Shows
OT Potential Podcast | Occupational Therapy CEUs#110 Legal Considerations for OT (Part 2) with with Alyson Stover and Monika LukasiewiczOT reimbursement from traditional models is on the decline, while the need for OT services on the risesThus, entering into private practice is an important avenue for OTs to consider. But, with this comes all kinds of legal considerations. In the first part of this two part series, we talked about choosing a legal entity, working with your full scope of practice as laid out by your licensure laws, and navigating Medicare covered services. Now in part two, we are getting into more considerations from navigating anti-trust, Stark Law, anti-kickback, to...
2025-08-1455 min
OT Potential Podcast | Occupational Therapy CEUs#109 Cancer Rehab for Young Adults with Vanessa Monique YanezUnfortunately, rates of cancer have been on the rise for young adults in multiple cancer types—including breast, pancreatic, and gastric cancers.Cancer rehab for these individuals introduces multiple special considerations given their age and life stage. In this one hour webinar, we will use our clinical decision support page to walk through assessment, goal-setting and treatment for adolescents and young adults with cancer.We’ll be hearing from Vanessa Monique Yanez, PhD, MSOT, OTR/L. Vanessa is an occupational therapist specializing in cancer rehabilitation—she is also herself a cancer survivor.
2025-07-3155 min
OT Potential Podcast | Occupational Therapy CEUs#108 Legal Considerations for OT with Alyson Stover and Monika LukasiewiczWhile many therapists dream of private practice, the risk of hitting a legal landmine holds many back. In this episode, we are going to zoom in on one OT who is looking to partner with a doctor who is providing concierge dementia services. We’ll use this as a case example to talk through what legal considerations OTs need to make when starting a practice: from choosing the right legal entity, to partnering with a specific provider, to navigating Medicare, to understanding anti-trust and anti-kick back laws. Yes. We are getting in the weeds...
2025-07-171h 04
OT Potential Podcast | Occupational Therapy CEUs#105 OT and Prevention with Alyson StoverFar too often, people are not referred to occupational therapy until their disease course has progressed to a level of high complexity.But, what if we could start seeing our clients sooner? Ideally, we receive the referral at the first sign of trouble. In some cases, we could prevent the full expression of a condition. In other cases, we could work with the client so their condition presents in a less severe way. These services are low cost and high impact. While it feels obvious that this is the direction we should be he...
2025-05-1558 min
OT Potential Podcast | Occupational Therapy CEUs#104 Chronic Stroke Rehab with Christopher GaskinsStroke rehab is an area where we have some of the most abundant research to draw on as occupational therapists. But, this can also make it feel difficult to synthesize it all into the right actions steps for your clients. In this Ask Me Anything style episode, we will be answering your questions on chronic stroke assessment, goal-setting and treatment. We’ll have a full clinical decision support for you reference during the episode, and then plan to keep it up to date. Our guest Christopher Gaskins, PhD, OTR/L, CSRS is uniquely poise...
2025-05-0156 min
Gunsmoke - Old Time RadioSarah's Search - Gunsmoke | 02/22/1959 (Ep359)Hope you enjoy this episode of Gunsmoke! Find all our OTR radio stations and podcasts at theaterofthemind-otr.com - Audio Credit: The Old Time Radio Researchers Group - All Podcasts @ Spreaker | Apple | YouTube | Spotify | iHeart
2025-04-1824 min
OT Potential Podcast | Occupational Therapy CEUs#100 Starting an OT Private Practice with Carlin ReaumeStarting a side hustle private practice is one of the best ways to safeguard your career, pursue a niche interest, and meet some of the many unmet needs in your community. But, let’s be honest: the process of getting going can be daunting. In this Ask Me Anything (AMA), we are welcoming Carline Reaume, OTD, OTR/L, DipACLM, PMH-C, PCES back to the podcast. Carlin has steadily grown her private practice over the course of several years, and has experienced the ups and downs of private practice management. Also on our panel is Sarah Lyon...
2025-03-061h 00
Aging TogetherS3E03: Navigating Grief throughout the Caregiving Journey | Sarah Boss (Caregiver Story 2/5)Send us a textSarah Boss is a Healer who combines Astrology with different Holistic Healing modalities to help people successfully navigate and transform through major life transitions, activate their inner power and manifest the life of their dreams. Her passion for spirituality, combined with travel, has led her to study diverse types of energy modalities around the world. Sarah’s background includes certifications and trainings in Western and Medical Astrology, Akashic Records Healing, Reiki, ICF Life Coaching, NLP, Intuitive Cards and Crystal Healing. Sarah has lived in China, France and Argentina and offers sessions in English, Fr...
2025-03-0148 min
OT Potential Podcast | Occupational Therapy CEUs#99 Carpal Tunnel and OT with Rachel EganCarpal Tunnel Syndrome affects quality of life in 1-5% of people. The first step in treatment of carpal tunnel should be non-surgical treatment, which includes education, often a steroid injection, and therapy. But what should that therapy look like? In this live webinar, we will discuss carpal tunnel education, assessment and treatment with Rachel Egan, OTR/L, MS, CHT, COMT-UE. Rachel is a Certified Hand Therapist, a Certified Orthopedic Manual Therapist, and currently manages operations for 13 NovaCare clinics across Minnesota.Participants in this course will have access to our full clinical deci...
2025-02-2055 min
OT Potential Podcast | Occupational Therapy CEUs#98 Pediatric Feeding Therapy with Suzie DriscollChildhood feeding problems are one of the most common complaints raised during primary care visits. Which is not surprising, given that the prevalence of pediatric feeding disorder is around 1 in 37 children under age 5. Feeding disorders overall are common in the pediatric population, with a prevalence of 25% of children in the general population and of up to 80% of children with developmental disabilities. Unfortunately, many feeding problems are too often normalized, and parents are told to “
2025-01-3055 min
The Uncommon OT SeriesSarah Lyon, OTR/L: OT in Continuing EducationIn this episode we will learn from Sarah Lyon, OTR/L (she/her). Sarah received her BA from St. Olaf College, then moved to the Big Apple and earned her master’s degree in occupational therapy from New York University. Since then, she’s worked in numerous facilities, including a critical access hospital, an acute trauma hospital, and a state inpatient psychiatric hospital. In 2011, Sarah launched OT Potential because she realized we needed a reliable source of quality occupational therapy-related content and resources. OT Potential connects occupational therapy professionals with the tools and resources they need to create evidence-based change...
2025-01-2036 min
OT Potential Podcast | Occupational Therapy CEUs#97 Grip Strength as a Vital Sign with Gabriella FrancisHowever you think about group strength it probably is not broadly enough. Grip strength is NOT just about hand strength. It is NOT just an indicator of upper body strength. It is NOT just about overall strength. Grip strength is associated with: mortalitypsychological healthfunctional disabilitieshospitalizationmorbidityThe article we are reviewing today, is seeking to convince you that grip strength should be considered as a vital sign, as it is an overall indicator of well-being. And, I believe it is a metric that each therapist should be paying attention to basic...
