I Love Neuro

Katie Bouchillon, OTR, CBIST, MCMT, is the owner and CEO of Spero Rehab, a thriving multidisciplinary outpatient clinic across Texas. She shares her transformative journey from therapist to entrepreneur, revealing the challenges of starting a neuro clinic. Katie emphasizes the need for core values and vision, as well as the importance of community engagement. She candidly discusses financial strategies, the significance of mentorship, and the vital role of independent practices in countering corporate healthcare influences.

In this episode of the I Love Neuro Podcast, hosts Erin Gallardo and Claire McLean sat down with Dr. Beth Templin, PT, DPT, GCS, the founder of House Fit Physical Therapy, to discuss her innovative approach to serving the aging population and those living with Parkinson's disease. Beth shared her journey into geriatric physical therapy, starting a mobile practice and then expanding to a 5,000 square foot facility that offers a range of services beyond one-on-one therapy. Some key highlights from the conversation include: - Navigating Medicare billing as a non-participating provider initially, then transitioning to a participating provider to remove barriers for clients - Offering a diverse range of fitness classes tailored to different ability levels, with physical therapists leading the classes. Classes are with mixed populations of people, which is unique. - Incorporating non-invasive regenerative therapies like electromagnetic transduction therapy and shockwave to provide pain relief - Launching a comprehensive nutrition education and coaching program, including monthly plant-based potlucks - Emphasizing the importance of integrating nutrition, exercise, and lifestyle changes to achieve the best outcomes for their aging adult and Parkinson's clients The discussion provides valuable insights for physical therapists and other healthcare providers looking to expand their services and take a more holistic approach to patient care. By blending traditional therapy, innovative treatments, and lifestyle interventions, House Fit Physical Therapy is setting a new standard for supporting the aging population and those living with neurological conditions. https://www.housefitstl.com/ https://www.facebook.com/housefitstl https://www.instagram.com/housefitstl https://www.youtube.com/@housefitstl

In today’s episode we hosted three experts in vision rehabilitation, optometrist Dr. Melissa Zarn Urankar, occupational therapist Katy Coleman, and physical therapist Xenia Andrzejewski to discuss the importance of optimizing care for people with neurologic conditions who have vision dysfunction.  The episode will address who sees patients for vision impairment - an optometrist, ophthalmologist, or neuro-ophthalmologist? Plus what are the differences in their roles for clinicians and optometrists. What are some of the things clinicians should look for that would prompt them to assess a patient's vision more closely? What are some key assessments or techniques they can use? What resources and training are available for physical therapists and occupational therapists who want to improve their skills in visual rehabilitation? Are there any certification programs? The guests will share their key insights into having a collaborative relationship with other disciplines and where you can find your team. Key takeaways: - Building relationships with your "weirdos" or like-minded clinicians who are open to sharing perspectives is crucial for problem-solving complex patient cases. - Optometrists, occupational therapists, and physical therapists each bring unique expertise, but must be willing to listen and learn from each other to provide the best care. - Clear communication and avoiding jargon is key when working across disciplines. Clinicians should focus on describing functional observations rather than making assumptions. - Attending continuing education courses like the NORA annual conference can help build interdisciplinary knowledge and networks. - Reaching out to local vision therapy specialists and being open to learning from their perspective can greatly benefit OTs and PTs working with neuro patients. By embracing an interdisciplinary approach and putting the patient's needs first, clinicians can provide more comprehensive and effective neuro vision rehabilitation. Collaboration is key to unlocking the best outcomes for those recovering from neurological injuries or conditions. Helpful links: https://noravisionrehab.org/about-nora/annual-conferences/2024-annual-conference https://www.facebook.com/www.noravisionrehab.org/ https://www.youtube.com/c/NeuroOptometricRehabilitationAssociation    

Dr. Cassandra List, a Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation specialist, and Briana Elson, an occupational therapist, discuss spasticity management. They explore the decision-making process behind medication versus neurotoxin injections and when to consider treatments like intrathecal baclofen. The duo emphasizes the importance of communication between therapists and physicians for optimal patient care. They also address how neurotoxin treatments can impact pain and the complexities of individualized treatment plans, stressing the need for interdisciplinary collaboration.

