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Therapy Center News: Student OT Spotlight on Tess Autin

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Tess Autin is from Baton Rouge, LA and is currently studying at LSUHSC- New Orleans for a Master’s degree in occupational therapy. She recently completed a rotation with us at our partner skilled nursing facility, Maison Teche in Jeanerette, with mentor/OT Danielle Keyser.

Why did you choose the field you are studying in?

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

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

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

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

What else you should know about Tess!

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


Music: Food for the Mind, Body and Soul

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Article Written By student guest blogger: Tess Autin
Music Therapist, Board-Certified
Master of Occupational Therapy Student, LSU-HSC New Orleans

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

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

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

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

Click here to view the video on YouTube.

Therapy Center News: OT Student Spotlight on Sara Taylor

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

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

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

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

What else you should know about Sara Taylor!

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

Read more Therapy Center News student spotlights…

Occupational Therapists… Hmm, what exactly do they do?

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Article written by Ava Hebert, Recruitment Manager for Therapy Center

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

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

The Difference Between an Occupational Therapist and a Physical Therapist

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

Where and How Occupational Therapists Treat

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

Common Conditions Occupational Therapists Treat

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

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

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

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

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

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

Therapy Center Student News: Elise Kelone

Therapy Center Student News: Andrea Couvillon, OT Student

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Where is your hometown?
Cow Island, LA

School/University are currently studying:
LSUHSC at New Orleans

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

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

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

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

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

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

Click here to view the video on YouTube.

Trip to Wal-Mart Aids in Independence & Therapy

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A therapy field trip with Rio Sol patients was scheduled for Walmart on 4/4/12. During this shopping trip, the following activities were completed which helped to achieve the therapists goals as well as to aid in the patients gain independence:

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

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

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

OTA Spotlight: Jennifer Gremillion

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

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

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

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

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


OT Spotlight: Danielle Keyser

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

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

Do you have any certifications? Certifiably CRAZY

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

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

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

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

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

Therapy Center Student News: Jasper Adcock, PT/OT

Therapy Success Story: Mary Fontenot

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Ms. Mary Fontenot became a short-term resident in Acadia St. Landry Guest Home to receive therapy services after several stays in acute care hospitals and long term acute care (LTAC) facilities. Arriving at the nursing home weak, unable to walk and ineffectively managing normal daily activities, Ms. Mary has now progressed to modified independent and can now return home to live with her husband.

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

 

Click here to view the video on YouTube.

 

Success Story: Lucy Leger

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Ms. Lucy Leger became a short-term resident at Amelia Manor nursing home in January 2013. Following a 4 week hospitalization for a ruptured appendix and double pneumonia, Ms. Lucy was extremely weak and exhibiting numerous deficits upon arrival to Amelia Manor. She decided that a skilled nursing facility would be the best place for her recovery due to her condition upon discharge from the hospital and the fact that she needed to return home quickly to take care of her husband. Ms. Lucy received intense physical, occupational and speech therapy so that she could return to her independent lifestyle.

Please watch her story of recovery while she was in our care.

Click here to view the video on YouTube.

 

Congress Strips Therapy Cap Repeal from Advancing Legislation

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capitolTake action TODAY before it’s too late.   We must not allow this legislation to move forward without addressing the therapy cap. Action in both the House and the Senate may be imminent and we must act quickly to mobilize against last week’s actions.

Recently, legislation that would have reformed Medicare’s provider payment system and fully repealed the therapy cap advanced in the Senate. On February 4th, however, efforts to work out differences between the Senate’s reform bill and the House’s version of the legislation left therapy cap repeal on the cutting room floor. Being left behind now could mean a swift return to a hard cap on outpatient therapy services in 2014 and beyond.

Follow this link to call your elected officials:  http://capwiz.com/aota/callalert/index.tt?alertid=63091591 and follow this link to write to them: http://capwiz.com/aota/issues/alert/?alertid=63091456.  Demand that the therapy cap be addressed ahead of final action in the House or Senate on the SGR Repeal and Medicare Provider Payment Modernization Act of 2014 (HR 4015). As a trusted health professional and constituent your voice is critical to the debate.

 

This message was originally posted by Tim Casey Director of Federal Affairs, AOTA.

