Center in New Orleans. Sara recently completed a one week rotation with Therapy Center in the in-patient rehab at the Rehabilitation Hospital of Jennings. We asked Sara to tell us about her experience while on her first rotation and here is what she had to say!

Why did you choose Occupational Therapy for your career?
“From a very young age, I knew that I had a desire to work with people in the medical field, but I wanted to choose a field in which I could interact with others on a personal level to reach their goals. Enabling clients to recognize their worth and their abilities, even in the presence of disease or disability, is very important to me. Occupational therapy strives to be client-centered and recognizes the needs of the client in their everyday environment – in the home, workplace, school, or community – to guide each client’s therapy goals. Utilizing this approach, occupational therapists must remain dedicated to the unique situation of each client and form creative approaches to best treat each individual.”

What is the biggest thing that you learned while on rotation with us?
“During my rotation, I learned so much about therapeutic activities and interventions, but the lesson that will remain with me the most is the importance of communication – both with clients and among staff members – to deliver the best possible treatment to each client.”

What was your favorite part of working with the Therapy Center team?
“Every Therapy Center staff member that I had the opportunity to work with treated me with a great deal of respect and was eager to answer my questions, teach me something new, and guide me to discover things about myself and how I worked with others. More importantly, each staff member treated his or her clients with the same level of respect and enabled them to play an active part throughout their rehabilitation process.”

What else you should know about Sara Taylor!

When Sara is not in school, she enjoys running, water sports, golfing, spending time with her family, and going to festivals and community events in New Orleans. She has a special interest in community wellness promotion, and hopes to someday incorporate her experience and knowledge into working with families or corporations who desire to lead healthier lives.

Read more Therapy Center News student spotlights…

Article Written By student guest blogger: Tess Autin

Music has long been a fundamental part of each and every culture across the globe as a means of interaction and expression. Therapeutic benefits of music were first noted after World War I and World War II when musicians began singing and playing at hospitals for war veterans with physical and emotional trauma. Administrators observed noticeable positive changes in patients and commenced hiring musicians to deliver “therapy” using music. Since then, music therapy has formed into a profession with formal training through an accredited college curriculum, and the scope of practice has expanded to nearly every healthcare and educational setting. Although music therapy is now recognized as a credentialed and specialized occupation, there are several ways that anyone may utilize music in daily life to enhance experiences.

The next time you need to remember something, try singing it out loud or to yourself to a familiar tune. Chances are that you will be able to remember exactly what it is and it will remain engrained in your memory for some time. Why is this? Certain pathways of the brain are stimulated by music. These same pathways are responsible for memory and learning. That is why we often associate familiar songs with specific events in our lives. Even individuals with dementia are often able to sing along to familiar songs although communication may be impaired and they are unable to remember much else. Music may be used to promote wellness, manage stress, alleviate pain, express feelings, improve memory and communication, and promote physical rehabilitation.

Suggestions for therapeutic activities using music include, but are not limited to: music listening for meditation and distraction; lyric discussion; singing of routines for memory retention; movement to music for range of motion and exercise; and instrument playing. Not only can the above goals be achieved, participants will have opportunities for social participation, emotional expression, positive reinforcement, and relaxation.  Make an effort to encourage the use of music in everything you do, after all, it is the only language that binds all of us through the gift of rhythm and melody.

For more information on the profession of music therapy, please visit the American Music Therapy Association’s website at www.musictherapy.org

Why did you choose the field you are studying in?

“I found occupational therapy as an undergrad through my experience in music therapy. I have always wanted to work in the therapeutic setting to provide services that pursued the highest quality of life possible in each individual. As soon as I learned about occupational therapy, I was hooked. I like that occupational therapists work in a variety of settings, and the scope of practice is focused on treating the whole person, and not just the specific problem or disability.”

What is the biggest thing that you learned while on rotation with us?

“I learned a lot about the recent changes in Medicare and how it affects healthcare professionals. That was extremely important to me, because I haven’t been exposed to it in any of my other fieldwork experiences. I now feel more informed on how to advocate for the importance of reimbursement for therapy services.”

What is your favorite part of working with the Therapy Center team? “Every team member I encountered was eager to include and educate me on everything he or she was doing. It is obvious that the employees love what they do and are passionate about quality patient care!”

What else you should know about Tess!

Tess has a huge passion for music. She sings, plays guitar, and plays piano. Tess also a chorister with the New Orleans Opera! She pursued music therapy as an undergrad and is now a board-certified music therapist. She hopes to utilize music-based interventions in future roles as an occupational therapist. Tess says she is almost equally as passionate for New Orleans Saints and LSU football!

Bo Deal, PT/OT, has filled a gap in the Jennings area by covering both rehab and OT home health in a very large radius.  Bo has always been a team player and filled whatever need the Jennings area presented.  Despite the challenges of his new environment, Bo’s attitude has been positive and his adventures in swimming, biking, and running have been an inspiration to all.  He is training for an Iron Man competition in the near future.  We wish him well and thank him for his commitment as a team player for the Therapy Center.

On behalf of APTA and its sections on Health Policy and Administration (HPA) and Private Practice (PPS), we’re pleased to announce the release of a new study that we expect will have positive implications for our profession and the association’s efforts to achieve direct access to physical therapists. Funded by a grant from APTA, PPS, and HPA, this study examined non-Medicare claims data and compared self-referred episodes of physical therapy to physician-referred episodes of physical therapy.

Published ahead of print September 23 in the journal Health Services Research (HSR), the study suggests that “the role of the physician gatekeeper in regard to physical therapy may be unnecessary in many cases.” Patients who visited physical therapists directly for outpatient care had fewer visits and lower overall costs on average than those who were referred by a physician, after adjusting for age, gender, diagnosis, illness severity, and calendar year. In addition, overall related health care use — or care related to the problem for which physical therapy was received, but not physical therapy treatment — was lower in the self-referred group after adjustment. Examples of this type of care might include physician services and diagnostic testing. The study also found that individuals were similarly engaged with the medical care system during and after their course of physical therapy care, suggesting that continuity of care did not differ between the 2 groups. A news release on this study was distributed to the national media earlier today and provides more detailed information.

We believe the results of this study will support our efforts to work with legislators and physician groups to establish policies that reduce unnecessary regulations, improve access, and build models of delivery that best serve our patients and the health care system.

Earlier research has supported direct access to physical therapists as safe and cost effective, but the new HSR study is by far the most comprehensive to date. Not only did it look at a far more extensive number of episodes than previous research, but it also controlled for illness severity and other factors that could have affected the patients’ outcomes.

In the coming weeks, you will be hearing more about this landmark study as APTA, HPA, and PPS roll out a comprehensive communications plan to members, the media, and the public. In addition to our news release referenced above, we will be developing sample presentations and talking points for you to use in your community outreach. You also will learn more through interviews, podcasts, and other educational opportunities for members.

We hope you are as excited about this new research as we are, and we look forward to working with you to educate decision makers on this study and its positive implications for patients and the health care system.

Sincerely,
R. Scott Ward, PT, PhD
President, American Physical Therapy Association
Thomas DiAngelis, PT, DPT
President, Private Practice Section
Rick Gawenda, PT
President, Section on Health Policy and Administration

Katherine recently joined the Therapy Center team in 2011 as a PT in our Jennings outpatient clinic. She also works in the inpatient rehab and home health settings in Jennings. Katherine has a passion for women’s health and is excited for the opportunity to be able to pursue that through the Therapy Center.

