Articles for Healthcare Clinicians

Deaf Awareness Week: How Clinicians Can Do Better

Deaf and HOH patients are often dissatisfied with their healthcare & are more likely to have poorer outcomes than hearing individuals. What can we as clinicians do to provide better care for this patient population?

Mindfulness & Concussion: How can we use it effectively?

In a busy and functional-goal-heavy environment, it can be easy to get so focused on measurable outcomes that we do not consider slowing down and integrating mindfulness and meditation as a skilled concussion intervention… But should we?

Social Skills post ABI - this tool is a game changer!

Utilizing the Real-Life Conversation Skills Video Course to Navigate Comfort, Stretch and Panic Zones in Social Skills Development for Individual with ABI

Living with Brain Injury

Living with Brain Injury: A collection of insights we wish we had known along our journey with brain injury.

Provisional Certified Brain Injury Specialization: 3 things Students Must know

You’ve heard of the Certified Brain Injury Specialist (CBIS) certification prep course ARC Seminars proudly offers – but did you know there was an option for students to get one step ahead in this credentialing process? Read on for 3 things students absolutely need to know about the Provisional Certified Brain Injury Specialization, or PCBIS.

Break into Bariatric Care: First Steps for Occupational Therapists

Occupational therapy is breaking into bariatric care, an area where we have been under utilized despite being well prepared to address the needs of the patient population. Interested? Read on to get those first steps underway!

Break into Bariatric Care: First Steps for Occupational Therapists

Have you heard? Occupational Therapy’s Value in Jail is Big News

The value of occupational therapy as a community-based service in jail settings is becoming better understood as more research becomes available. Read up on what these services look like and why you should care…

Shoulder Subluxation and Stroke: Can These Three Methods Save a Shoulder?

Shoulder subluxation after stroke can be quite puzzling for therapists to treat. Can these three treatment methods save a shoulder? How a shoulder subluxation rears its ugly head can vary greatly–it may develop more quickly with some patients than others, it may be painful or even go completely unnoticed. As therapists, regardless of the how or when, we consistently try to prevent shoulder subluxation from happening and reduce the severity if it does happen… but are we truly being effective?

Self Care and Dementia: 5 Steps to Promote Agency

Completing self care activities including dressing and bathing can be a stressful and frightful experience for the patient with dementia. They are exposed, potentially in an unfamiliar environment and all too often being made to follow the lead of another person. Let’s talk about 5 steps we as practitioners and caregivers can take to promote the agency and independence of the patient with dementia–improving their experience and yours all at once!

Heterotopic Ossification: Why Therapists Need to Know HO

Heterotopic Ossification can be confusing, misunderstood and underdiagnosed in sensitive patient populations including TBI, SCI and ortho. Learn why HO is not your average diagnosis and what you can do to protect your patients.

Fall Prevention: It is So Much More than Rug Removal

I’m definitely not saying rugs aren’t public enemy #1 when it comes to fall prevention–in fact my peers have joked before about my personal vendetta against the throw rug. But fall prevention is a much bigger issue–falls are the #1 cause of injury, hospital visits due to trauma and death from injury among people 65 and older. It’s time we take fall prevention one step further (but seriously, get rid of those throw rugs, people).

Forestall the Fatigue: 3 ways to help Cancer Related Fatigue.

Cancer Related Fatigue (CRF) can be one of the most limiting factors for your patients – but how, as clinicians, can we help to manage- or even improve- this issue? Here, we delve into understanding CRF, how prevalent it is, and our three top ways to assist with this challenging and debilitating problem.

5 Occupational Therapy Tips for Dining out with Dysphagia.

Dysphagia is a chronic condition that occupational therapy can have an important, empowering role in. Eating is one of the most essential occupations, rich with social and cultural meaning. When we are helping someone rehabilitate their swallow, there tends to be a focus on the swallow itself and not all the other things surrounding mealtimes. While many facilities have dining room programs for people with dysphagia to improve compliance and carryover of compensatory strategies with the added bonus of socialization – patients still have to overcome the many challenges associated with dining out with chronic dysphagia.

The Best Shoes to use when Engaging in Lymphedema Therapy.

When your patient has chronic edema or lymphedema, your therapy may need to include Complete Decongestive Treatment (CDT). CDT includes manual lymphatic drainage, compression, skin care, exercises, and patient education- and is the gold standard of treatment for those with swelling issues. It, however, can come with some complications- namely, what are the best shoes I can wear when I am getting treated for lymphedema?

