RehabCare

Making the Most of Your ASHA Experience

The flights have all been booked, hotel reservations made, mardi gras beads and masks have all been packed-you're ready for your visit to "The Big Easy".....or are you?  It's your first national convention and although you'd never admit it, you're filled with fear and trepidation about what the week is to hold.  Have no fear! RehabCare is  here to help you make the most of your ASHA 2009 experience.  Here are a few tips you may want to remember:

1. Prepare to be Overwhelmed- When you first walk into the exhibit hall it is totally okay to feel slightly overwhelmed at the sight of hundreds of booths teeming with thousands of professionals and students just like yourself.  Just remember that if you have a plan and work through the booths methodically you can stop and see everyone you would like to meet.  

2. Know Which Booths You Want to Visit- Whether you have heard great things about a company, you've been in communication with someone, or your professor recommends an exhibitor to you, know ahead of time who you want to visit.  Often companies will send you a postcard that is good for some type of giveaway (or an added chance at winning a mini laptop).  These are good things to keep in a folder and take with you.  And, of course, if you go nowhere else, stop by booth 1315 and get a very cool giveaway and enter to win RehabCare's Mini Laptop!  

3. Use the Resources Provided- On their website ASHA offers a very useful tools called "My Planner".  This program gives you access to search the over 1700 education sessions.  It gives you the ability to organize your selected sessions into one easy-to-read page that shows where you need to be and when you need to be there.  My Planner also lets you add appointments, hotel information, and exhibitors you want to visit.  This tool is very helpful.  I'd highly recommend you utilize it to help you make the most of your experience.  

4. Know What You Want to Ask- With graduation nearing your head is full of questions about what comes next.  Have some of these questions ready to ask the companies you meet.  Some questions you may want to ask include, "What kind of benefits do you offer?", "What locations do you have near me?", "Does your company offer tuition assistance or tuition reimbursement?", "Do you provide money to assist with CEU's?", and "Do you offer a mentorship program?".  Knowing in advance the questions you'd like answered will help you direct the conversation in a way that is most useful to you.  

Using these few short tips will help you make the most of your experience at the ASHA convention this year!  Have a great time and remember to come by and see RehabCare at Booth 1315.  We will be giving away a mini laptop.  And don't forget to enjoy a little Jambalaya and Crawfish Etouffe while you're in New Orleans!

Calling all December Grads

It is the beginning of November which means we are fast approaching the holiday season. Are you a thearpy student getting ready to graduate in December? If so now may be the time to start searching. I know you ask, "How am I suppose to fit that in between clinicals, schools, work and the holidays?" It may not be an easy task but dedicate a few minutes of your time each night to searching for jobs, re-visiting your resume, or contacting potential employers. Believe me, it will pay off in the end. There are a number of December graduates and you want to make sure that you are considered in the mix of candidates for that perfect job. Many employers hire up to 6 months prior to graduation! During these last few months of school and clinical experience, remember to jot down particular experiences to share during your interviews, e.g. the first patient you discharged to home and how you were part of this success, the young man who was able to play soccer again after enduring weeks of PT. Also, think of what makes you a good therapist and what sets you apart from the rest; this may be the key to your success. The search begins now.......check out www.rehabcare.com and the great opportunities we have for you!

RehabCare Announces Merger with Triumph Healthcare

This is an exciting time for RehabCare!  Along with strong third quarter financial results, we have just announced a merger agreement with Triumph HealthCare.  This transaction is our largest to date.  It also will expand our capabilities in a critical component of the post-acute continuum – long-term acute care hospitals (LTACHs) – allowing us to incorporate the best practices of one of the largest and most successful operators of LTACHs in the country.

 

Founded in 1999 and with about 3,800 employees, Triumph HealthCare currently operates 20 LTACHs in seven states, with two more hospitals expected to come online by mid-2010.  The addition of Triumph will bring the number of hospitals within our portfolio to 35, operating in 13 states. With a leading market position in most of their locations, they consistently deliver superior outcomes for high acuity patients through effective case management and innovative treatment. 

 

Four years ago, we launched our Hospital operations with the acquisition of MeadowBrook Healthcare. By melding the strengths of our two companies, we also will build a more diverse company with the potential to deliver the continuum of care in more markets, offer additional career options for clinicians and reach more patients in need of specialized LTACH services.

 

We look forward to welcoming the members of Triumph to the RehabCare team when this transaction closes.

Halloween at RehabCare!

Patients at Washington, Missouri's Cedar Crest Manor were greeted by Thing 1, Thing 2, and the Cat in the Hat when they came for therapy today!  Just in time for Halloween, Julie Hulsey, PTA-PD and Renee Kuenzel, OT get into the spirit by dressing up as Thing 1 and Thing 2.  They were joined by Lacey Sincox, CNA who posed as the Cat in the Hat.

Matt Meier, PT, Deb Sweet, OTA, Jill Surmeier, PT, Heather Venezia, OT, Jake Hoene, PTA appropriately dress up as the village people at their facility Friendship Village South in St.Louis. As you can see, RehabCare is a great place to be!

Man's Best Friend

I love my dogs.  They keep me active, they give me love, and they make me laugh!  But, never did I think that they could help with my rehabilitation if I ever needed it.  That was, however, until I read Therapeutic Animals, an article on ADVANCE.com. 

As is told in the article, physical therapist, Jennifer Trecaso, has helped to develop a therapy program for her patients with dogs, specifically her dog Rudy!   Rudy comes with Jennifer to work one day a week and interacts with her patients.  Patients pet Rudy, play ball with Rudy, walk Rudy, groom Rudy, and even chat with Rudy.  All of this being fun, as well as, "working on their endurance, strength, range of motion, and flexibility which pretty much encompasses all of therapy".  Therapy in the rehab gym is very functional and beneficial but this program adds another element. 

