by Howard Gerber on May 14, 2012
One of the most difficult things to do as a teacher is to finish the school year. Most people think it would be the best part of the job; after all there are two months of relaxation theoretically looming within reach. However, teachers all know that as soon as school lets out for the summer, their students are going to start losing all of the knowledge and skills they worked so hard to gain throughout the year, often called the “summer slide.” This is especially difficult for special education teachers who work so closely with students who need extra help just to make those gains. To make the transition less frustrating for the teacher, student, and parents, consider gathering resources to help the students stay academically active over the summer.
Reading
There are many summer reading camps available to students outside of local school districts. Inquire with the district office to see if there are any special projects being implemented for students in your area.
- Scholastic – The Scholastic Summer Challenge has reading challenges for children from ages 3 all the way to young adult. Students can read to help their school win prizes or parents can use the reading list as a guideline for finding age, or reading level appropriate books, for their child to explore over the summer. There is a way to register students before the end of the school year so they are ready to start as soon as school is over.
- Barnes and Noble – The Barnes and Noble program is a bit more laid back but still offers a great variety for students and a prize for students who complete their reading journal. Students choose books from the book list and write in a journal (or have a parent help them write) about what they have read in each book. Once they have completed their summer journal they can submit it to a local store for one of the free books available for their grade level.
Math
Free summer math programs are much more difficult to find. Fortunately there are plenty of great free math games sites that will help keep math skills sharp and may help students who have struggled with math become stronger in the subject.
- Marshall Math Resources – Compiled by an elementary school, this list of resources is quite comprehensive. Most of the resources are for basic math skills but may be useful for students struggling with basic math in middle school or high school.
- Math Fact Practice – This is a fast paced game that lets students choose what they want to practice; addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division. Students also choose the difficulty level and the duration of the game. At the end of each game they are given a score sheet to see how they have done compared to previous attempts.
Even if the parents or students are not receptive to these ideas do encourage them to continue to stay academically engaged over the summer whether it is with school programs, youth groups, or outings with family. How do you help your students prepare for continued learning throughout their summer vacation?
by Howard Gerber on May 7, 2012
Most people pay for medical so they won’t have to pay as much when they need health care. However, some services cost patients almost as much with insurance as without. Physical, occupational, and speech therapy are often classified the same by insurance companies as treatment received by a specialist like a cardiologist or oncologist. Because of this, the co-pay is higher for these visits, which are usually more frequent than those required by others in this category. For instance, a stroke victim may need to see a speech therapist and an occupational therapist twice a week. If their co-pay is $32, the average according to The Kaiser Family Foundation, the weekly fee can quickly become out of reach for many patients.
Stop Accepting Insurance
Many offices no longer accept insurance because of the various hassles associated with doing so. Instead, they offer to bill the insurance company after payment is received in order to help clients receive reimbursements. Why should you stay away from being an in-network provider? Because you won’t be held to their requirements or limitations. This allows therapists to focus on what is best for the patient rather than what is best for the insurance company’s bottom line. The one caveat is that many patients are afraid to visit providers who are not in their insurance network. It may take time to build up a client base and to earn consistent referrals from physicians and medical facilities.
Promote Legislation for Limitations
According to Kaiser, several states are considering legislation that would limit the percent of cost that could be paid by deductible. Often, specialist deductible will be 80-95% of the therapy cost. By reducing the cost of the deductible, more patients would be able to afford the care they need. It would not negatively impact the cost of visits to other specialists, because their base cost is so much higher to begin with. Unfortunately, insurance lobbyists are against these types of measures because it would increase the amount of money they would have to pay for the services, and some claim it would cause insurance premiums to increase for employers and employees. Another option is to encourage legislation that would reduce the amount of co-payments to no more than those established for primary care providers. If you have seen patients limit treatments due to high insurance costs, consider supporting state and national legislation to change the way physical, occupational, and speech therapy services are billed.
How have you helped patients navigate the insurance maze? Have you found it is more difficult to give patients the care they need with certain insurance companies? Are you actively trying to change legislation to help promote the needs of your patients or do you think current legislation endeavors are the wrong way to remedy the situation?
by Howard Gerber on April 30, 2012
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the outlook for careers in nursing is great. Growth is expected to be higher than average in this field for a variety of reasons. From technological advances to increased levels of retirements in the profession, everything is lining up to make this one of the fields that is going to be recession proof. Nursing schools are seeing an explosion in enrollment and not just from women. More men than ever are turning to nursing as a potential career path.