Keeping Your Cool: How to Stay Calm at Work in Healthcare

Controlling your reactions is easier said than done. To stay calm at work requires not only patience, but also some intense self-reflection. It is very easy to get wrapped up in your emotions when you are working in a high pressure, high stress environment (i.e., healthcare). Not only do you have to manage the patients and their families, but there is also schedules, equipment, co-workers, deadlines… the list goes on. The question that probably always crosses your mind is “How do I maintain my composure when something intense is happening?”.

Physical Therapy Continuing Education: Kickstart Your Career in 2022!

With so many physical therapy continuing education courses out there, it can be difficult to know which ones to choose to further develop your professional skills. Fortunately, ARC Seminars makes it easy to do so, offering a number of courses to choose from in a variety of subjects. Keep reading to learn how to kickstart your career in 2022 with our physical therapy continuing education courses!

What is Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy (VRT)?

Understanding the types and uses of vestibular rehabilitation therapy can help you to better serve patients. Vestibular rehabilitation therapy (VRT) is a type of physical therapy used to alleviate problems caused by vestibular (inner ear) disorders such as vertigo, dizziness, gaze instability, imbalance, and falls. VRT is executed using a customized exercise plan based on patients’ individual needs, their pain level, and any other medical conditions they may be experiencing. Vestibular rehabilitation therapy alleviates both primary and secondary symptoms of vestibular disorders by promoting compensation of patients’ other senses, leading to recovery.

Environmental Modifications for Treating Patients with Dementia

When treating patients with dementia, implementing environmental modifications can increase their independence at home while simultaneously improving their physical safety and mental health. Internal or external modifications to patients’ residences may also help minimize some of the psychological and behavioral symptoms of dementia.

Going from Help-LESS to Help-FUL in the Fight Against Cancer

Knowing someone with cancer can trigger a wide range of emotions, ranging from initial denial to feelings of helplessness and frustration. Many people also experience intense anger, often fueled by an inescapable reality that, unless you’re an oncologist or a medical scientist working on innovative cancer treatments or even a cure, cancer figuratively has your hands tied behind your back.

Transgender and Gender Affirmative Voice Therapy.

While you may not think about it on a daily basis, your voice is an incredibly important part of your identity! After all, our voices are not only one of the main ways we communicate—they are also one of our primary forms of self-expression, helping us reveal ourselves and our innermost thoughts to the world. For gender divisive people and the transgender community, however, a voice that doesn’t correspond with gender expression and identity can feel upsetting and invalidating.

Critical Ethical Considerations for Dysphagia Treatment.

Dysphagia treatment can be complex, requiring healthcare professionals to balance a patient’s unique preferences, quality of life, and medical consequences. It’s critical for clinicians and caregivers to know how to competently and compassionately approach dysphagia, so patients can safely receive adequate nutrition, hydration, and care. However, given the complexity of swallowing disorders, ethical challenges are not uncommon. What happens when a patient refuses tube feeding or other clinical recommendations during treatment?

Dementia and Dysphagia: It’s Complicated.

As clinicians, we know that there is much more to dementia than just forgetting where you last left your keys or remembering when your next doctor’s appointment is. It’s important to remember that dementia is a decline in cognitive functioning beyond what might be expected from normal aging, and is not part of the normal aging process. The prevalence of swallowing disorders in persons over the age of 65 ranges from 15 – 23%. That percentage increases to 40-50% if that person is a long-term care resident. Clearly – dementia and dysphagia have a complicated relationship!

Diabetes Management: How does Speech therapy fit in?

Most clinicians working in a rehabilitation setting are aware of the common complications that can arise if diabetes is not appropriately managed, but are we aware of ALL the possible complications and comorbidities that come with diabetes?

How to Guarantee Better Motor Learning through Task Specific Training.

Task specific training in motor learning can make your sessions more functional, engaging and facilitate better learning of the task at hand. Here are some practical examples to improve your motor learning game!

Chemo-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy: How to power up your interventions.

Chemo-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) can be an incredibly prevalent complaint for people who are undergoing chemotherapy… but why is this the case? And as therapists, how can we make sure that we are providing the most effective treatments to work on this disruptive condition?