2025-01-1657 min
OT Potential Podcast | Occupational Therapy CEUs#95: What is OT in 2025? with Sarah BrzeszkiewiczThrough OT Potential, we’ve released over 94 episodes all exploring new influential OT research. As we enter 2025, it’s time to reflect on the research and ask: What trends are we seeing in OT? How is new research enriching how we think about our practice? In this 1 hour-episode, we’ll talk about new trends, with a particular focus on what commonalities we see leaders in our field doing in their occupational therapy process. We’ll culminate our discussion by exploring how people describe OT. This will be informed by our OT practice framework, but with a special...
2024-12-191h 01
Suspense - Old Time Radio ThrillerA Shroud for Sarah - Suspense | 10/25/1945 (Ep164)Hope you enjoy this episode of Suspense! Find all our OTR radio stations and podcasts at theaterofthemind-otr.com - Audio Credit: The Old Time Radio Researchers Group - All Podcasts @ Spreaker | Apple Channel | YouTube Music
2024-11-2029 min
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar - Old Time RadioThe Sarah Dearing Matter - Johnny Dollar (AFRTS) | 06/08/1954 (Ep220)Hope you enjoy this episode of Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar! We offer a Crime, Detective OTR and 4 other old time radio internet radio stations @ theaterofthemind-otr.com - Audio Credit: The Old Time Radio Researchers Group. - All Podcasts @ Spreaker | Apple Channel | YouTube Music
2024-11-1028 min
OT Potential Podcast | Occupational Therapy CEUs#92: OT and Multiple Sclerosis with USA Paralympian Sarah AdamMultiple Sclerosis (MS) is the most common cause of non-traumatic disability in people aged 18-65 years. As rehab professionals, we know that exercise is one of the mainstays of treatment for these clients. Though not definitively established, exercise has the most potential promise to be disease modifying if started early in the course of disease. But, alongside exercise there are other important interventions to consider like fatigue management and education. In today’s article review, we will look at a massive overview of reviews (72 articles were included!). The article outlines the stren...
2024-11-0759 min
OT Potential Podcast | Occupational Therapy CEUs#91: Motor Learning in Neuro Rehab with Katie RiccioAs occupational therapists, many of us have witnessed the wonder of motor learning in neuro rehab. Yet despite years of research attempting to identify the most effective post-stroke interventions, the reality is that our understanding of how to improve recovery of function remains incomplete. The article we are reviewing today serves as an update on the state of the science in how new theories of motor control and learning can be incorporated into practice. The authors put particular emphasis on how new technologies may be needed to truly meet the many principles of neu...
2024-10-241h 02
OT Potential Podcast | Occupational Therapy CEUs#90: OT and Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome with Emily RichUnfortunately, research on the lived-experience for those with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome shows us that we as a profession need to be doing a better job.People with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome report:A lack of reliable information for themselvesSocial stigma from peers.Lack of awareness of EDS in the healthcare communityAs occupational therapy professionals, there is much we can contribute to supporting this population. And, today we’ll look at a self-management program that is grounded in behavior change theory and we co-designed with people with lived experience of EDS.Next week we will welcome to...
2024-10-101h 13
OT Potential Podcast | Occupational Therapy CEUs#87: Community-based OT with Ryan LavalleyIn our OT work with individuals, there can be a feeling of futility. As there is a growing collective consciousness around what we, as OT professionals, experience day in and day out: The communities in which we live have such a profound impact on our health. And, we can fail individuals by focusing only on their individual choices—and not the larger driving forces of their lives. I think this expanding view of health is why we see so much interest in community practice from students, new grads...
2024-08-221h 04
OT Potential Podcast | Occupational Therapy CEUs#83: OT and Functional Neurological Disorder with Naoya OguraFunctional neurological disorder (FND) has been called a “silent epidemic,” a “crisis” in neurology, and psychiatry’s “blind spot.”And, I have to admit it has been a huge personal blind spot for me. Luckily, others in the OT community have been hard at work standardizing care for these patients. Multidisciplinary treatment, including referral to OT is a best practice for these patients. And, today we will look at expert recommendations for OT assessment and treatment. After we review the OT recommendations for FND, we will welcome Naoya Ogura, OTD, OTR/L, he is the Wes...
2024-06-201h 01
OT Potential Podcast | Occupational Therapy CEUs#81: OT and CRPS with Megan DoyleIn a massive 53 page treatment guideline on Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), the authors state:“Occupational therapists are the ideal therapeutic leaders in the functional restoration process…”And, go on to devote 2 pages to what this OT care can entail. In this one hour course, we’ll pull out important implications for OT practice from the entire guideline. As you’ll see, when it comes to treating chronic pain, like CRPS there are a lot of best practices to draw on—but also a lot of unknowns that necessitates close attention to the individual in...
2024-05-161h 10
OT Potential Podcast | Occupational Therapy CEUs#80: Advocacy in Pelvic Health with Lindsey Vestal, Carlin Reaume, and Alyson StoverIn a rapidly changing world, we as OT professionals need collective mobilization like never before. But, it feels like our systems of advocacy are all underfunded and difficult to navigate. Against this backdrop, which can feel discouraging, I think it is critical to shine the light on what I consider one of the greatest OT triumphs of the past decade: The breakthrough of OTs into pelvic health.This is a story of grassroots organization, individual thought-leadership, Facebook groups, podcasts, phone calls, and ultimately collaboration on the individual, state and nati...
2024-05-021h 05
OT Potential Podcast | Occupational Therapy CEUs#79: OT Hopes and Fears for AI with Alyson Stover and Karen JacobsThe idea of AI transforming occupational therapy stirs both hopes and fears. Will it help us revolutionize our broken systems? Will it augment the best of our care? Or will it bolster inequality and threaten our jobs? This is a story we are actively writing—and have the power to shape.In this one hour course, we’ll talk to two leading voices on the adoption of AI and OT, Alyson Stover MOT, JD, OTR/L, BCP and Karen Jacobs OT, EdD, OTR, CPE, FAOTA. We’ll discuss how they are...
2024-04-251h 02
OT Potential Podcast | Occupational Therapy CEUs#75: Knowledge Translation and OT with Tim DionneIt takes an average of 17 years for evidence to make its way into practice. The fields of knowledge translation and implementation science are seeking to change this. And, today we are looking at a scoping review of knowledge translation research in rehab. To be frank, I think the article is pretty convoluted. (Which is funny since it comes from researchers interested in knowledge translation.🤔) But, it certainly gives us a good jumping off point to talk about the challenges around knowledge translation, and the need for innovation in this field. Next week, w...
