Course Descriptions

Cognitive Perception: Occupational Therapy Intervention for clients with Cognitive Perceptual Impairments- Saturday March 7, 2009

Co-sponsored by POTAC and Gentiva

In this fast-paced, comprehensive course participants will explore how sensory- perceptual and cognitive impairments contribute to difficulties in occupational performance, while also assessing the auditory, tactile, vestibular, and visual systems. The presenter will review the role of attention, memory, higher level thinking skills and executive skills in cognitive-perceptual function, highlighting critical elements to evaluate and providing direction for therapeutic intervention. Treatment will be categorized into six groups: deficit-specific, compensatory, task-specific/environmental modification, meta-cognitive training, education, and social skills training. Treatment strategies will be presented using lecture, video-analysis, and case study anecdotes.

This course advocates for client-centered, occupation-based occupational therapy intervention that supports the development of client factors and skills and focuses on a return to habits, routines, rituals, and roles. The presenter will demonstrate the importance of incorporating the natural environment into the intervention program for people with cognitive-perceptual problems. Evidence based approaches and strategies will be highlighted, and clinicians will be challenged to stay focused on providing services that will make a difference in the client's and family's life.

 OBJECTIVES

Completion of the course will enable participants to:

• Explaine the importance of designing an occupational therapy program for clients with cognitive perceptual disorders that incorporates information information from the client's occupational profile, and integrates environmental factors.
• Describe how to evaluate and address a client's sensory processing skills/impairments into the occupational therapy program of a client with cognitive-perceptual disorders.
• Describe common misperceptions and/or functional deficits associated with various sensory processing disorders.
• Describe screening tools and standardized tests that can be used to establish a baseline for cognitive deficits and/or to provide evidence of progress in cognitive function.
• Give examples of each of the following intervention approaches, and describe when it is appropiate/inappropriate to use the following:

                  -Deficit specific training

                  -Compensatory training

                  -Task specific training/environmental modifications

                  -Metacognitive training

                  -Education of patient/family/caregivers

                  -Social Skills training

• Compare and contrast classic and current terminology used to describe different types of apraxia, and describe appropriate therapeutic approaches to use related to the type and severity of the disorder.
• Describe published resources that can be used as part of evidence based practice in treating clients with cognitive-perceptual disorders. 

  Mary Jo McGuire, Ms, OTR/L, FAOTA has over 30 years clinical experience working in acute care, in-patient rehab, out-patient rehab, skilled nursing facilities, and home health care; she is currently in private practice treating clients with traumatic brain injuries.  Ms. McGuire is a nationally known speaker on this and related topics.

Information about our program co-sponsors

Psychiatric Occupational Therapy Action Coalition (POTAC)

The Psychiatric OCcupational Therapy Action Coalition (POTAC) has its roots in an original group of San Francisco OTs working in mental health, the OT Psych. Forum, organized by the Sr. Occupational Therapist at San Francisco General Hospital, Judith Levins Leiber, MPH, OTR in the early 1980's. The group was developed for the purpose of continuing education, networking, and promotion of mental health OT practice. The group, always well attended, met monthly on Friday afternoons at the SFGH.

By 1995 it was becoming obvious that OT jobs were disappearing and that there were many fewer OTs who were working in mental health settings. Two members of the OT Psych. Forum, Ruth Ramsey, MS, OTR/L and Eileen Auerbach, MS, OTR/L called together a group of psych. OTs to discuss beginning a more activist effort to reinvirorate the practice of psychiatric OT. They called this group the Psychiatric Occupational Therapy Action Coalition. As POTAC developed, its mission statement was "to revitalize the practice of psychiatric occupational therapy through education, information, and advocacy for consumers, health care providers and the community."

POTAC is currently headed by a steering committee. It meets during open planning and support meetings on a semi-monthly basis, usually on Saturday mornings in members' homes.

Gentiva

Gentiva Health Services, INC. is the nation's leading provider of comprehensive home healthcare and related services. Gentiva serves patients through more than 500 direct service delivery units within over 350 locations in 36 states, and through CareCentrix^®, manages home healthcare services for major managed care organizations throughout the United States and delivers them in all 50 states through a network of more than 3,000 third-party provider locations, as well as Gentica locations. The Company is a single source for skilled nursing; physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy and nrurorehabilitation services; hospice services; social work; nutrition; disease management education; help with daily living activities; durable medical and respiratory equipment; infusion therapy services; and other therapies and services. Gentiva's revenues are generated from commercial insurance, federal and state goverment programs  and individual consumers.