When asked what the most rewarding part of her job is, she says, “It’s when my patients tell me that I have helped them overcome something in their life or helped them with something that they thought was impossible.  It is the most rewarding feeling to know that you had an impact in someone’s life.”

Katherine chose this career after she had to get physical therapy herself. “I was hurt when I was in high school and had to go to a physical therapist.  I loved my therapist, all the staff, and the atmosphere of the clinic.  I felt that this would be the perfect job for me because I love being around people and making a positive impact in people’s lives,” says Katherine.

Favorite part of working at Therapy Center? The staff.  Everyone is so supportive and willing to help me accomplish my goal of pursuing a Women’s Health specialization.

Hobbies/other areas of interest: I love sports, working out, and the outdoors, but I also love to go shopping and spend money every now and then.

Do you need help with what questions to ask your doctor? Do you want to know if physical therapy can help you? Katherine is available Monday – Thursday from 8-5 and Friday 7-12 at Therapy Center Clinic in Jennings, 337-824-4547. A referral from your physician is needed for these services.

Alayna began working for Therapy Center in 2010 and  currently works as a clinician in Therapy Center’s partner skilled nursing facilities in Avoyelles Parish. She is also our women’s health professional at Lemoine Therapy Services in Marksville, one of Therapy Center’s outpatient clinics.

Why did you choose the field you work in? I have always wanted to be involved in patient care and the healing process.  I wanted to make a difference in people’s lives. I enjoy interacting with people on a daily basis. I chose the field of women’s health because there is such a need for therapists in this area.  It is a specialized area that is very challenging.  Each patient is different and requires one-on-one care. These patients are looking for help and are very grateful to find therapists who are knowledgeable in their condition as well as compassionate.

What is the most rewarding part of your job? Seeing patient’s to the end of their treatment program and knowing that I made a difference even in the smallest way.  It’s very rewarding to know that I was able to help improve the patient’s condition and restore their function. The most rewarding part of all is watching a patient achieve a personal goal or do something they didn’t think was possible. For my women’s health patients, the best part is restoring their independence and decreasing symptoms of their condition that are limiting daily activity.

Favorite part of working at Therapy Center? One of my favorite parts of TTC is the camaraderie that is formed with my co-workers especially, as well as the mentors and owners.  The owners have gone above and beyond in my opinion to keep employees happy despite necessary changes in Medicare reimbursements and increased scrutiny of documentation.  They are willing to listen to our individual ideas and concerns and I always feel like my voice is heard.

Hobbies/other areas of interest: Reading my e-reader (I love that thing), taking my daughter swimming, horseback riding, SHOPPING (especially for shoes), photography (but I’m not very good at it yet), watching movies with my daughter and husband, I like killing time in Baton Rouge and trying new restaurants.

Anything interesting about yourself that you want others to know: I love the people that I work with! While in college, I worked at Blue Bayou as a Lifeguard, Supervisor, and Instructor, we have a total of 8 dogs and 2 cats at home, I love QVC! I’m a part of a Krewe in Alexandria and I have a blast with those women, I am not much of a runner but I hope complete a 5K soon (like complete it and not pass out)!

Do you need help with what questions to ask your doctor? Do you want to know if physical therapy can help you? Alayna is available Monday – Thursday from 8-5, and Friday from 8:00am – Noon at Lemoine Therapy Services in Marksville, 318-240-7680. A referral from your physician is needed for these services.

Origin of Women’s Health Physical Therapy (WHPT)

According to the APTA, “the Section on Women’s Health of the American Physical Therapy Association was formed in 1977 by Elizabeth Noble. Originally called the Section on Obstetrics and Gynecology, it was founded to serve as a resource for physical therapists interested in the healthcare of women before, during, and after pregnancy.” The popularity of Women’s Health specialty grew in 1995, when a group of orthopedic physical therapists recognized that their clinics were filling up with women whose concerns weren’t being addressed. Most women think that when they have problems like pelvic pain or incontinence that the only person who can help is their doctor. In many occasions, practitioners of women’s health physical therapy are called in to problem solve for women (and some men) who have problems with sexual intercourse, urination, fertility, pregnancy preparedness, postpartum recovery and cancer recovery.

Why is Women’s Health Rarely Talked About?

Information on this topic is not easily found so it’s no wonder why many individuals have never heard of it. “Women’s Health PT is not well publicized in the U.S. and many women are not familiar with what WHPTs can do to help them. Many issues that women face are delicate topics and not many people like to discuss their incontinence or sexual dysfunction problems with just anyone,” explains Alayna Brewer, WH PT for Therapy Center.

Fortunately though, Women’s Health PT is a growing practice. According to the APTA, many physical therapists have specialized training that can benefit women with a variety of medical conditions. Today’s emphasis on fitness and wellness has brought to women’s attention a need to pay closer attention to their bodies during recreation, work, and throughout life.

Physical Therapy is a less invasive solution

In talking with two of Therapy Center’s very own Women’s Health PTs, its remarkable the passion that both Alayana Brewer and Katherine Prevost have for this field of work. Both agree that physicians and physical therapists can work together to provide the best solution for the patient.

Many people assume surgery is the only fix for their problem.  The fact is that surgery isn’t the only solution! “Our goal as WHPTs is to treat these individuals before going under the knife. Much research has been done in the past 10 years in regards to women’s health PT and how it may be beneficial to our patient population,” Brewer says.

Doctors and Physical Therapists are trained differently in how they treat pelvic floor issues.”I also think it’s very important to have a close relationship with physicians during the course of treatment. Physical therapists evaluate the pelvic floor for mechanical or muscular issues that may be causing pain or dysfunction, but it’s important to also have patients see a physician first to rule out any alternative disease process that may be contributing to the pain,” explains Katherine Prevost, WHPT.

Physical Therapists are trained muscle specialists who know how to strengthen, stretch, and relax muscles in way that the physician may not. PT’s can teach patient’s techniques, exercises and stretches that will allow for the relief of symptoms without relying on drugs, which may have negative side effects.  Therapy can also help a client become more independent while teaching them to manage their condition and symptoms on their own.

To schedule an appointment or for more information, please contact one of the following women’s health professionals located at Therapy Center’s outpatient clinics: (Physician referrals are needed for these services)

Therapy Center-Jennings, LA: Katherine Prevost, 337-824-4547

Lemoine Therapy Services-Marksville, LA: Alayna Brewer, 318-240-7680

Story submitted by Danielle Keyser, OT/Mentor, and is pictured left with Mr. Doiron. Danielle accompanied Mr. Doiron to the competition and was part of making his dream a reality. Also pictured left is Mr. Doiron with his supporters and fans!

Jeff Person is from Jennings, Louisiana, where the Therapy Center was born! He graduated from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and then pursued his career as a physical therapist at Texas Women’s University. Jeff joined Therapy Center’s team in 2002 and works in our outpatient clinic in Jennings as a clinician.

Jeff is a certified clinical instructor through the APTA and has taken many PT students under  his wing. He likes to share the passion that he has for his profession with PT interns and says that his career as a physical therapist “is a perfect fit”.

When asked what his favorite part of working at Therapy Center is, Jeff said, “I have an incredible team who I am able to work with and continue to grow and learn with.  I feel every day we grow as a team and become a stronger clinic.  I also really enjoy the fun we are able to have working together.”

What is the most rewarding part of Jeff’s job? Patient satisfaction.  He also enjoys gaining knowledge in his profession, whether its through continuing education seminars, learning from others, or sometimes just figuring something out for himself.

Hobbies/other areas of interest: My family comes first!  I am a huge Ragin’ Cajun sports fan and just a sports fan in general.  I enjoy golf and any social activity or gatherings.