"Studies show interaction between humans and animals can provide a variety of benefits to adults during the rehabilitation process, Stillion said. The physiological benefits include relaxation in the presence of a dog or other animal. Tests have shown the decrease in heart rate and blood pressure... Animals also help to boost the mood of a resident, prompting them to work harder to accomplish their goals."

Dogs have long been known as man's greatest companion and this is just another example of why they have that title.   Take a moment to read the full article, it is a great showcase for creative therapy treatment.

RehabCare Alumni Ambassadors

A few weeks ago 14 of RehabCare's recent graduates who had been selected by upper management for their contribution to the organization descended upon St. Louis to participate in the first annual Alumni Ambassador Board meeting. The meeting consisted of 2 days packed full of events.  On the first day the board members got the opportunity to learn more about RehabCare and meet some of the people from the corporate office. After a long day, we left for an evening out on the town...St. Louis style.  Of course, that included taking in a Cardinal's baseball game!  We spent the evening with some of the local operators as well as representatives from schools in the area. It was a long, but very enjoyable day!

Day 2 consisted of a mock job fair and a few hours of intense focus group sessions where we gained some very good information from their perspective! The ambassadors were also able to sit in on the Short Address followed by some Ted Drewe's frozen custard...another St. Louis tradition.

Overall, the meeting was a great success!  We are very thankful to our ambassadors for their participation, and look forward to working with them in the future!  Here are some pictures from our Alumni Ambassador Board Meeting.

Perks of Being a New Hire

This past week I came across a great post titled, The Perks of Being a New Hire.  The post is part of Lisa West's featured blog, Life as a New PT Grad, on ADVANCE.com.  Current therapy students and recent graduates should definitely check out Lisa's blog.  Weekly posts touch on her day-to-day encounters as a PT.  Not only are they interesting to read, but they are enlightening as well. In previous weeks Lisa blogged about her feelings of being "the low man on the totem pole", but in this post she highlights the advantages of being a new therapist. Here are just a few:

"3. I have energy. I'm not burned out. Being a new grad, I am so excited to spend my time with patients all day instead of face-down in my notes, studying. I love working, and I love getting paid.

4. I am eager to learn and develop myself as a professional. This goes along with point #3. I have a drive to push myself. I want to learn how to treat in ICU settings, to learn different diagnoses. I am not stuck in a rut with my career."

If you are a new hire, what "perks" do you see?

¡Bienvenido a Miami!

Calling all PT/PTA students!  That’s right, it’s just around the corner!  The APTA’s 17^th Annual Student Conclave will be held in Miami,Florida from October 30 thru November 1 at the Hyatt Regency Miami.  A few of the activities attendees can expect at this event include workshops, clinical seminars, informative sessions and elections for the Student Assembly Board of Directors and Nominating Committee.  Other peak interests include an open discussion with APTA’s President, Scott Ward PT, PhD, in addition to an exhibit hall filled with employers and other professionals in the industry.

Polish up your resume and be sure to bring plenty along with you to the National Student Conclave next month.  See you in the Sunshine State!!

Click here for additional information.

Music Therapy History - Have You Heard?

The idea of music being used as a healing influence has been around for over 2,000 years.  Practice in the 20th century stemmed after WWI and WWII when community musicians went to the veterans hospitals playing their instruments for thousands of physically and emotionally traumatized soldiers.  The patients’ notable responses led doctors and nurses to permanently hiring the musicians at the hospitals.

Individuals who can benefit from such therapies are children, adolescents, adults and elderly with mental health issues, developmental and learning disabilities, Alzheimer’s and other age-related conditions, brain injuries, physical disabilities and those dealing with acute chronic pain.

Some of the venues in which music therapists work include rehab facilities, hospitals, outpatient clinics, day care treatments centers, senior centers, nursing homes and hospice programs to name a few.  In a hospital setting, music therapy is used to alleviate pain, elevate patients’ mood while counteracting depression, promote movement for physical rehab, calm or sedate, minimize anxiety in addition to decreasing muscle tension.  In regards to a rehabilitation standpoint, music therapy is used to neurologically manipulate inner brain functions such as motor, speech and cognitive processes. 

Music therapy is utilized in skilled nursing environments to increase or maintain patients’ physical, mental and social/emotional functioning, especially in the elderly population.  In Alzheimer’s patients, it is used specifically to cue memory recall and socialization.

What are your thoughts about incorporating music into physical rehabilitation?  Maryville University, one of the locals schools we work with very closely, offers a music therapy program.  Click on the following link to read more on what it has to offer.  http://www.maryville.edu/academics-hp-musictherapy.htm

Coming To A Campus Near You!

Have you been following your favorite Campus Relations Manager?  Do you know when we are coming to your campus next? 

 

The fall semester is in full swing and campuses are buzzing with student activities.  This is a busy time of year for the RehabCare Campus Relations Team.  New York, Florida, Kansas, Texas......we are packing up boxes with materials and giveaways, boarding planes and heading to your campus!   Will you be attending your campus' job fair or participating in  a RehabCare sponsored Lunch and Learn?

 

What can you expect to learn from attending one of these events:  

 

        - Who is RehabCare?  Where we are located?

 

        - OpportunityU- Our Tuition Assistance and Tuition Forgiveness Program.

 

        - Clinical Educations Sites- Where can you do an affiliation with RehabCare?

       

        - AIM- Advise, Inspire, Mentor.  Learn about our Mentorship Program for New Grads.

 

        - Much, Much, More!

 

Make sure to check back to the blog regularly to see where we are going and hear about where we have been.  We hope to see you soon!