Lumos Inc, a developer of sports medicine products, announced the appointment of two new members to the KT Tape Advisory Board: D. Keith Kleven, PT, and Ted Forcum, DC, DACBSP, FICC, CSCS. Dr. Forcum is a three-time ACA Sports Chiropractor of the Year, 2008 Beijing U.S. Olympic team chiropractor, and event coordinator for numerous events such as the NCAA National Championships and USA Track & Field National Championships.  Kleven is a physical therapist and athletic trainer to numerous elite athletes such as Tiger Woods, Larry Holmes and Greg Maddux. The advisory board members will help guide the company's research and product development endeavors.

Dr. Forcum has been using kinesiology tape for years, and quickly recognized the benefits KT Tape brings to the table.  "KT Tape is my kinesiology tape of choice.  It has superior adhesive qualities which makes it preferential for sports and allows for the durability of multiple day use in day-to-day activities.  Kinesiology tape provides the function of multiple tools with a diverse array of functions to enhance patient recovery and athletic performance.  With pre-cut KT tape, taping even complex structures becomes fast and easy with little mess."

Kleven also finds that KT Tape enables him to serve his patients more effectively-both in and out of the clinic.  "In my more than 40 years of practice and training, I found my hands are my most valuable asset.  I found KT Tape compliments my hands and skills in providing short and long-term sport stimulation and stability in various muscular skeletal systems."  KT Tape enables Kleven's patients to enjoy the benefits of his expertise even beyond their time with him in the clinic.

"We are extremely pleased to welcome Dr. Forcum and Keith Kleven to KT Tape's advisory board," said Jim Jenson, co-founder of Lumos, Inc. "Each member brings a wealth of experience and represents a unique area of expertise in their respective fields. We are looking forward to their valuable contributions." 

Dr. Ted Forcum is a Diplomate of the American Chiropractic Board of Sports Physicians, the first chiropractor in the Pacific Northwest with this highest level of sports designation.  He is the past president of the American Chiropractic Association (ACA) Sports Council. He has worked as an event physician for such events as the Winter Olympics, U.S. Olympic Trials, U.S. Track and Field Championships, NCAA National Championships, and as team physician for numerous organizations. Dr. Forcum also works as a staff chiropractor for the PGA Tour and Champions Tour.  The ACA Council on Sports and Physical Fitness voted Dr. Forcum the 1994-95 and 2004 Sports Chiropractor of the Year.  He has taught postdoctoral programs at several colleges and universities, and lectures nationally and internationally on the topics of sports injuries and biomechanics.

D. Keith Kleven is a highly-respected physical therapist and certified athletic trainer. He has worked with world-class athletes, dancers and performers at the local and national level, including Tiger Woods, Greg Maddux, Mark O'Meara, Jonathan Byrd and numerous other professional and amateur athletes. He acted as program director and consultant for various athletic programs, and served on the editorial board for several professional journals.  Kleven was the trainer/therapist for the U.S. Gymnastics junior and senior national teams, 1984 Olympic Games and World Championships.  He was Mike Tyson's and Larry Holmes' therapist/trainer for eight years, and worked with the U.S. Boxing team. 

Madison Cortland ARC announced that applications are currently being accepted for the Arthur Pense Scholarship offered by NYSARC, Inc.

The Arthur Pense Scholarship is presented every year to a student enrolled in a four- or five-year degree program in occupational or physical therapy at a college or university in New York State. The scholarship is for the last two years of study. 

Nominations for the scholarship are submitted to NYSARC through the chairperson of the Physical Therapy or Occupational Therapy Departments at colleges and universities throughout New York State offering four- or five-year degree programs in physical or occupational therapy. Interested students should see the appropriate chairperson at their school for details.

An announcement of all scholarship winners will take place in May.

The NYSARC Scholarship Program was established to encourage students interested in pursuing a career in special education and related fields.

Tracey Rogers, a physical therapist at Walton Rehabilitation Health System's outpatient therapy center, has earned her Certified Brain Injury Specialist Trainer credentials from the Academy of Certified Brain Injury Specialists.

Fewer than 300 health professionals hold the CBIST credential. CBISTs demonstrate advanced training and skills in brain injury services, have a commitment to continuing education and are dedicated to providing improved quality of care for persons with brain injuries. They are also able to provide ACBIS training and administer the Certified Brain Injury Specialist Exam.

Rogers has been a physical therapist at Walton for 18 years.

The Brain Injury Association of Indiana (BIAI) has recognized Rehabilitation Hospital of Indiana (RHI) Foundation as its 2009 "Partner of the Year."

BIAI announced the recognition during its annual conference in Indianapolis.  The organization cited the foundation's support through volunteers, events, programs, counsel and grant management, as the reasons it chose to honor the RHI team.

"We are proud that this outstanding organization views us as a valuable and resourceful partner," said Denny Armington, RHI's chief executive officer, who accepted the award during the conference.  "In particular, we are proud of Dr. Jim Malec, our research director, and Jim Graham, executive director of our foundation, as they were singled out for their contributions to the BIAI. We have a tremendous team at our hospital and foundation, and we all look forward to continuing to work with BIAI for many years to come."

Through a partnership with St. Joseph Hospital in Orange, CA, Disneyland Resort's athletic trainer program helps make the "Happiest Place on Earth" one of the healthiest places to work.

While particularly geared toward the hundreds of entertainment Cast Members who require exceptional physical endurance, performers in the Resort's entertainment division are not the only Cast Members (all Resort employees are referred to as Cast Members) who enjoy the benefits of the athletic trainer program. The program gives all 20,000 Cast Members access to athletic trainers who develop preventative injury programs that are implemented throughout the Resort. The program, which found its roots with the entertainment division nearly 15 years ago, is one of a number of integrated efforts that have helped to decrease entertainment injuries by one-third over the past 10 years.

St. Joseph Hospital athletic trainers are found in numerous locations around the Resort, providing interventions in which Cast Members learn how to prevent injuries through proper ergonomics and physical conditioning.

Cast Member Sarah Kobayashi, a performer in "Disney's Aladdin- A Musical Spectacular" at Disney's California Adventure Park, is constantly encouraging other dancers to prevent injuries by exercising.

"Most companies that have on-site athletic trainers limit their services to performers only and the great thing about Disneyland is that everyone from stage technicians to show producers are able to get one-on-one care," says Kobayashi.

All Cast Members - from food service, to custodial and to merchandise - have access to the Resort's athletic trainers. Currently 22 athletic trainers work at the Disneyland Resort, six on the operations team, 15 on the entertainment team, and an athletic training coordinator who, along with the Resort's safety team, oversees the program with support from physical and occupational therapists.

St. Joseph Hospital rehabilitation therapists work on site, evaluating and treating Cast Members in order to prevent work related injuries. In addition, job site assessments may be performed to evaluate Cast Members and their work areas to review body mechanics and provide tips on how they can perform their work duties more safely. 

"It takes an entire team of athletic trainers to take care of all of the Cast Members at the Resort," says Janay Coleman, a parade dancer. "They help us avoid injuries. There's always someone nearby to make sure I'm OK and they're even there to assist us with nutrition guidance."

To celebrate National Physical Therapy Month, the Physical Therapy & Wellness Institute (PTW) hosted a Community Health and Wellness Open House event at their Lansdale, PA, facility.

Over 150 visitors received flu shots and received complimentary health analysis from the physical therapy staff and exercise physiologist. Health analysis included body fat, body mass index, box flexibility testing, and complimentary joint pain evaluations by physical therapists Robert Babb, Andrew Seo and Mike Karl.

Visitors also experimented in the "PT Pit," testing a variety of high-end physical therapy equipment, such as slide boards, body blades, balance equipment, and other pieces designed to help the clients achieve higher levels of function and performance.  

During the day, Andrew Szekely, mayor of Lansdale, visited with a proclamation encouraging all Lansdale community members to joint together to raise awareness of the importance of preventative health. He thanked PTW for their effort in bringing awareness to our community, and encouraged all North Penn community members to visit the Physical Therapy & Wellness Institute for complimentary health assessments during National Physical Therapy Month and beyond. 

In recognition of their youth sports programs, Robert Babb, president of PTW, presented a charitable gift of $500 to Cathy Shipp of the North Penn Valley Boys & Girls Club.

The day closed with a lunch-and-learn presentation on joint pain. "The success to this day is a testimony of how the public is thinking about their health, taking care of themselves during this rough economic time, carefully spending time on what it takes to stay healthy," explained Robert Babb, owner and practicing physical therapist

Braintree Rehabilitation Hospital (BRH) has begun a collaboration with The Boston Home, a not-for-profit, specialized residence and center for care for adults with advanced multiple sclerosis (MS) and other progressive neurological diseases.  Under the terms of the agreement, BRH will provide quality therapy services - occupational, physical and speech therapy - to 96 residents of The Boston Home, the only facility of its kind in New England and one of only a few in the United States.  

The Boston Home elected to team up to BRH based on the hospital's approach to clinical practice guidelines related to disease specific management.  Both institutions are looking forward to future program development leading to superior outcomes for persons with MS and other progressive neurological diseases.

"We are pleased to partner with Braintree Hospital's therapeutic rehabilitation services," said Boston Home CEO Marva Serotkin.  "The team that they have assembled is excellent.  We are already working collaboratively on innovative approaches for improving independence and comfort for our residents."

Randy Doherty, Braintree CEO, is enthusiastic about the knowledge base that The Boston Home brings to the partnership. 

"The Boston Home is nationally known as experts in treating long-term care patients with MS," he noted.  "We are excited to collaborate with The Boston Home to maximize the quality of care provided to persons with Multiple Sclerosis."

Doherty added that the new partnership doubles the efforts of both institutions in sharing clinical information. 

"Collectively, we plan to offer the medical community and other caregivers advanced clinical knowledge throughout the continuum of care and stages of progressive diseases."  The first joint educational opportunity is at Braintree Rehabilitation Hospital's 30^th Annual NeuroRehabilitation Conference.  Faculty from The Boston Home is featured speakers during the day-and-a- half international conference.

Jerry Segal came to Magee Rehabilitation Hospital with quadriplegia in 1988. After months of intense therapy at Magee, Segal walked out the front doors on his own. Right then and there, he made two vows. The first was to play golf again. The second was to help other Magee patients experience the same kind of success he did.

He's been doing both ever since.

On September 25, under a warm sun and a blue sky, Segal, the Segal Family and the Friends of Jerry Segal held the 20^th Annual Jerry Segal Classic-the  greater Philadelphia Region's largest one-day golf event. Over 330 golfers showed up at Green Valley Country Club &  the ACE Club to  play golf, and later in the evening over 500 people attended the Classic's dinner and auction at the Green Valley Country Club.

When all was said and done, $850,000 dollars was raised to benefit the patients of Magee Rehabilitation Hospital, bringing the Classic's twenty year total to over $8 million.

All of the proceeds raised through golf, sponsorships, and the live and silent auctions-including the $6,000 winning bid to watch a Phillies World Series home game with Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell and the $11,000 winning bid for a week's use of a house on the 13^th hole at Pebble Beach, complete with rounds of golf-will benefit individuals with disabilities at Magee by:

• Providing food & lodging to the families and loved ones of patients so they can be close by during the therapy and rehabilitation process;
• Funding peer mentoring programs for those who are learning to live with the aftermaths of stroke;
• Funding new, state-of-the-art equipment such as ReoTherapy and Locomotor training;
• Funding peer mentoring programs for spinal cord injury patients; and Funding patient and family recreation activities.

And now that the 20^th Jerry Segal Classic's has come and gone, plans are being made for the 21^st, which will be held at the Green Valley Country Club and ACE Club on Sept 24, 2010.

Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital, Malvern, PA, was presented with the 2009 Inglis Award for Continuing Excellence for the hospital's Art Ability Program. Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital was one of four honorees recognized for enhancing the quality of life for individuals with disabilities. Art Ability is an advocacy program that supports and celebrates the creativity and determination of artists with disabilities. Art Ability is a special program that provides individuals with an outlet that helps them triumph over their challenges by providing a venue to display their creative arts and fine crafts.

As part of this unique community program, each year Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital holds an international, juried exhibition and sale that features works by artists with physical and cognitive disabilities and hearing and visual impairments. This year, the hospital will present the 14^th annual exhibit and sale, which will kick off on November 7 and continue through January 17, 2010.

On hand to receive the award at the Inglis House in Philadelphia last month were, front row, Doris Gorden, Art Ability founder and co-chair of last year's event; standing, left to right, David N. Horwich, MD, chief of internal medicine at Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital; Donna M. Phillips, president of Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital, and Matt Panarese, chairman of the Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital Foundation Board.

Fillauer Companies Inc., an international orthotic and prosthetic company based in Chattanooga, TN, has acquired OTS Corp., with offices in Weaverville, NC and Bradenton, FL. 

OTS was founded in 1978 by Timothy Pansiera, CO, as a high-end provider of orthotic devices.  In 1983, a second division was created to produce the popular StepLock knee joint. In 1990, OTS moved to Weaverville, NC, to open its third division to manufacture PDQ Quartz Infrared Ovens. In 2000, OTS acquired a manufacturing facility in Bradenton, FL, to maintain the increasing demand for orthotic component production.