6 Common Skin Infections you might see with Chronic Edema.

Chronic edema and skin infections go hand-in-hand. Chronic, un-resolving edema may have many causes- including, but not limited to dependency/immobility, Chronic vascular insufficiency, diabetes, CVA, lymphedema, renal or cardiac disease, and so on. Given the prevalence of these conditions amongst our patients, it goes without saying that we encounter clients with chronic edema… a lot!

‘Chemo Brain’: How to help manage the “fog”.

Cancer treatment is so multi-faceted – lots of moving parts, lots of appointments, scans, doctors, and therapies go into treating and managing all types of cancer. It is very overwhelming to say the least, and it sometimes can feel like you are losing your mind due to sheer number of tasks you must accomplish to keep managing your disease in check. Part of that feeling may be due to something called ‘chemo brain’.

Post-concussion syndrome: Signs, Risks, and How to Proceed in Rehab.

As physical therapists, occupational therapists and speech pathologists, we often encounter clients who have symptoms of post-concussive syndrome. But what is the best course of action, and how do we manage this common- yet incredibly disruptive- condition?

Behavior plans in in-patient rehab: how to use them best.

“Challenging behavior”, “Behavioral outbursts”, “That patient is behavioral- so be careful!”. You may have heard these terms and phrases over the course of your clinical career. Problematic as this terminology is- after all, behavior is simply a form of communication that we have to translate- clients who present with distressed behavior need delicate and compassionate care to ensure that their needs are met. And so many facilities and therapists may find themselves reaching for: a behavior plan!

How to make rehab therapy group activities WORK for you… and your patients!

In the inpatient rehab setting, group therapy activities can be one of the most engaging and meaningful ways to provide treatment to move toward someone’s individualized goals. However, this mode of therapy is often an intimidating thing to approach for many therapists. In the hustle and bustle of the day, we are all trying to efficiently and effectively get to our individual treatments… and our perception is often that there is not enough time and not enough room to fit a whole group of patients into an already busy schedule. But… with a little bit of creativity and scheduling gymnastics, group therapy activities can bring a lot of fun and enjoyment to a sometimes painful and emotionally exhausting situation!

Occupational Therapy and Diabetes- check out these 5 uncommon goals!

Have you ever wondered if your occupational therapy role could be less compensatory and more focused when it comes to setting goals and working with your patient with Diabetes? Here, we focus on some of the essential ways an OT can be instrumental in treating a person who has DM in a holistic and practical way.

Autonomic Dysreflexia vs. Sympathetic Storming: How to manage in inpatient rehab!

In rehab, we can see a lot of different types of complicated conditions. Brain injury, spinal cord impairment, multiple trauma and chronic illnesses… these impairments can lead to their own host of complicated side effects. And one of the most intimidating issues that can rear its ugly head is sympathetic dysfunction or overactivity. Here, we want to examine- what is the difference between these two conditions? What should I know? And how best can I deal with it as a rehab clinician?

How To Make Heart Failure, Anemia, And Exercise Co-exist… And Help Your Patients!

The combination of anemia, chronic kidney disease and iron deficiency in patients with heart failure often occurs and is associated with progression of these disease processes and poor prognosis. So, although you could surmise for each specific case you encounter that one diagnosis may have led to the other, it is still unclear whether anemia leads to advanced heart failure and worse outcome or if anemia is merely a sign of more advanced disease.

Student Supervision: You mean I’m the teacher now?

As an experienced clinician there are certain things that are expected of you – good time management, evidenced based treatment, and mentoring of students. Now all of those items can be very daunting at times (productivity requirements I’m looking AT YOU), but all three of those things evolve with experience.

Sleep Apnea and Heart Failure: What do you need to know?

Sleep apnea is often something we see in a past medical history, and we think of it as just something that disrupts sleep. But we do not often think of it as something that would change the way we look at our patients’ overall care. The connection between sleep apnea and heart failure may make you rethink about how you approach these patients.

How to be happy at work- 10 effective strategies!

Have you ever wondered if there is anything that you can do to be happier at your job? Rates of burnout and job dissatisfaction, especially among healthcare professionals, are higher than ever. The number of providers looking to transition to non-clinical careers has skyrocketed and many of us admit to spending much of our day being unhappy with our current work situation.

Edema Management- Set up your own program and maximize your results!

Edema management. It is not something that you can expect at every hospital… inpatient rehab… or even outpatient facility. Yet, I doubt there are many clinicians who wouldn’t agree- this is a big issue for our patients!

Driving post Stroke: How To Help Patients Reach This Goal!