2024-03-071h 04
OT Potential Podcast | Occupational Therapy CEUs#73: Diversity in OT with Arameh AnvarizadehIn previous courses, we’ve discussed that one of the primary ways we can improve our care, as OT professionals, is to increase the diversity of our workforce—with the ultimate goal of having our workforce’s diversity mirror the diversity of the populations we are seeing. This goal will ensure we have the multiple perspectives needed to respond to the needs of our clients. But, until now, we’ve mostly talked about this theoretically. So, what do the actual numbers have to say about the current diversity of our workforce? It’s a mixed bag.
2024-02-0856 min
OT Potential Podcast | Occupational Therapy CEUs#72: What is OT in 2024? with Ryan Lavalley and Carlin ReaumeThrough OT Potential, we’ve released over 70 episodes all exploring new influential OT research. As we enter 2024, it’s time to reflect on the research and ask: What trends are we seeing in OT? How is new research enriching how we think about our practice? In this 1 hour-episode, we’ll talk about new trends, with a particular focus on what commonalities we see leaders in our field doing in their occupational therapy process. We’ll culminate our discussion by exploring how people describe OT. This will be informed by our OT practice framework, but with a special...
2024-01-251h 10
OT Potential Podcast | Occupational Therapy CEUs#71: Building a Global OT Profession with Vikram PagpatanSince this keynote address from the World Federation of Occupational Therapy Congress was published in 2019, it has been cited so many times that it made our list of the 100 most-cited OT journal articles. It’s easy to see why this has become such a popular read. The article stitches occupational therapy together with global trends, in particular growing inequality. The author challenges us to see this problem clearly. And, calls us upon us to build globally relevant occupational therapy from the strength of our diversity. In this one hour CE course, we’ll rev...
2024-01-111h 05
OT Potential Podcast | Occupational Therapy CEUs#70: OT and Dyslexia with Penny StackDyslexia is the most common form of neurodivergence. It affects around 20% of the population, meaning that people with dyslexia are on almost every occupational therapy professional’s caseload. And yet, not enough OT-specific research and resources have been devoted to how we can help this population. Today, we look at a leading theory of dyslexia that basically reads like a call to action for OT’s to re-examine how needed our skills are. As you’ll see it pushes us to take a strengths-based approach to treating dyslexia, and to regard the condition as rooted...
2023-12-151h 02
Money Matters in Occupational TherapyEp 11. It's Okay for OTs to Talk About Money with Sarah PuttIs it okay for occupational therapy practitioners to talk about money? I mean after all, we didn’t go into this career for the money, right? So is it really necessary for us to have these conversations? These are the questions that inspired today’s episode where we have a very special guest that I cannot wait for you to hear from. Joining me on the podcast is my dear friend, my EI bestie, and of course the amazing podcast guru, Sarah Putt, better known online as OT 4 Lyfe and we're chatting all about why occupational therapists need to be h...
2023-12-1157 min
OT Potential Podcast | Occupational Therapy CEUs#66: Early Intervention Timing and Intensity with Sarah PuttThe main finding of this important research from JAMA is extremely promising for early intervention OT professionals.In the study, greater early intervention service intensity was associated with better functional gains. But, there’s a problem. Federal spending per child on early intervention services has declined over the past decade. And, in this climate of tightening budgets: Most children in the study had delayed care. And, low service intensity. After we review this article, we are so thankful to welcome to the podcast pediatric private practic...
2023-10-191h 02
Aging TogetherEP038: Aging w/ Breast Cancer: A Fireside Chat w/ Dr. Sarah Zera of Moxie OT (Nat'l Breast Cancer Awareness Month)Send us a textOctober is Breast Cancer Awareness Month! In this episode, Sarah and I take a dive into breast cancer facts and figures, testing, intervention, and impact on aging. ===Sarah Zera is the founder and owner of Moxie OT, which seeks to support occupational therapy consumers and practitioners in developing the confidence they need to reach their goals. Moxie OT provides mobile occupational therapy in Chicago and online educational resources for occupational therapy practitioners.The Moxie OT Podcast is a place for occupational therapy practitioners, consumers of occupational therapy, a...
2023-10-0131 min
OT Potential Podcast | Occupational Therapy CEUs#63: OT and ADHD with Bryden Carlson-GivingThe number of children diagnosed with ADHD has been steadily increasing. Now it is estimated that 1/10 children will be diagnosed with ADHD at some point.Even though about half of these children receive some type of behavioral treatment, there has been a lack of studies around OT-specific support for ADHDer children. In this one hour OT CEU course, we will look at a study of an OT program for ADHD that features: Children setting their own goalsA focus on daily time managementTime-assisted devices This program led to significant improvement in performance and satisfaction!
2023-09-0559 min
OT Potential Podcast | Occupational Therapy CEUs#61: Strengths-based OT for Autistic People with Kavitha MurthiIf you are an occupational therapy professional working with autistic people, you’ve likely heard of strengths-based practice (SBP). But, does this approach work? And, what are the benefits of it? In this one hour OT CEU course we will discuss a scoping review that explores these questions. As we’ll see, strengths-based interventions were related to:Positive social engagementLearningSelf-advocacyAnxiety reductionAfter reviewing the article, we’re delighted to welcome to the podcast the article’s lead author, Kavitha Murthi, MS (OT), OTR, FHEA (UK). Her and I will discuss the practical i...
2023-08-071h 05
OT Potential Podcast | Occupational Therapy CEUs#60: OT and Psoriatic Arthritis with Duana Russell-ThomasWhere does OT fit in psoriatic arthritis (PsA) care? In this one hour course we’ll dive into a comprehensive guideline for psoriatic arthritis treatment, which recommends patients utilize a mix of non-pharmacological tools, like occupational therapy. This article will help you brush up on psoriatic arthritis, see OT within a holistic approach to care, and appreciate the importance of individualized care (which we are so skilled in providing). After we review the article, we’ll be joined by Duana Russell-Thomas, OTD, OTR/L, to discuss her innovative approach to arthritis care through a self-m...
2023-07-241h 04
OT Potential Podcast | Occupational Therapy CEUs#59: OT Education for Planetary Health with Moses IkiuguWhat does planetary health have to do with occupational therapy? The author’s of this week’s article argue that engagement with environmental sustainability is foundational for our profession. The authors aim to help OT students and professionals translate environmental awareness to practical action. They theorize 3 skills to do so: Clinical reasoningBi-directional questioning Interprofessional education. To help us unpack this, we are excited to welcome to the podcast Moses Ikiugu, PhD, OTR/L, FAOT. Dr. Ikiugu has been a pioneer in connecting OT practice to global health. He’ll share how his own query into t...
