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Centrex Field Notes: Is it time for a new wheelchair?

Is it time for a new wheelchair?

There are a number of factors that may indicate it’s time to get a new wheelchair or see about some wheelchair modifications. These factors include any new pain or discomfort, legs or back touching wheelchair frame, leaning in the chair or any recent change in condition.

If you have any new pain or discomfort, it may be due to your cushion reaching its life span or not repositioning yourself as frequent as you need to (it’s recommended every 1-2 hours to change positions or relieve pressure). Legs or back touching the wheelchair frame can be caused by the wheelchair being too small or too large and is usually an easy fix an Occupational Therapist can make. Leaning in the wheelchair is usually caused by decreased trunk and back support due to a loss of muscle mass or strength or it can be caused by pain in the back or trunk. More commonly, a recent change in condition can cause fatigue when self propelling or you may find yourself being more uncomfortable in the wheelchair.
Some easy changes to try would be testing out a new cushion, getting the wheelchair parts cleaned or contacting an Occupational Therapist.

If any of the above sounds familiar for you or a loved one, please feel free to contact Centrex Wheelchair Solutions to see what may be some options.

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Centrex Field Notes are articles written or compiled by Centrex Therapists. This article was produced by Nicci Andersen, OTR/L, Director of Wheelchair Solutions.

Centrex Field Notes: “Hydration….good for me and good for you”

Everyone knows good hydration is essential all the time but especially in hot and/or humid weather. Your body requires hydration which allows you to think and function at your best. Did you know that adequate hydration is also a key factor in keeping your voice and vocal cords in top notch shape for speaking and communicating? Your vocal cords and the throat in which they are contained consist of many layers of tissue. This tissue loves hydration and requires it. Limiting caffeine and increasing water consumption and electrolytes is a simple way to increase hydration levels in your body which in turn can increase your vocal hygiene and quality of voice for speaking. So, drinking enough water and keeping your body hydrated is a good way to increase your overall function. Here’s to you and your voice….CHEERS!

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Centrex Field Notes are articles written or compiled by Centrex Therapists. This article was produced by Tamara Althoff, M.S., CCC-SLP Clinical Speech Pathology Specialist.

Tackling the triple aim of therapy

Kristy Brown, President & CEO of Centrex Rehab, is a featured guest columnist for McKnight’s Long-term Care News & Assisted Living blog. The following is her recent article entitled “Tackling the triple aim of therapy.”

When we began thinking about forming a new therapy company, my colleagues and I knew it had to be centered around the goals of the triple aim to succeed. Those goals were first articulated by Donald Berwick, M.D., the former head of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. The goals articulate the core of what we hope to achieve in health care today:

  1. Improving individuals’ experience of care, including quality and satisfaction
  2. Improving the health of our population
  3. Reducing the per capita cost of health care

Because the first goal is an exceptionally crucial one, it is what I will focus on today: improving the experience of care for individuals and by extension, families and caregivers.  Creating satisfying experiences for individuals seeking care means focusing on the patient — not the provider. This needs to happen on a level that is system-wide, encompassing organizations, services and health care professionals.

Before individuals’ experience of care can be improved, health and medical systems must accomplish the following goals:

  • Learn what individuals want and need to lead healthy, productive lives
  • Help them make use of public resources for optimum health
  • Give individuals the support they need to be well and successful

It is important to note that what people want and need to lead healthy, productive lives can only be determined by listening to them. Listening allows us to discover what is important TO and what is important FOR those who need care. We must also understand the following:

  • The role of rituals and routines in people’s lives
  • The impact of having control over medical decisions
  •  How to respectfully address issues of health and safety while supporting choice
  • How to help people recover faster, get home sooner and avoid rehospitalization

Experience tells us that most people are happy to share their ideas on what they need to live healthy lives. Most say having control over medical decisions typically increases the level of satisfaction people experience when receiving care. While medical practitioners may once have thought of themselves as administering care to passive recipients, we now know healthcare is a two-way street. In fact, healthcare is a partnership between professionals and those who need care.