Anything interesting about yourself that you want others to know: I think it is funny that people assume since I am a sports fan that I am a LSU fan.  Couldn’t be further from the truth.  No way, no how.  I bleed red.  Geaux Cajuns! I am also nearing completion of my Manual Therapy Certification.

Watch the drawing here!!

Watch the drawing here!

Only 88 days remain for Congress to take action on the therapy cap and Medicare payment cuts. It is critical that Congress pass legislation before December 31, 2011 to extend the therapy cap exceptions process and to avoid the scheduled 29.5% cut in provider payments under the Medicare physician fee schedule.

This year, the opportunity to have this devastating payment cut and expiring therapy cap exceptions process resolved will require targeted messaging to the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction. The Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction, also known as the Supercommittee, is a joint select committee of the US Congress, created by the Budget Control Act of 2011 on August 2, 2011. The 12-member panel, divided evenly among Democrats and Republicans, has until November 23, 2011 to propose at least $1.2 trillion in 10-year budget savings. If it does not propose a package or if Congress doesn’t approve it, $1.2 trillion in automatic budget cuts will be triggered. The Medicare payment cut and the extension of the therapy cap exceptions process will need to be taken care of within the Supercommittee’s package. While APTA is working tirelessly with congressional offices on the hill to protect the profession and our patients from these impending budget cuts, we need your help.

In conjunction with the efforts driven by APTA’s lobby team, APTA Vice President of Government and Payment advocacy Justin Moore, PT, DPT was invited to testify before the United States House of Representatives on Ways and Means Health Subcommittee on the detrimental effect the therapy cap can have on Medicare beneficiaries. In his testimony Dr. Moore provided background on the therapy caps and described the types of patients who are most affected by the caps. Dr. Moore also highlighted several cost saving proposals to address the therapy cap and payment reform under Medicare Part B. Subcommittee ranking member Fortney Pete Stark (D-CA) said some of the provisions, such as the therapy cap exceptions process, “ensure critical access to needy Medicare beneficiaries.”
Help us reinforce our message by contacting your legislator today.

Message:
• Ask your member of Congress to sign onto the Dear Colleague letter initiated by Representative Allyson Schwartz which urges the Supercommittee to include the SGR fix in the Supercommittee’s proposal.
• Request that your Congressman sign onto the Therapy Cap Repeal legislation (H.R. 1546) and support addressing the therapy cap as part of the Supercommittee package.

What You Can Do
• Send an email to your Members of Congress TODAY. For sample letters and easy access to contacting your Members of Congress by electronic means or download and print letters, utilize APTA’s Legislative Action Center.
• Request your patients to contact Congress on this issue through APTA’s Patient Action Center. This site is designed to educate patients on the issue and to provide easy access to form emails and letters for them to contact Congress.
Keep Your Colleagues Informed – Request that your colleagues take action through APTA’s Legislative Action Center and sign up for APTA’s Grassroots Network, PTeam. PTeam will be the main source of information for legislative updates and breaking news on the effort to pass legislation to extend the therapy cap exceptions process and avoid the 29.5% cut.

Thanks for your help in getting the message through to Congress!

Article was written by Gisele Menard, PTA for Therapy Center. (Gisele is pictured left with Mary Thibodeaux)

Mary Thibodeaux has been my home health patient off and on for over three years. Because her age is a factor, Mary is not eligible for joint replacement and she needs assistance from physical therapy. As part of her home exercise program, Mary has learned to stretch her hamstrings daily for relief from pain. At first, she could only reach halfway between her knees and ankles, but now Mary can reach her toes on both sides! At age 100, she is so proud of her accomplishments and the relief from chronic pain she receives from stretching.

I had the pleasure of celebrating Mary’s 100th birthday with her on April 13, 2011 in Egan. What a precious lady! My co-worker, Amy Deloach (PT), and I feel so honored to serve this wonderful woman who inspires us in so many ways. Most of all, Mary’s tremendous faith that life, even in the midst of pain, is always worth living.

Effective October 1st, a COT OMRA will be required for patients classified into a RUG-IV therapy category whenever the intensity of therapy changes to such a degree it no longer reflects the RUG-IV classification and payment assigned based on the most recent assessment used for Medicare payment.  CMS stresses that SNFs would be required to complete a COT OMRA only if the intensity of therapy changes to such an extent that the patient’s RUG classification, based on their last PPS assessment, is no longer an accurate representation of the patient’s current clinical condition.  This change in the therapy intensity may be due to scheduled changes or unscheduled changes.  The COT is indicated when the different RUG category is higher or lower than the RUG category in which the resident is currently placed.

If a therapy discipline is discontinued and this results in a patient no longer meeting the required number of therapy disciplines for the patient’s current RUG category then a COT OMRA would be required. In addition, if a patient fails to receive the requisite number of days of therapy required for classification into the RUG category, then a COT OMRA would be required to change the patient’s RUG category as appropriate.

The ARD for the COT OMRA would be set for day 7 of a COT observation period.  Beginning on the day following the ARD set for the most recent scheduled or unscheduled PPS assessment (or the day therapy resumes in cases where an EOT-R OMRA is completed) there will be a rolling 7-day look-back.  For example, if the facility uses PPS day 13 as the ARD for the 14 day assessment, the end of the rolling 7-day look-back period will be PPS day 20.  If on PPS day 20 the minutes are no longer an accurate representation of the previous RUG score, a COT OMRA will be required.

Payment begins the day after the ARD, the beginning of the COT look back period and remains in effect until the end of the payment window for the previous assessment or until a new unscheduled assessment (an OMRA, SCSA, or SCPA) is completed.

Example:

The 14 day PPS assessment ARD was 10/8 day 13, with a RUG category of RU (720 minutes) representing the payment category. The start of the COT observation period begins the day after the ARD of the 14 day PPS assessment (COT day 1= PPS day 14, 10/9/11) and continues to COT day 7 (10/15/11), which is PPS day 20.

The patient may achieve the represented RUG at any time during the look back period (think of it as the same look back period when completing a PPS assessment).  However, the minutes and days may only be looked back upon during that seven day COT look back period.  If a COT is not completed, the next COT observation period will begin the day following day 7 of the previous COT period.  Harmony stresses that it is imperative to monitor the therapy disciplines, days and minutes that are captured within each 7 day look back period for determining if a COT is required.

Some of us have a daily reminder of the importance of these stories. For example, when visiting our partner skilled nursing facilities, I have noticed the relationships that our therapists build with the patients they are treating. They see and understand who these patients were before they were admitted into the nursing home…No matter if these patients are there for a short stay solely to receive therapy, or if they have chosen to make the nursing home their permanent residence, our therapists recognize that the dignity and independence these individuals have enjoyed most of their lives should be restored and appreciated so their stories can continue on.

The video below can serve as a reminder that no matter how busy we get or sometimes how frustrated we may become with others, we have the opportunity to positively impact their lives.

Join us as we highlight our longest-tenured therapy techs during therapy tech month:

Monique Lawless, originally from Welsh, LA began working with Therapy Center in 2003 as a massage therapist and therapy tech. Monique attended Welsh High School and the Louisiana Institute of Massage Therapy. She chose this field of work because she truly enjoys helping patients feel better by reducing their pain. Monique says that the patients she has worked with are very grateful and express to her how much she has made them feel better, which is the most rewarding part of her job! Her favorite part about working for the Therapy Center is “that we are one big, happy family!”

All of Monique’s co-workers agree that she has been a great team player and always has a smile on her face! Her positive attitude is always recognized by those around her and Therapy Center is grateful to have her on our team!