2023-07-101h 04
OT Potential Podcast | Occupational Therapy CEUs#58: OT and AI with Sarah BrzeszkiewiczIs AI going to replace occupational therapy?There’s no doubt that this technology will transform healthcare. It will surely accelerate the existing move toward healthcare taking place at home. To help us wrap our minds around this transformation, we review an article that explores three technologies:Artificial intelligenceBlockchainWearablesThe article explores how the above technologies are being used in chronic disease management. The authors also introduce a patient-centered management framework based on AI. They close out the article by discussing the potential shortcomings of this new paradigm. After we review the...
2023-06-191h 02
OT Potential Podcast | Occupational Therapy CEUs#57: OT for Spasticity in Adults with Scott ThompsonSpasticity can be present in many of the conditions we treat as occupational therapy professionals. And, it can add significant cost and burden for our patients. The article we are discussing in this 1-hour course gives you a big picture overview of the science behind what we know (and don’t know!) about spasticity. You’ll find certain approaches (that I’ve personally used!) that have NOT been supported by the research—but also which modalities have a growing body of evidence behind them. After reviewing the research, we’ll be joined on the...
2023-06-051h 05
OT Potential Podcast | Occupational Therapy CEUs#56: Depression in Neurodegenerative Diseases with Rachel WileyThe research we are discussing on this 1-hour episode really drives home the complex connection between depression and 3 neurodegenerative diseases: Alzehimer’s DiseaseParkinson’s DiseaseHuntington DiseaseEven though depression has a high comorbidity with all of these diseases, you’ll learn why it should not be an assumed part of the disease process. Instead, depression should be recognized as distinct and treated. But, here’ where it gets super complex:In some cases the medications traditionally used to help treat depression do not work for this population—and can be actively harmful. So, OT appro...
2023-05-121h 05
OT Potential Podcast | Occupational Therapy CEUs#55: OT, Plagiocephaly, and Cognitive Outcomes with Amirra CondeleePlagiocephaly has historically been thought of as a benign, cosmetic issue. But, the seminal study we are looking at during this 1-hour course indicates that severe to moderate skull deformity may be best understood as a biomarker for developmental vulnerability. As we’ll see, moderate to severe skull deformity was linked with lower cognitive and academic outcomes, when the children reached school age. It is critical to understand that this does not mean that plagiocephaly causes developmental delay. But, given the results of this study, developmental assessment, monitoring, and intervention is recommended for chil...
2023-05-011h 01
OT Potential Podcast | Occupational Therapy CEUs#54: Cancer Rehab for Older Adults with Mackenzi PergolottiAbout half of cancer survivors report difficulty with ADLs and a third difficulty with iADLs.But, unfortunately, only around 1 in 10 older adults with cancer who have a known functional limitation receive a referral to OT or PT. Even less make it to an eval.And, even less than that, complete their full course of rehab. Why are we failing to support such a large percentage of this population? And, what is the best way to support them when they do make it to us for occupational therapy?H...
2023-04-101h 05
OT Potential Podcast | Occupational Therapy CEUs#53: OT & Smart Home Tech Adoption with Carol ChiangThe research we’ve explored on the podcast, seems to be pointing to a new reality: The future of healthcare will be in the home. But, how will we get there? How will our homes ever be ready to age in place?The transition is going to be a complex story of the right technologies, the right funding, and the right narratives. All of which will ultimately lead to the end goal of tech adoption. The article we will explore in this 1-hour course focuses on smart home technology adoption. It showc...
2023-03-271h 02
OT Potential Podcast | Occupational Therapy CEUs#52: Anti-racist OT Praxis with Khalilah R. Johnson and Ryan LavalleyAs occupational therapy providers, we have a duty to truly understand the word “occupation.” This means acknowledging the role occupation has played in shaping societal policies and norms, many of which are fundamentally unjust.We also need to admit that our professional knowledge base, itself, is skewed.The foundations of OT have evolved from an exclusionary context that privileged White skin, as well as other false social hierarchies. So much of what we learn, teach, and practice as OTs comes from a lens of being able to accumulate social, economic, and political power....
2023-03-131h 13
OT Potential Podcast | Occupational Therapy CEUs#51: Racism and Occupation with Ryan Lavalley and Khalilah R. JohnsonThe article we are looking at today challenges us to look critically at occupation—and how it can be used as a tool for justice or injustice. The reality is that many of us have narrowed our view of occupation into the medicalized and individualized categories of ADLs. But, we know from research (and lived experience!) that occupation is much more complex, interconnected, and powerful.The authors outline for us how occupation has played a role in systemic racism in the US. This history and present must be understood and confronted if we are...
2023-02-271h 02
OT Potential Podcast | Occupational Therapy CEUs#49: Participation-focused Knowledge Translation in Pediatric OT with Satvika GargBoth participation-focused OT and knowledge translation are hot topics in OT right now. And, in this one-hour course we will explore a research article that puts forth a knowledge translation roadmap to accelerate the uptake of participation-focused OT assessments and intervention. These are both big topics in their own right, and when you mesh them together it feels like more than one therapist can handle. Honestly, that’s the point: Both knowledge translation and participation-focused OT are a team sport. It’s going to take all of us to be both...
2023-01-301h 02
OT Potential Podcast | Occupational Therapy CEUs#48: Pediatric TBI and OT with Nelson GonzalezChildren are not little adults.Their brains are actively developing. Because of this neuroplasticity, one might assume they would more quickly and fully recover from a traumatic brain injury (TBI). This is not the case. A brain injury can have a more devastating impact on a child than a similar injury in a mature adult. (Brain Injury Association of America) This is what makes comprehensive, ongoing rehab for pediatric TBI so important. But, unfortunately, as we will see in our primary research, many children who experience TBI have substantial unmet rehab nee...
2023-01-161h 00
OT Potential Podcast | Occupational Therapy CEUs#47: OT and Falls Prevention with Pooja PatelFalls are a complex problem. This makes preventing them a perfect target for our OT skillset. This week we are looking at an article that explores “the state of the science” on preventing falls in hospitalized patients. The authors walk us through:The scope of the problem The science (or lack thereof) supporting different interventionsWhile many of the interventions sound simple (like gripper socks and alarms), the article we review in this 1-hour course reminds us that nothing is simple in creating truly effective fall prevention initiat...
2023-01-021h 04
OT Potential Podcast | Occupational Therapy CEUs#44: Early Intervention for Motor Performance with Sarah PuttFrom pregnancy to age 2 is arguably the most important developmental window of our lifetimes. This makes the work of OTs who work with this age incredibly important. And, for the rest of us, we should be using our professional knowledge to advocate for the proper support for families at this critically important window.In this one hour podcast course, we are looking at a broad systematic review about OT motor inventions for children ages 0-5. The importance of this paper cuts across multiple practice areas, but we are going to use this paper as...