What else can be done to improve the experience from a patient’s point of view? A seamless integration of services is a crucial factor. Yet rehabilitation services, for example, are often relegated to their own silos. As rehabilitation plays a crucial role in speeding healing and preventing relapses, therapists need to be seen as partners with other healthcare providers.

Rehabilitation must also offer an integrated network of specialties. The foundation may be occupational, physical and speech therapy, but other services should be present too, so people do not have to travel outside the network to find what they need. Once therapy services connect more closely to the broader fabric of care, people’s experiences will improve through an interdisciplinary approach that fosters healthier futures.

 

Kristy Brown is the president and CEO of Centrex Rehab. A speech language pathologist, she was the executive director of therapy services at Augustana Therapy Services (ATS) between 1999 and 2012.

Centrex Rehab Director completes CEEAA course

Laura Drake, Physical Therapist and Rehab Director at York Gardens, successfully completed the Certified Exercise Expert for Aging Adults (CEEAA) course in March 2013. The course is designed to assist the therapist in developing expert clinical decision making skills in applying effective examination and exercise prescription along with measuring effectiveness and outcomes. CEEAA is a blend of didactic and mentored skill development presented over 3 weekends/48 hours of course work.

When asked how the course impacted her practice, Laura responded, “I didn’t appreciate the power we have to impact the quality of life for our client. I have become more focused and precise in my plan of care and I am seeing excellent outcomes. As Physical Therapists, we have such a strong role in assisting our clients to live more fully and independently – PT is a powerful profession!”

Centrex Field Notes: “Sleep – Is it really that important?”

Sleep and how much we need has sparked increased clinical and research interest over the past decade. Sleep problems are common at any age, and have been linked to behavior challenges, inattentiveness, and learning issues in children, and also high blood pressure, heart failure, stroke, obesity, and diabetes in adults. Twenty percent of vehicle crashes are linked to drowsy driving, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  Lack of sleep is the number one cause of workplace accidents. We know that sleep is just as important to our health as good nutrition and exercise, but we don’t pay as much attention to getting a good night’s sleep. During sleep, important physiological processes occur that include healing, muscle growth, and cognitive organization. So how much sleep do we need? And what can we do to sleep well? Our need for sleep changes as we age, but the typical adult needs 7 to 8 hours – 50% of adults report not getting this. There are many reasons for not getting enough sleep, ranging from occasional insomnia to medical conditions, including obstructive sleep apnea , which require a physician’s assessment.  If you have occasional insomnia, try these tips to help you sleep better:

  1. Sleep in a bedroom that is dark, quiet, cool, and comfortable.  (Even light from alarm clocks can disrupt sleep).
  2. Exercise daily, but do not do vigorous exercise 2 hours before bedtime.
  3. Don’t go to bed on a full stomach – finish your meal at least 2 hours before bedtime, and limit fluids as you get closer to bedtime.
  4. Avoid stimulants after dinner – alcohol, caffeine, and nicotine all interfere with sleep patterns.
  5. Wind down before bedtime – an hour before bedtime, turn off electronics, begin to dim the lights, and do something relaxing.

Excerpts taken from the American Occupational Therapy Association, OT Practice

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Centrex Field Notes are articles written or compiled by Centrex Therapists. This article was produced by Pam Brooks, OTR/L, Clinical Occupational Therapy Specialist.

May’s Appreciation Station Winner- Pam W.

I would like to congratulate Pam W.  as May’s Appreciation Station winner!!  Pam is an On-Call PT and staff really appreciates and enjoys having her as part of the team.  It was shared that Pam always seems to tackle challenges with an energy and a positive “go-get-em” attitude.  She is a great team player and we appreciate what a thorough job she does not only with patients, but also with documentation and communication.

 

So wonderful to hear such positive feedback, keep up the great work!

 

Thank you for all you do Pam!

 

Kristy Brown  M.S., CCC-SLP

President and CEO