Update in Medicare’s Policy Pays for Chronic Disease Therapy

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rubyshaneThe article, A Quiet ‘Sea Change’ in Medicare, made an exciting announcement that Medicare will now pay for therapy services for those patients who are diagnosed with chronic diseases such as multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s disease in order to “maintain their condition and prevent deterioration”. Previous to this modification, patients had to show improvement in order to continue to receive these therapy services.

This change in Medicare’s policy comes on the heels of a recent lawsuit filed in 2011 on behalf of four Medicare patients and five national organizations, including the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Parkinson’s Action Network and the Alzheimer’s Association. “It allows people to remain a little healthier for a longer time and stay a little bit more independent,” said Margaret Murphy, associate director at the Center for Medicare Advocacy. And it eases the burden on families who “are scrambling to take care of their loved ones,” she said.

Don’t expect to hear this news being shouted out from the roof tops, however. Medicare is not required to notify beneficiaries of this change, so share this article with family and friends and on social media sites so that those who can benefit will understand their rights to continue to receive integral therapy services.

To read the full article, please click here.

How do Occupational Therapy Practitioners Promote Health and Well-Being?

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In celebration of Occupational Therapy Month, our blog with publish facts and information on the benefits of OT during the Month of April. Please enjoy!

What Is Occupational Therapy?

In its simplest terms, occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants help people across the lifespan participate in the things they want and need to do through the therapeutic use of everyday activities (occupations). Common occupational therapy interventions include helping children with disabilities to participate fully in school and social situations, helping people recovering from injury to regain skills, and providing supports for older adults experiencing physical and cognitive changes. Occupational therapy services typically include:

  • an individualized evaluation, during which the client/family and occupational therapist determine the person’s goals, 
  • customized intervention to improve the person’s ability to perform daily activities and reach the goals, and
  • an outcomes evaluation to ensure that the goals are being met and/or make changes to the intervention plan.

Occupational Therapy

Occupational therapy services may include comprehensive evaluations of the client’s home and other environments (e.g., workplace, school), recommendations for adaptive equipment and training in its use, and guidance and education for family members and caregivers. Occupational therapy practitioners have a holistic perspective, in which the focus is on adapting the environment to fit the person, and the person is an integral part of the therapy team.

See more at: http://www.aota.org/About-Occupational-Therapy.aspx#sthash.hM3vfMfc.dpuf

 

What do Occupational therapy practitioners do?

 
  • Perform assessments for health risks related to potential for falls, safety in independent living, and cognitive/memory screens in older adults
  • Evaluate children for gross and fine motor deficits, sensory processing or adaptive behavior differences which may result in developmental delays
  • Teach strategies to incorporate healthy habits and routines into daily activities for clients of all ages and abilities
  • Identify solutions to personal and environmental barriers limiting clients from engaging in healthy activities
  • Educate about the importance of relaxation and rest to achieve balance between work and leisure; teach relaxation techniques
  • Provide skills training in areas such as socialization, care giving, parenting, time management, stress management, etc.

    (excerpt from AOTA Fact Sheet)

Meet one of our Occupational Therapists!

Brittany Bureau

Brittany Bureau, OTR

“I’m excited to join the Therapy Center team and look forward to using my knowledge and clinical experience in a variety of settings to provide individualized and enjoyable rehabilitative programs that will enhance my patients’ function with everyday activities.”

Achievements

 -Bachelors in Athletic Training
- Masters in Occupational Therapy
- Masters in Exercise Science
- Selected OUTSTANDING OT of her graduating class
- Former collegiate swimmer

For more information on OT services in our outpatient clinic, contact us:

Ph: 337-824-4547 Fax: 337-824-4548
Email: ineedtherapy@therapyctr.com

 

 
 

How Occupational Therapists Make A Difference

HUGE milestone in therapy cap repeal

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Therapy Cap Repeal

Therapy Center is excited to announce a HUGE milestone in the therapy cap repeal. Recently, 220 members of the House of Representatives signed on to support legislation to repeal the Medicare therapy cap, which limits the amount of rehabilitative services that patients are able to receive. This major milestone signals a bipartisan majority of House members now supporting the repeal!

