SPOT On Chicago

Physical Therapist Regarded as a Hero

During what would typically be a mundane flight home with his team, Joe David was called to action as a passenger's health condition changed him from a physical therapist and varsity basketball coach to a fast-acting medical professional that saves lives.

Joe was in the midst of a flight back home from a Florida basketball tournament with his team when one of the female passengers fell ill, causing a stewardess to ask if anyone onboard had medical training. Oddly  enough, this was the second time Joe was asked that question as a month prior he was pulled in to help a struggling passenger with breathing exercises during a flight. Thinking the circumstances were similar, Joe raised his hand to offer his help.

In a quick series of events Joe found the woman barely able to breathe and sustain a pulse, in turn causing an emergency landing of the plane to get the woman immediate care. With the help of a friend, Joe stood during the landing and continued to administer care to the passenger, ensuring she made it to the waiting paramedics upon landing.

Joe was honored as the 2010 Educator Hero by the American Red Cross. It's a fascinating story straight out of a movie that forced this husband and father of four to spring into action and save the woman's life. Check out the full article for more details.  

We love Rehabstudents.com

Consider this our big giant love letter to Rehabstudents.com. We've featured them before and just got a nice big electronic hug from them. If you haven't seen their coverage you should, it's a great resource for college students and others interested in a rehab therapy career. If you've been to their blog, check them out on Twitter and Facebook as well.

But I will say... I like our smiling dog better than their smiling cat. Gauntlet = thrown.

RehabCare featured by Apple for iPad/iPhone use in Physical Therapy

RehabCare was featured today by Apple for their use of iPad and iPhone technology. If you've been to this blog before you probably know we spun out of a RehabCare Group project and continue to be sponsored by the great folks there. While we do our best to keep a level playing field that supports all rehabilitation companies, please allow us to be a bit self indulgent today as we're beaming with pride.

The article highlights the way RehabCare has used different iOS apps to speed up the rehab therapy business and get patients back to their families faster and healthier. One of the pillars of this effort has been modernizing the paper screening process with a Salesforce.com based app.

We took that manual paper process and developed a cloud-based application in about a week. Collection of patient data can happen very quickly, and folks have access to it instantaneously. iPhone supports that immediate information transfer. Using a mobile device at point-of-care saves time. We’re capturing the treatment delivered, the time spent, and any other relevant clinical information, which makes documentation more accurate and increases compliance. -Jason Chitwood, Vice President of Information Services 

Apple goes on to talk about the way RehabCare has integrated iPads into their corporate offices, something we can vouch for first hand. (We're still waiting on ours though, we assume it's lost in the mail... *ahem*) Jim O'Brien, AVP of Technology Services at RehabCare, even goes so far as to call the iPad "the new workstation of healthcare workers". It's hard to disagree with him. 

 

Here's what we can say for sure: Integrating the iPhone/iPad ecosystem into initiatives at RehabCare has made a more energized and productive workforce overall. In a company long known for embracing technology as a way to help people regain their lives, the Apple platform has helped us all see what the next level of service looks like for patients. It helps us serve people better and be a better business all around.

Check out the full story from Apple here.

Photos: apple.com

Facts for World Physical Therapy Day

Today is a national holiday. Didn't you get the memo?
As declared by the World Confederation for Physical Therapy today is "World Physical Therapy Day"! Make sure you bookmark your calendar for every September 8th so you don't miss your day in the sun going forward. 

In honor of the holiday we've got a list of articles referencing the benefits of physical therapy, including some words from the WCPT president himself.

It's quite a bit of information so check it out after the break if you're so inclined. Be sure to check out the other information available from WCPT at their site.

Cody West's 5 Habits of Top Rehab Professionals

Mike Reinold, a well known sports medicine physical therapist and popular blogger, published a list of 5 ways the best physical therapists and rehab professionals differentiate themselves. If you haven't heard of him get out from under your rock and check his blog out. Mike has consistently good content and certainly knows his stuff. This list, created by Cody West of Orthobuilder.com, is a great basic list of what makes Physical therapists and other rehab professionals stand out from the crowd. Here are his top 5:

1. A hunger to learn
2. They are rooted in biomechanics
3. They know principles will set you free
4. They are cross-pollinators
5. They integrate intangibles

We'll let you check out the original post for all the details but we thought it was worth sharing the main points. 