2022-11-141h 03
OT Potential Podcast | Occupational Therapy CEUs#43: OT Supports for Sensory Processing Differences with Bryden GivingThe use of sensory-based interventions (SBIs) and environmental modification are common OT treatments. But, what is the evidence behind these treatments? In this episode, we’ll look at an influential systematic review that explores that question. The authors lay out the evidence behind specific sensory techniques and environmental modifications for children with sensory integration (SI) differences. The authors explore and rate the levels of evidence of common treatments, like massage, weighted vests, sensory enrichment in preschools, and linear swinging.After we review the article, we’ll welcome to the podcast our guest...
2022-10-3156 min
OT Potential Podcast | Occupational Therapy CEUs#42: Virtual Reality and OT with Christopher GaskinsWhether or not you are personally a fan of virtually reality—all OTs should be following the developing research on this technology. In this episode, we’ll discuss an article where the authors explore the use of virtual reality (VR) systems that are built specifically for rehab versus general-use VR, like the Nintendo Wii and Xbox. The authors really focus on the active ingredients that seem to make VR-based rehab effective. And, they put forth the principles of neurorehab that underlie successful rehab. (They also specifically look at UE motor recovery after stroke, so this all fe...
2022-10-181h 01
OT Potential Podcast | Occupational Therapy CEUs#39: Lifestyle Medicine and OT with Ryan OsalHelping people change their habits to change their health is one of the main mechanisms that makes OT effective. But, I don’t think we spend enough time thinking about how HARD it is to change our habits. The article we are looking at today focuses on changing lifestyle habits for adults at high risk of a cardiovascular incident, like a stroke. The author’s aim is to conceptualize how engaging occupations can be used to facilitate health promoting habits.We’ll use this article as a jumping off point to discuss both habit fo...
2022-09-0556 min
OT Potential Podcast | Occupational Therapy CEUs#38: CIMT and OT with Catherine HoytConstraint-induced Movement Therapy has the reputation for being an intervention that is only for specialized OTs in some far-away speciality clinic. But, trust me: no matter what population you work with, OTs should be following this research. Today, on the podcast we are looking at a Cochrane review of all the evidence that undergirds this treatment. CIMT is perhaps the most-studied OT intervention—and it has lessons to teach us all about: neuroplasticity, intensity, and the future of OT 🙂 After reviewing the article, we are excited to welcome to the podcast Catherine Hoyt, PhD, OTD...
2022-08-2157 min
OT Potential Podcast | Occupational Therapy CEUs#37: School-based OT Workload Trends with Jayson DaviesThe change from “caseload” to “workload” may not seem that dramatic, but make no mistake it is a quiet revolution that is happening in school-based OT. It fundamentally shifts how we deliver care. The article we are discussing on the podcast encourages a shifting away from an individualist, medical model “caseload” based approach. And, encourages us to embrace a “workload” approach, which hypothetically yields opportunities to focus more on population health. This shift has been underway for a while now, and the research we are looking at gives us an update on how this change is playi...
2022-08-0857 min
OT Potential Podcast | Occupational Therapy CEUs#36: The Value of Acute and Postacute OT with Jeffrey KouMany of us were not taught about the economics of OT in occupational therapy school. And, part of that reason is that the research base on the economic value of our work is just emerging. In this episode we will look at an article on the economic effects of OT in the acute and subacute setting. The good news in this article is that there is a growing amount of research about the economic value of OT—and the initial research is promising. The problem is that the existing research is widely varied and t...
2022-07-1855 min
OT Potential Podcast | Occupational Therapy CEUs#34: Beyond Cultural Competence in OT with Khalilah JohnsonThe term cultural competence can feel too soft and narrow to really push our profession towards equity and justice. But, the article we are reviewing today from the top 100 OT-related articles, brings up several essential points for discussion. The mention of OT in the article is grim. The article highlights “culturally blind” attitudes of OTs that failed to change after cultural competence training. This is a stark reminder of the need for change—and the multi-layered work needed to make change happen. Ultimately, the article attempts to put forth an understanding of cultural competenc...
2022-06-1959 min
OT Potential Podcast | Occupational Therapy CEUs#33: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Pain, & OT with Linda CrawfordAcceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) weaves together multiple concepts that OTs are already familiar with and often use in practice. On a personal level, it provides helpful tools we can utilize as we navigate complex situations in our work. But, not only is it personally helpful, the research we’re looking at today shows us why we need to be aware of it as a therapy professional: Research supports the use of ACT in addressing chronic pain. In the research study we’ll explore in this podcast episode, you’ll find that OTs were part...
2022-06-061h 07
OT Potential Podcast | Occupational Therapy CEUs#32: Parkinson’s Disease Evidence Review with Brandy ArchieThis prestigious guideline on Parkinson’s Disease (PD) treatment, that we’ll be covering in this podcast episode, recommends that rehab therapies are started at the time of diagnosis and continued throughout the disease course. This article will update you on key information about the PD disease process, the pervasiveness of non-motor symptoms, and the effectiveness of different treatments. The knowledge we are gaining about PD should definitely be impacting your sessions. (Hint: please be talking about exercise!) It should also be pushing us to consider new care models for our patients with chronic conditions. To dis...
2022-05-161h 02
OT Potential Podcast | Occupational Therapy CEUs#29: Pediatric OT Evidence Review with Michelle DeJesusIn this 1 hour course, we will be diving into an incredibly helpful journal article that summarizes the evidence behind pediatric OT interventions. The authors take 52 pediatric OT interventions for children with disabilities and rate the evidence behind them. They organize the evidence into a traffic light infographic—where green means “the evidence supports this intervention.” This alone makes the evidence ratings super easy to scan and more accessible for therapists (and families and policy makers)! Then, they even go so far as to draw out common principles between green light interventions. To discuss...
2022-04-041h 01
OT Potential Podcast | Occupational Therapy CEUs#28: Payment Models in Post-Acute OT with Clarice GroteSpending time in research can deliver the humbling, but needed, reminder that not all therapy leads to clear value for our clients. For example, in the United States, we can now see that in the 2010s therapy was being delivered in skilled nursing facilities (SNFs)—beyond what was helpful for clients. Part of the problem was the fee-for-service payment model that incentivized skilled nursing facilities to deliver high quantities of therapy minutes to as many patients as possible. (More therapy equaled more money.) The research article that we will explore in this one hour...
2022-03-211h 01
OT Potential Podcast | Occupational Therapy CEUs#27: Mindfulness, Chronic Pain, and OT with Patricia MotusIt can feel like everyone is discussing the benefits of mindfulness.Yet, with all this fanfare, we must ask: does the evidence justify incorporating mindfulness into occupational therapy? The systematic review we will look at in this one hour course says, “YES!” (At least for specific chronic pain conditions.)The authors provide a great overview of the problem of pain—and they also discuss various mindfulness-based interventions for chronic pain, including the research behind them.After we review the article, it is our pleasure to welcome Patricia Motus, OTR/L, RYT-200 to join...
