Ot Potential Podcast

Hot take: I loved working in a Skilled Nursing Facility. Skilled nursing facilities are one of the highest paid settings for occupational therapy professionals. And about one-fifth of us work in one. But, work in one can have a bad rap. In today’s intro to SNF OT course, we’ll walk through the common challenges, and immense opportunities of working in a SNF. We’ll cover the specific things you need to know, from payment models to common assessments. And, we’ll paint a picture of how you as an OT can really be a driver of culture and care in this unique and important setting.We’ll be joined by Trent Brown, MOT, OTR/L, ATP, CGCP, CFPS, BCG, a practicing occupational therapist, who is also a part of the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) as an assistant office director with a focus on developing and operating quality improvement programs, particularly in SNFs.Support the show

It’s no secret that I believe occupation therapy is entering its prevention era. We are starting to leverage our skillset not after a terrible health incident has occurred, but at the first sign of trouble. As I imagine this not-too-distant reality, there is one deeply personal area that I am so eager to see us shift our energy toward: Cancer prevention. Across the healthcare community, we are learning more and more about the specific lifestyle and environmental factors that put people at a higher risk for cancer. Case in point: My own county in rural Nebraska, where above-average pediatric cancer rates have been associated with high levels of nitrates in our water.On today’s podcast, we are lucky to be joined by Dr. Jesse E. Bell, one of the world’s leading experts on water and human health and the Claire M. Hubbard Professor of Water, Climate, and Health in the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s Department of Environmental, Agricultural, and Occupational Health.Dr. Bell—who also is the author of the pa

Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming healthcare—and pediatric occupational therapy is no exception.This course aims to spark your imagination about AI’s potential to strengthen how we support child development. From enhancing your assessments with rich data to making interventions more accessible, AI holds promise for both clinicians and families. This course offers insights into how these innovations are beginning to reshape early childhood developmental support.In this OT Potential Podcast episode, we welcome Mati Kochavi, founder of Korro AI, to explore the opportunities and challenges of applying AI to your therapy practice. You’ll learn how AI can complement clinical judgment and data tracking, improve the accuracy of milestone monitoring, and provide real-time support for families.By the end of the course, you’ll have a grounded understanding of AI’s potential in positively supporting child development—and the practical and ethical considerations that therapists must weigh as these tools move

School-based OTs is one of occupational therapy’s most distinct practice areas. The style of practice and the systems you work within, all take a mindset shift. Whether you just landed your first school OT job or are a seasoned professional looking to refine how you manage your days, this course will walk you through essential day to day considerations. You’ll leave more confident about organizing your time, and delivering high-quality care to your students. Joining us will be returning guest, Bryden Giving. Bryden successfully survived  the shift from outpatient OT to school based practice, several years ago and we have so much to learn from him. He is also the editor of the forthcoming book Neurodiversity-Affirming Occupational Therapy. Support the show

When you adjust for inflation, OT and PT reimbursement is down around 40% since 2002 on our key CPT codes. Now the 2026 Physician Fee Schedule proposed rule has ANOTHER cut to OT written in pencil. We simply cannot sustain continued cuts to the value of our services. So, we clearly need to reconsider our advocacy approach and identify key opportunities to help influence meaningful change.. At OT Potential we are equipping YOU to raise your voice. We are going to spend an hour diving deep into the relevant parts of the new proposed rule, so you can understand the challenges and opportunities. We’ll be led by The incredible Dana Strauss, a doctor of physical therapy and healthcare public policy expert.We’ll share the comment letter that OT Potential has drafted to share with CMS, so you have a template to work from  by the deadline on Sept. 12th.Support the show

OT reimbursement from traditional models is on the decline, while the need for OT services on the risesThus, entering into private practice is an important avenue for OTs to consider. But, with this comes all kinds of legal considerations. In the first part of this two part series, we talked about choosing a legal entity, working with your full scope of practice as laid out by your licensure laws, and navigating Medicare covered services. Now in part two, we are getting into more considerations from navigating anti-trust, Stark Law, anti-kickback, to monopolization laws. This is truly information that all OTs need to be savvy about (whether or not you run a business.) We’ll welcome back two returning podcast guests, Monika Lukasiewicz, OTR/L (who is looking to start her practice) and Alyson Stover, MOT, JD, OTR/L, BCP (a pediatric occupational therapist/private practice owner, who also has a degree in health law.) This is live webinar! So we answer listener questions at the end! Please note, we cannot give le

Unfortunately, rates of cancer have been on the rise for young adults in multiple cancer types—including breast, pancreatic, and gastric cancers.Cancer rehab for these individuals introduces multiple special considerations given their age and life stage. In this one hour webinar, we will use our clinical decision support page to walk through assessment, goal-setting and treatment for adolescents and young adults with cancer.We’ll be hearing from Vanessa Monique Yanez, PhD, MSOT, OTR/L. Vanessa is  an occupational therapist specializing in cancer rehabilitation—she is also herself a cancer survivor.Support the showSupport the show