"We are looking forward to moving OTS to a new level of service and innovation," said Pansiera, who will continue in his role as director of product development. "Fillauer Companies possess a great combination of business management, educational training and engineering abilities that we feel will enhance our growth within our new family of companies."

OTS is the latest addition to the Fillauer Companies lineup, which includes Fillauer LLC and Fillauer Orthotic and Prosthetic Patient Care of Tennessee, Hosmer Dorrance Corp. and Center for Orthotics Design of California, Motion Control and EMotis of Utah, and Centri AB and Topis of Sweden.

For more information about Fillauer Companies, visit www.fillauercompanies.com

Hosmer Dorrance Corp. and Center for Orthotics Design, a California-based supplier of custom-fabricated orthotics and prosthetics, announced Oct. 28 that Jeremy Crowell is the new manager of central fabrication. Crowell will be responsible for providing technical and educational support to the company's customer base.

Crowell has 18 years of prosthetic and orthotic experience. After stints with Tec Interface Systems in Minnesota and Bio Prosthetic-Orthotic Labs in Washington, DC, Crowell opened his own private practice in 2000, servicing patients from Baltimore, MD to Richmond, VA.

"Jeremy brings knowledge and experience to our team that will benefit both our customers and our staff," said Karl Hovland, president and COO of Hosmer. "We are all very excited to welcome him."

For more information visit www.hosmer.com and www.centerfororthoticsdesign.com

National Medical Alliance (NMA) is pleased to introduce JoAnna Gentry Collette as our new executive director. JoAnna brings a wealth of corporate strategic planning and marketing experience to NMA. She holds an MBA and has 15 years of experience in executive level business management and consulting. Her knowledge, insight and vision will catapult NMA to an even higher level of esteem in our industry.

By working closely with the board of directors and NMA central office team already in place, JoAnna will lead our growing organization to be more successful than ever. NMA's commitment to providing hands-on, local service and support to rehab professionals will not waver. Our mission has not altered, but will be enhanced with the implementation of clear vision, strategic relationship management and focused marketing.

As JoAnna begins her tenure in this newly created position, Bob Stengele of Advanced Rehabilitation in Chicago is taking over as chairman of the NMA board of directors.

"This is an exciting time in the life of NMA," said former NMA board chairman Bob Harada of TheraTek, USA. "Our growing organization of the best independent rehab and supply dealers in North America will benefit greatly under JoAnna's leadership and Bob Stengele's guidance. I am stepping out of the chairman position with great confidence that NMA is stronger than ever and positioned for incredible progress. Although my role has changed, my commitment to NMA has not. I look forward to being part of this dynamic organization for many years."

Don Howard, chair of the Walton Rehabilitation Health System board of directors for the past 23 years-since Walton's inception-has stepped down as Chair but will remain a member of its board.

"Don has been a dedicated community volunteer and an exemplary board leader for the past 23 years," said Dennis Skelley, president and CEO of Walton Rehabilitation Health System. "While we will miss him in the role of board chair, we are very pleased that he will continue to be involved in Walton's mission of providing rehabilitation and community support for those with catastrophic and minor injuries."

Howard passes the gavel on to Preston Sizemore, who was elected chair. Sizemore, who is also chairman of the board at Sizemore, Inc., has served on Walton's board since 1994.

Board member Robert Taylor was also elected vice chair and board member Brent Smith, President of Southern Lighting Galleries, was elected secretary.

Rhett Sinclair, CFP, CLU, was appointed as the newest member of the board of directors. Sinclair is a partner and investment advisor representative at McManus and Sinclair Wealth Management in Aiken, and serves on numerous boards, including the board of the Walton Foundation for Independence.

Dr. Harold McGrade, Neurologist at the Walton Pain and Headache Center, and Dr. Norman Chutkan, Chief of Orthopedic Spine Surgery at MCGHealth, were also reappointed as board members.

Mayo Clinic announces an H1N1 scheduled clinic for patients. The injectable vaccine and nasal mist will be available by appointment only. Beginning Wednesday, Oct. 28 at 7 a.m., patients should call 507-266-0011 to schedule an appointment. Patients will not be billed for the vaccine but they/their insurance provider will be billed an administration fee.

Mayo Clinic patients eligible for the vaccine must meet the following Minnesota Department of Health criteria:

- Pregnant women
- Children 6 months through 4 years old
- Children 5 years through 18 years old, who have chronic medical conditions such as chronic heart, lung, kidney or liver disease; diabetes; HIV; weakened immune systems due to cancer or medications such as steroids, or neuromuscular disorders such as muscular dystrophy that increase the risk of aspiration

Mayo Clinic expects to receive additional H1N1 vaccine in the coming weeks. As the vaccine arrives, we will schedule appointments or walk-in clinics based on the Minnesota Department of Health's guidelines for dispensing the vaccine to priority groups.

Liesa M. Persaud, PT, MPT, PCS, physical therapist at TherapyWorks in Tulsa, was certified as a clinical specialist in pediatric physical therapy by the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties (ABPTS).

Persaud is one of only 11 therapists in Oklahoma with this certification. She focuses on evaluating and treating children with cerebral palsy, abnormal gait and posture, foot, knee and back pain, balance and coordination problems and traumatic brain injuries. Furthermore, she specializes in the casting and fitting of custom-made orthotic devices for children. To obtain board certification, Persaud provided evidence of clinical experience in pediatrics and passed a thorough written exam, offered by ABPTS, a section of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA).

"Achieving specialist certification will help both families and other medical professionals identify me as an individual who has attained advanced knowledge, skill and experience in the practice of pediatric physical therapy," Persaud said. "The increased knowledge I achieved through the certification process will enable me to better serve children and their families."

Persaud received her master's degree in physical therapy from the University of Findlay in Ohio and is currently pursuing both her clinical doctorate in physical therapy and a doctorate of philosophy in pediatric science. She travels nationwide to provide continuing education courses for medical professionals and is an adjunct professor for the University of Oklahoma-Tulsa and Tulsa Community College. Persaud is also the physical therapy department clinic manager at TherapyWorks.

Magee Rehabilitation Hospital in Philadelphia-a physical rehabilitation hospital specializing in the treatment of spinal cord injury, brain injury, stroke and orthopedic issues-announced Timothy Young, MD, as the new medical director of brain injury rehabilitation.

As a brain injury physiatrist at Magee, Dr. Young will be responsible for directing and enhancing Magee's inpatient and outpatient brain injury programs. Magee's comprehensive brain injury rehabilitation care system includes acute rehabilitation, community reintegration, day hospital, mild brain injury program, independent medical (physiatric) evaluations (IMEs), neuropsychological evaluations, and lifetime follow-up.

"I'm excited to be at Magee," said Dr. Young. "Magee has always been uncompromising in it's commitment to delivering excellence in care to its patients and has not waivered from that mission. To achieve these results, Magee has assembled an expert staff along with the latest technologies, allowing us to provide an unrivaled comprehensive rehabilitation program."

Dr. Young completed medical school at Tulane University School of Medicine in New Orleans, LA, and his residency at Harvard/ Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital in Boston, MA. His prior experience includes time as a neuro-rehabilitation physician for the rehabilitation division of Gaylord Hospital in Wallingford, CT, and as faculty physician for the traumatic brain injury unit of the Carolinas Rehabilitation Hospital in Charlotte, NC.

In addition to thriving in medicine, Dr. Young was a member of the U.S. Olympic Rowing Team from 1993 to 1996, and earned a silver medal at the Olympic Games as well as other national championships and international medals. He is currently a FISA adaptive rowing classifier.

Ascension Orthopedics, Inc., annouced that Guy L. Mayer has been appointed president and chief executive officer, effective October 12, 2009. Mayer joins Ascension Orthopedics after serving more than 30 years in leadership roles in the medical device industry.

"We are delighted to welcome Guy to Ascension Orthopedics to lead the company at this exciting time in the company's development," said Trevor Moody, chairman of Ascension Orthopedics. "He brings a proven track record of growing companies and building value for shareholders. We expect that Guy will provide outstanding leadership, enabling Ascension to realize expanding opportunities in the extremity implant market."

Mayer most recently served as President of RTI Biologics, Inc., where he completed the integration of Tutogen Medical, Inc. with RTI Biologics. Preceding his position at RTI Biologics, Mayer was President and CEO of Tutogen Medical, Inc. Mayer has also served as an executive with a number of public and private medical device companies including Picker International, Visen Medical, Inc., Etex Corporation and Zimmer Inc. He began his career at American Hospital Supply Corporation.

Mayer holds a bachelor of arts in history and political science from the University of Ottawa. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for Spire Corporation (spir).

TriActive America announced new products in the Accessible Multi-Gym products in the Special Needs category. These products are designed for exercisers in wheelchairs, users with limited mobility and individuals undergoing physical therapy.

The Accessible Multi-Gyms provide overall functional fitness benefits, improving strength, coordination and flexibility. The combination of features and arrangement of the different Multi-Gym versions are designed for wheelchair users, seniors and those in physical therapy or other forms of rehabilitation. The three different versions include:

• Accessible Multi-Gym Version A includes a Shoulder Wheel, Hand Bike, Foot Bike, and a Foot Press.  These items improve flexibility, coordination, strength, and cardiovascular health.
• Accessible Multi-Gym Version B features the Pec Fly, Rower, Shoulder Lift, and Handle Rotator.  This version focuses on increasing strength and flexibility.
• Also available is a customizable Accessible Multi-Gym.  This option offers the customer the opportunity to choose any four of the eight functions available: shoulder wheel, hand bike, foot bike, foot press, pec fly, rower, shoulder lift, and handle rotator.

Also available as of fall 2009 are a new strength piece, the Squat Press, and a new cardio product, the Recumbent Bike.

The Squat Press uses the same progressive resistance for an efficient resistance workout--the farther you extend, the more difficult it gets. Safer than free weights, the Squat Press can be used to perform biceps curls, shoulder shrugs, traditional squats, and the intense squat-into-shoulder-press.

Designed for all levels of fitness, the recumbent bike offers the cardio benefits of cycling while providing for full back support. Additional recumbent bike benefits include the larger, more comfortable seat; the low impact, ease-of-use pedaling action; and the strengthening effect on the inner thighs, glutes, calves and abs.

TriActive America also recently introduced their Made in the U.S.A. eco-Friendly TriActive Fitness E-Line. Made of recycled steel and e-coated for extended durability, the nine new E-Line outdoor exercise products are designed and manufactured in the United States.

TriActive America has been awarded contractor status for the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) Schedule for the TriActive Fitness E-Line. The nine products comprising the E-Line product family are GSA-approved. 

The GSA develops government contracts with companies such as TriActive America.  This process helps government offices, agencies, and entities to expedite the ordering of products and services that have been carefully reviewed and pre-approved as worth the money.

Lumos Inc, a developer of sports medicine products, announced the appointment of two new members to the KT Tape Advisory Board: D. Keith Kleven, PT, and Ted Forcum, DC, DACBSP, FICC, CSCS. Dr. Forcum is a three-time ACA Sports Chiropractor of the Year, 2008 Beijing U.S Olympic Team Chiropractor, and Event Coordinator for numerous events such as the NCAA National Championships, and USA Track & Field National Championships.  Keith Kleven is a physical therapist and athletic trainer to numerous elite athletes such as Tiger Woods, Larry Holmes, and Greg Maddux. The advisory board members will help guide the company's research and product development endeavors.

Kleven finds that KT Tape enables him to serve his patients more effectively--both in and out of the clinic.  "In my more than 40 years of practice and training, I found my hands are my most valuable asset.  I found KT Tape compliments my hands and skills in providing short- and long-term sport stimulation and stability in various muscular skeletal systems."  KT Tape enables Kleven's patients to enjoy the benefits of his expertise even beyond their time with him in the clinic.

Dr. Forcum is a diplomate of the American Chiropractic Board of Sports Physicians, the first chiropractor in the Pacific Northwest with this highest level of sports designation.  He is the past president of the American Chiropractic Association (ACA) Sports Council. The ACA Council on Sports and Physical Fitness voted Dr. Forcum the 1994-95 and 2004 Sports Chiropractor of the Year.  

Kleven is a highly-respected physical therapist and certified athletic trainer. He has worked with world-class athletes, dancers and performers at the local and national level, including Tiger Woods, Greg Maddux, Mark O'Meara, Jonathan Byrd and numerous other professional and amateur athletes. He acted as program director and consultant for various athletic programs, and served on the editorial board for several professional journals.  Kleven was the trainer/therapist for the U.S. Gymnastics junior and senior national teams, 1984 Olympic Games and World Championships.  He was Mike Tyson's and Larry Holmes' therapist/trainer for eight years, and worked with the U.S. Boxing team. 

efi Sports Medicine, creator of Total Gym® and the GRAVITYSystem®, hired Fiona Tanous as senior account manager for the rehab and wellness division. The addition of Tanous to the rehab and wellness team represents efi's continued dedication to this important business segment.

"Fiona brings a great deal of expertise in the senior care segment where efi's GRAVITY Training programs on Total Gym can benefit all ability levels," said efi's CEO Tom Campanaro, "She is consistently engaged in developing strategies that can add value and bottom line results to the clinical customers we serve."