The following ARD options will be effective October 1, 2011:

30 Day: 27-29 with grace a grace day allowance to day 33

60 Day: 57-59 with grace a grace day allowance to day 63

90 Day: 87-89 with grace a grace day allowance to day 93

Will your therapy company be able to provide adequate staffing and management to maintain stable RUG levels?

Nursing homes, skilled nursing facilities and assisted living are all part of the solution to both rising health care costs and local job creation.

Take action today — call your Member of Congress and tell them to preserve, protect and defend quality skilled nursing and rehabilitative care for seniors and people with disabilities.

Contact your legislator

Learn more at www.carenotcuts.org

Shelly Gatte

Where is your hometown? Crowley, LA

Year you started working with Therapy Center: 2003

Areas you work/Main job responsibilities: I work at the Therapy Center Outpatient Clinic in Jennings where I am responsible for patient care, some billing and medical records. I also work at the Basile Care Center as a therapy tech.

Why did you choose the field you work in? I always wanted to work in the medical field and helping people is a top priority!

What is the most rewarding part of your job? Seeing people get better!!

Favorite part of working at Therapy Center? The family orientation. It is like family away from home!!

Hobbies/other areas of interest:
Spending time with family and friends is my biggest hobby.

We are lucky to have Shelly on our team! Thank you for all that you do and for being dedicated and very compassionate.

Join us as we highlight our longest-tenured therapy techs during therapy tech month:

Melinda Chenevert has been with Therapy Center since 2004 and is originally from Plaucheville, LA. Melinda says that her responsibility as a floating tech allows her a career where she gets to work with people and help them at the same time. The most rewarding part of her job is seeing the residents improve their function and seeing their smile when they take their first steps. Melinda’s favorite part of working for Therapy Center is her wonderful co-workers! In her spare time, Melinda loves to do anything outside, especially gardening.

We are proud to have Melinda as part of the Therapy Center team!

A common misconception about speech therapy is that it only addresses problems with the act of speaking. Not so. As someone new to the therapy industry, I have found it particularly interesting that there are so many facets to speech therapy and what a speech therapist does as part of treatment. My first observation of a speech therapist left me with many questions. I was in the therapy room of a skilled nursing facility and my expectations were blown out of the water. As I quietly watched, I thought to myself, “Why is she asking the patient to give her today’s date? Why is the patient doing a puzzle? Why are they using a deck of cards to play a memory game? What does any of this have to do with speech?” Afraid to ask too many questions, I did a little research of my own and found many things that people may be surprised to learn about a speech therapist.

What is a speech therapist? How can speech therapy benefit me or my loved one?

When trying to educate an individual on therapy services in a skilled nursing facility, there is a good possibility that they may not see the value in working with a speech therapist. In my dealings with case managers and social workers, I understand that they face objections from patients and their families quite often when it comes to seeing a speech therapist. They think, “Why? I already know how to speak.” What most people do not realize is that a speech therapist is a communication specialist; educated in the study of human communication, they are knowledgeable in many different areas. Speech therapists, also known as Speech Language Pathologists, are trained in areas of oral motor skills such as swallowing, cognitive communication and orientation such as memory and problem solving, fluency such as stuttering, literacy, social skills, articulation, and most obviously… speech.  They can treat patients with any condition that could hinder their ability to communicate. A speech therapist working in a skilled nursing facility would be less likely to treat literacy, stuttering, and articulation, yet more likely to treat memory and swallowing problems. They can teach individuals how to improve swallowing by working and strengthening their muscles thereby reducing the chances of choking or inhaling food or liquid, a problem seen frequently within skilled nursing facilities.

I recently visited with one of our own speech therapists, Leslie Lemoine, who works in our partner facility, Courtyard Manor Nursing Home in Lafayette, Louisiana. She has been with Therapy Center for over three years and had some very insightful information about her profession. “We treat patients with dementia, Alzheimer’s, stroke patients, and several other diagnoses that can affect the patient’s cognition, memory, and speech. We also treat patients that have swallowing problems, also known as dysphagia. We collaborate with physical therapists, occupational therapists, nursing, and family members regarding ways to improve the patient’s cognition, communication, and swallowing function.” Who knew that you could seek help from a speech therapist for help with cognitive problems? I didn’t.

“The main misconception is that we treat only patients that have speech problems, like stuttering for example. Many people don’t know that we can recommend diet modifications and teach patients ways to increase safety with swallowing to reduce the risk of aspiration. Also, many people are surprised to know that we help to teach patients how to increase their orientation and safety awareness and independence, whether in the nursing home or if they are planning on returning to home,” Leslie explained.

When I asked Leslie about a typical day and the treatment plans for her patients, I learned that there is no cookie cutter treatment plan that can be applied to all patients.  Each patient is different; they each require different levels of care and focus in various areas. Working in a skilled nursing facility, therapists notice that needs change frequently. It is not uncommon for an elderly person to have the occasional bout of confusion, but when a therapist or family member begins to notice a change in behavior, communication, or weight loss, this could be a red flag and a sign that speech therapy is needed.

Weight loss can be a sign speech therapy might be needed? Really?

If a patient shows signs of sudden weight loss, this could indicate that he/she is having difficulty with swallowing, therefore is not maintaining a sufficient caloric intake in order to maintain a healthy weight. Leslie says that she has seen this many times in the nursing home and she “communicates with nursing regarding ways to maintain the patient’s nutrition and hydration when necessary.”  That is why in a skilled nursing facility, it is important for the speech therapist to conduct regular screenings in order to notice if a patient has had a sudden decline of any sort. Sometimes, this may require a little troubleshooting. Leslie, as do many speech therapists, conducts her own assessments using various methods to determine and identify the area in which the problem lies. She then sets a goal and treatment plan. Patients are always treated on a case by case basis, as some may need work on swallowing, others with orientation. The treatment plans are individualized and created to fit the needs of the individual, and a speech therapist focuses a lot of time to developing a treatment plan that is most likely to be successful.

When asked if there was a specific tool or method of treatment that Leslie found particularly helpful, she gave me an answer that I was not expecting to hear. “As a therapist, I often like to use newspapers and magazines as part of treatment to increase my patients’ orientation and knowledge of current events for opportunities for conversation with peers and family members,” Leslie says. Yet again, I was unaware that this seemingly obvious daily activity was something that speech therapists incorporate into treatment.

After learning so much about the profession and expertise of a Speech Language Pathologist, I find myself very impressed with their work and I’m am very happy to know that such a unique and specialized therapist exists. Even Leslie has to educate her patients on what she can do to help them and gaining their trust is typically half of the battle.  “When I am able to create a comfortable, home-like environment for my patients and they begin to trust me and allow me to address their needs, I know that I can make a difference. I feel very rewarded and successful when I see that my patient is following my direction and making strides of improvement for an increased quality of life. It’s a good feeling,” says Leslie.

If you are ever in a position where you’ve got to explain what a speech therapist does, or why someone needs to see a speech therapist, remember, a speech therapist is a communication specialist, trained and educated in the study of human communication.

Barbara Miller, an Amelia Manor short-stay rehab resident who plans to return home alone, led the group in cooking cheese and tomoato grilled sandwiches. The recipe was simple, but the long-reaching effects of the session were definitely multi-faceted. In one session, patients received Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, and Speech Therapy benefits – not to mention the social benefits of working in an encouraging and inspiring group.

Therapy Center hopes to implement the cooking therapy program in its other partner facilities. Watch for more information coming soon!

