RehabCare

A New Way to Save $$ During School...Textbook Rental?

The beginning of a new semester means tuition payments, textbook purchases and other educational expenses, all of which lead to money flying out of your pocket.  It's at this point that many college students start, what I call, the Ramen noodle diet.  But you don't have to resort to that now.  There are other ways to cut down on the amount of money you wave goodbye to during school.  One such way is by renting your textbooks.  Yes, that’s right; I said renting your textbooks. 

The majority of U.S. College and University campus bookstores are now offering textbook rental and there are quite a few online sites that offer textbook rental as well, such as:

• Bookrenter.com
• Chegg.com
• CollegeBookRenter.com
• Valorebooks.com

Typically, you can rent a textbook for at least half of the price of buying a new one.  To see just how much is saved by renting as opposed to buying, I did a little online price comparison for an Anatomy textbook.  The prices listed for the book were $204.80 (new) and $65.33 (rented).  That’s over a $100 difference, and at $65.33 I would have the book for the full semester.  Now, if you want to keep your textbook for the long haul, textbook rental is probably not for you.  However, it's a great option if you don’t see yourself needing your books after you have completed your course work. 

I hope this helps some of you cut down your education expenses and I wish you luck during the fall semester!

There's Still Time to Register!

Are you scheduling or getting ready for your clinical education?
If yes, join us tonight at 7:00 PM for our Webinar on Clinical Education.  Guest presenter, Jill FitzGerald, will be discussing what you can expect, what is expected of you and how you can prepare for your clinical education experience.

Space is limited. Reserve your Webinar seat!

After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Webinar.

Coming to RehabCare!

I have started a new adventure in my life!  I recently made the move from Austin, Texas to St. Louis, Missouri in order to work at RehabCare as a Campus Relations Manager for the western region.  Right now, I am enjoying myself as I learn the business and meet new people.  I am excited to visit college campuses and closely work with universities and students in my region.   From time to time I will be posting updates about my experiences as a Campus Relations Manager.  So, check in regularly to see what I have going on because I may be visiting your neck of the woods!

iOrtho, Another App for Therapists

It seems like every week I am finding new and exciting iPhone apps that I want to download. For instance, yesterday I downloaded an app that helps you find the lowest price for a product. All you have to do is scan the product's bar code and it does the pricing research for you! After I downloaded it I thought to myself, "Why didn't I think of that?" There are so many opportunities to create an app; you just have to be a little creative and resourceful!

Dawn Gulick and Christopher Wise, two PT Professors from Widener University, were just that as they developed an app for rehabilitation professionals, educators, clinicians and students. Using their vast knowledge of therapy they created iOrtho, an app that serves as a resource for orthopedic special tests and mobilization techniques. The app features 85 orthopedic special tests, each of which includes a purpose, technique, interpretation, statistics and hi-res illustrative photos. iOrtho also offers 88 mobilization techniques, each of which includes indications, contacts, technique and hi-res illustrative photos. It's an app worth checking out if you are in the PT profession.

OT and SLP students, we didn't forget about you. Check out Spot on Chicago's post which lists some great iPhone apps for OT and SLP, as well as our previous post which references other therapy related apps. Technology is definitely changing the way with look at education and therapy!

Good Reads for PT and OT

There is still a little time to squeeze in some summer reading, so we thought we would post two good reads for students and new graduates in the Physical and Occupational Therapy fields. Check them out.

Physical Therapy The Truth:  For Students, Clinicians and Healthcare Professionals by Monie Phillips.  Written by a licensed PT, "This book will assist the reader by providing valuable information to the student trying to decide if PT is the right career or the PT student contemplating what area of practice to take on first.  The reader will get a genuine account of the PT profession and what it takes to get in and stay in."

 

 

The Professional Portfolio in Occupational Therapy:  Career Development and Continuing Competence by Janet Nagayda, Sarah Schindehette and Jaclyn Richardson.  Written by three licensed OTRs, "This book will provide a concrete way for students to create and utilize their own professional portfolios to document the path of their careers. Mandated as critical part of the OT student’s professional development, this book will be user-friendly and extremely valuable in the students' final stages of their education. Topics covered inside include: Professional Development, Community and Professional Service, and Professional Publications and Presentations."