Tanous brings with her fourteen years of experience in marketing, business development and management, most recently working in strategic marketing for HD Supply, developing business strategies for the health care market. Tanous also has experience as an account manager with Visual Marketing Products, is a former marketing manager for Hawthorne Machinery, and spent ten years as a recreation professional. She holds a B.S. in Communications from the University of California, San Diego, and an M.B.A. from San Diego State University.

AT Home Care is proud to announce that its program director for Stepping Back to Life, David Lawrence, MSPT, ATC, has been honored by Physicians for Peace, as a 20^th Anniversary Health Care Hero for his work with the Walking Free program. Lawrence, an internationally renowned physical therapist and amputee specialist, co-founded this sustainable medical program in 2000 to help amputees around the world have access to proper treatment.

Lawrence's work with amputees through the home health venue and in outpatient clinics evolved into a passion for creating sustainable amputee clinics in less developed countries. In 2000, he partnered with Physicians for Peace to create the "Walking Free" Program in Turkey. 

Since then, it has expanded to six countries including Guatemala and the Dominican Republic and has helped more than 10,000 patients with prosthetic and orthotic needs. It has also provided more than $2 million in in-kind contributions through the annual limb drive organized by AT Home Care, In Richmond, VA. Lawrence also runs AT Home Care's "Stepping Back to Life" program which focuses on amputee therapy  in Virginia.

In recognition of its 20^th anniversary, Physicians for Peace is honoring 20 Health Care Heroes in 2009; individuals who embody the organization's mission and goals to teach, heal, and empower both patients and caregivers.

Monte Shearer, PT, a physical therapist and patient care coordinator at Carson City Hospital's Physical Rehabilitation Center, recently earned his certification in the McKenzie Method of mechanical diagnosis and therapy of the spine.

"Monte is currently Carson City Hospital's only physical therapist with this certification, and one of only a few physical therapists in our entire service area with this unique certification," said Carson City Hospital's Director of Patient Services Nancy Weaver, RN "We're thrilled that he took the initiative to add this specialized training to his existing knowledge and expertise."

The McKenzie Method is a comprehensive approach to exercises and manual (or "hands-on") techniques for the spine. The approach is based on a framework of principles that include a unique assessment process that leads to the simple classification of spinal-related disorders.

"My certification has already helped our department to identify more difficult cases where advanced McKenzie techniques might benefit a patient versus those patients whose diagnosis is non-mechanical in nature," said Shearer. "What I learned studying the McKenzie Method has already made an impact on the spinal care focus we are able to give here at the Physical Rehabilitation Center."

The McKenzie treatment method emphasizes education and active patient involvement in treatment management in order to decrease pain quickly, restore function and independence, and minimize the number of follow-up visits a patient must make.

The McKenzie Institute's mission is to research the causes of spinal and extremity disorders of the human musculoskeletal system and their subsequent diagnosis and treatment generally and in particular applying the philosophies and treatment as devised by Robin McKenzie. The philosophies and treatments are known throughout the world as "The McKenzie Method of Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy."

Shearer will be demonstrating the McKenzie Method in person at the upcoming Carson City Hospital Community Health Expo on Saturday, October 24, 2009, which will be held at Carson City-Crystal High School from 9 a.m. to noon.

Planning is underway for the 14^th annual Art Ability Exhibit and Sale at Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital in Malvern. Members of the Art Ability planning committee met recently to finalize plans for the upcoming exhibit and sale, slated to kick off on November 7.

Art Ability includes a juried art exhibit and sale that celebrates the strength, determination and creativity of artists with physical and cognitive disabilities, as well as hearing and visual impairments.

The Art Ability Committee includes volunteers from Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital and the community who oversee the planning and organization of the annual event. This year the committee was instrumental in developing an online call for entry program designed to make it easier for artists to submit their work.

Each year, more than 400 pieces of art work are included in the exhibit from all media - painting, photography, sculpture, fiber arts, stained glass, jewelry and fine crafts. Volunteers are welcome to join the Art Ability Committee at any time. For more information on volunteering, contact the Art Ability office at Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital.

Therapy Resources Management, LLC, a Massachusetts-based company providing rehabilitative services to inpatient and outpatient facilities across New England, announces the opening of a new home health agency, Rehab at Home, which will provide comprehensive, customized home health care services with a focus on physical and occupational therapy. The new agency has received "deemed status" from the Department of Health and Human Services and the Joint Commission in recognition of its personalized approach to quality health care.

For more than 10 years, Therapy Resources Management (TRM) has been delivering rehabilitation services to thousands of patients at more than 150 nursing homes in New England. As a division of TRM, Rehab at Home has the ability to specialize in care that is critical to those who want to rehabilitate at home following an accident, illness or surgery that requires complex recuperation. In addition to the traditional home health services provided by nursing and certified home health aides, Rehab at Home will offer comprehensive rehabilitation services administered by licensed physical and occupational therapists, as well as speech language pathologists.

Achieving "deemed status" from the Department of Health and Human Services' Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is a recognition given only to programs that have received both Medicare certification and Joint Commission accreditation. This certifies that Rehab at Home is in compliance with federal home care quality and safety standards for providing safe, efficient and patient-centered care for those requiring home health care.

Shoes4Kids is aimed at getting therapists and students involved in making a difference in the lives of underprivileged, underserved children by providing them with a free pair of tennis shoes and socks. Getting kids moving and promoting the benefits of exercise has been an emphasis of our profession and association for many years. Shoes4Kids is one way our profession can make a difference in the lives and health of our children.     

Since 2006, Shoes4Kids has distributed over 1,200 pairs of new youth tennis shoes and over 2,000 pairs of youth athletic socks to the children of Orlando, FL, Washington, D.C., San Antonio, TX, and Baltimore, MD, during APTA's Annual Conference & Expositions.

Shoes4Kids has sparked much interest since the first event, PT 2006 - Orlando, FL, where I and a handful of PTAs collected and distributed over 50 pairs of new youth tennis shoes to a local Salvation Army.  I have continued to organized Shoes4Kids events, because I want to show children and their families who are living without much hope that the physical therapy profession and the American Physical Therapy Association cares about them. 

I am on the verge of organizing the Shoes4Kids event in conjunction with APTA's Annual Conference & Exposition, June 12-15, 2010 - Boston, MA. It is my hope to visit four different shelters in four days and to distribute a total of 800 pairs of new youth tennis shoes and socks to the children of Boston. While coordinating this national effort, I am also asking PTs, PTAs, and students to collaborate in collecting NEW youth tennis shoes and socks for underprivileged, underserved children in their own communities by coordinating local efforts. 

Besides receiving a new pair of tennis shoes and socks, the children of Boston will also be getting a new APTA "Physical Therapy: it's all about Movement" t-shirt, donated by the Hanes Company. In addition to the t-shirt, the children will also be receiving an "Exercise Can Be Fun" Coloring and Activity Book filled with pictures and activities that help them learn about the importance of developing a daily exercise regimen.

So how can YOU become involved in Shoes4Kids? I am asking the PT community to consider making Shoes4Kids, a PT Month activity by organizing community shoe drives, collecting NEW youth tennis and socks for the children of Boston and those of your own community.

Here are a few simple ways to get you, your peers, your professional colleagues, family and friends involved.

Top Seven Ways To Get Involved:

1.    Host a NEW youth tennis shoe drive. Place large collection boxes for NEW youth athletic tennis shoes (sizes from new born to 13, youth 1-9) and socks at your school, clinical site, place of employment, or church. You can have fun with this by challenging others.  Winner having bragging rights!  

2.    Sponsor a special event. Conduct a massage clinic at your school or local mall, by providing upper extremity 15-minute massages.  Monies raised can help purchase tennis shoes and socks. 

3.    Create "TENNIS SHOE" banks. Everyone has heard of Bank of America or Citibank, but how about the Bank of Converse or Reebok Bank? Take a normal child-sized shoe and place it in your book store or coffee cafe asking people to consider placing their change from their purchase into the tennis shoe banks. 

4.    Recruit your professional colleagues at the chapter level. Ask them to bring a new pair of tennis shoes along with them as they attend your state chapter or district spring meetings.  Placing the Shoes4Kids information on your chapter Website or using the membership list serve and directory has been helpful in spreading the word. 

5.    Make it a family activity. What better way as a family to share in the selection and purchasing of new tennis shoes for a child. 

6.    Make a cash donation. The current financial crisis is challenging for everyone, but no one knows this better than those families living in a shelter. Your gift will help meet the needs of a child in need. Last year, individual contributors donated over $1,000 dollars to Shoes4Kids to help purchase new tennis shoes. With postage being so expensive to send packages/boxes of shoes, cash contributions has made it easier to participate.  

7.   Seek a local business sponsor. Contact a local store (e.g., Payless, Wal Mart, Target Stores) and ask them to donate new youth athletic tennis shoes and socks. 

How does a person get the shoes and socks to Boston?

If attending PT 2010 - Boston, MA, June 12 - 15, 2009,  place your purchased shoes/socks in your luggage as you travel to Boston. I will inform you at a later date where exactly to drop off your shoes, i.e., either the Convention Center Exhibit Hall or the hotel in which I will be staying - yet to be determined. You are also welcome to join the SHOE CREW - a small contingency of PTs, PTAs and students to any of the four different shelters to actually help in placing the new socks and tennis shoes on the children's feet.   

If your schedule will not allow you to attend PT 2010, yet you would like to participate, you can mail your contribution to the address below. The deadline for mailing your financial contribution or NEW youth tennis shoes and socks is June 1, 2010. 

Mailing information:

Brad Thuringer, PTA

Physical Therapist Assistant Program

Lake Area Technical Institute

230 11th Street NE

Watertown, SD 57201-0730

DePuy Orthopaedics, Inc. and DePuy Mitek, Inc. launched MovingBeyondJointPain.com, a new online resource that will help educate primary care providers about the treatment of chronic shoulder pain, a condition that accounted for nearly 7.5 million visits to physician's offices in 2006 alone.¹        

According to the American Academy of Family Practitioners (AAFP), shoulder pain is second only to low back pain in patients seeking care for musculoskeletal ailments in the primary care setting.² Shoulder pain is a common complaint primary care providers hear from their patients. Often, as the first point of contact, the primary care provider can play a critical role in helping patients understand their condition and treatment options.

According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), earlier diagnosis and treatment may make a significant contribution to long-term shoulder health.³ Shoulder pain is considered chronic when it does not respond to conservative methods of treatment for a period of three to six months.⁴

MovingBeyondJointPain.com, for physical therapists, physicians, physician assistants and nurses offers evidence-based information and interactive learning experiences on diagnosis and treatment strategies across the continuum of shoulder problems caused by injury, degenerative disease, rotator cuff  tear, tendinitis, arthritis, dislocation, frozen shoulder and instability.  

The interactive learning center on MovingBeyondJointPain.com provides audio and video training modules on topics including the impact of diabetes and obesity on shoulder pain, how these diseases can increase the risk of disability and when they may prompt the need for intervention by a shoulder specialist. Those who complete the training modules can register to receive additional educational materials, including a free shoulder model for use in patient education. The site also features social networking links that will allow health care providers to easily share information.

The site's Resource Center offers a "Community Care Tool Kit" that includes a newsletter article, radio public service announcement and a PowerPoint presentation that primary care providers can use for local community education. Primary care providers may also obtain downloadable quarterly newsletters, health professional/patient communication guides and a series of patient-friendly informational materials available for in-office use. A "Surgeon Locator" allows primary care providers to input their zip codes to identify shoulder specialists in their areas. 

References:
¹National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey 1998-2006. Data obtained from: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; National Center for Health Statistics. Web Site: http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00130

² Steinfeld R, Valente RM, Stuart MJ. A common sense approach to shoulder problems. Mayo Clin Proc. 1999;74(8):785-794. Web Site: http://www.aafp.org/afp/20080215/493.html

³ American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Shoulder surgery. Web Site: http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00066

⁴ Kelton MB, Stevenson JH, Czarnecki GR, Dorfman J,  Chronic shoulder pain: Part I. Evaluation and diagnosis. American Family Physician. 2008;77(4):453-60. Web site:  http://www.aafp.org/afp/20080215/453.html

⁵ Joshi D. Pearldiver Inc., Orthopedic's #1 Diagnosis. June 17, 2008. http://www.pearldiverinc.com.

Vinod Somareddy, DPT, a physical therapist at Reddy-Care Physical Therapy in Great Neck, NY, was recently a featured guest on WFAN's Sports Radio's " Sports Edge" program.  

The show centered on the high rate of ACL injuries experienced by female athletes. Girls have been found to be much more likely to experience these injuries in the knee area than males of a comparable age.  

Dr. Somareddy shared his insight into causes, preventative measures and proper rehab with host Rick Wolff, listeners and callers. The popular radio program focuses on issues and concerns relating to sports parenting.

Shore Health System's Requard Center for Acute Rehabilitation was recently awarded accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) for a three-year period. CARF is an independent, nonprofit accrediting body whose mission is to promote the quality, value and optimal outcomes of rehabilitation services provided in hospitals and nursing homes.

The Requard Center for Acute Rehabilitation opened at The Memorial Hospital at Easton in 2007. The center is the only acute inpatient rehabilitation hospital on the Mid-Shore and one of only two such rehabilitation facilities on the Eastern Shore.