After a stroke, a person usually has a long road of rehabilitation ahead of them before they can get back to their “normal life”. One of the first things they want to know is when they can get behind the wheel again.

Oral Care Programs: How to make it more than just swish ‘n spit.

Do you have a robust oral care program in your facility? If not- your patients may well be suffering the consequences. Read this article on the top five tips to get a great Oral Care Program started in your facility!

Dining Room Programs: How to feel the fear… and do it anyway!

Dining club, dining program, supervised dining… these initiatives go by many names, but it might surprise you to learn what a POWERFUL effect they could have in your facility! Is there a dining room program facilitated at your facility? Are you overwhelmed at the idea of starting such a program? Are your patients losing out, for want of a program like this?? If any of the above are true… Fear not! Here, we discuss some top tips as to how to get a dining room program initiated at your facility.

How to help your patient with Dementia Brush their Teeth.

Have you ever had difficulty convincing your patient with dementia to brush their teeth? You are not alone! Working in an in-patient facility, such as an acute or sub-acute rehab setting, or long-term care, you are sure to meet many wonderful patients. Some of these people will also have dementia. Working with a person with dementia can bring its own set of challenges, including communication difficulties, physical limitations, agitation, and emotionality, to name but a few…

How to Improve Diabetic Neuropathy and Foot Ulcers.

The prevalence of diabetes continues to increase in the US (and worldwide) each year. Of all the complications that can arise, diabetic neuropathy is the most common – present in approximately 50% of people diagnosed. Diabetic Neuropathy can lead to other disabilities such as Diabetic foot ulcers, amputation, gait and balance impairment, and so on. It’s imperative that we, as clinicians, are equipped to properly identify the risks; and educate our patients and their caregivers to prevent such disability from occurring.

3 reasons why becoming CRRN is the best move you can make!

If you work in the field of rehab, you already know… this is a whole specialty unto itself! In-patient physical rehabilitation comes with a very unique set of challenges, demands, and skills. Of course, it also comes with fantastic rewards- any clinician who works in rehab knows that amazing feeling of accomplishment that comes when a patient you saw come in at a dependent level progresses to being able to walk, talk, and look after themselves. Watching someone you cared for walk out the door independently is one of the best feelings any nurse can have!

Agitation and TBI: How to manage.

If you work with patients recovering from a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), you know that on occasion they may need a bit of behavior modification for- agitation. TBI symptoms can have quite a wide range, including physical impairments, cognitive impairments, and social/emotional challenges. Usually at some point in the rehab process with TBI, you will see unwanted and disruptive behaviors come and go. Knowing how to approach the agitated patient and de-escalate the situation is key in order to be able to move forward with your goals for their care.

How to Advocate for your Patient in Acute Rehab.

There is a solid chance you’ve heard the phrase “trust your gut”. As a rehabilitation professional, you probably know that when there’s something *not quite right* with your patient. It’s our job to be an advocate for the patient, and to communicate our concerns to the physiatrist and attending physician. But how can you make sure that your concerns are communicated well, and acted upon?

3 Wound Care Treatments… that will Blow Your Mind!

Wound care treatment can be weird…and wonderful! You’re probably familiar with some of the more commonly seen wound care treatments- such as absorbent dressings, chemical debriders, barrier creams and even impregnated gauze. However, in parts of the world that these conventional treatments might not be available, other wound care treatment options may be employed… and can be far more effective that you may think!

How to set Therapy Goals for Hospice and Palliative Care.

In the acute in-patient rehab world, we don’t often have to set therapy goals for hospice or palliative care. Mostly, we are working away with patients who are medically stable and usually have a prognosis for a good outcome. However, there are times as a Physical, Occupational or Speech therapist that we may encounter patients who are not recovering as we would hope. Your patient and team may have begun talking about transitioning to hospice or palliative care, once discharged from the rehab environment. How do we set appropriate therapy goals for hospice or palliative care?

Return to work after stroke: how to guide your client.

Employment is an essential aspect of life- impacting how we view ourselves, our contributions to society at large, and self-esteem; not to mention the very necessary paycheck and health insurance coverage that most people will rely on. If you are a clinician working with someone who has sustained a cerebrovascular accident (CVA), especially someone who was working up to the point of injury, the question ‘will I be able to return to work after having a stroke?’ is likely on their minds.

Clinical Dysphagia Management: Making the best our of a bad situation.