What do you think the top 5 habits are?

Who's on Group? A Physical Therapy/Medicare Parody

Physical Therapists love Medicare. Wait, wait come back we're just kidding! While Medicare has its ups and downs today is a mark in the green column for the Medicare folks. If it were not for Medicare we would never be treated with this hilarious "Who's on First?" parody video created by Larry Benz of MyPhysicalTherapySpace. 

Clocking in at just over three minutes long, it's worth a watch and a chuckle. Even though part of me wants to roll around on the floor laughing at this, part of me is reminded so much of the movie Robots that I'm expecting animated Robin Williams nightmares. With that little nugget burned into your brain it's time for the show!

Why You Should be an Occupational Therapist

Why should you be an Occupational Therapist? I just ran across a great snapshot video that covers some basic points and should convince the naysayers. The video is part of a series by the US News and World Report detailing their picks for best careers.

Check out the source video on YouTube, as always some of the best info is in reading the comments. 

10 Best SPOTs to Watch Chicago Air and Water Show

If you're a Chicagoland native (and haven't been living under a rock) you've probably heard of the Chicago Air and Water Show. If you haven't? Go Google it then come back... we'll wait.  Be quick though, we get bored... 

Now then, this year marks the 52nd year of the annual show. The biggest of its kind in the country, over 2 million people flock downtown to see this airplane extravaganza. If you've been there before you know how crowded it gets but if you haven't... let's just say it's worse than the crowds trying to get a glimpse of the Transformers movie filming downtown. Frankly the Taste of Chicago may be the only event I've seen pack more bodies in. 

Luckily the action is in the water and the air, making your vantage point something you can really plan out ahead of time. We were lucky enough to catch a nice write up on Show Me Chicago detailing the ten best spots to take in the action. Here's their picks:

1. North Avenue Beach
2. Belmont Harbor
3. John Hancock Observatory and Lavazza Cafe
4. Diversey Harbor
5. Lake Michigan
6. Cite
7. Castaways
8. The Signature Room
9. The Point Cafe
10. Riva Crab House

Here's the original post from Show Me Chicago in it's entirety, check it our for a few more details than we posted here. By the way, did you like the title of this post? See what we did there? Why thank you... we were pretty proud of it. We like the word SPOT if it isn't obvious already. 

If you're checking out the air show this weekend let us know in the comments, on Twitter (@SPOTonChicago) or on Facebook... maybe we'll run into you!

Video SPOTlight: StrongArm, Chicago's Own Crutch

 
The StrongArm Mobility crutch is a new rehabilitation therapy product that deserves attention, especially from physical therapists and others in the field. When is the last time you saw innovation in a crutch anyway? We noticed it last year and got the opportunity recently to interview Andrey Kharlamov, the VP of the company. Please note we are not in any way sponsored by or affiliated with StrongArm crutches, we just love the crazy things.

A few things you should know about StrongArm:

• Patients in a recent Mayo Clinic study ranked the StrongArm substantially higher than other canes/crutches (4.2 out of a possible 5)
• Medicare covers the StrongArm as a crutch under codes HCPCS codes E0110 (pair), or E0111 (each) and often times will pick up the cost for patients
• The ergonomics were originally thought of as a fishing rod attachment before a crutch
• Both founders went to school in Chicago, incorporated the company in Chicago, financed the company in Chicago and still run it from there. How's that for homegrown?

Be sure to support your local Chicago rehabilitation products and try out the StrongArm. Check out their website and let them know we said hello!

  

SmartMobile at RehabCare

If you're not familiar with the Smart Mobile initiative at RehabCare, it's time to change that. Check out the video below for a preview of their new initiative to move their tracking, monitoring and paperwork tasks to a slick new iPhone/iPod interface and device.

Imagine working in an environment where you don't have to use the paper charts, 15 year old software or ancient computers as part of your daily work. Imagine a place you can grab one handheld device like an iPhone or an iPod Touch and run your entire day from it. How much time does that free up? How much more effective and connected does that allow you to be? This is the future folks. Talk about a nice working environment... holy cow. 

Full disclosure: This blog is sponsored by RehabCare. That being said I'm posting this video because of how impressive this technical initiative is. Frankly, we're proud to be part of an organization that "gets it" this much. If you've seen this technology up close and personal let us know... we'd love to hear about your experiences. Is it as ridiculously spiffy as it looks like?