CARF accreditation is the highest level of accreditation that can be awarded to a rehabilitation facility. To earn this three-year accreditation, the Requard Center for Acute Rehabilitation's staff participated in a rigorous peer review process and demonstrated to a team of CARF surveyors during an on-site visit that its programs and services meet the highest quality standards.

In his letter to Shore Health System, Brian J. Boon, PhD, president and CEO of CARF, said, "This achievement is an indication of your organization's dedication and commitment to improving the quality of the lives of the persons served. Services, personnel and documentation clearly indicated an established pattern of practice excellence."

Acute inpatient rehabilitation is a comprehensive, hospital-licensed program of coordinated services focused on patient evaluation, treatment and education. The Requard Center operates under the direction of Andrew McCarthy, MD, a board certified neurologist and skilled rehabilitation specialist recognized as a pioneer in the field of rehabilitation medicine. Working with Dr. McCarthy is Stephen Wills, MD, who is board certified in physical medicine and rehabilitation. The center's healthcare team also includes specialists in rehabilitation nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech/language therapy, case management and psychology.

The Requard Center consists of a specialized rehabilitation gym, a dedicated life skills learning center and an activities of daily living apartment, which is equipped with a refrigerator, stove, sink and laundry. Private and semi-private patient rooms and a multi-purpose dining area are designed to facilitate independence and socialization.

Clinical outcomes are studied and compared to national averages to assure that the Requard Center's performance is at or better than expected. The center's team maintains contact with the patient following discharge to assess progress and offer assistance. Individuals who require ongoing rehabilitation can continue with home care and outpatient rehabilitation through Shore Home Care and Shore Rehabilitation Services.

Preferred Therapy Providers, Inc. (Preferred) announced that it has signed F.A. Davis Company (FAD) as a preferred vendor for their national network of physical, occupational, and speech therapists.  Under the contract terms members of Preferred's network receive special pricing on products offered by F.A. Davis Company. 

Of support to the physical therapy community since 1962, F.A. Davis Company,   (FAD) is headquartered in Philadelphia , PA. They operate the DavisPTnetwork website (www.DavisPTnetwork.com) which offers online continuing education courses, networking and career resources, events calendars and more for physical therapy professionals. 

"We continually evaluate our preferred vendor program to seek out value-added products and services that will be beneficial for our network providers.  We are very excited to partner with F.A. Davis Company for this new opportunity," stated Christy Beauchamp, vice president of Preferred. 

Founded in 1992 and based in Phoenix, AZ, Preferred's business model allows flexibility in contracting between private practitioners and various health plans and organizations. Preferred assumes responsibility for primary source verification of all practitioner elements that meet or exceed those required by nationally recognized standards, thereby reducing time, cost and paperwork for both the PPO and provider. Currently, Preferred represents over 1,100 clinics in 35 states and over 2,600 individual therapists, serving more than 60 million members.

On Thursday, October 8, 2009, The Physical Therapy & Wellness Institute (PTW) will host an open house event at their Lansdale location to celebrate National Physical Therapy month. The event will take place from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. PTW is located at 730 S. Broad Street.

The open house will commence with an appearance by Andrew Szekely, Mayor of Lansdale, who will deliver an official proclamation announcing that October is physical therapy month in the city of Lansdale. Other event highlights include complimentary musculoskeletal examinations, fitness testing, prize giveaways and flu and pneumonia vaccinations. The immunizations are $25 and $50, respectively and will be administered by the North Penn Visiting Nurses Association.

PTW's open house will conclude at noon with a free medical "Lunch & Learn" seminar entitled "Joint Pain-Managing it all from Bursitis to Tendonitis." This informative lecture will be delivered by Benjamin Chu, M.D. of North Penn Orthopaedic Associates. Lunch will be served for all participants. Seating is limited to the first 30 people to register. Interested parties may reserve their seat in advance by calling PTW at 215-855-9871.

DMC Rehabilitation of Michigan (RIM) recently launched its Center for Stroke Recovery at six locations throughout southeast Michigan. The Center is one of the most sophisticated programs of its kind in the U.S., and incorporates the latest scientific research and therapeutic techniques for improving mobility and speech following a stroke. The Center's services are offered at the following RIM outpatient locations: Novi, Sterling Heights, Detroit, Northwest Detroit, Oak Park and Westland.  

"The Center for Stroke Recovery pushes the treatment boundaries more than traditional therapies designed for stroke rehabilitation. It is one of the most cutting-edge programs of its kind to focus on improving health, function and independence following a stroke," said Bill Restum, PhD, President, RIM. "Whether someone has had a recent stroke or it's been many years since their stroke, the Center for Stroke Recovery offers an alternative approach to recovery"

In a traditional rehabilitation program, stroke patients participate in one hour therapy sessions, one or two days a week. At the Center for Stroke Recovery, patients participate in three hour therapy sessions two to three days a week. This high intensity, aggressive approach to therapy is unique and gives patients the best opportunity to maximize recovery following a stroke.

Stroke is the leading cause of serious, long-term disability in the United States. Each year, about 795,000 people suffer a stroke. Contrary to conventional thinking, it's not just senior citizens who suffer strokes. One-third of those who have strokes each year are under age 65.

"We are seeing younger and younger patients who have had a stroke. They want aggressive treatment options. Someone who is 41 doesn't want to learn to walk with a cane, they want the latest technology available to help them return to an active lifestyle," said Betty Jane Blossfeld, PT, RIM.

The CSR is staffed by highly-skilled rehabilitation professionals, many of whom have received specialty training in stroke rehab. The treatment team includes physical therapists, occupational therapists, and speech-language pathologists. 

Rehabilitation Hospital of Indiana announced that two of its research projects have been awarded nearly $240,000 from the Indiana Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Board.

RHI's Jim Malec, PhD, and Jacob Kean, PhD, along with Purdue University's Joseph Thomas, and Susan Perkins and Tracie Pettit from the Indiana Trauma Registry,  will receive $119,985 to conduct research aimed at expanding scientific knowledge about the long-term outcomes and perceived needs of individuals with traumatic brain injury (TBI) and spinal cord injury (SCI), as well as expanding the knowledge about injury-related and demographic factors associated with outcomes and perceived needs.

In addition, this team, led by Dr. Malec, will develop methods for conducting follow-up with individuals with SCI and TBI that may be used by the Indiana Trauma Registry in the future, and explore the potential to link the Indiana Trauma Registry to other relevant State of Indiana databases and include commonly prescribed medications.

"This study, which is focused solely on Indiana residents, should yield valuable scientific information," said Dr. Malec, the hospital's research director. "It will provide Hoosier researchers, care providers and policy makers with practical information to guide the development of systems of care and services, public policy, and future research to assist those who have experienced severe traumatic injuries to return to full and productive lives."

A small pilot study conducted previously at RHI--the first-ever controlled study of resource facilitation--demonstrated that 67 percent of the group who received these kinds of services returned to work compared to 36 percent in the no-treatment control group. Those who received resource facilitation services also showed superior overall community reintegration, and the cost was $1,000 or less per participant.

The Most Reverend Timothy M. Dolan, Archbishop of New York, presided at groundbreaking ceremonies for a new, 137-bed, 165,000 square foot, 4-story Elizabeth Seton Pediatric Center campus that  will be developed on a 6.5-acre tract in South Westchester Executive Park, Yonkers, NY.  
 
When completed in 2011, the new Pediatric Center will be the home of medical, nursing, rehabilitative, palliative care, educational and home care services for 137 children ranging in age from birth through age 21 with complex medical diagnosis and disabilities including:  premature birth complications, cerebral palsy, congenital heart disease, chronic lung disease, chromosome disorders, metabolic disorders, respiratory disorders, muscular and neurological diseases and immunodeficiency syndromes. 
  
The Pediatric Center was established by the Sisters of Charity of New York in 1987 as a program of the New York Foundling in response to an unmet need for post acute pediatric care. It is presently located in Manhattan, in 90,000 square feet of leased space in a building that has been sold and must be vacated by 2012.  

Tanya Winders-Iudice, PT, OCS, an outpatient physical therapy supervisor at New England Sinai Hospital, recently passed the American Physical Therapy Association's orthopedic clinical specialist exam, and is now certified as a physical therapist and orthopedic clinical specialist with advanced clinical knowledge and specialized skills.

Winders-Iudice began her career at Sinai in 1993 as an inpatient staff physical therapist. She then moved to outpatient physical therapy, was promoted to senior physical therapist and then to her current position as outpatient physical therapy supervisor.  She was also selected as a finalist in the hospital's Compassionate Caregiver of the Year Award in May.  

"Her insatiable curiosity, thirst for evidence and strong desire to help her patients achieve the best outcomes possible have always guided Tanya's physical therapy practice. Her patients consistently rave about her and recommend her thorough examinations and comprehensive assessments to their family and friends. She models our high expectations for her staff to follow, leading to our excellent effectiveness and satisfaction outcomes," said Davida Haas, PT, DPT, director of physical therapy and occupational therapy services.

Because of changes in health care delivery,  patients who survive debilitating strokes are discharged from acute care hospitals sooner and arrive at rehabilitation hospitals with greater medical needs than in the past, making therapy intervention harder to tolerate early in their admission.

For these patients, even the short wheelchair ride to a gym for therapy can leave them too exhausted to fully benefit from therapy activities.

Walton Rehabilitation Health System has responded to this change by developing the region's first rehab-ready stroke unit. Designed by nurses and therapists with the needs of the stroke patient in mind, the rooms are outfitted so that patients can begin their therapy activities right in their own rooms, and families are able to get involved, too.

In designing the rooms, Walton's nurses and therapists were asked, "What does rehab-ready mean to you?" Their solutions were incorporated into the redesign. Amenities include:

• Ambulation bars and mirrors. The ambulation bar assist patients during balance and walking exercises and mirrors help patients view their body and extremity spatial position.
• Extra large bathrooms. Toileting transfers are enhanced by extra space and convenient grab bar placement. Roll-in showers make it easy for wheelchair or stretcher users to bathe. Knock-out doors allow for immediate access should a patient need critical assistance.  
• ADL-ready sinks. Wheelchair-accessible sink areas enable therapists to work with patients on exercises focusing on activities of daily living, or ADLs, like washing the face or brushing teeth. Sinks also include motion-sensor soap and towel dispensers for patients' ease, comfort and independence.
• Flat-screen TVs. The large TVs are easy to view and can be used as educational tools when combined with the hospital's instructional DVDs.
• Sleep chairs. The chairs fold out into a cot that provides an area for a family member to stay the night, which is helpful so family members can learn how to take care of a patient's needs at home even during the nighttime hours.
• Family support. Because the equipment is available right in the room, families are able to practice exercises with their loved one on their own.

The new unit was funded through a $1 million dollar capital campaign conducted by the Walton Foundation for Independence.

The 20^th Annual Jerry Segal Classic to benefit Magee Rehabilitation Hospital in Philadelphia is scheduled for Friday, Sept. 25, 2009 at the ACE Golf Club, and the Green Valley Country Club, both on Ridge Pike in Lafayette Hill.

The Jerry Segal Classic is the Greater Philadelphia Region's largest one-day charity golf event. Over the last 20 years, the Classic has raised nearly $7.2 million, including over a million dollars in each of its last two years.

All proceeds benefit programs and services for individuals with disabilities at Magee Rehabilitation Hospital. Magee, a non-profit health organization, provides lifetime rehabilitation and wellness programs for persons with spinal cord injury, brain injury, stroke, amputation, orthopedic injury, geriatric illness and work injury.

The Classic begins with shotgun starts at 10:30 a.m. at ACE and 11 a.m. at Green Valley. The event includes brunch, golf, a cocktail hour, grand hors d'oeuvres and an auction.

For information on tickets and sponsorship opportunities, please visit www.SegalClassic.com or call 215-587-3090.

The Walton Foundation for Independence Board of Directors recently approved nearly $4,000 in new equipment and renovations benefiting patients and families at Walton Rehabilitation Health System.

        These include:

• SCIFIT, an upper body exerciser that helps patients with stroke, brain injury and spinal cord injuries regain upper body strength at the Walton Outpatient Therapy Center
• Frenzel Goggles, a state-of-the-art tool that helps therapists evaluate patients with vestibular (balance and movement) problems at the Walton Outpatient Therapy Center
• Bariatric rolling walkers for use in inpatient therapy at Walton Rehabilitation Hospital
• Weight set for physical therapy at the new Aiken Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Center
• Flooring in resident rooms at Walton West, a transitional living center for survivors of brain injury

Frankford Hospital announced that it changed its name to Aria (pronounced ARE-EE-UH) Health.  The decision to transition to a new name and brand at its existing hospital and outpatient locations comes as Aria Health continues ongoing expansion of clinical programs and services throughout greater Northeast Philadelphia and Bucks County.

By definition, an "aria" is a piece of music written for one voice with orchestral accompaniment. "As the literal definition of aria implies, much like an orchestra Aria Health's leading physicians, nurses and support staff combine their individual expertise to achieve the highest level of positive clinical outcomes in modern, accessible and comforting facilities," said George A. Voegele, chairman of Aria Health's board of directors. 