Pictured: (left) Barbara Miller; (right) Judy Duplechien, COTA

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued final regulations for Part A services in skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) on July 29, 2011, effective October 1, 2011. Overall payments to SNFs in FY2012 will be reduced by 11.1%, mainly due to the over utilization of therapy payment categories compared to expected projections.

Reduced supervision of therapy students. CMS has removed specific student supervision restrictions in SNFs because hospitals have no such restrictions for Part A patients. The objective was to promote greater conformity with other inpatient settings. As stated in the proposed rule, the new requirement is that “each SNF will determine for itself the appropriate manner of supervision of therapy students consistent with applicable state and local laws and practice standards.” CMS emphasized that a new, different method of supervision would in no way alter the individual’s basic status as a student operating under the therapist’s supervision and “the time the student spends with a patient will continue to be billed as if it were the supervising therapist alone providing the therapy.”

Group therapy. The CMS proposal that defines optimal group treatment as requiring four-persons remains unchanged in the final regulation. Thus, if a group therapy session consists of two or three patients, the session length must be divided by four (e.g., a 30-minute session with three patients yields 30 ÷ 4 = 7 minutes counted toward the Resource Utilization Group (RUG) level of care). The proposed four-person group treatment standard was protested by ASHA, noting that there is no research to support the assumption that four persons are optimal. A longstanding SNF Part A rule remains, allowing up to 25% of therapy per discipline per week to be group therapy.

End of therapy OMRAs. Changes also affect Other Medicare Required Assessments (OMRAs). CMS proposed that an interruption of three days of therapy would require that the patient be discharged from therapy and require an OMRA when restarting therapy, whether or not the SNF maintained a five-day or seven-day therapy schedule. For example, if the patient received no therapy on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday then an assessment would be required, even though such an OMRA serves no purpose as a clinical management tool. ASHA pointed out that there are many reasons for a missed treatment on the last day of the work week – Friday (e.g., patient illness, therapist illness, patient refusal, visit to physician’s office), extending the interrupted therapy to three days. We recommended the requirement be revised to four days to avoid many unnecessary discharges and reassessments, but the minimum missed treatment period will stand at three days.

The final rule is posted on the Office of the Federal Register’s website [PDF].

Please contact us today to find out how we can help your facility through the October 1st changes!

Therapy Center partners with nursing homes to deliver high quality, cost-effective rehabilitation services. Our services are designed to provide our partner facilities with the highest standard of patient care, increased revenues, reduced responsibility, elimination of staffing problems and ease of compliance. Unlike staffing agencies, Therapy Center welcomes the responsibility of operating and managing a profit-generating rehabilitation department for our partner facilities. We provide highly skilled therapists and a full spectrum of rehabilitation services including physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy and more. Our goal is to enhance clinical outcomes while maximizing financial reimbursements for our partner facilities.

Did you also know that your therapy team can play a significant role in improving your facility’s bottom line if they are proactive and knowledgeable about how to effectively impact your CMI score?

At Therapy Center, it’s our business to make your rehab run better. We’re not just therapy providers, we’re business partners and we know how to help the facilities we work with improve their CMI scores and  watch their revenues grow.

Therapy Center stresses the importance of knowing every resident in our partner facilities, whether on caseload or not, by completing accurate, timely, and effective quarterly screenings. This screening process can not only help identify potential fall risks, weight loss concerns, contractures/positioning problems, and other declines impacting Quality Indicators, but it can also dramatically affect CMI scores.

In addition to screens, Therapy Center plays an active role in referral of patients, training of staff, and assisting in competency checks in relation to Restorative Nursing Programs. We know the importance of communication between our therapists and nursing home staff and we strive to consistently educate and train staff to facilitate accurate reporting and optimal quality of life for patients.

With a full-time, dedicated compliance department, Therapy Center is able to stay on top of the ever-changing laws and regulations that determine CMI, along with other standards for appropriate reimbursement. We assist staff in understanding these changes as they occur, decreasing stress and maximizing productivity by avoiding unnecessary paperwork.

Don’t let precious reimbursement dollars leave your facility. Contact Therapy Center and let us help you succeed in maximizing your CMI.

Please feel free to contact me to discuss how Therapy Center can serve your business needs: Kristi Fredieu, Business Development & Marketing Manager,  337-384-9791 / kfredieu@therapyctr.com.

Therapy Center partners with nursing homes to provide high quality, cost-effective rehabilitation services. Our services are designed to provide our partner facilities with the highest outcomes of patient care, increased revenues, convenience, elimination of staffing problems and ease of compliance. Our goal is to provide the best rehabilitation care possible while maximizing financial reimbursements for our partner facilities.

Rachel has over 8 years’ experience in nursing home care and has served as a Manager and Mentor for Therapy Center since 2008 in the Basile and Jennings areas. Currently, she provides staffing services for speech therapy company-wide and will be transitioning to a new role in compliance alongside Lance Hill, Therapy Center’s Director of Regulatory and Clinical Compliance.

It is Therapy Center’s mission to make sure that the facilities it services not only receive top-notch treatment, but that all monies collected are retained should an audit occur. In addition to Rachel, Therapy Center welcomes Renee Bult and Lisa Parker to its compliance team as part of the on-site audit staff.

Therapy Center is excited about the value these new efforts will be adding to our current long term care partners. To find out how our on-site compliance officers can help your facility prepare for audits, click here to contact Therapy Center today!

Identification and accurate diagnosis of dementia and dementia staging and functional assessment for PT, OT, and ST focusing on an interdisciplinary team approach:
Rachel Manuel, SLP and Therapy Center mentor presented on the utilization of an interdisciplinary approach to dementia care in the SNF.  The focus of the presentation included accurate assessment and staging of dementia patients by all disciplines so that appropriate interventions can be selected and implemented as dementia progresses.  Additionally, Rachel discussed a variety of treatment approaches to increase patient cooperation and progress to maximize functional independence and reduce burden of care on family and staff.

Upcoming changes for the SNF 2012 Final Rule: Lance Hill, Director of Clinical & Regulatory Compliance outlined the upcoming changes and the impact they will have not only on therapy but globally with our facilities as well. Lance also discussed how we can work with our partner facilities to make the transition as smooth as possible October 1st.  Because Therapy Center is a huge proponent for pro-active measures in the area of compliance, he re-iterated the importance of self-regulating our documentation to avoid and prevent future audits and denials and also discussed our audit program and the criteria on which quarterly audits are scored and measured.

Contracture Management/Positioning, Bowel and Bladder, and Low vision programs: Insuring maximal patient independence in SNF setting is always our goal! Our occupational therapists/mentors, Danielle Keyser and Amber LaPrairie, and our Women’s Health physical therapist Alayna Brewer discussed the establishment of internal programs and the importance of caregiver education. Both of these measures are able to facilitate increased independence and reduce risk of contracture, incontinence and falls among individuals in skilled nursing facilities.

Laurie Riquelmy, Education For Living Presentation:  The primary objective of this presentation was to provide distinctions and practices that allow participants to observe and manage their moods.  Our physical and emotional well-being is intimately tied to our moods.  Participants learned the importance of moods and their influence on our personal effectiveness and interaction with other people.  By learning distinctions regarding moods we increase our ability to identify moods in others, and ourselves, see what actions are possible within a certain mood, and shift or design a more effective mood.  For example, by observing and shifting out of a mood such as resentment or resignation, we are able to reduce stress and communicate more effectively with others.

Therapy Center partners with nursing homes to provide high quality, cost-effective rehabilitation services. For more Therapy Center news and developments, find us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter!