When it comes to dysphagia management, it’s our job to rehabilitate the patient’s swallow function, and recommend the safest, least restrictive diet texture to optimize oral intake. Seems, straight forward, right?! But how are we supposed to manage dysphagia in a way that balances our professional recommendations, the safety of the patient, and also the wishes of the patient and their family?

Cognitive Impairment and Heart Failure: The Shocking Truth

Cognitive impairment might not the first thing we think about when treating patients with congestive heart failure and anemia. But you may be surprised to find out- these disease processes can often be causes of memory loss and cognitive impairment. Therefore, it’s essential that we fully learn how these patients can be affected as a whole, so we can provide them with the most well rounded and effective plan of care possible!

Dysphagia During the Holidays: How to Empower and Normalize Altered Diets.

Whether it’s baking holiday cookies and cakes or sitting around the table for your favorite holiday meal, food is the essential centerpiece of each gathering. Unfortunately for people living with dysphagia, partaking in those holiday food feasts may not be possible if the proper precautions aren’t taken.

Ostomy management for clinicians- 6 goals and how to achieve them!

In in-patient rehab, stays may be short. When, as a nurse or therapist, you have a client with a new ostomy, it is easy for goal-setting in this area to be overlooked. Trained wound and ostomy staff (WOCN: Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurse) are not always available in every setting. Nevertheless, each interaction with members of staff (nursing, therapy, medicine), are both opportunities for teaching, and opportunities to normalize and accept the situation for the person with ostomy.

Under pressure: How to overcome the pressure ulcer problem in rehab.

Rehab professionals encounter pressure ulcers more frequently than we would like to admit. But you must wonder, with something that theoretically should be very preventable… are we truly understanding pressure ulcer staging and prevention, so we are best equipped to move our patients through a path to recovery? A rehab team has so many layers of unique areas of expertise and there are many ways that the team can come together and tackle the problem of pressure ulcers!

5 Things to Think About when Educating Caregivers.

Educating caregivers is such an important part of what we do as clinicians, and we all would like to think that we are good at it – that the families leave their training/education sessions feeling empowered, well informed, and ready to care for their loved one. In light of my recent experience as the ‘family member’, I have compiled a list of five things to consider when providing patient and family education.

Rehab for Cancer Pain: What’s the best treatment?

As a Physical or Occupational Therapist working with someone who is undergoing cancer treatment, you want to make sure that you are also providing appropriate interventions to address some of the physical cancer symptoms that may come up either during a primary diagnosis or with metastasis. One of these symptoms is cancer pain. There are many different avenues a therapist can go down to treat pain, depending on what its source is – manual therapy, positional release, exercise, and modalities are among a few.

Edema Management: How to improve patient compliance.

Patient compliance (or lack of compliance) is a major issue for many clinicians. At times, it can be one of the biggest barriers to implementing a care plan. This lack of patient compliance can be particularly noticeable when the suggested intervention is painful, unpleasant, or challenging- which edema management certainly can be!

Occupational Therapy and Wound Care: a match made in heaven😇

The interests and skill sets of Occupational Therapy and Wound care are more aligned that you may think! Wound care is squarely within an OT’s scope of practice, and intersects with many of our other, occupation-based, interests. Read this article to learn about the scope of OT practice and the way that they can be effective wound care practitioners!

The Surprising Link between Loneliness and Heart Failure.

One of the populations that we wouldn’t think of first as being affected by social isolation is people with Congestive Heart Failure. The correlation may be largely unnoticed in the heart failure population, with other pressing care issues requiring attention, especially in the acute stage. Congestive heart failure is a major reason for hospitalization and rehospitalization, and the social isolation/loneliness continues to grow.

Become a CBIS… and super-charge the way you work!

When you first start working clinically, determining what area of practice you want to focus on can be an overwhelming and daunting task. More often than not, what you pictured yourself doing while in school is not where you end up when you become an official, licensed professional (and that’s ok!). Lucky for us, the world of rehabilitation offers several subspecialities that can scratch anyone’s clinical itch to be better, and do better for their patients.

Motor Learning and Feedback: How to be effective!

Understanding the power of motor learning is an incredibly useful tool for a physical, occupational or speech therapist to have. Knowing the stages of motor learning, and how to give feedback to your patient, may be the most effective thing you could do to ensure that the person carries over the skills you are teaching them.

Shattering the Myth: how to treat DVT-related swelling.

