Ot Potential Podcast

One 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.You can join the conversation about this research in The OT Potential Club! Little, L. M., Pope, E., Wallisch, A., & Dunn, W. (2018). Occupation-Based Coaching by Means of Telehealth for Families of Young Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 72(2). doi: 10.5014/ajot.2018.024786(Another great way to support our podcast is to use our MedBridge promo code!) Support the show

The 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 our mission: to provide the best possible care to our patients.  Please join on discussion on this and other coronavirus topics in The OT Potential Club. Cason, Jana, DHS,O.T.R./L.F., A.O.T.A., Hartmann, Kim, PhD,O.T.R./L., F.A.O.T.A., Jacobs, Karen, EdD, CPE,O.T.R./L., F.A.O.T.A., & Richmond, Tammy, MS,O.T.R./L., F.A.O.T.A. (2018). Telehealth in occupational therapy. The American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 72, 1-18. (Another great way to support our podcast is to use our MedBridge promo code!) Support the sh

Across 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 weigh in with your perspective as we all strive to keep our patients healthy and safe.(Another great way to support our podcast is to use our MedBridge promo code!) Support the show

In 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!Wylie, K., Knudson, G., Khan, S. I., Bonierbale, M., Watanyusakul, S., & Baral, S. (2016). Serving transgender people: clinical care considerations and service delivery models in transgender health. The Lancet , 388 (10042), 401–411. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(16)00682-6(Another great way to support our podcast is to use our MedBridge promo code!) Support the show

Functional 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 stimulation improves activity after stroke: A systematic review with meta-analysis. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 96(5), 934-943. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.apmr.2015.01.013(Another great way to support our podcast is to use our MedBridge promo code!) Support the show

This 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 promo code!) Support the show

I’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 spending some time with this article. It helps us understand the current state of healthcare, and perhaps you will find some ideas for how we can move forward. Tompkins, D. A., Hobelmann, J. G., & Compton, P. (2017). Providing chronic pain management in the “Fifth Vital Sign” Era: Historical and treatment perspectives on a modern-day medical dilemma. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 173. doi: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2016.12.002(Another great way to support our podcast is to use our MedBridge promo code!) S

I 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 patients with this rare disease. However, the authors of this week's article did a fantastic job of looking at the innate strengths of patients with A-T, and how we might consider them when creating care plans. I will be eager to hear from anyone who has worked with this population and/or has experience with strengths-based approaches.Rothblum-Oviatt, C., Wright, J., Lefton-Greif, M.A. et al. Ataxia telangiectasia: a review. Orpha

MELAS 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!) npsgdUQ6RMTzRirDM3fnSupport the show

I'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., Smeets, R. J. E. M., Ostelo, R. W. J. G., Guzman, J., & Tulder, M. W. V. (2015). Multidisciplinary biopsychosocial rehabilitation for chronic low back pain: Cochrane systematic review and meta-analysis. Bmj , 350 (feb18 5). doi: 10.1136/bmj.h444(Another great way to support our podcast is to use our MedBridge promo code!) Support the show

Soft 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 Potential Club. Kaneko, M., Yamashita, Y., & Iramina, K. (2016). Quantitative evaluation system of soft neurological signs for children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Sensors, 16(1), 116.(Another great way to support our podcast is to use our MedBridge promo code!) Support the show

Dementia 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.Livingston, G., Sommerlad, A., Orgeta, V., Costafreda, S. G., Huntley, J., Ames, D., . . . Mukadam, N. (2017). Dementia prevention, intervention, and care. Lancet (London, England), 390(10113), 2673-2734.(Another great way to support our podcast is to use our MedBridge promo code!) Support the show

Have 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 Potential Club.Jones, C. A., Roop, S. C., Pohar, S. L., Albrecht, L., & Scott, S. D. (2014). Translating Knowledge in Rehabilitation: Systematic Review. Physical Therapy, 95(4), 663–677. doi: 10.2522/ptj.20130512(Another great way to support our podcast is to use our MedBridge promo code!) Support the show