A 477-bed health system, Aria Health employs more than 4,000 and includes three acute care hospitals, two in Northeast Philadelphia (Frankford and Torresdale Campuses) and one in Langhorne, Bucks County, PA (Bucks County Campus), as well as two outpatient centers in Northeast Philadelphia and a network of primary and specialty care physician offices. 

Kennedy Krieger Institute announced today the opening of a new outpatient center that will improve and expand services to children and young adults with developmental disabilities and spinal cord injuries in the Baltimore/Washington region and across the nation.

The 115,000-square foot center includes features, such as aquatic therapy pools and a therapeutic garden, which create new opportunities to care for patients with a range of disabilities in innovative ways.

Located in the newly constructed Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Building, the center was designed for and by the people who use it the most-patients, families, and staff. Throughout the process, Kennedy Krieger and architecture firm Stanley Beaman & Sears placed a strong emphasis on soliciting input from these stakeholders to help shape the building's design.

The Outpatient Center and Weinberg Building were funded by $35 million raised as part of Unlocking Potential: The Campaign for Kennedy Krieger Institute. The Campaign also raised $20 million to expand research and programs across the Institute, such as those for autism, spinal cord injury, cerebral palsy and brain injury.

The following elements were incorporated into the building's design:

Therapeutic Garden
The majority of a Baltimore city block was transformed into an outdoor therapeutic garden to promote healing in a natural, aesthetically pleasing environment. The Garden includes a labyrinth and three therapy "rooms" where therapists can help patients practice real-world challenges, such as going up a curb, maneuvering a tight ramp in a wheel chair, walking up and down differently-sized steps and traversing various surfaces from concrete to pebbles to grass.

Aquatic Therapy Center
With a floor of its own, the aquatic therapy center allows patients to escape the limitations of gravity as they learn new skills and undergo therapy for a traumatic injury or developmental disability. Two pools are equipped with underwater treadmills, video systems, sensory temperature controls and hydraulic lifts that allow the floors to be raised and lowered for easy access by patients in wheelchairs.

Quality Patient Care
Over 7,500 square feet is solely dedicated to rehabilitative therapy gyms, allowing physical therapy, occupational therapy and advanced restorative therapy to take place in open, expansive spaces. Collaborative work spaces for staff and an intentional building layout ensures teams of clinicians are physically closer to each other to best facilitate multidisciplinary care for patients.

Healing Environments
Aside from new technologies and physical features, the center incorporates several interior design components to promote healing and improve the patient experience. A dramatic use of color builds from the green of the ground floor to the sky blue of the top floor, and natural light floods nearly every space.

Sustainability
The Institute incorporated green elements into the building's design to increase efficiency and reduce energy usage. Stanley Beaman & Sears and The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company utilized different materials to incorporate environmentally-friendly elements into the building, including different kinds of glass that absorb less heat, carpet tiles that can be individually replaced if necessary, and energy efficient lights and transformers.

Did you know 40 percent of adult arthritis in the hip is caused by hip dysplasia? If more children are treated for this condition, the number of hip replacements for people with arthritis could be decreased. To address this and other needs, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta is pleased to announce the launch of its Orthopaedic Hip program. The Children's Orthopaedic Hip program offers a wide range of services for patients who need specialized medical and surgical care for a variety of musculoskeletal diseases and injuries.

Led by Tim Schrader, M.D., medical director, the pediatric-trained team of orthopaedic experts at Children's treat patients from birth to age 21, providing a unique level of care that may not be found at an adult-focused healthcare facility.

Schrader received his medical degree and completed his residency in orthopaedic surgery at Tulane University School of Medicine. Upon completion of his fellowship at Children's Hospital Boston he joined Children's Orthopaedics of Atlanta and has been providing orthopaedic care at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta since 2001. He is one of only a few pediatric specialists in the Southeast who performs the periacetabular osteotomy (PAO) procedure for adolescent hip dysplasia.

The award recognizes Hutchinsons research and leadership skills and superior clinical expertise as well as his application of high ethical standards in the area of electrophysiology, explained ECBs Vice President Roger Nelson, PT, PhD, and FAPTA.

Hutchinson is the director of the Motion Analysis Laboratory for Shriners Hospital for Children in Philadelphia, where he is responsible for clinical electrophysiological evaluations. He also works part-time for the Philadelphia Hand Center, performing electrophysiological studies.

During his 20-year career, Hutchinson has held a series of progressively more responsible positions in rehabilitative therapy and physical therapy, working with individuals suffering from spine injuries, neurological and orthopedic disorders.

He is pursuing his doctorate in clinical electrophysiology at Rocky Mountain University in Provo, Utah. Hutchinson holds an Advanced Orthopedic Masters Degree in Physical Therapy from Hahnemann University and a Bachelors of Science in Physical Therapy from Temple University.  

ECB named the award after Robert M. Kellogg, PT, PhD, ECS an internationally respected physical therapy clinician and researcher. Kellogg is a Captain in the United States Navy and is currently serving as the executive officer of the Naval Hospital in Rota, Spain. The award program is in its sixth (or seventh?) year. 

• Instructor Podcast Series - For professionals looking for the latest programming trends, business tips and more.
• Rehabilitation Podcast Series - For clinicians using or looking to use Pilates as a key component of their practice.
• Enthusiast Podcast Series - For anyone looking for a fun and challenging method of exercise and a healthy way to improve their everyday lives. 
• Elizabeth's Corner - Pilates master instructor Elizabeth Larkam shares her expertise. 

Podcasts may be viewed via a variety of online Podcast channels or downloaded to an iPod, computer or other MP3 player.  For more information and to download Balanced Body's Pilates Podcasts visit www.Pilates.com.
 
Balanced Body's Podcast experts include: Brent D. Anderson PhD, PT, OCS, Polestar Education, Allyson Cabot, PT, Core Conditioning, Balanced Body University®, Nico Gonzalez, Mercy Healthplex, Balanced Body University®, Dawn-Marie Ickes, MPT, Core Conditioning, Balanced Body University®, Elizabeth Larkam, MS Ed, Western Athletic Clubs, Balanced Body University®, Portia Page, 24 Hour Fitness, BPG Bodies, Balanced Body University®, Shelly Power, BS, Polestar Education, Christine Romani-Ruby, MPT, ATC, PHI Pilates, Gabrielle Shrier, MPT, Core Conditioning, Balanced Body University® and Valentin, Pilates Body by Valentin, Balanced Body University®.

AthletiCo, an Illinois-based leader in physical therapy, fitness and performance services, recently supported Global Medical Brigades on a medical mission trip to Honduras.  Global Medical Brigades, a sector of Global Brigades, is an international student-operated volunteer organization whose mission is to provide sustained health care relief to underserved communities throughout the world. 

During the week of April 11, twenty-six AthletiCo employees and nine additional local health care providers traveled to Honduras and provided medical services to four rural communities treating close to 900 patients. The group also worked on improving living conditions in the communities by building two stoves, one latrine and one water storage unit.

AthletiCo supported this medical mission trip by holding a medical supply drive in January at all of its physical therapy centers in Illinois. Various medications, soap, shampoo, toothbrushes and even eye glasses were collected and distributed to the patients and communities in Honduras. In addition, AthletiCo and its employees contributed $7,516, which went toward purchasing additional medical supplies and helping to offset the volunteer costs of the trip.

AthletiCo physical therapist, Shital Chauhan, PT, DPT, is one of the founders and the chief executive officer of Global Medical Brigades, which annually has nearly 1,000 volunteers travel to Honduran communities to provide services. 

"The Honduran people are so appreciative and loving of every single individual that comes down to serve them," explains Chauhan.  "Despite the circumstances that they live in, they see the positive sides of life and live each day to their fullest.  It's also rewarding to see the empowerment of the volunteers who provide the services through Global Brigades.  We really believe that each volunteer can do so much and make the quality of life better in these communities."

This is the second year AthletiCo employees have been involved with Global Medical Brigades, nearly doubling the number of AthletiCo volunteers from 2008.   Melissa Marek-Piedra, AthletiCo's Operations Assistant, volunteered this year and found her experience in Honduras humbling.

"When I close my eyes today I see the faces of the beautiful people, both the native Hondurans and the participants from the U.S. who generously gave of their time and effort to help the people of Honduras."

ProEx, a physical therapist owned private practice specializing in orthopedics, spine and sports medicine, has opened a new clinic at 10 High Street in downtown Boston.

The new ProEx Physical Therapy clinic has a professional staff of four including two physical therapists and two support staff.  Jen Richard, PT has been named as Clinic Manager and will manage the day to day operations. The new clinic will provide a full range of professional physical therapy services in the heart of Boston's business and financial community.

 "We are pleased to have the opportunity to expand into the downtown Boston area," said Matt McManus, PT, Regional Clinical Director and Co-Owner of ProEx Physical Therapy. "Having this new location will be another option for our patients to experience the high level care they have grown accustomed to with ProEx. We are very excited to be able to offer our services to the Boston community".

National Medical Alliance (NMA) introduces ACO Med Supply, Inc. as the newest member of their Alliance. Based in Charlotte, NC, ACO Med Supply was established in 1995 as an orthopedic specialty distributor. The company grew rapidly and now distributes products throughout Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina. Currently, they represent more than 200 manufacturers and look forward to expanding further into the rehabilitation market by establishing new vendor relationships through National Medical Alliance.

"We will always look to our mission statement as our cornerstone for doing business," said ACO Med Supply owner Stuart Ross. The mission of ACO Med Supply, Inc. states, "We have created a company committed to one thing, the customer. Our staff will work with a single-minded goal of supplying technologically advanced medical products through the best procurement system available at competitive prices. We are here to provide clinicians and patients with the best service possible."

NMA Board Chairman Bob Harada of TheraTek, USA said "NMA is proud to welcome a company with the solid reputation and industry respect held by ACO Med Supply.  More than a decade since our inception, NMA continues to attract the best independent rehab equipment and supply dealers in North America."

Northeast Georgia Medical Center (NGMC) is pleased to announce Don Walsh has been named director of outpatient rehabilitation. Walsh takes the reigns from former director Judy Smith, who recently retired.

Walsh joined NGMC's outpatient rehabilitation department in 1989. He served as a supervisor and manager before being promoted to director. In his new position, Walsh oversees speech therapy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, athletic training and a host of different programs.

"The promotion excites me both professionally and personally," said Walsh. "I love the joy of helping people overcome obstacles and the challenge of managing a staff. It helps that I'm already familiar with the department's programs, which are among the best in the industry."

Outside the office, Walsh is an avid cyclist. He and his wife, Karen, have three children.

The Valerie Fund completed the JAG Physical Therapy/WCBS-TV Walk-a-Thon and 5K Run at Verona Park in Verona, New Jersey on June 13. For the third consecutive year, Staten Island native John Gallucci, Jr.'s company JAG Physical Therapy acted as a presenting sponsor for the event that continues to grow each summer.

"I would like to thank all of the runners and walkers that came out this weekend to support The Valerie Fund. I am thrilled that the community came together, despite the bad weather, to make this our most successful walk and run to date," said Gallucci.

JAG Physical Therapy's walk team raised money for The Valerie Fund, which is a heath care service network that provides care for children with cancer and blood disorders. Gallucci and his team raised about $30,000 out of the near $200,000 that was raised at the event. The event has grown from 300 to 2,100 participants in the last three years.

It has been the mission for The Valerie Fund since 1976 to provide care for these children, and the organization was exceptionally pleased with the day's events and results. Thanks to the thousands of caring contributors and volunteers, there are seven Valerie Fund Children's Centers for Cancer and Blood Disorders located in major hospitals in the tri-state area today, providing caring and comprehensive health care to more than 5,000 children and their families each year.

Evidence In Motion, a provider of physical therapy education and practice consultation, welcomes an official partnership with San Luis Sports Therapy and Orthopedic Rehabilitation, one of the most prestigious providers of outpatient and orthopedic rehabilitation serving the central California coast.  As part of the agreement, SLST becomes a Network Partner for Evidence in Motion's Orthopedic Residency and Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapy Fellowship training in the communities they serve.   

"EIM has enjoyed a very productive working relationship with San Luis Sports Therapy for the past few years.  The EIM team has a great deal of respect for their leaders and staff.  We are very pleased that San Luis Sports Therapy decided to collaborate with EIM on the residency and fellowship programs.  We are confident that this relationship will provide their organization as a whole, and each participating professional individually, a very valuable and lasting experience," said George Burkley, CEO of Evidence In Motion.

Several of the offerings included in the Residency and Fellowship curricula will also be made available to other SLST&OR professional staff, enhancing lifelong learning and quality improvement initiatives for all personnel. EIM Residents and Fellows will be exposed to a vast community of evidence-based professionals, and trained to apply the best evidence for patient care. 

EIM transforms the way physical therapists are trained and educated, allowing professionals to complete the majority of the coursework online.  EIM's Orthopaedic Residency and Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapy Fellowship training programs are delivered to the physical therapist, where they live and work, through web-based educational "distance learning" platforms, complimented by on-site weekend intensives conducted at Network Partner locations, and a thorough mentoring program.  

Many members of EIM's faculty are recognized internationally for their contributions to education, research, and clinical practice. Under their supervision, Residents and Fellows have the opportunity to receive the highest caliber of training and become distinguished leaders in evidence-based orthopaedic and manual physical therapy practice.