Expressive Arts: Embracing the Healing Power of Art for Nurses and Occupational Therapists- Saturday, March 21, 2009

 Regardless of where nurses and occupational therapists work, there are always opportunities for integration of the arts in the clinical setting. This workshop will explore ways that art is integrated into contemporary healthcare settings, and provide participants with the opportunity to experience firsthand the power of working with visual arts and movement as therapeutic modalities. Presenters will provide an historical, theoretical, and experiential introduction to the use of movement and visual arts, and participants will explore and experience a variety of expressive activities, reflect on their individual and collective experience, and deepen their understanding of the healing power of art.

Presenter: Marilee Ford, MA, RN is an adjunct faculty member in Dominican's MSN Integrative Health Practices program and the undergraduate nursing program. She also led healing arts groups for over 10 years, engaging nurses, the public, hospice workers and breast cancer "thrivers."

Presenter: Thais Mazur, MS, OTR/L is a practicing OT for over 15 years using expressive arts as a therapeutic modality for people with a wide variety of disabilities.

Start Your Own Practice- Saturday, April 4, 2009

Co-sponsored by Association of Pediatric Therapists

Starting your own practice is exciting, challenging and can be intimidating. This workshop will provide participants with the information they will need to decide if private practice is right for them, and the tools they will need to make it happen. Participants will examine the myriad details involved, including: Proper venues (clinic, school, or home based), marketing, staffing, partnerships with larger institutions, certifications, insurance, supplies, and billing. The afternoon will include a panel discussion with APT pediatric therapists who are all currently engaged in private practices of different sizes who will share their experiences, successes and challenges with the group.

Presenters: Joanne Figone, MA, OTR/L, received her M.A. in Occupational Therapy from the University of Southern California. Further training has involved certifications in Neurodevelopmental Therapy, Perceptual Enrichment Program, and administration of the Sensory Integration and Praxis Tests.

APT Panelists:

Angel Isaac founded Therapista, a 10-personpediatric early intervention home health agency, in 2001. They provide physical, occupational, and speech therapy to infants and toddlers in the Bay area with a special commitment to serving the Spanish-speaking population. Angela trained as a physical therpists in Canada, and has been practicing pediatrics in the US for 12 years. She is NDT trained, SIPT certified, an infant massage instructor, and has a pssion for making therapy fun! In addition to their Bay area practice, the Therapista team visited Peru last year to do service work, and has a trip to the Dominican Republic planned for later this year.

Teri Wiss, M.A., O.T.R./L. has been a pediatric occupational therapist for over 25 years. As part of her graduate work at the University of Southern California, Ms. Wiss received advanced training in developmental disorders and sensory integration. Ms. Wiss taught pediatrics in the OT program at San Jose State University and lectured and published in the areas of learning disabilities, autism and Asperger's Disorder, visual attention, and sensory integration. She has worked for and contracted with school districs, public and private clinic, Regional Center, and opened her clinic, Development is CHILD'S PLAY!, in 1991. She has extensive experience in insurance-friendly documentation and helping families receive insurance reimbursement for occupational therapy.

Rebecca Hendricks, MA, OTR/L is an occupational therapist with thirteen years experience working with children with special needs. She received her M.A. in occupational therapy from the University of Southern California and has advanced training in both sensory integration and neurodevelopmental treatment. Rebecca is certified in the administration of the Sensory Integration and Praxis Test and is trained in the Perceptual Enrichment Program. Rebecca has owned and operated PlayWrite Therapy, a pediatric occupational therapy clinic since 2002.

Information about our co-sponsors

Association of Pediatric Therapists

Association of Pediatric Therapists is the leading professional organization serving pediatric therapists in the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond.  The APT is a non-profit, membership-run community dedicated to providing information, resources and networking opportunities to pediiatric occupational, physical and speech/language therapy practioners. They provides a communication network for therapists interested in issues related to pediatric occupational therapy, physical therapy, and speech and language pathology. We also provide continuing education activities including informational discussion groups, lectures, and courses. We promote cooperation between ourselves, state and national professional organizations, and the general public.

Association of Pediatric Therapists strives to initiate, sponsor, and promote continuing education activities and professional networking opportunities for pediatric occupational therapists, physical therapists, and speech and language pathologists.