The medical profession has stereotypes and prejudices just like every other field. In medicine, men are perceived as being doctors and women as nurses. However, many men are beginning to see the benefits of nursing far outweigh their desire to avoid a traditionally feminine career.
Student Loans
Student loans are getting a lot of media attention lately because of how unfair they seem in today’s economy. Many are exempt from the same rules that apply to other debt, and people are finding it almost impossible to meet their student loan obligations in an almost non-existent job market. Men who are interested in medicine are beginning to realize that it costs less to become a nurse and still lets them be in their desired field. It is far easier to pay for a degree in nursing than a medical degree. It also takes less time which allows students to go from borrowing money to making money much more quickly.
Salary and Education
Speaking of salaries, do you know how much a nurse makes? A registered nurse makes between about $40,000 and $80,000 per year while a Family Medicine doctor makes about $140,000 a year. It only takes about four years to become a registered nurse, or even less for motivated students. How does that compare to becoming a doctor? It takes about 11 years to be able to complete the necessary medical training.
Security
Not only is the salary great and the educational cost reasonable, the job security is fantastic. The phrase “job security” is typically used to indicate how stable and safe a job position is once it is obtained. Let’s expand that a bit to also include how easy it is to get a job where you want it. As a nurse, you will be able to find a job in virtually any area of the country. This is great for people who love to travel or want to explore the country before choosing a permanent location. It also means if you don’t like your work environment it should be relatively easy to find a new position elsewhere.
Are you a male nurse? Was it the lower cost of education, the appealing salary, or the job security that made you want to go into the field of nursing? Have you faced any prejudices as a male nurse?
by Howard Gerber on April 23, 2012
The FDA is considering expanding the definition of what can be considered a nonprescription drug. The reasoning behind the possible new policy is the FDA wants to streamline healthcare. Studies have found that up to 20% of patients will not get prescriptions filled or they will not return to a physician to get prescriptions for refills. Moving some of the most common medications to nonprescription status would decrease the number of visits to physicians and may increase the likelihood that patients who need these medications will get them.
Dangers of the Change
The problem with nonprescription drugs is that many consumers think they aren’t as dangerous as prescription drugs. People tend to think if the drugs are available to anyone, then they must be perfectly safe. Unfortunately, this is not even remotely true. Nonprescription medications can be dangerous for any number of reasons. They may cause an allergic reaction, they may cause harmful side effects when used with other medications, they may cause other medications to not work as effectively as intended, or they may cause physical problems when taken too frequently. Because these nonprescription medications are not monitored by a pharmacist and patients often forget to inform their healthcare provider about any nonprescription medications they are taking (because they are supposedly safe) this can quickly become a serious problem.
What it Means for Pharmacists
There will almost certainly be an increased burden placed on pharmacists if this new plan becomes a reality. Patients may need to see a physician to get an initial prescription then be required to follow up with a pharmacist for refills. This would require the pharmacist to make a judgment on whether or not the medication was working properly. This would likely only work well with increased technological support and communication between physicians and pharmacists. It may require upgraded computer hardware and software which would be costly for the pharmacies and potentially require extensive new training for those already in the field.
Silver Lining
The good news about this change is that it really may help people get the medications they need. Some patients simply do not have the money to visit a doctor and get their prescriptions filled. This would allow those patients to maintain and even improve their health. While an increased dependence on electronic systems may seem a bit unnerving to some, it will likely make overall patient care a better experience by making sure all providers are on the same page in regards to patient health.
What do you think about the possibility that some medications may soon be OTC? Do you think this will benefit your practice and your customers or do you think it will simply lead to more problems in the long run?
by Howard Gerber on April 16, 2012
It may seem strange to some adults that bullying is such a big deal in the media these days. The reason the media is paying more attention is because the stakes are higher and are already in the public consciousness because of social media sites like Facebook and Twitter, as well as the videos of teens online doing things that in previous generations they would have been too ashamed to admit in public.
What is the Bully Project?
The Bully Project is a documentary about bullying. It is also an organization working to bring awareness to the plight of students across the country who are being bullied in school. One of the reasons the project is getting so much attention right now is because the recently released movie ended up unrated rather than having a rating that would prevent all ages from seeing it. Why would a documentary about children be rated anything other than PG? Because bullying is harsh topic and the only way to really examine the topic fairly is to do so honestly. An honest look at bullying is going to be difficult to watch. That is why the organization behind the documentary suggests that teachers and parents prepare children for the film prior to the viewing. This will help create realistic expectations and foster beneficial communication.