Michelle Howe, a physical therapist with Flagship Rehabilitation and the rehabilitation service manager at Bethany Village, recently received the Site Manager of the Year Award for 2008 at the quarterly manager's meeting for the Flagship Rehabilitation Company in Cumberland, MD.  Howe was selected from 28 managers from other Flagship Rehabilitation locations throughout Pennsylvania, Virginia and Maryland. 

She was selected according to three distinct criteria: First, she exhibited the most independence and strongest team leadership among the many site managers considered. Second, she exceeded company standards on a consistent basis and proved to be a team player in all areas, and an asset to Flagship and the community they represent. Finally, as a site manager, she and her team delivered exceptional patient care and consistently met the needs of residents and the community. In 2007, the Bethany Village therapy team also received an award for the Most Outstanding Rehab team. 

Flagship Rehabilitation provides occupational, physical and speech therapy. At Bethany Village, there are three different therapy gyms in the community (outpatient, assisted living and skilled nursing) that provide a variety of different exercises to improve balance and strength for activities of daily life.

Not only is the Flagship staff at Bethany Village concerned with the residents' health, they are constantly looking for new and innovative programs to bring to the community. Currently, the staff is working on a urinary continence program. This program will allow for administered therapies to help battle the often embarrassing nature of incontinence. The program will be the first of its kind among any of the Asbury communities.

Legislation to establish a Frontline Providers Loan Repayment Program that includes physical therapists was introduced Tuesday by Representative Bruce Braley (D-IA). The Access to Frontline Health Care Act of 2009 (HR 2891) would encourage physical therapists to practice in underserved areas, says the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA).

HR 2891, which would amend the Public Health Service Act, creates a process that is similar to the National Health Services Corp (NHSC) in which a provider signs a commitment to practice in an area for at least 2 years in exchange for student loan repayment. Currently, physical therapists are not included in the NHSC's Loan Repayment Program. This legislation would complement the Physical Therapist Student Loan Repayment Eligibility Act of 2009 (HR 988), which would allow physical therapists to participate in the NHSC's program.

Under HR 2891, providers pledge to practice in a "Frontline Scarcity Area." Scarcity areas include a Health Professional Shortage Area as defined by the Health Resources and Services Administration Shortage Designation Branch of the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), or an area designated by a state as having a shortage of frontline care services. HHS' Secretary can give preference to a scarcity area in which an entity has demonstrated that it has an interdisciplinary program, or pledges to initiate such a program. The Secretary also determines the amount of the loan repayment. 

"APTA applauds Representative Braley for introducing this much needed legislation and including physical therapists in it," said APTA President R. Scott Ward, PT, PhD. "With health care reform legislation on the horizon, it's imperative that our leaders address workforce issues as a part of overall reform. The Frontline Providers Loan Repayment Program would bring physical therapists to areas in the country where their services are greatly needed."

In addition to physical therapy, the following qualify as frontline services: general surgery, chiropractic, optometry, ophthalmology, audiology, speech language pathology, pharmacy, public health, podiatric medicine, dietetics, occupational therapy, general pediatrics, respiratory therapy, medical technology, and radiologic technology. All services must be performed by a health care provider with the appropriate education.

Bayada Nurses, a leader in home health care, has named Steven Conforti, MS, PT, a resident of Phoenix, Arizona, as its Physical Therapist "Hero of the Year."  As part of the company's Heroes on the Home Front Program, Conforti was recognized for his dedication to excellence and commitment to serving the clients with whom he works.  The award was presented during Bayada Nurses' annual Awards Weekend, held in Washington, D.C. from June 5-7.     

Bayada Nurses presents the "Hero of the Year" Awards to recognize its nurses, aides, and therapists who unselfishly exceed the organization's expectations for excellence.  To qualify, a nominee must embody the fundamental values of compassion, excellence, and reliability, which comprise The Bayada Way and define the organization's mission.   

"Steve is a strong patient advocate, and he does everything in his power to help his clients gain maximum independence and reach their fullest potential," said Sonia Gupta, the Bayada Nurses recruiter who hired Conforti in 2005.  "His clients call regularly to praise his professionalism, expertise, and excellence in patient care."

Since joining Bayada Nurses, Conforti has become an integral part of his clients' lives.  He claims that they, not he, are the true heroes.    

"I am privileged to work in home care, where I give it my all and am able to witness my clients' struggles, successes, and courage," Conforti said.  "I'm honored to participate in the Heroes program, but it's the Bayada Nurses office staff behind me that makes it all possible.  It's truly a team effort, and I'm so proud to be part of the Bayada Nurses team." 

Mary Heath, director of the Bayada Nurses Phoenix office, believes Conforti is well-deserving of his award.  "Steve is definitely a 'hero' to his clients, and to us at Bayada Nurses as well," she said.  "He is an excellent therapist who also takes a personal interest in his clients and improves their lives.  We all love Steve, and I'm thrilled that he is getting the recognition he deserves." 

Six employees at Walton Rehabilitation Health System were recently honored for their years of service.

Craig Riggs, PT/OT Aide, was honored for his 10 years of service, and Mary E. Cappucci, case manager, was honored for 20 years of service at Walton Rehabilitation Health System.

Other employees were recognized for five years of service: Alissa Bogorad, occupational therapist; Elizabeth Brunson, registered nurse; Ruth S. Fairley, cosmetologist; and Laquilla J. Streetman, licensed practical nurse.

EnduraCare Therapy Management, Inc., the largest privately held provider of rehabilitation services, announces the appointment of Thomas P. Dixon, PhD, as its new chief executive officer. Dr. Dixon is an experienced senior manager, and brings a long record of innovation and success in the rehabilitation and therapy industry.

Having begun his professional career as a psychologist at an inpatient rehab hospital, Dr. Dixon quickly expanded his interests to service model innovation and to growing quality service organizations. He has served as the president of the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine, a board member on the National Head Injury Foundation, and was one of the early leaders in the field of sub-acute rehabilitation. He was the co-founder and president of Prism Rehab Systems, an early leader in the contract therapy field.

With his return to the therapy field, Dr. Dixon's goals are to foster and promote EnduraCare's role as the employer of choice for therapy professionals as well as to contribute to the company's ongoing commitment to be the provider of choice to its hospital and long-term care partners.

ProEx, a physical therapist-owned private practice specializing in orthopedics, spine and sports medicine, has named Jess Barsotti, DPT, ATC, to the positions of physical therapist and athletic trainer of their Woburn, MA, practice.

In addition to providing outpatient physical therapy services at the ProEx Woburn clinic, Barsotti will serve as head athletic trainer at Arlington High School providing coverage for their athletes. Prior to joining ProEx Physical Therapy, Barsotti completed an internship in physical therapy at the Massachusetts General Hospital Inpatient Pediatric Unit and did his athletic training internship with the Indiana Pacers of the National Basketball Association (NBA).

A native of Vineland, New Jersey, Barsotti earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Athletic Training and a Doctorate of Physical Therapy from Boston University. He is a member of the American Physical Therapy Association. Barsotti resides in Waltham, MA, where he enjoys rock climbing, cycling and running.

"Jess comes to us with a great sports medicine background having done an athletic training internship with an NBA team. He is a perfect addition to our sports medicine practice here in Woburn," said Matt McManus, PT, and Co-Owner of ProEx Physical Therapy.

On Saturday, May 16th, The Physical Therapy & Wellness Institute (PTW) and the DelVal Chapter of the National Hemophilia Foundation hosted over 500 runners for the first annual Broad Street ReRun. 

This 5-mile flat course race started with a one-mile fun run, beginning at the Pavilion shopping center in Lansdale to Morris road and back. Escorted by the Upper Gwynedd Police, this race ended with refreshments, music, awards ceremony and a presentation to Senator Robert Godshall for his support of children with Blood disease. 

All proceeds benefited the local hemophilia foundation, in honor of little Alex Rowe, a 7-year-old Lansdale native with Hemophilia. Alex was at the finish line welcoming in the winners!

This annual event will take place next year on Saturday, May 15th. 

Medicare beneficiaries who need physical therapist services would find it easier and more efficient to obtain treatment under legislation introduced in the US House of Representatives. The Medicare Patient Access to Physical Therapists Act (HR 1829), introduced by Representatives Earl Pomeroy (D-ND), Tim Murphy (R-PA), and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), eliminates the need for beneficiaries to obtain a physician referral for physical therapy services.

"Direct access under Medicare would remove unnecessary barriers to the cost-effective rehabilitation services provided by physical therapists," said APTA President R. Scott Ward, PT, PhD. "Currently these health care consumers, which include seniors and people with disabilities, often have the greatest need for physical therapy services and experience unnecessary burdens to access these services. The referral process can often cause delays that can impede a patient's ability to achieve his or her optimal functional outcome. In light of today's economic environment, timely access to cost-effective physical therapy services for Medicare beneficiaries is critical."

Forty-eight states and the District of Columbia have eliminated the physician referral requirement for patients to access physical therapists for an evaluation, while 44 states and DC allow access to some form of physical therapy treatment without referral. This legislation would defer to the state law on access regarding physical therapy.

"Requiring Medicare patients to get a physician referral before they can see a physical therapist puts an undue burden on residents of rural areas who often travel long distances just to see their doctor," Representative Pomeroy said. "Removing the physician referral requirement would save valuable time and money for Medicare patients in North Dakota and across the country."

Representative Murphy added, "Eliminating barriers to patient choice has been an ongoing effort of mine both in the Pennsylvania State Senate and now in Congress. The Medicare Patient Access to Physical Therapists Act eliminates the burden of unnecessary visits to physicians for patients to access physical therapy care. Delaying this care not only results in higher costs but unnecessary pain and frustration from patients."

For the second time in three years, a member of Sacred Heart University's Department of Physical Therapy and Human Movement Science earned national honors as a Catherine Worthingham Fellow. The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) recognized Pamela K. Levangie, PT, DSC, a professor and associate chair of the department, for her "sustained national leadership, influence and achievement in the field of physical therapy." 

In 2007, Michael Emery, PT, EdD, professor and chairman of the department, was similarly honored. The association's highest accolade will be formally presented to Dr. Levangie at the APTA national conference in Baltimore in June. It is named for a widely-respected leader in the discipline for more than 50 years, Dr. Catherine Worthingham.

In announcing the recognition, Dr. R. Scott Ward, PT, PhD, president of the APTA, explained that Professor Levangie was selected for a body of work that has resulted in "lasting and significant advances in the science, education and practice of the profession of physical therapy." He added that she has demonstrated "frequent and sustained efforts" on behalf of the profession.

Professor Levangie holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Northeastern University and her master's and doctoral degrees from Boston University. She was nominated for this prestigious honor last fall by the faculty of her department.

Fewer than 100 of the association's 65,000 members serve as Worthingham fellows. "The fellowship category was established in 1980, so there's a relatively small group of people in the profession that have been recognized," Dr. Emery said, adding that the fellows of the association meet annually to provide comment to the APTA's board of directors on a variety of issues within the field. He called Professor Levangie "most deserving of this national recognition, and she continues to be a most valued colleague and member of our department." 

Staff members of St. Mary's Healthcare System for Children's rehabilitation program have gone above and beyond the call of duty as they became board-recognized specialists in their fields, an accomplishment that enhances the quality of care they provide for the children of St. Mary's Healthcare System for Children, and one that is widely acknowledged by consumers, colleagues and health care professionals.

John Paul Rincon, PT, clinical specialist at St. Mary's, earned the title of pediatric certified specialist (PCS) in physical therapy.  Rincon is one of only 49 physical therapists in New York to achieve this level of recognition by the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties and the American Physical Therapy Association.

Myra Baltazar, PT, assistant director of St. Mary's Traumatic Brain Injury Unit and director of St. Mary's Healing Arts Program, became a certified wound specialist (CWS) after successfully passing the national board certification exam of the American Academy of Wound Management, a national interdisciplinary certifying board for health care professionals dedicated to the prevention, care and treatment of acute and chronic wounds. Baltazar is the first therapist at St. Mary's to obtain this acclaimed designation.

Board certification provides formal recognition for those with advanced clinical knowledge, professional education, experience, and skills unique to a special area of practice, and assists consumers and the health care community in distinguishing these professionals.

Give a man a loaf of bread or give him seeds and tools with which to grow his own wheat?  This was the question that inspired physical therapist with AT Home Care, and amputee specialist, David Lawrence, to design a sustainable medical program with Physicians for Peace (PFP) in 2002 to help amputees abroad. The program, called Walking Free, establishes sustainable prosthetic and rehabilitation centers in developing nations by building on infrastructure and resources that already exist.   

Integral to the Walking Free program is the collection of prosthetics and therapy equipment to be used by these amputees.  PFP and AT Home Care, are holding their 7^th annual limb drive on Sunday, May 17^th, in the parking lot of the Tides Harbor Park Stadium, Norfolk, VA. The event is the only such collection in the country and is also sponsored by Hanger Prosthetics & Orthotics.  Collections of new and used prosthetic limbs along with rehabilitation equipment will be accepted from hospitals, physical therapists and amputees from all over the country.  

Most amputees receive a new prosthetic every two years as they grow or gain weight.  It is illegal to reuse prosthetics in the U.S. which results in countless prosthetics taking up space in attics or closets. Fortunately, the material with which they are made is extremely durable, allowing them to be rebuilt for another person. A prosthetic foot for a 70-year-old diabetic can be refurbished for a teenage boy in Haiti.