Guests Emily Duval Ledger, Erin Gallardo, and Claire McLean share insights on fostering optimism in business and clinical settings. They discuss the transformative power of positive language, encouraging listeners to view challenges as growth opportunities. The conversation touches on the importance of resilience, community support, and the notion that persistence leads to success. With engaging anecdotes, they highlight how a tenaciously optimistic mindset can propel both personal and professional achievements, making resilience a key strategy for overcoming obstacles.

Physical therapist Lauren Young discusses starting a wellness program for people with neurologic conditions, focusing on accessible exercise classes, membership models, and pricing. Key takeaways include structuring classes for different ability levels, consistent revenue from monthly memberships, and the importance of adaptability in business growth.

Physical therapist Katie Nathan shares her journey of building a successful business focused on Parkinson's patients. She talks about transitioning from in-person to online services, networking strategies for growing her practice, launching an online membership program, managing work-life balance, and tips for healthcare providers to prioritize their own health.

We’re back for another episode this week! This one is bringing you practical clinical tools you can start incorporating right now. It’s based on new evidence with intense exercise and its effect on increasing dopamine transporter and neuromelanin concentrations in the substantia nigra in Parkinson’s disease. While Rogue has always been known to implement the research into practice, a transition at the clinic and inspiration from a recent article (small “n” yet still inspiring) results in a new class format that just started at Rogue PT and Wellness, Claire’s gym for people with PD. Claire introduces the new high-intensity class at Rogue called "Hi Fi" for “high intensity” and “functional.” It incorporates cardio, strength and functional exercises into intervals with modifications. The format follows recent research on intense exercise improving neuromelanin in Parkinson's. Find the link below to the full text free article. Hi Fi includes a warm-up before intervals alternating between two high-intensity exercises and five skilled exercises. Exercises target mobility, balance and strength. Visual cues and straps help improve participants' form. Claire discusses adapting the class based on themes like last week's focus on mobility. Exercises included burpees, lunges and power moves using straps and chairs. Check it out and let us know what you learned and what you’re going to try! Intense exercise increases dopamine transporter and neuromelanin concentrations in the substantia nigra in Parkinson’s disease. Npj Parkinson’s disease. Published 09 February 2024

Chanda Hinton, Executive Director of the Chanda Center for Health & Wellness, discusses her advocacy for accessible healthcare for individuals with disabilities. She highlights challenges in the medical model, promotes holistic care, and advocates for Medicaid coverage of alternative therapies. Chanda emphasizes the importance of disability competence among healthcare providers and representation in mainstream media.

On this episode of the I Love Neuro podcast, host Erin Gallardo sits down with guest Joy Cochran to discuss her business Joy Explorations and an upcoming Parkinson's disease retreat. Joy started Joy Explorations in 2018 with a goal of empowering older adults and those with neurological conditions through adaptive outdoor activities and movement. She found many of her physical therapy clients were not continuing the activities they enjoyed after discharge. Joy wanted to help people live life to the fullest outside of the clinic setting. Joy Explorations now offers group classes, one-on-one sessions, and "exploration days" where clients can try kayaking, biking on adaptive trikes, and more. Joy assesses each client's needs and works with them to problem solve challenges in a personalized way. In September, Joy will host a four-day Parkinson's disease retreat focused on exercise, education, and immersion in healthy lifestyle strategies. The retreat will incorporate kayaking, biking, hiking, and other outdoor activities alongside workshops on managing non-motor symptoms. Joy's goal is to help participants realize they can do more than they think and leave with new skills and friendships. The podcast provides valuable insights into Joy's process of planning the retreat budget, contracts, and activities. Overall, the episode offers inspiration and practical tips for anyone interested in hosting health and wellness retreats. Learn more about Joy and the retreat here: www.joyexplorations.com https://joyexplorations.mykajabi.com/pd-retreat @joyexplorations on Instagram and FB