Concussions are a hot topic in sport. Yet the management of these continues to vary. It is now felt that if someone sustains a head injury during sports, they should not return to the game and should be checked by a professional. Take a look at this article about concussions and the changing guidelines for treatment. In the article, an expert, Dr. Jeffrey Kutcher, states: “If in doubt, sit it out,” and points out the important fact that “you only get one brain; treat it well!”
Daily Dose of Inspiration
June is Brain Injury Awareness Month: How Is Your Executive Functioning?
Julie Entwistle, MBA, BHSc (OT), BSc (Health / Gerontology)
Last month, I spoke at a conference with my colleague Tamara Forbes (www.forbeshealth.ca) on the topic of executive dysfunction. Executive dysfunction is a common problem following brain injury. Simply defined, executive functions are the capacities we require to achieve a goal. They are commonly referred to as the “CEO” of the brain because they provide the higher order processes that allow us to plan, organize, initiate and complete tasks successfully.
Practically, think about the last time you moved. Moving, as an example, is a simple goal of just wanting to relocate from one place to another. The goal is not the problem: it is the processes and thinking required to manage the transition effectively. Several months before moving you are searching for a suitable place, weighing the pros and cons of each location, checking your budget. Then you make the decision of where to move and you need to deal with your existing location. When do you need to notify your landlord, or when should you list your house? Then, months and weeks before you move there are calls to make to utility companies, mail to redirect, insurance to organize, movers to book and packing to do. What belongings are you moving? What should be sold, donated, discarded? The day of the move is chaotic, stressful, and exhausting. Then for months after you continue to unpack, move things around, find ways to arrange and store your stuff.
Your level of executive functioning, or your ability to delegate and enlist support for your areas of weakness, will determine the outcome of your move. Now imagine, with brain injury, that you feel the same sense of stress, fatigue and frustration with more simple daily tasks, such as planning a meal, sorting your mail, or scheduling your time. This is often how people with brain injury will feel on a regular basis. The goal then of occupational therapy will be to simplify daily tasks and help a client break activities down into smaller and more manageable chunks. More on this to come…
Daily Dose of Inspiration
“People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
Maya Angelou
Weekly Mind Bender
What is black when you buy it, red when you use it, and gray when you throw it away ?
Charcoal.
Daily Dose of Inspiration
“Risk more than others think is safe. Care more than others think is wise. Dream more than others think is practical. Expect more than others think is possible. ”
Cadet Maxim
30 Days of Organization
Are you feeling the spring cleaning itch? Wanting to simplify and organize your life? De-cluttering and organizing your surroundings can help your health and give your mood a boost. This great article from Today’s Parent walks you through a month of daily organizing activities that will help you de-clutter your home and your life!
Daily Dose of Inspiration
Brothers Conner and Cayden Long, were the recipients of the 2012 Sports Illustrated Kids “SportsKids of the Year” award. Cayden, a boy who has cerebral palsy, and Conner, his older brother have competed in numerous triathlons together and share a truly inspiring story!
Occupational Therapist Sued Over a Reacher
Julie Entwistle, MBA, BHSc (OT), BSc (Health / Gerontology)
I am getting increasingly frustrated at the failure of other OT’s to understand the value of education when prescribing equipment. While it might seem on the surface that use of a reacher, tub scrubber or bath mat are “common sense”, my experience is that common sense is not common, and I don’t want my license on the line.
Take a reacher for example. I have seen people use them as a cane. Or people who have one that is too short and almost fall out of their chair trying to access that item that is “just a little further”. Maybe they think that reacher can handle the over-sized glass jar of pickles and when it doesn’t the jar ends up shattering on the counter in front of them, landing on their lap, or worse, their head. To send something to someone in the mail, and to indicate that “education is not necessary” exposes the OT to liability and the client to risk.
Why don’t OT’s hear about stories of devices gone array? Mainly because when an OT is sued over a piece of equipment, the case can take years to resolve and when it does, the OT is sworn to secrecy about the outcome, otherwise they can be sued for breach of settlement. So OT’s: don’t think these lawsuits don’t happen!
In the world of insurance there is funding for equipment and funding for education to ensure that the equipment is appropriate and the client can safely and independently demonstrate its use. I have had to return many-a-things that I thought looked great on paper to find out they don’t actually work for that client in that case. As OT’s we need to take our prescription responsibilities seriously and should never jeopardize our education, training or experience under the assumption that someone will properly use an item we consider “low risk”.
So, when I prescribe devices, and ask an insurer to fund time for an OTA or myself to provide them, it is because that is part of my judiciary duty to my client, my college, my license, my training, and my sense of responsibility. If another OT feels the device is suitable, but says education is not required, then they can feel free to order those devices themselves and run the direct liability risk of being sued over a reacher.
Daily Dose of Inspiration
“No matter how much you think you want or need it, the past has to remain just that, the past…”
Phil Collins: “Can’t Turn Back the Years”