Lawrence's strategy for the development of these clinics is for volunteers to be actively involved with prosthetic and physical therapy training for four to five years. Local doctors and physical therapists have taken advantage of this life changing community service opportunity.  Volunteers, who often work for a week to 10 days at a time, focus on training and educating so to create a lasting medical presence in each community.

Gail Gristetti, physical therapist and professor of physical therapy at Old Dominion in Newport News, has been involved with the Walking Free program since its inception.  She has traveled to Haiti and the Dominican Republic, and most recently returned from helping establish the newest clinic in Guatemala.  " I was moved by the outpouring of appreciation from both the patients and the prosthetists the first time I visited. The community embraces us because they are eager to learn and build upon what they already have in terms of a facility or specialists."

Gail hopes to instill the desire to give back in her students here in Virginia, by offering a select number of 3^rd year DPT students the opportunity to attend the Walking Free program in the Dominican Republic each fall. 

To date, the Limb Drive has collected almost 1 million dollars worth of equipment for those in need. 

On Friday, June 5^th at 4:00 p.m., Magee Rehabilitation Hospital , Philadelphia, PA, will host world-record hand cyclist Kenny Herriot as he continues his cross-country cycling adventure to raise money and awareness for Alex's Lemonade Stand.

Herriot, who has been paralyzed from the waist down since 2000, will speak to Magee patients, staff and their families about how he overcame his disability to live an active life and meet physically demanding goals.

A seven-year hand cycling racing veteran, Herriot will cycle from San Francisco to New York , stopping at rehabilitation centers along the way to speak about his journey. Hollister will sponsor Herriot's six-week marathon, providing refreshments for guests at each rehabilitation center he visits.

Herriot's chosen charity, Alex's Lemonade Stand, began in 2000 and has since become a nationwide fundraiser devoted to finding a cure for children with cancer. As of July 2008, the organization raised over $20 million and had support in the U.S., Canada, and France .

A professional basketball player for Mexico's national team continues to seek treatment with a physical therapist at Physiotherapy Associates' Tempe Sport Clinic in Tempe, AZ. 

Heidi Jannenga, PT, ATC, CSCS, clinic director of Tempe Sports Clinic has treated Jorge Rochin, a basketball player for Mexico's national team and Oregon University of Portland alumnus, since July 2008.

"She pushed me right where I needed to be," said Rochin. "She always pushes and challenges me; I think she is very good at reading people."

As a practicing physical therapist for 13 years and competitive collegiate level athlete, Jannenga has an intuitive level of insight based on experience into what patients' (these athletes') goals are and ought to be.

Rochin, a Mexico native, who came to the United States for educational opportunities, planned to attend the 2004 Athens Olympics and the 2008 Beijing Olympics when he was injured. 

In 2004, Rochin broke his wrist and his coach sidelined him prior to the Athens games.  In 2008, only days before departure to Beijing, Rochin experienced a fracture in his back that required emergency surgery. 

After Rochin's surgery, his orthopedic spine surgeon referred him to Jannenga, who rehabilitated Rochin through strengthening and conditioning exercises to get him back on the court quickly and safely.

Jannenga, a Paris-trained manual therapist, prepares Rochin for tournaments and international play, and keeps him conditioned during the offseason with intense functional sport-specific exercises and manual therapy techniques.

Listening to the patient during the evaluation and creating a specific treatment plan is very important, according to Jannenga.  Therapy will get more patient-specific and sports-specific in accordance with the patient's goals and progress.

Rochin has been playing in Europe and training like usual, with no report of any problems. He is now back in Mexico training two or three hours every day before lifting weights and working out.

Glendale Adventist Medical Center (GAMC) recently expanded and upgraded some of its rehabilitation services. The expansion project, completed in early February, added 1,700 square feet of space and three additional treatment rooms in the outpatient facility. The outpatient center offers one-on-one adult and pediatric rehabilitation therapy in addition to group exercise and sports training classes.

The number one priority of Rehabilitative Medicine Services at GAMC is to assist patients in returning to daily life and the activities they love. Inpatient services are offered in the hospital's spacious rehabilitative wing, while outpatient services are provided in the 20,000 square-foot Therapy & Wellness Center located at 2560 Colorado Blvd. The Therapy and Wellness Center is celebrating 5 years in the community this year.

"Thanks to the high level of care and personal attention given to each patient, GAMC*s Therapy & Wellness has experienced amazing growth over the past five years," said Marion Watson, director of rehabilitative services. "We're excited to announce that we've expanded our facility to better accommodate this growth."

In addition to the expansion of its outpatient facility, GAMC upgraded its inpatient rehabilitation therapy areas, including the training "kitchen" and simulated activities of daily living areas. These upgrades were made possible by a generous donation to the hospital from an anonymous donor.

The rehabilitation staff is made up of accredited and licensed physical and occupational therapists, such as hand therapists, aquatic therapists and work hardening and conditioning specialists. Several of the Therapy & Wellness center therapists have special advanced certification titles including orthopedic certified specialists (OCS), certified pedorthotist (CPED), certified strength and conditioning specialist (CSCS) and certified hand therapist (CHT).

Strengthened by several years of successful growth, Norwalk Rehabilitation Services and its Health and Home Care Resources division have initiated a plan of expansion.

The first step of the plan began nearly a year ago when the company hired experienced health care industry professional, Joanne Walsh as the chief executive officer.  Walsh, who had previously served as president of the Visiting Nurse Association of South Central Connecticut, was chosen to spearhead the company's ambitious growth initiatives.

Recognizing the company's existing name did not adequately describe the full scope of the organization's services and sensing it was geographically limiting, Walsh's first significant agenda items was to change the corporate name to Constellation Health Services. 

"The word 'constellation' is a direct reference to many parts coming together to create something significant, something important," noted Walsh. "It is a name that speaks directly to who we are now, and a name that will serve us well as we continue to grow."

First serving the communities of lower Fairfield County in 1985, Norwalk Rehabilitation Services was founded as an outpatient physical and occupational therapy clinic. In 1994, the company developed a certified home health agency, operating under the name Health and Home Care Resources, an evolution of its success as a provider of homemaker and companion services.

Consolidating all of the company's services, school-based therapy, private duty and home care under the Constellation banner provides the ability to strategically focus on the areas that have the greatest growth potential at any given point in time. Constellation's most immediate priorities are growing private duty and the imminent launch of a new service: geriatric care management.

Amidst all these changes, Constellation has retained many members of its key management team.  In addition, the company has added some new and very talented people to the mix, further strengthening its capacity while adding momentum and excitement to the growth process.  The larger staff necessitated   the company's recent move from its long-time Norwalk headquarters to a larger office space, also in Norwalk.

Thomas D. Kalina, certified driver rehabilitation specialist and supervisor of the Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital driver rehab program, was honored by the American Trauma Society, Pennsylvania division, for outstanding contributions to trauma prevention and education.

Kalina was honored for his work helping older drivers and individuals with disabilities gain or retain their independence, especially their mobility in an automobile-dependent world. Over the course of the past 20 years, he has developed a rehabilitation program that includes driver evaluations for senior citizens and individuals recovering from a debilitating injury or illness.

In addition, he helped expand the program to include a community outreach program titled, Driving Safely as We Age and presents the program at various locations during the year, including older adult communities, as well as at Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital.

"This program was developed to help individuals identify conditions they may have that could increase their risk of being involved in an automobile accident. This is a comprehensive program that provides a complete review of safe driving tips and a round table discussion that focuses on how individuals can identify when it may be appropriate to retire from driving," said Kalina.

ProEx, a physical therapist-owned private practice specializing in orthopedics, spine and sports medicine, has named Monica Parker as a physical therapy aide and a marketing representative of their practice.

Parker assists the clinic's physical therapists with patient care and exercise programs. In her role as marketing representative, she works in the community on educational programs and customer relations. Prior to joining ProEx Physical Therapy, Parker was a coach for the Glastonbury High School crew team and a paraprofessional for children with autism at the Riverstreet School. She was also a rowing coach for Riverfront Recapture and worked as a receptionist for Cardinal Fitness in her hometown of Glastonbury, CT.

Parker earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Human Development and Family Studies from the University of Connecticut in Storrs. She was a member of the University's rowing team where she earned the "Husky Award" for her leadership, attitude and work ethic.

"We are pleased to welcome Monica to our Farmington team," said Michael J. Mulrenan PT, president of ProEx Physical Fitness. "Monica is a talented communicator who enjoys educating people on the benefits of physical therapy and encouraging our patients to reach their goals. She is a great team member."

Each year the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation awards grants to non-profit organizations that provide services to individuals living with paralysis.  This year the Foundation announced Magee Rehabilitation Hospital as one of the 145 recipients, receiving $12,000 in aid.

Magee will use the grant to help those living with paralysis become active members in everyday life. Magee Rehabilitation Hospital 's wheelchair sports programs have involved more than 450 athletes over the past 20 years.  Magee's wheelchair sports teams travel throughout the United States , participating in a variety of tournaments and public demonstrations of their skills. 

Teams consist of wheelchair users who have experienced a variety of injuries and illnesses, including spinal cord injury, brain injury and amputations, among others, and include the following sports: Magee "Eagles" Wheelchair Rugby, Magee Sixers Spokesmen Wheelchair Basketball (Division II and III teams), Magee Freedoms Wheelchair Tennis and the Magee "Kixx" Power Wheelchair Soccer.

"The funding of our wheelchair athletes is wholly dependent on generous contributions like this one, and we are very grateful for the support offered by the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation," said AJ Nanayakkara, Magee's Wheelchair Sports Program Coordinator. "As a wheelchair athlete myself, Magee's wheelchair sports program provides me the outlet and the motivation I need to take care of myself physically and remain engaged in society."

The Quality of Life grants are awarded in three categories: Actively Achieving, Bridging Barriers and Caring and Coping. Each category is designed to promote active and fulfilling lives for those living with spinal cord injuries and other paralysis-causing conditions. Individuals are encouraged to participate in sports, train for a job, operate specially-adapted computer technology, modify homes for wheelchair accessibility, access public transportation, participate in the arts, proactively maintain their health and more. 

ProEx, a physical therapist owned private practice specializing in orthopedics, spine and sports medicine, named Lindsay Holmes, MPT, MTC, to the position of clinical manager of their Farmington, CT, practice.

Along with evaluating and treating patients, Holmes will be responsible for managing daily operations of the clinic and the staff. Prior to joining ProEx  Holmes was a physical therapist and assistant director of the physical therapy and sports medicine centers in Westbrook, CT, and the head coach of the Daniel Hand High School girls track and field team in Madison, CT.

A native of East Hampton CT, Holmes earned a master of physical therapy from Quinnipiac College in Hamden, CT, and her manual therapy certification (MTC) from the University of St. Augustine. She is currently working on her doctor of physical therapy (DPT) through the University of St. Augustine in St. Augustine, FL. In addition, she is trained to evaluate and cast for custom orthotics.

Holmes is a member of the American Physical Therapy Association and the American Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapists. She has completed eight marathons and most recently completed the 2008 Boston Marathon where she was the fifth female finisher from CT. Holmes resides in Middletown, CT, where she enjoys running, biking, hiking, snowboarding and being a Red Sox fan.

"Lindsay is an excellent practitioner who utilizes the very best techniques in returning her patients to their optimal functional status," said Michael J. Mulrenan, president of ProEx Physical Fitness. "Lindsay brings great organizational skills and a real passion for education to our Farmington practice."

A book written by University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey physical therapists Judith E. Deutsch, PhD, and Ellen Anderson, MA, has been named winner of a 2008 American Publishers Award for Professional and Scholarly Excellence (PROSE) from the Professional and Scholarly Publishing (PSP) Division of the Association of American Publishers.

Complementary Therapies for Physical Therapy: A Clinical Decision Making Approach gives health care providers detailed information on ways to incorporate complementary therapies into physical therapy practice. The book was authored and edited by UMDNJ-School of Health Related Professions colleagues Deutsch, who is professor and director of the Research in Virtual Environments and Rehabilitation Sciences (RIVERS) Lab in the Department of Rehabilitation and Movement Science, and Anderson, an associate professor in that department.

Elsevier, Inc., publisher of Complementary Therapies for Physical Therapy-A Clinical Decision-Making Approach, received the award this month at a luncheon during the PSP Annual Conference in Washington D.C.

Presented since 1976, the PROSE Awards received a record-breaking 439 entries from 60 professional and scholarly publishers across the country for 2008.  Winners were determined by a 15-member panel that included publishing professionals from such PSP member companies as McGraw-Hill, Wiley-Blackwell, and The Johns Hopkins University Press, and librarians and academics from universities in the United States and Canada.

The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) applauds the recent introduction of the Veterans Physical Therapy Services Improvement Act of 2009 (HR 1036) by Representative Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (D-SD). This bill will improve the recruitment and retention of physical therapists in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA).

"Our nation's veterans deserve the highest quality physical therapy and rehabilitation services," said APTA President R. Scott Ward, PT, PhD. "This legislation would help the VHA meet their growing needs by recruiting physical therapists who are knowledgeable and skilled in managing the many and diverse conditions that today's soldiers and aging veterans face."                