Team meetings are essential at this time to allow the Medicare Team to review new requirements, strategies for implementation and schedule education for the entire SNF staff.

What to Consider?
1.    How will the team incorporate the new the MDS assessment window schedule to avoid payment of default days?
2.    Who will be primarily responsible for tracking rehab provision of care to monitor minutes, days and RUG classification requirements?
3.    What type of systems will need to be implemented to monitor rehab service delivery?
4.    Who should the Facility or Center contact to get answers to questions left unclear in Final Rule language? CMS directly, the MAC, state RAI Coordinator, software vendor or outside consulting agency?
5.    Skilled therapy delivery and nursing skilled care oversight to maintain the Medicare Part A revenue stream.
6.    Where to begin?

How to Prepare:
•    Schedule on a minimum, biweekly meetings to outline and discuss upcoming systems changes.
•    Review and post the new MDS assessment schedule options for the team to memorize immediately. 
•    Educate Therapy professionals on the new definition for group therapy, documentation requirements and mode of therapy billing revisions scheduled to be implemented October 1.
•    Select a leader to begin auditing rehab minutes and days of delivery to identify patterns which will impact reimbursement come October 1 under the new guidelines.
•    Obtain and implement the tools necessary to accurately track therapy minutes and days that fall below or exceed the planned RUG category. (Tools should flag significant overages or missed minutes that will effect reimbursement levels).
•    Track and analyze therapy productivity.
•    Schedule mandatory education for all nursing staff focused on Medicare Part A skilled care coverage criteria including RUG classifications and Medicare eligibility and entitlement.

CMS has posted a transition document for implementation of changes scheduled for October 1, 2011. To access this document follow the link below: http://www.cms.gov/snfpps/03_RUGIVedu12.asp

To read the full article, please visit Harmony Healthcare’s website.

Please contact us today to find out how we can help your facility through the October 1st changes!

Therapy Center partners with nursing homes to deliver high quality, cost-effective rehabilitation services. Our services are designed to provide our partner facilities with the highest standard of patient care, increased revenues, reduced responsibility, elimination of staffing problems and ease of compliance. Unlike staffing agencies, Therapy Center welcomes the responsibility of operating and managing a profit-generating rehabilitation department for our partner facilities. We provide highly skilled therapists and a full spectrum of rehabilitation services including physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy and more. Our goal is to enhance clinical outcomes while maximizing financial reimbursements for our partner facilities.

In time to meet the July 31 deadline, CMS posted the Final Rule for The Medicare Program; Prospective Payment System and Consolidated Billing for Skilled Nursing Facilities for FY 2012. The Press has taken hold of one aspect of this Rule and has been reporting overall estimated payments for SNFs in FY 2012 are projected to decrease by $3.87 billion, or 11.1 percent, compared with those in FY 2011. This reflects a $600 million increase from the update to the payment rates and a $4.47 billion reduction from the recalibration of the case-mix adjustment. CMS estimates that under RUG-IV, SNFs in urban areas would experience, on average, an 11.3 percent decrease. In the Final Rule CMS points out that the FY 2012 payment rates are still 3.4 percent higher than the FY 2010 rates.  Additionally, CMS strongly states “We do not believe that the recalibration constitutes a rate cut but instead represents a return to the appropriate level of SNF payments, which have been found to be more than adequate for SNFs and small entities within the SNF industry.” CMS continues  “It is also important to note that this recalibration would serve to remove an unintended spike in payments rather than decreasing an otherwise appropriate payment amount; thus, we do not believe that the recalibration should negatively affect facilities, beneficiaries, or quality of care, or create an undue hardship on providers.”

The important information providers need to extract from this Final Rule is the clinical implications the new rules will have on patient care and retention of the Medicare Part A rate and revenue.

The Final Rule states the following changes will be instituted as of October 1, 2011:
•    Changes to the Medicare required assessment schedule.  This was not posted in the Final Rule and will need to be accessed in the Proposed Rule until the updated RAI manual is posted.
•    Allocation of Group therapy minutes equally between 4 participants.
•    Limiting Group therapy to sessions with 4 patients.
•    Plan of care for therapy must contain the rational for Group therapy.
•    EOT OMRA – Any three day break in provision of therapy services, including Rehab Low plan of treatment requires completion of an EOT – no exceptions.
•    EOT Resumption assessment to be used when therapy resumes within 5 days of the EOT OMRA at the same RUG level.
•    Eliminate the distinction between 5 day and 7 day a week therapy programs in facilities for setting the ARD for EOT OMRA.
•    Each SNF will determine for itself the appropriate manner of supervision of therapy students consistent with State and local laws and practice standards.

Therapy Center partners with nursing homes to deliver high quality, cost-effective rehabilitation services.  Our services are designed to provide our partner facilities with the highest standard of patient care, increased revenues, reduced responsibility, elimination of staffing problems and ease of compliance. Unlike staffing agencies, Therapy Center welcomes the responsibility of operating and managing a profit-generating rehabilitation department for our partner facilities. We provide highly skilled therapists and a full spectrum of rehabilitation services including physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy and more. Our goal is to enhance clinical outcomes while maximizing financial reimbursements for our partner facilities.

If you are interested in completing a clinical rotation with our company, please contact your university’s Director of Clinical Education for information on Therapy Center’s program offerings.

Pardon the low volume, you may need to use headphones for part of the video. We are currently working to resolve the low volume.

Read more Therapy Center News student spotlights…

Compass Health psychiatric inpatient hospitals and outpatient facilities affiliated with the luncheon included Behavioral Medicine Unit and Bridgeway of Church Point; Compass Behavioral Center of Crowley, Kaplan and Mamou; Jennings Senior Care Hospital and Stepping Stones of Jennings and Vermilion Behavioral Health Center of Kaplan.

Therapy Center partners with nursing homes to provide high quality, cost-effective rehabilitation services. For more Therapy Center news and developments, find us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter!

See the newspaper article here.

The following abstract was taken from the American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living’s page.

“In response to the announcement that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services would be reducing payments to skilled nursing facilities by 11.1% beginning in October, American Health Care Association president and CEO Mark Parkinson stated, “The CMS rule makes reductions beyond what is necessary for budget neutrality. Coupled with changes in group therapy definitions, this drastic reduction will be especially challenging for skilled nursing facilities to manage.” Alan G. Rosenbloom, President of the Alliance for Quality Nursing Home Care weighed in also, saying, “The SNF sector has contributed heavily to advancing health care reform and deficit reduction, and is confronted by multiple ongoing threats to funding stability. The ill-considered nature of the Rule and its dire implications to seniors, providers and jobs are significant, immediate and dangerous. Lawmakers will now be placed in the unfortunate position of having to deal with an increased threat to local seniors’ access to care as a result of this egregious regulatory action.” Rosenbloom’s statement continues, “Never in the history of the Medicare program has either CMS or Congress implemented such a large correction in one year.”

To read more, visit AHCA/NCAL’s facebook page and you can always follow Therapy Center’s facebook for this and other articles!

Therapy Center has been named by Acadiana Profiles Magazine as One of Eleven Great Places to Work in the August/September issue. Below is a highlight from the article.

The Therapy Center, which provides therapy for clinics, hospitals, schools, home health and a number of skilled nursing facilities, is a young company founded by five Louisiana therapists in 2002. The company now employs 145 people and is growing fast.

Based in Jennings, the Therapy Center services most of South Louisiana, including the Therapy Center clinic in Jennings and Lemoine Therapy Services in Marksville. It provides therapy to nursing homes and hospitals in Lafayette, Opelousas, Mamou and Kinder and home health care across the region. Additionally, it provides an athletic training program to several Acadiana high schools.