While many therapists dream of private practice, the risk of hitting a legal landmine holds many back. In this episode, we are going to zoom in on one OT who is looking to partner with a doctor who is providing concierge dementia services. We’ll use this as a case example to talk through what legal considerations OTs need to make when starting a practice: from choosing the right legal entity, to partnering with a specific provider, to navigating Medicare, to understanding anti-trust and anti-kick back laws. Yes. We are getting in the weeds. But, this is essential. We’ll welcome back two returning podcast guests,  Monika Lukasiewicz, OTR/L (who is looking to start her practice) and Alyson Stover, MOT, JD, OTR/L, BCP (a pediatric occupational therapist/private practice owner, who also has a degree in health law.) You can find more details on this course here:https://otpotential.com/ceu-podcast-courses/legal-considerations-for-otSupport the show

Here’s a question I can’t stop thinking about: Is “sense of purpose” the true secret ingredient that makes occupational therapy unique and effective? I ran a survey of my OT peers earlier this year, and I was shocked that 17% of respondents selected “sense of purpose” as the main treatment area they address—second only to “daily activities,” which is what I traditionally think of as our bread and butter. This tells me that, on the ground, a surprising number of therapists see “addressing sense of purpose” as their most effective intervention. The article we are looking at today reveals why sense of purpose may be such a profound lever to pull. (Hint: It is associated with many health benefits!) After we review the article, we are excited to welcome to the podcast one of occupational therapy’s leading thinkers about our role in sense of purpose: Dr. Alix Sleight. Together, we’ll unpack the science behind sense of purpose—and the small and large ways you can address it in your OT sessions. You can find more det

You know that sinking feeling you get before walking into a patient room, when you suddenly think: “Wait.. what exactly am I going to do with this patient?” Creating a treatment plan entails a complex synthesis of the patient’s needs, the available evidence, and your expertise. It’s no wonder it can be hard to pull all this information together on the spot. So, it’s easy to see why therapists are starting to utilize AI tools as a brainstorming assist for treatment planning. But, this also raises SO MANY questions. Which tools should I trust? What are the limitations? What are the ethical considerations? In this webinar, we are talking with a practicing PT, Cody Lee,  about the benefits he has found from using AI as a treatment planning companion. And, practical ways you can get started doing the same, so you can begin riding this wave that is going to transform healthcare. You can find more details on this course here:https://otpotential.com/ceu-podcast-courses/ai-and-treatment-planningSupport the show

Far too often, people are not referred to occupational therapy until their disease course has progressed to a level of high complexity.But, what if we could start seeing our clients sooner? Ideally, we receive the referral at the first sign of trouble. In some cases, we could prevent the full expression of a condition. In other cases, we could work with the client so their condition presents in a less severe way. These services are low cost and high impact. While it feels obvious that this is the direction we should be heading, there are policy, payment and mindset barriers to overcome. In this one hour live discussion Alyson Stover, MOT, JD, OTR/L, BCP and Sarah Lyon, OTR/L will discuss the practical steps we can be taking to shift our care towards prevention. Our goal is that you will leave inspired to take steps in your own context. You can find more details on this course here:https://otpotential.com/ceu-podcast-courses/occupational-therapy-and-prevention Support the show

Stroke rehab is an area where we have some of the most abundant research to draw on as occupational therapists. But, this can also make it feel difficult to synthesize it all into the right actions steps for your clients. In this Ask Me Anything style episode, we will be answering your questions on chronic stroke assessment, goal-setting and treatment. We’ll have a full clinical decision support for you reference during the episode, and then plan to keep it up to date. Our guest Christopher Gaskins, PhD, OTR/L, CSRS is uniquely poised to tackle this topic. Not only has he worked at Walter Reed as a neuro OT, run his one neuro private practice, and consulted with US military as a health consultant. He has also has a particular interest in mental workload…both in understanding what our patients can take on…but also how to ease your mental workload as a therapist as you tackle this complex topic. You can find more details on this course here:https://otpotential.com/ceu-podcast-courses/pediatric-sleep-and-otSuppo

Between 20-30% of typically developing children experience sleep difficulty in childhood. The percentage of neurodiverse children  with considerable sleep problems is even more staggering at 40-80%.  On one hand, it is sobering to consider the impacts of sleep difficulties on children and adolescents. As you’ll hear in this week's article review: Sleep difficulties are linked with everything from poorer health, education outcomes and social outcomes. They can also exacerbate common conditions like ADHD.But on the other hand, this means that improving sleep is one of the most powerful levers that occupational therapy professionals can address with our clients. I know many of you are already at least touching on this foundational ADL with your clients—but I’m hoping today we will upskill you even further, through my conversation with Dr. Amy Gore Hartman. Amy is an occupational therapist and sleep scientist specializing in supporting families with sleep and emotion regulation.You can find more details on t