We are asking all Therapy Center team members, patients and members of the community to please take a moment TODAY to visit and “like” Congressman Charles Boustany’s Facebook page (facebook.com/RepBoustany). Once you like his page, please post a brief comment on your personal facebook page and tag Congressman Boustany to let him know that Therapy Center appreciates his support of the therapy cap repeal!

SNF’s, No Longer Last In Line

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JCO_1658“We’re serving more patients than we’ve ever served, but the length of stay is much shorter than it’s ever been…” This is just one of the many great points about the article No Longer Last in Line, which was recently published on http://www.louisianamedicalnews.com.

 

No Longer Last in Line
By: CINDY SANDERS
 

The changing role of SNFs

Just as the notion of what’s considered ‘old’ has changed in today’s society … think ‘70 is the new 50’ … so too has the role and function of skilled nursing facilities.

Gerald Coggin, senior vice president of Corporate Relations for National HealthCare Corporation, has witnessed transformative change in the long-term care industry during his more than four decades with NHC. With operations in 10 states, the publicly traded company based in Murfreesboro, Tenn. owns and/or operates 73 skilled nursing centers with 9,410 beds. NHC affiliates also operate 37 homecare programs, five residential living centers, 18 assisted living communities, plus offer additional services including long-term care pharmacies, memory care units, hospice care, and rehabilitative therapy.

Coggin said the notion of a ‘nursing home’ as the last stop for seniors before they die is simply outdated. A little ironically, the industry has moved from being a residential model that looked like an old-fashioned, antiseptic medical facility … to a medical model that often looks like a well-appointed residence.

As the model has changed, one of the most striking differences is in length of stay. Coggin noted that less than a decade ago, NHC’s average length of stay was 210 days. Today, the median length of stay is 26 days. In a number of facilities, such as NHC Farragut in Knoxville, Tenn., that time frame is even shorter.

“We’re serving more patients than we’ve ever served, but the length of stay is much shorter than it’s ever been,” said Coggin. “Farragut is one of those facilities that is on the cusp of a new generation of long-term care. It’s all because of the emphasis on rehabilitation.”

There are a number of reasons behind this change, but Coggin said cost and reimbursement … along with a culture shift … are among the primary drivers. The Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1987 signed into law by President Ronald Reagan fundamentally changed the way nursing homes operated … and simultaneously transformed society’s expectations of them. For long-term care facilities to receive Medicare and Medicaid funding in the post-OBRA world, they must provide services so that each resident might “attain and maintain her highest practicable physical, mental and psycho-social well-being.”

“The emphasis was on making sure the right patient was at the right place. As a result, a new housing phenomena … assisted living … grew out of that,” Coggin explained.

That ‘right patient, right place’ idea endured and changed the concept of how a skilled nursing facility could align with hospitals in an evolving post-acute care role. “So much has been driven by reimbursement,” Coggin noted. He added hospitals could only keep patients, who were progressing as expected, for so long before Medicare would stop paying the inpatient rates associated with the higher acuity level of care. Yet, Coggin continued, these patients weren’t ready to go home, either.

“That’s when we saw a shift in our patients … from a few Medicare patients who needed rehab to a lot of patients needing rehab,” he said. A tiered-down system was born from these hospital reimbursement constraints.

At the same time, a cultural shift was happening. Longer lifespans and medical technology improvements meant more seniors could expect to live active lifestyles far beyond retirement age … and the senior segment of the population also began to increase dramatically. According to the Social Security Administration, there were approximately 9 million Americans age 65 and over in the year 1940. By 2000, that number had jumped to almost 35 million. By 2010, that number had grown yet again to just over 40 million.

Increasingly, Coggin said, skilled nursing facilities “are the recovery centers where you go to rehab.” He added with a chuckle, “It’s not unusual at all to have patients come to us for services and then get a note a month later saying, ‘Thanks for the rehab. I just finished a round of golf.”

He continued, “I’ve been in this business for 41 years, and we have clearly switched over in the last 15-20 years from a residential model to a patient care model … and it’s ramped up even greater over the last 3-5 years.”

Once again, he pointed to cost and reimbursement as drivers of the most recent jump in the rehab population. Not only do many SNFs like NHC provide a full range of occupational, speech and physical therapy services at a lower daily rate than hospitals, these post-acute facilities can also help hospitals avoid the monetary penalties associated with avoidable readmissions.