Carly Person, marketing coordinator, has worked for the Therapy Center for five years. During that time, she’s had two children and, for a while, thought she might not be able to juggle the work-life balance. Rather than quitting, her manager suggested that she work from home two days a week to see if that would help.

For Person, it does.

“It has been a blessing for me,” she says. “When I started, I didn’t have children. When I did, I wanted to stay home. This is the best of both worlds.”

Person says the Therapy Center’s leadership is proactive: “Instead of following what others are doing, we try to do innovative things. We’re a very cohesive group and try to keep everyone involved in what’s going on. Education is a big part of our company. That’s what helps us stay on the forefront of the industry.”

The Therapy Center’s leaders attempt to address education for the “whole person,” and in an effort to do so, they offer all employees the opportunity to attend the first stage of Education for Living, or EFL, self-improvement and communication workshops.

“The size of our company takes a lot of communication to be able to run it effectively,” says Shannon Lemoine, physical therapist, owner and founder of the company. “To me, there’s no better way to improve communication than EFL. To get everyone on the same page and speaking the same language is invaluable to me.”

Approximately 45 percent of Therapy Center’s professional employees, including therapists, have completed the first stage of EFL training, and many of those employees have gone on to complete the training through the four stages.

“That percentage of employees working on themselves and knowing how to take feedback – both good and bad – plus having more insight into how they ‘show up’ to other people makes a huge positive difference in our company’s culture,” Lemoine says.

Person agrees. “The more people understand themselves and how they relate to others, the better everyone works together,” she says.

Beyond standard company benefits, the Therapy Center provides free memberships to health clubs for its employees.

“We believe fitness and staying healthy is a big part of what we do,” Person says.

Click here to read the full article on Acadiana Profile’s website!

Therapy Center at Jeff Davis Living Center is proud to announce the addition of Respiratory Therapy Services in Jennings, LA.  The addition of Respiratory Therapist, Danny Broussard, allows for the evaluation and treatment of patients with breathing and cardiopulmonary disorders.  Respiratory therapists test a patient’s breathing capacity and determine concentration of oxygen and other gases in patient’s blood.   Danny will perform regular assessments, care for trach patients, and monitor nebulizer treatments.  As a partner in the JDLC facility, we are happy to welcome Danny to the family.

Read more Therapy Center News student spotlights…

The article “Speech therapy is beneficial to people with dementia” post by the Fremont Tribune, explains that each person with dementia is affected differently by the disease. Speech therapists have the ability to design a unique plan of care for dementia patients and can also provide adequate training with caregivers and families. The following are listed as behaviors that can be indicators of dementia and that should also trigger a referral to speech therapy:

* Difficulty selecting appropriate words and remembering names.

* Exhibits socially inappropriate behavior.

* Difficulty with concepts of time or money.

* Difficulty counting to 10.

* Difficulty anticipating consequences of own actions.

* Limited eye contact.

* Limited social behaviors (e.g., expressions of courtesy and facial expressions).

Read more of indicators here.

At Therapy Center it is our mission that our therapists are properly prepared to assess and stage dementia patients. This training ensures that the highest level of independence is maintained for these patients and ultimately reduces the burden of care on loved ones or staff. Therapy Center provides in-house training for our staff in an effort to have all of our therapists aware of and utilizing appropriate staging and intervention strategies. Appropriate dementia care and documentation of those services is critical to maximizing patient dignity and independence, reducing level of assistance required by caregivers, and capturing appropriate reimbursement for services provided.

For more information on dementia staging, visit the Alzheimer’s Association website at
http://www.alz.org/alzheimers_disease_stages_of_alzheimers.asp

This article was written by Rachel Manuel, Mentor & Speech Therapist for Therapy Center.

CMI, or  Case Mix Index, is the reimbursement system for Louisiana State Medicaid. As explained during its introduction to Louisiana back in 2002, the Case Mix payment system is a program where pennies turn into big dollars very quickly. Proper management of your facility’s CMI can significantly improve your bottom line! Your therapy team can play a significant, active role in helping to improve your CMI score. It is imperative that your therapy company be proactive and also possess the knowledge to understand how to effectively impact CMI.

At Therapy Center, we regulate quarterly screens, fall screens, weight loss, and more to ensure that patients are evaluated in a timely manner when declines are noted. We remain in conversation at all times with our the case mix personnel at each of our partner facilities to foster open lines of communication when setting ARDs that will most appropriately capture an accurate view of each resident and the services that are being provided to them.

Our assistance in establishing Restorative Nursing Programs, regularly screening residents with contractures, and working with high level residents to maximize quality of life within the nursing home and various activity settings are just a few examples of ways that we help provide the best care to our residents, while assisting our rehabilitation partners in maximizing CMI.

How confident are you that your therapy company has the knowledge and skill to help you successfully maximize your Case Mix Index? We know our business; the business of therapy; the business of Customer Partnership, and we can help your facility maximize CMI and improve the bottom line!

Contact us today to discuss how The Therapy Center can serve your business needs: Kristi Fredieu Business Development & Marketing Manager  337-384-9791 kfredieu@therapyctr.com.

Augmentative communication devices are readily available and frequently reimbursable by Medicare, Medicaid and/or private insurance both in the home and nursing home settings.  A speech language pathologist can recommend an appropriate device like those available through DynaVox.  Computer technology has helped patients, even those with no prior knowledge of computers, to communicate both in person and via telephone so that they can share their thoughts and feelings with loved ones.  Your Therapy Center therapist can assist in determining if you or your loved one is appropriate for this technology.

For more information on Therapy Center’s services and locations, browse our website, therapyctr.com, or contact our corporate office at 337-824-8287.

If you would like to view some of the options available by DynaVox, log on to  http://www.dynavoxtech.com/conditions/aphasia/solutions/.

This article was written by Rachel Manuel, Mentor & Speech Therapist for Therapy Center.

Tyler Brady, PT student from LSUHSC-New Orleans tells about his experience with Therapy Center &  what he’s learned! Stay tuned for more student interviews and news updates…

Read more Therapy Center News student spotlights…

Our first interview is with Spencer Wallace, COTA student from UL Monroe. Watch his video interview below to learn about his experience with Therapy Center & see what he’s learned so far! Stay tuned for more student interviews and news updates…

Read more Therapy Center News student spotlights…

by: Barbara Miller

(Amelia Manor patient who plans to return home Independently upon completion of therapy)

Ms. Barbara lead our group and is pictured below with Judy Duplechien, COTA and her physician and Medical Director of Amelia Manor, Dr. Kothapolli (whom is very impressed with her progress).

I. Supplies:

- Paper plates
- Plastic knives
- 1 sharp knife (for cutting tomatoes)
- Spreadable Margarine
- Wrapped cheese
- Tomatoes
- Toaster oven
- Paper towels
- Bread

II.  Preparations:

- Distribute plates, napkins, and plastic knives
- Give each patient a slice of bread
- Give each patient a slice of cheese to unwrap
- Have a few higher level patients slice tomatoes with a sharp knife
- Have each patient reach for a slice of tomato to add to their plate
- Heat toaster oven to 400 degrees (or toast setting)
- When time to bring sandwiches to toaster oven, have ambulatory patients bring them to their destination.
- Have any patient that can stand to perform the task, or portions of the task, complete activities in standing position

III. Directions:

- Spread margarine on top of bread with a plastic knife
- Place unwrapped slice of cheese atop buttered bread
- Top cheese with a slice of tomato
- Place bread directly on wire rack of toaster oven
- Enjoy hot, open face, grilled cheese and tomato sandwich!