Have you read either one of these?  If so, let us know what you thought.  If you have any additional reading suggestions, let us know that as well!

Relief from High Tuition Costs

Recently, there has been a lot of discussion over the rise in college tuition.  For example, this week I read articles on three different states dealing with the issue.   The state of Pennsylvania has approved a 4.5% hike in tuition, and Texas and South Carolina are currently in debates over substantial increases.   As I am sure theses states are not alone, college students across the U.S. are being faced with growing debt as the fall semester commences.   If you are pursuing your degree as a rehabilitation professional, RehabCare might be able to lend you a hand!  Take a look at OpportunityU.

OpportunityU is our tuition assistance/reimbursement program which provides tuition relief to current students and recent graduates.  If you are an OT, PT or SLP student, you may apply for up to $10,000 in tuition assistance/reimbursement.  If you are an OTA or PTA student, may apply for up to $5,000 in tuition assistance/reimbursement.  The best thing about the program is, not only do you receive help with your educational expenses, but you are assured a position with RehabCare upon graduation.   To get more information and to see if you qualify, visit our website or contact Lianne Daues at cldaues@rehabcare.com, 1.800.899.7037 ext. 2330.



A New Addition to Our Team!

Join us in welcoming the newest member to the RehabCare team, Fernando Rodriguez.  We are very excited to have Fernando begin his role as RehabCare's new Campus Relations Manager for the western United States.  We're so excited we had to post a picture of his first day on the job! It takes us back to the days when our parents made us pose for pictures on the first day of school.

Since Fernando is busy with meetings and orientation this week, we will let him get settled.   But check back in the coming weeks, as we know he will want to formally introduce himself and his role at RehabCare.  Until then, help us welcome Fernando by leaving a comment!

"Smart" Idea from RehabCare

Since RehabCare is a leading provider in physical rehabilitation services, we are always trying to stay ahead of the game.  This year we are doing just that with the roll out of Smart Mobile to our Skilled Nursing Rehabiliation Services division.  The Smart Mobile technology is efficient, comprehensive and just plain amazing!  For instance, it provides RehabCare therapists the ability to track their patients and complete daily therapy notes at point-of-service, all through their company provided iPod touch.  To see what I am talking about, check out this video. 

So, what do you think?  The Smart Mobile technology is pretty cutting edge, right?  I like the idea of the built in alerts and filters that remind therapists of coverage policies and missing data.  That could be very helpful, especially for new therapists.  Wouldn't you like to have this technology at your fingertips?

 

Tonight is the Night for RehabCare's Next Webinar!

The Value of Mentorship

A Mentor can play a large role in helping you transition from student to full-time clinician.  A good Mentor is a coach, always challenging you, inspiring you and demanding the best from you; they can improve confidence and lead to job opportunities you never considered!

Join the Webinar tonight at 7:00 PM to learn more about mentorship and how it can help you jump start your career as a therapist!

Space is limited.  Reserve your Webinar seat now!

After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Webinar. 

From Milwaukee To Berlin

Check this out, the OTA program at Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC) has a student exchange program where students are able explore occupational therapy in another culture.  Most recently, the OTA program hosted students and faculty from occupational therapy schools in Germany.  During their time in the U.S., the German guests were taken to numerous hospitals and facilities around Milwaukee where they explored the differences and similarities between cultures.  Then, MATC students and faculty traveled to Berlin to visit sheltered workshops and rehabilitation centers.  What did the students learn about occupational therapy by connecting with their colleagues across the Atlantic?  Take a moment to read the article.

Does your school have an exchange or volunteer program?  Let us know.  We love hearing about programs that are able to take the curriculum outside of the classroom!  In fact, check out some of our previous blogs showcasing programs that have been bitten by the traveling bug: Ohio State University (PT), University of Wisconsin - Madison (PT) and Virginia Commonwealth  University (OT).