2022-03-0757 min
OT Potential Podcast | Occupational Therapy CEUs#26: Maternal Mental Health and OT with Carlin ReaumeResearch is backing up what many of us are experiencing in our communities: the pandemic is exacerbating mental health issues. And, one can imagine how this would be true for new mothers—so many families’ birth experiences have been drastically impacted by COVID protocols, followed by increased isolation once the family arrives home.The article we will be discussing in this one-hour podcast course is a call to action to support the positive mental health of new mothers, particularly during this pandemic. Whether you approach this topic as a pediatric OT, an OT who sp...
2022-01-271h 00
OT Potential Podcast | Occupational Therapy CEUs#23: The Research Behind the CO-OP Approach™ with Tee Stock (CE Course)If you haven’t been following the exciting research behind the CO-OP Approach™, this episode is for you. CO-OP stands for Cognitive Orientation to (Daily) Occupational Performance. This is a trademarked approach with a formal certification program, so we won’t be teaching the actual method. However, we’ll be discussing the research behind the CO-OP Approach™, as well as some ways it can impact your practice. We’ll explore the primary research article, where the CO-OP Approach™ is performed by OTs in a group setting. You’ll see its impact on “body function, activity, AND participation,”...
2021-12-1059 min
OT Potential Podcast | Occupational Therapy CEUs#21: Client Centered Care, Psychosis, and OT with Lauren Jones (CE Course)The research we discuss on the OT Potential Podcast has a recurring theme: therapy goals should always support what is meaningful to the client.But, lurking behind this best practice is an important question: what do we do when a patient is not of sound mind?We’ll explore an article that hits the question head on, looking at client-centered care for patients with psychosis. It’s an especially helpful read for mental health OTs—but we can all learn something from it, since every clinician sees clients whose decision making could be perceived as impair...
2021-11-221h 06
OT Potential Podcast | Occupational Therapy CEUs#18: OT for Adults with Cancer with Vanessa Monique Yanez (CE Course)The research is clear—adults living with cancer have significant unmet therapy needs. But how can we, as occupational therapy professionals, best serve this population? It’s a great question, and one we’ll explore in-depth on this one-hour episode of the OT Potential Podcast! First, we’ll dig into the research around disability in activities of daily living among adults with cancer. Next, we’ll be joined by Vanessa Monique Yanez, MSOT, OTR/L. Vanessa will lend her expertise to our discussion of what this information means for your real-world practice. Vanessa is a cancer survi...
2021-10-111h 06
OT Potential Podcast | Occupational Therapy CEUs#16: Disparities in Supports for Autism in Latino Families with Cristina Reyes Smith & Catherine Hoyt (CE Course)Racial and ethnic health disparities have been heavy on our hearts over the past few years—and they should be.We have much to reckon with, not only in terms of our own personal biases, but also regarding the structural inequities within healthcare.In this one-hour, podcast-based CE course, we’ll look at how the Latino community is impacted by disparities around the diagnosis and care of autistic children. We’ll start by exploring some of the latest research on the topic with Catherine R. Hoyt, PhD, OTD, OTR/L and Cristina Reyes Smith, OTD, OTR/L...
2021-09-131h 07
OT Potential Podcast | Occupational Therapy CEUs#15: Brain Computer Interfaces and OT with Lauren Souders (CE Course)The ability to affordably track brainwave activity has opened up tremendous opportunities in occupational therapy. Regardless of where we work (or the patient populations we treat), our work has the potential to be significantly informed by this technology over the next few decades. In this one-hour course, we will look at a research study on brain-computer interface (BCI). The study will serve as a jumping-off point to explore the concepts and developments that OTs should follow in this space.After our article review, we’ll be joined by Lauren Souders, MOT, OTR/L, CBIS, CSRS. Lau...
2021-08-231h 02
OT Potential Podcast | Occupational Therapy CEUs#14: The Services Cliff and Autism with Debora Davidson (CE Course)As autistic individuals transition from adolescence to adulthood, they encounter a new and unique set of challenges. Yet, at this critical time, the support available to them drops dramatically. This is known as the “services cliff.”In this one-hour continuing education course, we’ll begin by looking at the journal article “Service Needs Across the Lifespan for Individuals with Autism.”Then, to discuss how your occupational therapy skills can help bridge this service gap, we’ll invite Debora Davidson, PhD, OTR/L to discuss the research and her own experience providing transitional services in her private prac...
2021-08-021h 07
OT Potential Podcast | Occupational Therapy CEUs#11: Rheumatoid Arthritis and OT with Cheryl Crow (CE Course)Over the past few decades, our understanding of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has evolved quite a bit. And, that means the prognosis of RA patients has improved in turn. Many of the “classic” deformities associated with RA are becoming less common. And, as we learn more and more about RA and its impacts on patients, your OT care should evolve accordingly.In this 1-hour podcast course, we’ll begin by discussing a research review that covers the diagnosis and treatment of RA. Then, we’ll bring on our expert guest, Cheryl Crow, MOT, OTR/L. Cheryl Crow is an occup...
2021-05-071h 01
OT Potential Podcast | Occupational Therapy CEUs#10: Understanding Sensory Function in Autism with Bryden Giving (CE Course)In neuroscience, there is a rapidly growing and evolving understanding of sensory function that is important for all occupational therapists to be tracking—and particularly those who work with autistic clients. In this one hour continuing education course, we’ll dive into a research review, where the authors take three main assumptions that both neuroscientists and occupational therapists make regarding sensory function—and they discuss where the research stands with each one. You’ll leave this article feeling humbled by how much we still have to learn about sensory function and autism. Yet, also in awe of the...
2021-04-181h 02
OT Potential Podcast | Occupational Therapy CEUs#6: OT Education During a Pandemic with Melissa Kimmerling (CE Course)Whether we’re students, educators, or clinicians working on the frontlines of care, we all have a stake in the world of occupational therapy (OT) education. The changes in clinical education this year are so large that even those working in academia have struggled to keep up. This 1-hour CE course will ask you to reflect on trends in higher education prior to 2020, and assess how COVID-19 has impacted higher education. It will also lead you to consider how OT education may forever be impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Our goal is to encourage educators and...
2021-01-0358 min
OT Potential Podcast | Occupational Therapy CEUs#4: COVID-19 and OT with Torrie Niewohner (CE Course)So much about the COVID-19 era feels unpredictable and beyond our control. But, the research analysis covered in this course will open your eyes to some ways where we can be extremely helpful. Not only can you use your occupational therapy skills to help patients in acute care, but you can even help those who are home with mild symptoms.I know we say this at OT Potential a lot, but your skill set is desperately needed.The course will begin with a breakdown of some current research on COVID. Then, Torrie Niewoner, a...