IV. Skills Addressed Through this Activity:

A.  Occupational Therapy:
- Bilateral Integration
- Visual perception
- Eye-hand coordination
- UE strengthening
- Self-feeding
- Functional Grasp
- Meal prep if patient plans to return home

B. Physical Therapy:
- Standing tolerance
- Gait training
- Core strengthening with reaching
- Negotiating obstacles during gait

C.  Speech Therapy:
- Sequencing
- Following commands
- Naming
- solving
- Safety awareness
- Decision making
- Providing descriptions
- Swallowing (compensatory strategies and safe swallow precautions)

Please check back as we post more recipe’s and list the skills addressed when conducting cooking groups in our partner facilities.

Nathan Calloway, COTA student from UL Monroe tells about his experience with Therapy Center &  what he’s learned! Stay tuned for more student interviews and news updates…

Read more Therapy Center News student spotlights…

In the heart of Cajun Country, Lafayette is notorious for its undeniable French heritage, wide variety of delicious food, and highly anticipated music festivals. Don’t miss “Rhythms on the River” or “Downtown Alive”, two of Lafayette’s signature events, happening weekly and uniting community and culture while offering great entertainment in the form of FREE, family-friendly, outdoor concerts.
The charm of Lafayette is the big city feel with tons of arts and culture, yet you’re only minutes away from some of the greatest hunting and fishing spots in the nation — perfect for any outdoors man! A recent issue of Southern Business and Development Magazine has named Lafayette as a Top 10 place in the South for the “creative class” – citing Lafayette’s risk-taking spirit and technological advantages. Lafayette is the perfect blend of all interests, making it a great place to live and enjoy life!
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Click here to read a detailed job description for our Nursing Home setting Occupational Therapist and submit your resume today to recruiting@therapyctr.com.
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Why Therapy Center?
WE OFFER:

Salaried Positions
Health/Dental/Life Insurance
Disability
Workers Comp Insurance
Professional Liability Insurance
401K Plan
Generous Paid Time Off
Continuing Education Allowance
Management Growth Opportunities
Health Savings Account
And Much More….

We are a group of fun-loving professionals who strive to always remain proactive and on the cutting edge of industry developments. We are dedicated to education, integrity, and superior patient care and always have room on our team for the BEST of the BEST!

Call today to discuss what Therapy Center can offer you!

Therapy Center is a leading provider of comprehensive therapy services offering physical, occupational and speech therapy in nursing homes, outpatient clinics, home health and hospitals.

This article was written by Lance Hill, Director of Compliance for Therapy Center. Lance started his career in Occupational Therapy in 1993 and has been in therapy management since 1996. Lance helps Therapy Center respond quickly to regulatory changes within Medicare to avoid the risk of reviews or denials. As Director of Compliance, Lance also ensures that Therapy Center managers and field staff have the resources they need to excel in their job duties, keeping Therapy Center a leader in rehabilitation services.

Read the full article

Medicare requirements and constantly changing regulations have, through years of constant scrutiny, facilitated an environment of accountability, demand for quality, and an expectation of excellence within the skilled nursing setting. However, strenuous and detailed paperwork demands alone are enough to create tension and disconnect between departments and disciplines.

The result: a distorted, inaccurate view of the patient in the medical record, making it very easy for auditors to deny claims for services provided.

At Therapy Center, we recognize the heavy demands placed on each department in order to provide accuracy in reporting. We’ve implemented methods, individualized for each of our partner facilities, to open the lines of communication between all departments. Therapy Center provides CNA training to understand and interpret the definition of assistance given to patients, and how to accurately record this on ADL flow sheets. We participate in facility staff meetings to discuss caseloads and patient deficits, in order to pinpoint areas of concern, as well as to identify inconsistencies noted between disciplines.

In fulfillment of our guarantee for quality and excellence to our customers, staff education and program development are areas of constant focus. Whether it be reviewing charts, collaborating with staff, or serving on committees – Therapy Center believes that building strong relationships is not only our responsibility has also been a great strength for our company. Ensuring the best clinical outcomes for our patients and best financial outcomes for our clients remains our top priority!

Hebert will be responsible for employee recruitment and hospital relations, as well as coordination and implementation of Therapy Center’s marketing campaigns and strategies.

Therapy Center was founded in 2002 by five local therapists with the simple goal of providing superior care to patients and helping them maximize their potential and live life to its fullest. Therapy Center partners with nursing homes to provide high quality, cost-effective rehabilitation services. For more Therapy Center news and developments, find us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter!

We must ensure that our nation’s seniors continue to have access to the critical health care services provided by skilled nursing facilities. Take Action Now!

The budget proposal, authored by Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), was rejected 57-40 and was opposed by all Democratic senators voting and five Republicans. The measure needed 51 votes to pass. Ryan’s proposal called for privatizing Medicare and giving beneficiaries subsidies to buy private health plans. Known as “premium support,” the plan would help pay for insurance premiums and would begin for people turning 65 in 2022. Ryan’s version would drop the original fee-for-service version of Medicare, rather than preserving it as an alternative, the Washington Post reports.

Republicans said the proposed Medicare changes are necessary to keep Medicare’s trust fund from going insolvent in 2024, as predicted by Medicare trustees. But Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said the Republican plan would “balance the budget on the backs of seniors.”

The Senate also rejected a proposal that would convert Medicaid from an open-ended program in which the government pays about 60 percent of the cost of services into a block grant program. Each state would determine how to spend grant money on health care for low-income residents using block grants. Republicans estimated that move would cut federal spending by $1 trillion over the next decade.

About 60 percent of Americans want Congress to keep Medicaid in its current form with the federal government guaranteeing coverage and setting minimum benefits for states to follow, according to a survey by the Kaiser Family Foundation.

Blog story provided by Healthcare Financial Management Association http://www.hfma.org/

Join us as we highlight our longest-tenured Speech therapists:

Where is your hometown? Church Point, LA

School/University you received your degree(s): Louisiana Tech University Ruston, LA

Year you started working with Therapy Center: 2005

Areas you work/Main job responsibilities: Treating speech therapist in Church Point

Certifications: DPNS

Why did you choose the field you work in? Provide care to others.

What is the most rewarding part of your job? Facilitating positive change in patients’ daily lives.

Favorite part of working at Therapy Center? Flexibility and supportive administration

Hobbies/other areas of interest: Teach children’s Bible class, jogging and shopping

Name: Linda Roy

Where is your hometown? Marksville, LA

School/University you received your degree(s): LSU at Baton Rouge  (BS) and USL (University of Southwestern Louisiana)  Lafayette (MS)…this was before they change the name to ULL

Year you started working with Therapy Center:  2004

Areas you work/Main job responsibilities: Speech Therapist in Hessmer Nursing Home and work at Lemoine Therapy Outpatient Clinic as needed.

Certifications: DPNS

Why did you choose the field you work in? I chose this field because I wanted to work with children but knew that I did not want to be tied to a class room setting.

What is the most rewarding part of your job? Working with a client who has been unable to eat and is now able to eat without relying on PEG tube feedings.  Also, having family members saying that they can now understand what  their loved ones  are saying.

Favorite part of working at Therapy Center? The people that I work with.   Most of them are the same age as my own girls, yet they treat me like one of them.  They keep me feeling young.

Hobbies/other areas of interest: Reading  and cooking

Anything interesting about yourself that you want others to know: I have to wonderful daughters, Alexis and Leslie and 2 beautiful granddaughters who are the love of my life,  Ainsley and Abigail.