Hi All: My Mother went into the ER with a urinary infection and dehydration, she was admitted into the hospital for about a week. This episode really weakened her. The hospital PT felt (and I felt) she needed to go into a SNF for a brief stay for her to get PT and OT daily, as she is in the later stages of Parkinson's. If I had taken her home at that point she would only receive PT 1x a wk/ 6 wks. My goal was to at least getting her back to where she was prior to being in the hospital. She came home yesterday where she was Mod/Max Asst. standing/ambulation with rolling walker 50' -75'. I discussed with the OTR a home UE program in which I will continue and her Medicare/Ins will pay for PT to come to her home 1x a wk/ 6 wks.
To get back to why I'm telling you all this is because I walked in on one of her daily therapy sessions on Wed. and there were a group of about eight pt's sitting in their w/c in a circle playing beachball catch (no one standing)...with a PTA. I thought it was OT group session.???? I mention this only because of the previous OTR who felt derided on the otlist that she uses this therapy with her pt's. I just wanted her to know that PT must be billing for this type therapy too (some how) Also I was surprised at her D/C yesterday when I asked the nurse to look at her PT progress notes and D/C note, (because no one from the PT dept. showed up at her care meeting on Wed. for her DC yesterday. only the OTR and social worker) there was only a copy of her original Eval upon her admit. I wanted to read up on her improvement etc. over her stay. The nurse knew I was a COTA. I asked her her where the DC note or any other daily notes were and she said "They don't do that there"......I was shocked. So I went downstairs to the Therapy Dept to personally talk to the PT about my Mother. Have things changed?? Everywhere I have ever worked I have had to put my daily and weekly progress notes in the patients medical records that day as required. My pt's original hard copy were always kept in therapy dept. for the billing. Just wanted to share this. Thanks, B Sullivan, COTA/L balloon volleyball has been derided on the list. I always bit my tongue and didn't respond because I am one of those OTs that plays balloon volleyball, and balloon badminton (whether or not we use racquets depends on the size of the group). I never spoke up because I didn't want to come under attack, but I have to say I have found it to be great therapy for my back patients in the chronic pain clinic I work in. I work with a lot of worker's comp patients who have back injuries and can't stand for more than 5-10 minutes. Guess what? I get them involved in a spirited game and before they know it, they have been on their feet for 30-45 minutes without even thinking about their pain! They love it, and it is a wonderful activity for increasing standing tolerance. I have never used Punching balloons. But considering that they don't pop easily and they are large and move slowly, and are good for patients that use canes. I will start use them for appropriate pt's. -- Options? www.otnow.com/mailman/options/otlist_otnow.com Archive? www.mail-archive.com/[email protected] ************************************************************************************** Enroll in Boston University's post-professional Master of Science for OTs Online. Gain the skills and credentials to propel your career. www.otdegree.com/otn **************************************************************************************