2020-11-281h 00
OT Potential Podcast | Occupational Therapy CEUs#2: OT, eHealth, and Participatory Medicine with Lauren Sheehan (CE Course)In this 1-hour course, occupational therapy practitioners will learn about the concepts of eHealth and participatory medicine—and, how they are shaping the future of our profession.Both eHealth and participatory medicine will give you a new lens to understand some of the seismic shifts that are happening in health care right now. And, the good news is that even amidst rapid change, the basic tenet of both concepts, of helping the patient to be more active in their care, has long been a tenant of OT and will leave you feeling affirmed of the value of th...
2020-09-2758 min
Home Health Occupational Therapy Explorer (aka Till and Water)Ep. 39 - Digestible Research with an Innovative Journal Club ft Sarah LyonSarah Lyon*, OTR/L and founder of OTpotential.com is also a leader, community-builder, and a Nebraska-creative. She joins us for entertaining and practice-shifting dialogue on research, beginnings, and even summer camp. Join us for the funny and sincere stories that started as a friendship between two camp counselors in Nebraska. Tune in for how Sarah's mission with the OT Journal Club is well equipped to serve the hungry home health OT. *This episode was recorded in 2019 and is a wrap up episode for Season 2.
MASSIVE SPOTLIGHT to an option for stirring up a new focus for y...
2020-08-3043 min
OT Potential Podcast | Occupational Therapy CEUs#1: Self-Management for Stroke with Lauren Sheehan (CE Course)In this 1-hour course, occupational therapy practitioners will learn about promising research regarding stroke rehab—specifically, interventions that are geared toward self-management.The good news is that much of the research backs what we are already doing. The authors build upon our existing foundations of OT, providing practical ideas for tweaking your care to leverage the principles of self-management.The course will begin with a breakdown of the research, and then Lauren Sheehan, OTD, OTR/L, an occupational therapist and stroke-care expert, will join us to discuss practical takeaways.In order to ea...
2020-08-281h 04
OT Potential Podcast | Occupational Therapy CEUsOT Reduces Hospital Readmissions! (And, in a Cost-Effective Way!)My first thought after I read this article was that I need to share it with our hospital’s CEO. This is exactly the kind of article that I want our administrators and leaders to be reading. My second thought was that every OT needs a copy of this article to display on their desk like an inspirational poster :-)It’s that huge.This is the largest (and most important, in my opinion) study we’ve examined so far in the Club. The authors analyzed data from 1,194,251 Medicare patients, and they found that OT...
2020-05-2514 min
The OT Schoolhouse Podcast for School-Based OT PractitionersOT School House 49: Homeschooling - Coaching Families for Success Feat. Sarah Collins, OTR/LIn this episode, Jayson interviews Sarah Collins, OTR/L. Sarah is an occupational therapist that specializes in supporting students who are homeschooled and the families that support them. Homeschooling her own kids has helped her to understand where the true needs are for this community and the research she has found supports the occupational coaching model that she uses with her clients. Listen in an earn 1 hour of professional development for doing so! View the show notes at otschoolhouse.com/episode49 Kick off the 2025-26 school year at the Back to School Conference!...
2020-05-181h 03OT Potential Podcast | Occupational Therapy CEUsOT and Shifting ValuesWe OTs are navigating an ever-changing maze of legislation, reimbursement, and care-delivery models.But, this week’s article calls us to focus on our profession’s most important relationship of all: our relationship with our clients.Get ready to really ponder the nature of our partnerships with clients...and to consider these relationships in terms like trust and vulnerability.The researchers held focus groups that examined how patient/provider relationships are changing due to both parties' reliance on the internet for answers. The results are fascinating. To discuss this topi...
2020-04-2013 minOT Potential Podcast | Occupational Therapy CEUsOT, Sensory Differences, and PsychosisDuring this time of COVID-19, we OTs are doing what we do best: being adaptable. In this case, a global pandemic has us reimagining what our therapy can look like. It is our hope that the OT Potential Club can help you do that in a proactive way. Over the past few weeks, we’ve been looking at research that highlights new opportunities to reach our patients and improve outcomes. This week’s article fits well in that theme. It calls us back to a basic principle: part of our role is to in...
2020-04-1311 minOT Potential Podcast | Occupational Therapy CEUsIn-Clinic Versus Telehealth OT for Adults After StrokeTherapists across the globe are advocating that telehealth delivery be covered by our licenses (and reimbursed by insurers). Now, more than ever, I think it’s important to examine the research that backs up these efforts.The reality is that even before COVID-19, telehealth was showing significant promise to help reach more clients, and even improve outcomes.This week’s article is a randomized control trial (RCT) from one of the world’s most influential journals: The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). And, the results indicate that telehealth delivered to stroke patients to addres...
2020-04-0612 minOT Potential Podcast | Occupational Therapy CEUsOT and Coaching via TelehealthOne of the general trends we’ve been following on the podcast is the potential of using coaching strategies in occupational therapy. And, as therapists around the globe are dialing into teletherapy, this research trend merits some consideration. After all, it may be an effective strategy to consider as many of us are seeking to restructure how we offer our occupational therapy services.This week’s article on occupation-based coaching via telehealth really paints a picture of how coaching techniques may be an effective tool for OT professionals as our profession navigates this new frontier.
2020-03-3010 minOT Potential Podcast | Occupational Therapy CEUsOT and Telehealth ResearchThe world has changed drastically in a week’s time—and we are being asked to change with it.I know this has meant long, exhausting days. And, that we have been left scrambling trying to figure out what a “new normal” will look like in the weeks ahead. For many of you, telehealth will be part of this new normal. This is why I wanted to spend this week discussing AOTA’s Position Paper on Telehealth with you.No matter how quickly the world changes, I believe that, together, we can stay grounded in...
2020-03-2314 minOT Potential Podcast | Occupational Therapy CEUsOT and the CoronavirusAcross the globe, our priority has shifted to quelling the spread of the novel coronavirus, which causes the illness dubbed COVID-19.The community in the OT Potential Club was created so OT professionals could collaborate on tough issues. This is exactly the time to share what is working in our healthcare settings—and what isn't.This week, we will be looking at care delivery guidelines released by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).There is much to discuss this week, and I hope you will we...
2020-03-1604 minOT Potential Podcast | Occupational Therapy CEUsOT and Transgender HealthIn this podcast, we discuss an article on transgender health that makes a very specific recommendation for the role occupational therapy professionals can play in providing care to the transgender communityWe'll also discuss some general recommendations and considerations to keep in mind next time you find a transgender client on your caseload.Finally, we'll wrap up by talking about some trends that have repeatedly appeared in the research we've covered...and I am excited to discuss these with you!To join the discussion, sign in to the OT Potential Club!...
