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Choosing the right course for you. Principles of Adult Learning (yes…this means you!)

Ok…you are ready to take a continuing education course to help you advance your career as a physical, occupational or speech therapist, and you are trying to choose one. When you look at the outline of the course, ask yourself these questions:

What is it you wish to attain from this continuing education course? Most adult learners are goal-oriented. Look at the course objectives and ask yourself if this is what you want to learn. It’s as simple as that!
Is this a practical course or a theory course? Most adult learners are practical, focusing on the aspects of a lesson most useful to them in their work. Does the course address issues that you face at work?
How do you learn best? Most adult learners need active involvement in the learning process with facilitation from an instructor. If this describes you, look for courses with case studies focusing on treatment in a particular area that you treat. Small group work allows for peer interaction, which is also very helpful to the learning process.
Adults have accumulated a foundation of life experiences and knowledge that they want to connect to this new knowledge about the particular topic. If you have experience treating a patient/client with this particular diagnosis, you will probably have that “aha” moment when the learning connections are solidified. This will give you new treatment ideas to take back to the clinic after the course!

As always, feel free to call us to speak to a therapist to help you choose a continuing education course that is right for you! 508-359-6533

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Torticollis and moderate pectus cavum

Rachel Posts:

DEAR ERI COMMUNITY: 10 month old with mild right torticollis and moderate pectus cavum

I am an EI occupational therapist working with this family for 2 months now. I have only seen one other child with torticollis and that was in conjunction with a PT. I am the only provider for this family. He has full PROM and full AROM. His head tilt to the right has gotten better already primarily through ball exercises. His head tilt is at about 20 degrees still. He is just learning to sit and is not yet crawling. He is just starting to push thru straight arms. He tends to scoot on his back arching up onto his head and pushing with his legs. He rolls in both directions to get around too. Either arm tends to get stuck under him when he tries to scoot forward on his belly which is rare. His trunk posture looks good during assisted tall kneeling, and he can maintain quadruped with rocking when given support at his hips. In addition he has pectus cavum.

1) What are your experiences with infants with pectus cavum and progression of motor skills? Does pectus cavum affect upper body strength? Could this be affecting his progress in addition to the torticollis?

2) Since he has full passive and active ROM, do I just measure his progress with being able to do functional activities to both sides equally?

3). Is there cause for concern with the back scooting? About half the time he back scoots and half the time he rolls to get to a toy.

Thank you!

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Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy Make Best Jobs for 2012 Top 10 List

Occupational therapy, physical therapy and speech pathology are here to stay! Worried about the economy, unemployment etc.? Don’t be. According to US News.com, which compiles a list of the best careers every year based on the Labor Department’s employment projections, you are in the right field. This year PT and OT made the top 10 list and speech pathology was close behind in the #14 spot.

Based on projections healthcare and technology jobs are growing and will continue to. Physical therapy, which was in the number 8 spot ranked high for job satisfaction, was above the average in the U.S. for pay and far below the national average for unemployment.

According to the article, “There should be a nearly 40-percent increase in available positions by 2020,” in physical therapy. “Since physical therapists often see patients overcoming adversity: Injured athletes, amputees, and stroke victims might all find themselves working with these professionals to rebuild their range of motion, coordination, and muscle strength. This profession graces our top 10 not only because of its comfortable salary and good job prospects, but because it’s also one of the faster-growing occupations of the next decade.” – US News.com

Occupational therapylanded the 10^th spot as one of the fastest growing occupations this decade. This is due to the large scope of issues treated in this exhaustive field of therapy and the aging population. However, it’s noted “to land one of the 36,400 positions available before 2020, you’ll have needed a head start. Certified therapists must earn at least a master’s degree from an accredited university.”

Speech-language pathologist landed in the 14^th spot. The growth of the occupation isn’t quite as strong as PTs and OTs, however satisfaction level is still very good and the average unemployment rate is well below the national average.

Want to learn more about the best jobs for 2012 and how your occupation fits in to the survey? Check it out “The Best Jobs of 2012.”

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Failure to Thrive – Feeding

Kristen Posts:

Dear ERI COMMUNITY: I am a pediatric nurse practitioner working with a child who struggles with severe oral aversion. At 18 months old she was diagnosed with sensory processing disorder and failure to thrive and enrolled her in the early intervention program. She was much delayed in her gross motor skills and not walking until 19 mos. Fast forwarding to age three, she was diagnosed with Celiacs disease and we thought that was the answer to her failure to thrive and her sensory issues. A year later she didn’t grow in height and only gained a pound weighing a mere 26lbs. After a long agonizing 3 month decision with the GI team we placed a gtube. All this time her family, doctors, and therapists seemed to miss her oral aversion focusing on her delayed grossed motor skills. So today at age 5 she maybe orally eats a select few foods and relies on gtube feeds to keep her alive. Everyday is a struggle to get her to eat and “just take one bite”. What are your experiences with these children in their teen and adult years? What percentage out grow this problem? What have you found to be the most successful treatments? Thanks for all your help.

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How to Wrap-up Your In-Service.

Leaving your colleagues inspired and wanting for more information can be a challenge.

In your final comments, repeat your main points. Tell your colleagues how they can obtain further and more in-depth information. If you are so inclined, invite them to observe you treating a patient using this new information or offer to consult on one of their challenging patients.

Don’t forget to share reference materials that colleagues may need to provide evidence and support for this clinical approach.

Good luck!

Feel free to post any specific questions you may have as you pull together an effective in-service for your colleagues.

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Choosing the right course for you. Principles of Adult Learning (yes…this means you!)

Torticollis and moderate pectus cavum

Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy Make Best Jobs for 2012 Top 10 List

Failure to Thrive – Feeding

How to Wrap-up Your In-Service.

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