Why is Bullying Worse Now?
Human tendencies have not suddenly changed. Children and adults have always been mean to one another, in varying degrees. There are two reasons bullying seems worse now than in past generations. The Internet makes it more visible and it makes it more appealing. A lot of bullying is now done in an online setting. People posting cruel comments or status updates about others or uploading embarrassing and hateful videos has become popular – in part because it is easy to do, and in part because it removes some of the accountability. It is well known that people become more aggressive when they have the anonymity of the Internet to hide behind, and bullying is an extension of that. The Internet also makes it easier to see what is happening and for extreme cases, such as those that lead to suicide or violence, to become better known by a larger audience.
What Can Schools Do?
The most important thing schools can do is raise awareness. There are numerous free resources available for schools that can help explain the problem and provide solutions for staff and students of all ages. Schools can also implement adequate punishments for those who engage in bullying of other students and make counseling resources available to those who have been bullied.
What is your school doing to reduce bullying?
by Howard Gerber on April 9, 2012
Most people think of physical therapy and occupational therapy as something that is needed after an accident or surgery. While one of these is often the impetus behind a therapy referral, there are other common ailments that can be addressed with the proper therapy regimen. Rheumatoid arthritis is one such condition. The disease can be excruciatingly painful and can limit the ability of the patient to perform common tasks. Fortunately, occupational therapy can help patients retain motion and even regain abilities that have been lost due to disease progression.
What is rheumatoid arthritis?
Rheumatoid arthritis, also known as RA, is an autoimmune disease. Although the cause is unknown the disease causes the immune system to attack the thin membrane lining the joints, the synovium. This results in fluid building up in the joints which leads to pain and inflammation. RA can occur in any joint, anywhere in the body. Because it can occur anywhere, the effect of the disease is different for each patient. One person may have difficulty walking while another may have problems using their hands. While the disease cannot be cured, there are many treatments than can help patients lead more normal lives.
What are the most common treatments?
The first line of defense in treating rheumatoid arthritis is medication. There are several classes of medications that may be used alone or in tandem to help treat the symptoms of the disease including NSAIDs, steroids, DMARDs, immunosuppressants, and TNF-alpha inhibitors. While no single medication can cure the disease, several have been shown to slow the progression, if administered early, and others offer immediate and long-term relief from the pain associated with the disease.
How can occupational therapy help?
Occupational therapy cannot cure rheumatoid arthritis. What it can do is decrease the severity of the symptoms and help patients’ live more normal lives. Occupational therapists are able to teach patients how to protect their joints in order to limit stress on the joints that are affected by the disease and prevent straining and possibly inflaming those joints through normal use. Therapists may target patient specific tasks to modify in order to provide the most benefit for each patient. Patients who have already lost some degree of motion with the affected joints can improve their range of motion and joint strength. Those who still have a good range of motion will be taught how to preserve that ability with targeted exercises. Splints and other assistive devices may also be used to help prevent or reduce joint strain and to reinforce proper joint alignment.
As an occupational therapist, how often do you work with patients suffering with rheumatoid arthritis? What have you found to be the most effective treatment?
by Howard Gerber on April 2, 2012
Sometimes we don’t give a second thought about our ability to complete simple tasks: walking to the mailbox, reading a magazine, organizing our calendars and important files, enjoying social interactions with friends and loved ones, etc. Next thing you know, suddenly things change and the abilities we once took for granted may not be counted on anymore.
What is Occupational Therapy?
Occupational therapists help people of all ages identify and improve skills that help them perform daily tasks at home, work, school, and play. The goal of Occupational Therapy is to help clients live more productive, independent, and satisfying lives.
According to the American Occupational Therapy Association, occupational therapy services typically include
• an individualized evaluation, during which the client/family and occupational therapist determine the person’s goals,
• customized intervention to improve the person’s ability to perform daily activities and reach the goals, and
• an outcomes evaluation to ensure that the goals are being met and/or make changes to the intervention plan.
National Occupational Therapy Month
Occupational therapists provide integral services to our community and enhance the lives of people each and every day. It is a vitally important profession that helps people across their lifespans complete things they want and need to do on a daily basis. Each year in April, occupational therapists, occupational therapy assistants, and students in practice, education, research, and science host a month long celebration showcasing the importance of Occupational Therapy.
How will you promote National Occupational Therapy Month? If you need some ideas to get you started, the National Association of Occupational Therapists has simple and awesome tools to get you started!