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 might be one of the most important articles for us to take in this year.To discuss this article please join us at the OT Potential Club.Also, as mentioned in the podcast, here is our blog post with the ongoing best price on MedBridge. Clarke, C., Walker, M., Sackley, C., Patel, S., Ives, N., Dowling, F. and Woolley, R. (2016). Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy and Mild to Moderate Parkinson Disease.. JAMA Neurology, 73(7), p.894.Support the show

We 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 way to support our podcast is to use our MedBridge promo code!) Plow, M., & Finlayson, M. (2013). A Qualitative Study Exploring the Usability of Nintendo Wii Fit among Persons with Multiple Sclerosis. Occupational Therapy International, 21(1), 21–32. doi: 10.1002/oti.1345Support the show

I 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., Houldin, A., & Polatajko, H. J. (2016). The Cognitive Orientation to daily Occupational Performance (CO-OP): A scoping review. Canadian Journal of Occupational Therapy, 83(4), 216–225. doi: 10.1177/0008417416651277(Another great way to support our podcast is to use our MedBridge promo code!) Support the show

Here in the United States, OTs are facing some pretty disheartening reimbursement changes.But, this week's article seems to lay the groundwork for arguing that instead of restricting OT, we should be seeking to expand the role of occupational therapy practitioners.I found a lot of hope in this article, and I'll be very curious to hear what you think!To discuss this article please join us at the OT Potential Club.Saxon, R., Gray, M., & Oprescu, F. (2014). Extended roles for allied health professionals: an updated systematic review of the evidence. Journal of Multidisciplinary Healthcare, 479. doi: 10.2147/jmdh.s66746(Another great way to support our podcast is to use our MedBridge promo code!) Support the show

Getting the right patients into therapy at the right time is the first step to great OT care.But, the research we've explored around this topic has suggested that we have a lot of potential for improvement in this area.This week's article looks at therapy referrals for older adults with cancer, and I hope it will serve as a conversation starter in the Club. We absolutely must look into the broader challenge of connecting with patients who could potentially benefit from our services.To discuss this article please join us at the OT Potential Club.You can read the article here: The prevalence of potentially modifiable functional deficits and the subsequent use of occupational and physical therapy by older adults with cancer.Pergolotti, M., Deal, A. M., Lavery, J., Reeve, B. B., & Muss, H. B. (2015). The prevalence of potentially modifiable functional deficits and the subsequent use of occupational and physical therapy by older adults with cancer. Journal of Geriatric Oncology, 6(3), 194–201. doi: 1

This week, we are looking at promising research behind a cognitive rehabilitation program for Parkinson's. And, I'll just skip to the good news—the gains in cognitive rehab actually translated to increased functional abilities, which says to me that this is important research for us all to consider. To discuss this article please join us at the OT Potential Club. You can read the article here: Improving functional disability and cognition in Parkinson’s disease randomized controlled trial. Pena, J., Ibarretxe-Bilbao, N., Garcia-Gorostiaga, I., Gomez-Beldarrain, M. A., Diez-Cirarda, M., & Ojeda, N. (2014). Improving functional disability and cognition in Parkinson disease: Randomized controlled trial. Neurology, 83(23), 2167–2174. doi: 10.1212/wnl.0000000000001043Also, Happy World OT Day to my fellow occupational therapy practitioners. On the blog this week, we updated our Guide to Occupational Therapy for you to share with your communities. (Another great way to support our podcast is to use our

This article subverted my expectations, to say the least. The researchers looked at the effects of early mobilization in the ICU, and their findings might surprise you, too.At the same time, reading this article left me feeling more confident than ever about occupational therapy's unique role in helping ICU patients regain function. (Not to mention, our overall focus on function in all settings!)To discuss this article please join us at the OT Potential Club. Effect of early rehabilitation during intensive care unit stay on functional status: Systematic review and meta-analysis (Another great way to support our podcast is to use our MedBridge promo code!) Support the show