While many OTs work in a fee for service model, the reality is that we are undergoing a seismic shift towards value based care. In fact it's estimated that 238.8 million Americans receive healthcare in a value-based care model. These already large numbers are expected to grow significantly in the coming years.OTs has tremendous potential in value-based care models. But, the reality is we are missing the boat.  That’s because becoming involved in a value based care model involves a contracting process that can feel complicated. There has been MUCH written to support doctors and other medical providers in the value-based care process, and they are outpacing us.  But, in today’s episode we break this information down for OTs. Our favorite value-base care expert, Dana Stauss, PT, DPT  is going to walk private practice owner Carlin Reaume through: identify value-based care opportunities locally, crafting a proposal, and ultimately drafting a contract. Let’s be honest. This feels dense. But, this is exactly wh

Nearly one third of people experience sleep disturbances. And, about 23% of adults experience mental health illness. These high percentages mean that both sleep and mental health are global, public health challenges in their own right. However, emerging research suggests we should not think of these challenges separately. They are more intertwined than we realize. Sleep difficulties aren’t just a sign of mental health challenges, sleep problems can contribute to mental health problems. But, then the inverse is also true: when we improve a person's sleep, we can improve their mental health.  What this means for OT is profound:This means sleep interventions are one of the most powerful tools we have to impact mental health. Today, we will zoom in on one diagnosis: anxiety. We’ll get deep into the biology of how sleep and anxiety are intertwined. And, the interventions (that are in your OT-wheel house) to improve both. To help us make sense of how profound the impact of sleep is on health—and, how potential

Starting a side hustle private practice is one of the best ways to safeguard your career, pursue a niche interest, and meet some of the many unmet needs in your community. But, let’s be honest: the process of getting going can be daunting. In this Ask Me Anything (AMA), we are welcoming Carline Reaume, OTD, OTR/L, DipACLM, PMH-C, PCES back to the podcast. Carlin has steadily grown her private practice over the course of several years, and has experienced the ups and downs of private practice management. Also on our panel is Sarah Lyon, a business owner in her own right, Sarah has carefully watched the trends in private private practice for almost a decade now. And, is author of the ever-popular post “Start and Grow Your Therapy Practice.” You can find more details on this course here:https://otpotential.com/ceu-podcast-courses/starting-an-ot-private-practiceSupport the show Support the show

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome affects quality of life in 1-5% of people. The first step in treatment of carpal tunnel should be non-surgical treatment, which includes education, often a steroid injection, and therapy. But what should that therapy look like? In this live webinar, we will discuss carpal tunnel education, assessment and treatment with Rachel Egan, OTR/L, MS, CHT, COMT-UE.  Rachel is a Certified Hand Therapist, a Certified Orthopedic Manual Therapist, and currently manages operations for 13 NovaCare clinics across Minnesota.Participants in this course will have access to our full clinical decision support page for carpal tunnel treatment that will be updated on an ongoing basis. You can find more details on this course here:https://otpotential.com/ceu-podcast-courses/carpal-tunnel-and-ot Support the show Support the show

Childhood feeding problems are one of the most common complaints raised during primary care visits. Which is not surprising, given that the prevalence of pediatric feeding disorder is around 1 in 37 children under age 5. Feeding disorders overall  are common in the pediatric population, with a prevalence of 25% of children in the general population and of up to 80% of children with developmental disabilities. Unfortunately, many feeding problems are too often normalized, and parents are told to “wait and see” when in reality, feeding problems may be associated with poor sleep quality, toileting problems, increased likelihood of medical conditions or illness—ultimately leading to greater levels of caregiver stress and healthcare costs. The article we are looking at today is a broad scoping review of research on pediatric feeding disorder, which really highlights the broad multidisciplinary interest in this disorder. After we review the article, we will welcome to the podcast Suzie Driscoll, MOT, OTR/L, an occu

However you think about group strength it probably is not broadly enough. Grip strength is NOT just about hand strength. It is NOT just an indicator of upper body strength. It is NOT just about overall strength. Grip strength is associated with: mortalitypsychological healthfunctional disabilitieshospitalizationmorbidityThe article we are reviewing today, is seeking to convince you that grip strength should be considered as a vital sign, as it is an overall indicator of well-being. And, I believe it is a metric that each therapist should be paying attention to basically with every patient. After we review this article, we will welcome to the podcast, Gabriella Francis OTR/L, ATC, CEO. Gabby is the CEO at Squegg, a grip strength pet health tech company. Through this role she has been immersed in the science of grip strength and today we are excited to discuss the practical implications of this new science for occupational therapy professionals and for our healthcare system.You can find more details on this cou

We’ve all known for a while that the current fee-for-service models that most occupational therapists operate under are bad for patients and bad for healthcare. Why? Because it incentives volume of services over quality of services. If you’re like me, you may feel like you’ve been waiting for years for value based care to really take hold in the United States. But, this new future has felt like a distant reality. Our guest today, Dana Strauss, PT, DPT, sees things from a different vantage point. As she’ll share in this episode, the future is actually here, it is just not evenly distributed. Value-based programs have been piloted and they are on the cusp of rapid expansion in the United States. In our episode today, Dana will walk us through the value-based models that are currently out there, what ones are coming, and what you as an OT professional can do to prepare for this much-needed new reality. You can find more details on this course here:https://otpotential.com/ceu-podcast-courses/ot-and-value-based-ca