Similarly, just as NHC accepts patients downstream from hospitals, the rehab facilities also look to move patients to a more appropriate care setting once therapists have maximized their time with a patient … whether that is to assisted living or hospice or a return home. In fact, Coggin said, about 80 percent of NHC’s patients ultimately are discharged home.

“It’s clearly a focus on transitions of care to make sure the patient receives the appropriate level of care for the appropriate amount of time and avoids unnecessary readmissions,” Coggin concluded of the new role SNFs play in the care continuum.

 

If you want to learn more about how Therapy Center is working to help reduce readmissions and serving as a post-acute resource for patients and referral sources, contact Kristi Fredieu for more information on our programs and continue to follow our blog.

 

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

kristi-fredieu

Congratulations Congressman Charles Boustany!

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Boustany MeetingTherapy Center would like to congratulate Dr. Charles Boustany on his recent sweep for his long-standing seat in the U.S. House of Representatives!  Congressman Boustany understands how important our rehabilitative services here at Therapy Center are to the patients we serve.  We sincerely express our thanks to him for co-sponsoring the Therapy Cap Repeal bill, which will remove an imposed cap that limits the amount of therapy services patients are able to receive under Medicare Part B. 

“As a doctor, I firmly support the important role of rehabilitative providers like The Therapy Center as an important part of building an efficient, high-quality health care system that’s accessible and affordable to all Americans.  I thank representatives from The Therapy Center for their insight and look forward to working with them to help provide accessible and affordable care for South Louisiana,” Congressman Dr. Charles Boustany.

Congratulations Dr. Boustany!  We look forward to joining your efforts to better service our community.

Therapy Center thanks the Therapy Cap Coalition

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THERAPY CAP LETTER BLOGTherapy Center strives to provide superior rehabilitation services for patients within the communities we serve.  Because of the current imposed Therapy Cap, our patients are limited to the amount of outpatient therapy they can receive under Medicare Part B. Spreading awareness of the Therapy Cap is extremely important because many deserving patients are being denied services that are integral to their recovery and most importantly, limiting their ability to remain independent in their local community.

According to the APTA, “Data show that patients who have had a stroke, hip fracture, or multiple disabilities are most to be impacted by the cap. The therapy cap reduces Medicare beneficiaries’ access to rehabilitation services by limiting their choice of providers, forcing them to bear 100% of the cost of care once they exceed it, or rationing their care to avoid exhausting their benefits. The harmful impact of the cap is worsened by coupling physical therapy and speech-language pathology services under one cap. Forcing patients to choose between 2 vital functions of daily living, movement and speech, only further exacerbates the impact of the cap.”

These factors, among others, is why the Medicare Access to Rehabilitation Services Act is so important.  This piece of legislation would permanently repeal the cap on outpatient rehabilitation services, allowing us and other rehabilitative providers to take care of our patients according to their needs.

Thank YOU

Therapy Center wants to thank the Therapy Cap Coalition for it’s continued support of HR 713/S 367.  With therapy providers throughout the country coming together to make our voice heard in Congress, we feel we can actually make a difference for the betterment of our local communities.  We believe now is the time to repeal the Therapy Cap permanently and to implement the reform provisions already negotiated by the House and Senate committees of jurisdiction.  “Completing this legislation this year or before the March 31, 2015 deadline provides an opportunity to end the pattern of yearly extensions that puts access to medically necessary therapy for 1 million Medicare beneficiaries at risk,” says the Therapy Cap Coalition in a letter to the Senate Finance Committee.

Again, we extend our thanks to these therapy providers throughout the country that join us in support of this important piece of legislation:

American Heart Association/American Stroke Association

American Health Care Association

American Occupational Therapy Association

American Physical Therapy Association

American Speech-Language Hearing Association

Arthritis Foundation

Easter Seals

Focus on Therapeutic Outcomes

LeadingAge

National Association for the support of Long Term Care

National Association of Rehabilitation of Providers and Agencies

National Center for Assisted Living

National Multiple Sclerosis Society

National Stroke Association

Parkinson’s Action Network

Private Practice Section, American Physical Therapy Association

PTPN (formerly Physical Therapy Provider Network)

The ALS Association

United Spinal Association

 

 

 

 

 

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