Clinicians like physical therapists, occupational therapists and nurses are all too familiar with the way that developing a Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) can slam your patient’s progress to a halt. Whether you are working with a patient in acute inpatient rehab, outpatient therapy, a sub acute setting, or in home-care, the diagnosis of a DVT comes with a lot of apprehension, fear, and mixed messages about the precautions and contraindications that may now apply.

How to effectively evaluate and treat Vestibular Dysfunction.

Balance impairment is something that therapists see in their geriatric patients quite often and could be due to a variety of reasons, including central vestibular dysfunction. Learn about why this happens, how to assess for it, and all about treatment in this article, which includes assessment and Home Exercise Program Tools!

How to include community re-integration in your care plan during COVID-19.

Community is different for all of us. There is no ‘one size fits all’ approach to assisting a patient and their families with community re-integration. Patients with traumatic brain injury not only have the physical challenges that accompany such an injury, but they also have cognitive and behavioral challenges, making community re-integration an uphill battle. As clinicians- it’s part of our job to try to consider the barriers that our clients face- and help problem-solve!

How can I support caregivers of people with dementia?

If someone close to you has ever been affected by dementia, you may know how devastating this condition can be- not only to the person themselves, but also to the family unit. Healthcare professionals such as therapists and nurses deal with these complicated family circumstances as well, when helping caregivers cope with dementia. To support caregivers of people with dementia as best you can, first we must understand what is going on…behind the scenes.

‘Challenging’ Dementia Behavior: 5 strategies to boost your communication.

Whether you are a PT, OT, SLP, Nurse or nursing tech- you will invariably be working with dementia patients over the course of your career. Feeling comfortable and capable caring for dementia patients is crucial no matter whether you’re working in acute, sub acute or a long term setting. A huge fear for caregivers is not knowing how to deal with a dementia patient who is becoming aggressive, or even worsening the situation…

Working and living though the COVID crisis: reflections of an SLP.

Guest article from Allison Frederick, SLP! ..”I’m working on turning my guilt into something else, though. Instead of feeling guilty about still being able to work, I’m focusing on being grateful that I still get to work. Instead of feeling guilty about living alone, I’m focusing on supporting my coworkers and friends who have no choice but to isolate from their families. Instead of feeling guilty about being anxious, I’m focusing on the fact that I get to be there for these patients in a time when their families cannot. ..”

Unconventional Therapy Treatments for Phantom Limb Pain.

There are several fairly standardized and well-supported interventions for the treatment of phantom limb pain in therapy. Yet it remains a consistent complaint among those who have suffered limb loss, and the therapists who treat them! Here, we take a look at a few of the less often used and more unconventional therapeutic approaches to phantom limb pain: such as Neuromuscular Taping, Vibration, and Vibration/Electrical stimulation combined).

Oven Fever: Baking ‘therapy’ in Quarantine.

Unless you have been sheltering-in-place under a rock, or nursing a broken oven, you are very likely aware of a growing phenom that is affecting millions of people worldwide- a baking craze! To many OTs right now, though, this news.….is not really all that surprising. Why is that?? Baking can be a very powerful occupation– so let’s dig a little deeper and maybe figure out what is happening from a Occupational Therapy theory point of view

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: the unsung hero behind improving COPD?

COPD is a chronic, progressive disease, affecting millions of people worldwide. As clinicians, we are quite familiar with how to treat many of the physical symptoms of COPD: breathing techniques, energy conservation, strength and endurance building- but, have you ever considered including working on your patient’s mental health?

COVID-19 Policy Statement

As we navigate the ever-changing COVID-19 situation, we all share a heightened level of awareness and concern for the wellbeing of our students, families and faculty. At ARC Seminars, we’re focused on maintaining a healthy learning environment that is committed to a high level of preparedness, and maintaining a safe community.

FOXcast PT: Edema Management with your Patients

We talk to Eimile Cahalan, OTR/L, CLT, CBIS, an OT and instructor on the topic of edema management. We cover understanding the processes of edema, the assessment and management of edema, and the value in establishing your own edema management program where you practice.

2020: New Year’s Book-solutions!

Hello, world! It is that most wonderful time of the year again…January…the time of year where we are either all aspirationally reinventing ourselves, or feeling slightly bad that we haven’t. As well as resolutions, the other yearly list I make, (and this I add to all year long), is my Books-I-Want-To-Inhale-As-Fast-As-I-Possibly-Can list! And this year’s list, so far, really reflects my aspirational mindset. There are a lot of books on this list that show where my head is at this year- basically, I want to SORT MY LIFE OUT!