2020-03-0912 minOT Potential Podcast | Occupational Therapy CEUsOT and Functional Electrical StimulationFunctional electrical stimulation (FES) is one of those topics that we need to be keeping up with as OT practitioners, in part because there are some very compelling stories about its use that our patients may be encountering. This week's article gives us a helpful update on what we know (and don't know) about FES, and its use in a comprehensive stroke program. To join the conversation, please sign up for the OT Potential Club! Howlett, O. A., Lannin, N. A., Ada, L., & McKinstry, C. (2015). Functional electrical s...
2020-03-0109 minOT Potential Podcast | Occupational Therapy CEUsThe Evidence Behind Sensory InterventionsThis week, the podcast tackles a topic that can be confusing: sensory processing interventions for kids with autism.We look at a systematic review that tries to categorize different types of these interventions, then examine the evidence around each category.To join in the conversation, join the OT Potential Club! Case-Smith, J., Weaver, L. L., & Fristad, M. A. (2014). A systematic review of sensory processing interventions for children with autism spectrum disorders. Autism, 19(2), 133–148. doi: 10.1177/1362361313517762(Another great way to support our podcast is to use our MedBridge pr...
2020-02-2313 minOT Potential Podcast | Occupational Therapy CEUsOT and the Perfect Storm of Pain ManagementI’m sure most of us have experienced aspects of healthcare delivery that seem, shall we say, less than ideal. Maybe you’ve found yourself wondering just how, on earth, we managed to get where we are. How can our sophisticated healthcare systems, sometimes lead to such poor care? This week’s article is truly unique because it is a narrative review telling the story of one such healthcare failure: the opioid crisis. Even if you feel your work doesn't directly relate to the opioid crisis, I hope you consider s...
2020-02-1613 minOT Potential Podcast | Occupational Therapy CEUsStrengths-based OT for Ataxia TelangiectasiaI was reaching the end of this week’s article when my eyes suddenly flooded with tears.That’s because I encountered something we had not yet seen in the OT Potential Podcast: strengths-based recommendations. And I don't mean strength training. I mean focusing on our patients' strengths (rather than their impairments) and leveraging them so patients get the absolute most out of their care.This concept is especially important when you consider the patient population we examine this week: those with ataxia telangiectasia (A-T).We could easily focus on the disabilities of pati...
2020-02-0910 minOT Potential Podcast | Occupational Therapy CEUsOT and MELAS SyndromeMELAS Syndrome is a rare and complex condition—but it is also statistically likely that someone in your community is living with it.This week's article provides a helpful overview of what we know (and don't know) about this syndrome, as well as considerations for our OT care.El-Hattab, A. W., Adesina, A. M., Jones, J., & Scaglia, F. (2015). MELAS syndrome: Clinical manifestations, pathogenesis, and treatment options. Molecular Genetics and Metabolism, 116(1-2), 4–12. doi: 10.1016/j.ymgme.2015.06.004(Another great way to support our podcast is to use our MedBridge promo code!) npsgdUQ6RMTzRirDM3fn...
2020-02-0310 minOT Potential Podcast | Occupational Therapy CEUsOT, Pain, and The Biopsychosocial ModelI'm sure we all have people in our lives (or, at least on our caseloads) who suffer from chronic pain.This week's article explores chronic low back pain (LBP) and the biopsychosocial approach. You might feel a bit of deja vu, as we're finding again that a multi-faceted approach seems to work best to get results in healthcare—and, in my opinion, a multidisciplinary approach for LBP should likely include occupational therapy.To discuss this research further, please sign up for The OT Potential Club. Kamper, S. J., Apeldoorn, A. T., Chiarotto, A., Sm...
2020-01-2711 minOT Potential Podcast | Occupational Therapy CEUsOT and Neurological Soft SignsSoft neurological signs are a hot topic in the OT community right now. And I can see why: soft signs give us a window into all the happening at a biological level in many common conditions. And, they may be impacting more patients your caseload than you may realize. This week's article on a specific soft neurological sign in ADHD gives you a window into where the research is at with soft neurological signs—as well as their potential future clinical applications.To discuss this article with fellow OT practitioners please consider joining the OT Pot...
2020-01-1914 minOT Potential Podcast | Occupational Therapy CEUsOT and DementiaDementia is poised to present the most profound global health challenge of the 21st century. The incidence of dementia is skyrocketing, and I believe OTs have a vital role to play in caring for these patients.This week's article is an extremely comprehensive summary of dementia care—and it covers all sorts of evidence about prevention, screening, and intervention.This article is an important read for anyone who works with adults and/or has a loved one impacted by this disease.To discuss this article please join us at the OT Potential Club.
2020-01-1112 minOT Potential Podcast | Occupational Therapy CEUsTranslating Evidence into your OT PracticeHave you ever stopped and asked yourself that million-dollar question: How do we incorporate all this cool new research into our OT practice?This week's discussion is all about knowledge translation, and it will present a somewhat sad reality: we're not exactly sure of the best ways to translate knowledge into practice.But, there are some great gems in here about active versus passive learning. This is a very important topic to explore if we want to keep our profession evidence-based and relevant.To discuss this article please join us at the OT...
2019-12-0912 minOT Potential Podcast | Occupational Therapy CEUsOT vs. No Therapy— which is better?Anytime we compare the outcomes of patients receiving OT vs. no therapy, we have a vested interest—we clearly want to see that the OT group has better outcomes.But, the harsh reality is that this is not always the case.When we run into examples where OT doesn't seem to be effective, we all need to all step into a growth mindset and confront this failure head-on.There is a lot to learn from this article, which looks at OT vs no therapy for mild to moderate Parkinson's Disease, and I think it...
2019-12-0112 minOT Potential Podcast | Occupational Therapy CEUsOT, Exergaming, and MSWe have already seen our fair share of technology-related research on the podcast, but this week's article introduces a type of tech that we have not yet discussed: exergaming.This particular article looks at exergaming for patients with MS, but it also brought up larger questions about the role of OT in exercise and habit formation—and, ultimately, in identity transformation.To discuss this article please join us at the OT Potential Club.Also, here is the blog post mentioned in the article: OT vs PA: Which to be? (Another great wa...
2019-11-2412 minOT Potential Podcast | Occupational Therapy CEUsOT and the CO-OP ApproachI believe that the future of occupational therapy will involve more intentional incorporation of learning strategies into our treatment sessions.That's why I think it is very important that we all pay attention to the evidence that is piling up behind the CO-OP Approach, which is a systematized learning strategy.I'm personally new to this specific approach, so I'm really excited for you all to weigh in on what you think of it.To discuss this article please join us at the OT Potential Club.Scammell, E. M., Bates, S. V...
2019-11-1710 min