OT Potential Podcast | Occupational Therapy CEUs

Multiple 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 strength of the evidence being multiple types of rehab interventions. Then, next week we are excited to welcome to the podcast Sarah Adam, OTD, an occupational therapist with MS who has taken her pursuit of adaptive sports to an elite level—and recently earned Silver in wheelchair rugby at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. Sarah was the first woman to ever play on Team USA’s wheelchair rugby team, also made history as the first woman to score a point during an Olympic wheelchair rugby game. We clearly have so much to learn from Sarah that I know will inspire your OT practice. You can find more details on this course here:https://otpotential.com/ceu-podcast-courses/ot-and-multiple-sclerosisHere's the primary research we are discussing:Effective rehabilitation interventions and participation among people with multiple sclerosis: An overview of reviewsSupport the show

As 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 neuroplasticity, and in particular they point to virtual, augment, and mixed reality technologies. After we review the research, we are excited to welcome to the podcast an OT who works for one such virtual rehab solution as their Manager of Clinical Services, Katie Riccio, MS, OTR/L. Katie will share what she has learned about neurorehab in her role. And orient us to the stroke rehab tech tools on the market, how they can intersect with you in-person practice—and what to expect on the horizon.You can find more details on this course here:https://otpotential.com/ceu-podcast-courses/motor-learning-in-neuro-rehabHere's the primary research we are discussing:Motor Learning in Neurological RehabilitationSupport the show

Unfortunately, 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 the podcast, an occupational therapist who has EDS and also treats EDS clients in her clinical practice, Emily Rich, PhD, OTR/L. Emily and I will discuss self-management, along with assessment and treatment of EDS.You can find more details on this course here:https://otpotential.com/ceu-podcast-courses/ot-and-ehlers-danlos-syndromeHere's the primary research we are discussing:Developing a self-management intervention to manage hypermobility spectrum disorders (HSD) and hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (hEDS): an analysis informed by behaviour change theory.Support the show

In 50 years, you will look back on your occupational therapy practice and see a clear line in the sand between pre-AI augmented documentation and today. Ambient AI augmented documentation is going to: ✅Make documenting QUICKER✅Make your notes HIGHER QUALITY✅And, transform how you interact with clients And, if we harness this technology correctly, it will improve👏 client  👏outcomes. 👏Today, we’ll look at an example of the research that is already being published about how an ambient artificial intelligence tool can improve clinical documentation. Then next week we will welcome to the podcast, Dennis Morrison, PhD, a clinician who has specialized in consulting with AI documentation startups. Together we’ll walk through the state of AI-augmented documentation and the questions of the MANY tools that are coming to the market for OT. You can find more details on this course here:https://otpotential.com/ceu-podcast-courses/ai-in-documentationHere's the primary research we are discussing:Use of an ambient artificial intelligence tool to improve quality of clinical documentation.Support the show

Ganesh M. Babulal, an expert leading the DRIVES Project at Washington University, discusses the pressing issue of aging drivers and the rising safety risks associated with preclinical Alzheimer's disease. He highlights the unique challenges older adults face due to physical and cognitive decline. Ganesh explores the interconnection between technology and driving safety, advocating for personalized evaluations and continued research. He also addresses the sensitive topic of driving cessation and the role of occupational therapy in supporting older individuals and their families through this transition.

In 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, and tired clinicians. Community practice does have a long history in occupational therapy, but currently very few clinicians find full-time work in this practice area. The authors of this course’s featured article, believe this may be in part to a lack of frameworks for community-based OT. So, today we’ll explore the framework they put forth and their call to “reimagine occupational therapy clients as communities.”Next week on the podcast, we will welcome Ryan Lavalley, PhD, OTR/L. Dr. Lavalley is the founder and primary lead of the Community Practice Lab at UNC School of Medicine.You can find more details on this course here:https://otpotential.com/ceu-podcast-courses/community-based-otHere's the primary research we are discussing:Re-imagining occupational therapy clients as communities: Presenting the community-centred practice framework.Support the show

Children with emotional disability (also known as emotional disturbance) are significantly more likely than children with other disabilities to:NOT be integrated into regular classroomsExperience a disciplinary removalDrop out of schoolOver the years, multiple social-emotional learning (SEL) interventions have been developed to support children with emotional disabilities. But, New York City Public Schools found that one-size-fits all programs were not sufficient for their student population.So, the district created—and began studying—an educational pilot called the Path Program. At the heart of this program are OT professionals and occupational therapy concepts.The journal article we are reviewing in this 1-hour CE course describes the research-practice partnership that supported this program’s development—and the role of trauma-informed care in social-emotional learning interventions.After we review the article, we will welcome Michelle Flemen-Tung, MSEd, the program director for the Path Program. She will share concrete ways we can all improve the support we provide to kids with emotional disabilities.You can find more details on this course here:https://otpotential.com/ceu-podcast-courses/emotional-disability-and-otHere's the primary research we are discussing:Adapting SEL interventions to meet student needs: A research-practice partnership supporting students with emotional disabilities.Support the show

Join Kelly Mahler, an experienced occupational therapist and a pioneer in interoception research, as she delves into the fascinating eighth sense that helps us recognize internal body signals like hunger and pain. Discover how interoception significantly influences emotional regulation, especially in children with autism. Kelly shares insights into innovative school-based programs designed to enhance interoceptive awareness, offering promising results in emotional management. With strategies for therapists and the importance of personalized approaches, this conversation is a must for those in the field.

If you have not been paying attention to recent statistics on drowning, you need to be. After decades of decline, deaths by drowning are on the rise. Groups already at higher risk have seen the greatest increases in drowning deaths. This includes adults ages 65 years and older of all races and ethnicities, as well as Black people of all ages. But today, we’ll focus on an especially high-risk group: children (and particularly, children with autism). Drowning is the leading cause of death for children ages 1 to 4, and children with autism spectrum disorder are 160 times more likely to experience nonfatal and fatal drowning than their typically developing peers. Whatever setting you work in, I hope these sobering numbers convince you to pay close attention to water safety. Here, we’ll look at an aquatic OT swim safety program that you could consider implementing in your community. Next week on the OT Potential Podcast, we will welcome the article’s lead author, Erika Kemp, for a discussion on the logistics of launching a swim safety program. We’ll also tackle big picture questions—like how to go about mobilizing the entire OT community to prevent drownings in our communities. Learn more about our guest:https://otpotential.com/occupational-therapy-directory/erika-kempYou can find more details on this course here:https://otpotential.com/ceu-podcast-courses/swim-safety-in-autistic-childrenHere's the primary research we are discussing:Addressing swim safety in autistic children: A pilot feasibility study using aquatic occupational therapy.Support the show

Functional 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 West Los Angeles Clinic Director at re-active and specializes in neurological conditions like POTS, EDS, MCAS, and FND. Learn more about our guest: https://otpotential.com/occupational-therapy-directory/naoya-oguraYou can find more details on this course here:https://otpotential.com/ceu-podcast-courses/ot-and-functional-neurological-disorderHere's the primary research we are discussing:Occupational therapy consensus recommendations for functional neurological disorder.Support the show