FOXcast SLP: Acquired Brain Injury and Behavior Management:

Addressing sexual activity and intimacy

is an area that so many of us, as clinicians, have trouble with. It is, of course, a sensitive topic, and our discomfort with bringing it up stems from societal issues, pre-existing suppositions about our patients, and even a lack of confidence in our own roles as healthcare providers! Here, we discuss in brief the role of the nurse or therapist in discussion of the topic with patients; barriers to discussion; and models that have been used to guide the clinician in how to proceed.

Prevent Injury during a fall

Falls are an ongoing problem for our older adults, and can result in countless injuries, cost to the medical system and the individual, and countless after effects which can include of further fear of falling, familial strain, and even subsequent institutionalization. As an adult, if you are at risk for falling, how do you prevent injury? Is it possible to “learn” how to fall or to “fall well”? And, as clinicians, is this something we are overlooking?

ARC Seminars at the Mid-County Senior Center Health & Resource Fair!

We had a blast meeting people, seniors, other healthcare vendors and community organizers at the Mid-County Senior Annual Health and Resource Fair, at Mid-County Senior Center, Wilmington, DE! This annual fair invites seniors and community members to come to a health and wellness focused event, find out more about issues affecting them and gather information on where and how to further their wellness and quality of life. We wanted to start to reach people at a local level, to help them realize that there is something they can do about this condition, provide info and local resources, and hopefully arrest some swelling before it reaches a chronic stage! If you would like to download our brochure, to provide some information about chronic swelling to some of your patients, click here.

Dear UBE- it’s over…

I’m sorry you had to hear it this way. And really- its not you- its me. You are, after all, an inanimate object. But this co-dependency has become toxic! You are holding me back, limiting my treatments, and what’s worse is- you are hitting on all my friends, too (did you think I hadn’t noticed?!). At this rate every OT in the place should have their own little UBEs, that’s how dependent we are on that sweet, sweet 5 minute cycle.

Transgender issues in Inpatient Rehabilitation

With the growingawareness and visibility of transgender issues, we are all learning and being exposed to the challenges this population can face. From misgendering and dysphoria all the way to physical violence and murder, trans people are under constant pressure and threat. It isn’t at all surprising that the sensitive needs of this population require us, as health professionals, to have some additional training and some guidelines on how to create a safe, comfortable, and accepting space. But how do we manage this, at an institutional level?? …click the link for full article…

Attentional Focus: Can how we teach attention change…everything??

Motor learning is something every clinician should pay attention to! This is an way of working with our patients that can make the therapy we give them more effective, more meaningful, and overall translate to better outcomes. Part of this process is noting HOW we instruct our patients during therapy sessions and WHAT we tell them to pay attention to! In this article, we discuss the concept of specificity of training, motor learning, and techniques for how to make your therapy sessions really count!….click the link for full article…

Slippin’ on Slippers: How to Reduce Falls through Footwear

Falls, especially those among older adults, is one of the biggest areas of concern for therapists and nurses, and a leading cause of disability and mortality. Here, we address an often overlooked issue and give some tips as to how to bring it up with your clients!…click the link for full article…

The Short and the Short of it: comparing low stretch bandages

Many of you who read these articles will know how proper management of edema is a passionate and hotly debated topic over here at ARC Seminars HQ. Including edema control into your plan of care is vital for best practice with your patients. Once we get into the world of actually treating our patients and bringing their edema down, however, we enter tricky territory- including a whole host of new products and tools that are vital for treatment. Essential among these products is, of course, the short stretch bandage!…click the link for full article…

Have you seen these skin changes with your patients?

Many therapists and nurses notice some strange and characteristic skin changes occurring with their patients with chronic edema and lymphedema. Here, we go over 4 distinctive skin changes that you may encounter, and briefly discuss what types of treatment approaches you would include to manage and treat these conditions. There are many distinctive skin changes associated especially with the later stages of lymphedema. But why do these changes occur, what are they, and what can we do to address them? …click link for full article…

7 Types of Swelling Therapists and Nurses Need to Know About!

Edema is everywhere! Working in healthcare, we as therapists and nurses often see edema that might be occurring for a variety of reasons. Here, we discuss and characterize 7 types of swelling that you are likely to encounter clinically. To download our “Cheat Sheet” on Edema Variations, and sign up for more updates, contact us to sign up for our mailing list!…click link for full article…