The legislation will establish a director of physical therapy service position that will report to the under secretary of health, ensuring that as the profession advances, the VHA keeps current with issues related to the physical therapy profession's education, qualifications, clinical privileges and scope of practice. It also will create a new fellowship program for physical therapists in the areas of geriatrics, amputee rehabilitation, polytrauma and rehabilitation research.

"With an aging veteran population and men and women returning every day from Iraq and Afghanistan with injuries unlike any sustained in previous conflicts, attracting highly-qualified physical therapists to the VA is important now more than ever," Herseth Sandlin said.

"Those who have bravely served our country in uniform deserve access to superior health care and by improving physical therapy services at the VA, we are better equipped to provide that care and ultimately make good on the promise our country made to its veterans."

Research from the Bellarmine University physical therapy department finds that autistic children may benefit from aquatic-based physical therapy. In a brief trial, therapists found that the sessions resulted in qualitative changes in behavior, language and function, including improved eye contact and increased vocalizations.

In the 8-week study, a group of three children ages 3 to 4, and a group of four children ages 5 to 7 took part in 45-minute therapy sessions one day a week. Exercises focused on core stability, respiration, posturing, position and social interaction. Parents were required to participate, and the group emphasized parent teaching to encourage carryover during non-therapy pool sessions.

Early intervention is critical and children with autism spectrum diagnoses benefit from multiple types of intervention. Additional research is needed to identify the long-term effects and benefits of using the aquatic environment for this population, but the researchers noted that an aquatic-based program could be helpful in programs with a multi-disciplinary focus.

Rehabilitation Hospital of Indiana Sports Program (RHISP) has recently been awarded grants from both the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation and the Craig H. Neilsen Foundation.

The Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation awarded RHISP with a $16,645 Quality of Life grant. Conceived by the late Dana Reeve, Quality of Life grants go to programs or projects that improve the daily lives of people with paralysis, with some emphasis on, but not limited to, paralysis caused by spinal cord injuries. Mrs. Reeve started the Quality of Life grants program to recognize and support organizations that help disabled individuals, their families and caregivers in ways that more immediately give them increased independence, day-to-day happiness and improved access.

Thanks to The Craig H. Neilsen Foundation,$37,000 is also on its way to RHISP.  This foundation's primary mission is to find a cure for spinal cord injury (SCI).  Established in 2003, the foundation has funded programs supporting SCI research and rehabilitation, cancer research and children's charities.  These programs include funding for basic scientific study, co-sponsoring the first-ever national SCI Summit and underwriting a fellowship to train physical medicine and rehabilitation doctors.

Both of these grants will help RHISP support its competitive team programs.  They will be used to purchase equipment such as sport wheelchairs and specific parts needed for the wheelchairs, including tubes, tires and axles.  In addition, the grants will cover travel costs for the teams, as well as uniforms, facility rental for practices, special balls and referees for tournaments.   RHISP also conducts recreational clinics that feature water skiing, rock climbing, scuba diving, tennis, self defense and body building - all of which require facilities and instructors, and all of which will benefit from these foundations' generosity.

RHISP's 12 teams compete in the following sports:

• Beep Baseball - Developed for visually-impaired athletes, beep baseball is played using a beeping ball and buzzing bases.  Batters listen for the ball to come across the strike zone, swing and hit the ball.  If the batter can get to the bases before the fielders can locate the ball, a run is scored, otherwise the batter is out.
• Golf - The RHI Golf team, although open to all RHI athletes, has become very popular among ambulatory participants with limb injuries.
• Power Soccer - Power soccer was designed and developed specifically for power wheelchair users with various disabilities.
• Quad Rugby - First developed in Canada for quadriplegic athletes, quad rugby is commonly known as "murderball" because of its extreme physical nature.
• Racing - Wheelchair racing can be anything from your typical track events to 5K and 10K road races, mini marathons, marathons and triathlons.
• Track and Field - In track and field sports, certain adaptations are made to accommodate certain disabilities.  For example, guide runners are usually attached to the visually impaired runner's wrist, and for participants with spinal cord injuries and other lower extremity impairments, specialized racing chairs are used, along with throwing chairs for the field events. 
• Wheelchair Basketball - Wheelchair basketball is a sport that is played by athletes with spinal cord injuries and/or a variety of other disabilities ranging from amputees to cerebral palsy.

Heel USA, a subsidiary of Heel GmbH, Baden-Baden, Germany, announced Thierry Montfort is the new CEO of Heel USA located in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Montfort has spent most of his professional life in the homeopathic health care industry. After heading Boiron USA for eight years, his career continued at Boiron's international headquarters as their deputy managing director and chief financial officer for 12 years before launching his management consulting firm, Equidistance.

"Heel represents the medicine of the future," said Montfort. "We plan to significantly increase awareness of the benefits of choosing homeopathic medicines. Heel's research is pace-setting within the natural healthcare industry. We will use our extensive clinical research to educate healthcare practitioners and consumers alike to cultivate a better understanding of our modern approach to homeopathy," he added. 

Heel manufactures effective products that have a high safety profile, no risk of habituation and can be used long-term. All Heel medicines are regulated by the FDA as drugs and therefore held to pharmaceutical quality standards. Heel products are available through health care practitioners, pharmacies and health food stores.

Phoenix seniors are benefitting from a partnership between A.T. Still University (ATSU) and the city of Phoenix that has recently brought falls prevention training to elderly citizens in senior centers.

Students in ATSU's Arizona School of Health Sciences (ASHS) physical therapy, occupational therapy, audiology and physician assistant programs have been trained as volunteer lay leaders in the "A Matter of Balance" falls prevention program, which is designed to reduce program participants' fears of falling and increase activity levels among older adults.

Training was conducted by ATSU-ASHS assistant professor Jeffrey Alexander, PhD, who has been designated a master trainer in the falls prevention program. 

According to Elton Bordenave, MEd, CHC, physical therapy faculty member and facilitator of the falls prevention program at ATSU, results have so far exceeded their expectations in all areas. "We have more people signed up for the program than we expected," he said. "In addition, our students are getting more and better experience than we ever could have hoped for. Everything is going very well, for the seniors as well as the students."

In 2003, the ATSU board of directors initiated a University Geriatric Initiative in light of growing health care challenges in an aging society. The falls prevention program is one of many outreach programs the university has in place to increase the quality of life, health and wellness for seniors while promoting student healthcare education.

Children's Healthcare of Atlanta launched a comprehensive healthy lifestyles initiative, called Strong4Life. The initiative is an organization-wide effort to help employees achieve their personal wellness goals, creating a healthier workforce to care for metro Atlanta's rapidly growing pediatric population. Four program themes make up Strong4Life, including: support, nutrition, activity and fun.

The launch of Strong4Life begins with wellness fairs where the more than 7,000 Children's employees will receive a $75 incentive for completing a Health Profile, including body mass index (BMI), body fat percentage, blood pressure and cholesterol screenings. At the wellness fairs, employees can get free massages and enter to win gas cards and other prizes. Children's is striving to have 75 percent of all employees complete a Health Profile.

"We are committed to supporting our employees in their wellness goals and believe, ultimately, we are helping our patients and their families by taking care of their caregivers," said Linda Matzigkeit, senior vice president, human resources at Children's. "Wellness means different things to different people, but at Children's, we want to lead by example providing programs and benefits that enable our employees to achieve their unique health goals."

After their initial Health Profiles are complete, employees can sign up for YOU4Life, a customized part of the Strong4Life program beginning this summer in partnership with the Emory School of Public Health. Through YOU4Life, employees will have access to weekly classes conducted by a fitness trainer, a nutritionist, ongoing coaching and a variety of onsite exercise programs.

Strong4Life is designed to help employees achieve their personal wellness goals. It is also a dedicated effort by the not-for-profit organization to help lower health care costs for employees. Children's currently spends approximately $20 million annually for employees' health care costs. With these new initiatives underway, Children's expects to see a return on investment in lowered health care spending over the next three to five years.

Max Perkins, OTR/L, joins Infinity Rehab as its first director of clinical services. Max will develop consistent policy in the clinical delivery of Infinity's therapy programs across seven states- bringing Infinity closer to providing standardized rehabilitation services in the new reimbursement and post-acute environment.

As director of clinical services and with his experience in clinical operations related to therapy services in skilled nursing facilities, Max will standardize training of therapists, implement unique and robust therapy programs for Infinity's patients and facilitate the growth of client facilities.

This new position was created to strengthen Infinity's services through an established clinical approach and management structure. Replicating outcome-based therapy programs will give Infinity Rehab a competitive advantage by attracting additional quality-minded providers as clients.

According to Infinity Rehab president, Bob Thomas, MSPT, "Max is the right person for this position because of his more than 24 years of clinical and administrative experience in a variety of healthcare settings. We are excited to add Max Perkins in this new role to our capable team of professionals and will help prepare Infinity Rehab for the future of a quality-focused healthcare delivery system."

Texas Health Arlington Memorial Hospital became the first hospital in Texas and one of a handful in the world to be named a Cycle III Chest Pain Center - the highest accreditation possible for treatment of chest pain - by the Society of Chest Pain Centers.

To patients, the designation means that Texas Health Arlington Memorial ranks among the best in the world at rapid recognition and collaborative treatment of heart attack. Nationally, accreditation by the Society of Chest Pain Centers is linked to better patient outcomes and more lives saved, according to an Emory University School of Medicine study published in the American Journal of Cardiology.

Starting with the first call for help to 911, medical professionals across multiple disciplines snap to action: Paramedics administer life-saving therapies even before the patient reaches the hospital, and physicians and nurses in the emergency room and cardiac catheterization laboratory begin preparing for the patient before he or she reaches the hospital.

Collaboration between emergency medical providers and the hospital's emergency department, cardiac catheterization lab, cardiac intensive care unit, telemetry and cardiac rehabilitation unit is critical to the success of chest pain centers.

The quality of care for patients with heart attacks and cardiac disease at Texas Health Arlington Memorial has continually improved since the hospital began the accreditation process. The average door-to-balloon time - the amount of time that passes from the moment a heart attack patient arrives at the ED until physicians have successfully completed the procedure to reopen a blocked artery - is 66 minutes. The national target for door-to-balloon time is 90 minutes.

Roper Rehabilitation Hospital received national accreditations from the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) for its Adult Inpatient Rehabilitation Hospital Program and its Stroke Specialty Program. According to the hospital's Medical Director, James Warmoth, MD, these accreditations indicate to the Charleston community that the hospital's programs meet internationally recognized standards of care.

"We are currently the only hospital in the Lowcountry and one of only five in South Carolina to be awarded the Adult Inpatient Rehabilitation accreditation, and one of only two in the state to be awarded the Stroke Specialty accreditation," said Dr. Warmoth.

Roper Rehabilitation Hospital, located on the Roper Hospital campus in downtown Charleston, is part of Roper St. Francis Healthcare. The hospital currently houses 39 inpatient beds with 112 employees. Roper Rehab Hospital has served about 15,000 patients since opening in 1992.

CARF's survey summary, based on a site visit conducted in mid-January 2008, noted that Roper Rehab Hospital has an excellent reputation in the community. Special citations were also made in the areas of leadership, communications and facility. The rehab team was also recognized for its experience, knowledge and dedication. The three-year accreditations are good through January 2011. 

Accreditations are awarded to rehab facilities for meeting stringent requirements of staff knowledge, operational procedures, safety and effectiveness. These accreditations represent the highest level of accreditation that can be awarded to an organization's programs and shows its substantial conformance to CARF standards.

Evidence In Motion, a provider of physical therapy education and practice consultation, recently announced it will offer an Executive Program in Private Practice Management. The program is in partnership with The Private Practice Section of the American Physical Therapy Association and the Educational Institute for Private Practice Physical Therapy.

The new 12-month program is the first of its kind in the country and features an executive course in private practice management with a transitional Doctor of Physical Therapy option. During the program executives will experience an intensive combination of didactic and collaborative education experiences using a combination of distance learning, on-line courses, and weekend intensive hands-on courses. 

"The Executive Management Course fulfills a necessary gap in physical therapy training; one that will allow private practices to thrive in a complex health care involvement," said Dr. Larry Benz, EIM's Program Director.  "Partnering with the Private Practice Section of APTA was significant, as it fulfills their desire for a more long term educational program for their recently launched Institute," he said.

EIM, in partnership with The Private Practice Section of APTA and The Educational Institute for Private Practice Physical Therapy, is closely associated with many of the best academic programs and other key stakeholder groups in the physical therapy profession.  

"This kind of practice management MBA style education is exactly what private practice PT owners are asking for to improve their business acumen and improve the success of their practices," said Stephen E. Anderson, immediate past President of the Private Practice Section.  "It takes much more knowledge in today's healthcare environment to run an efficient and compliant practice.  Mistakes are much more costly today than in the past.  If more PT's are educated in this area through this type of format, the better our profession will be and ultimately patients will benefit from superiorly run healthcare facilities," he said.

The extensive community provides a "first in class" environment for owners and senior managers to receive the highest caliber of training and practical application to their private practice which will provide a strategic competitive advantage in the marketplace.

The post-professional education for physical therapists is designed to enhance the business savvy and sophistication of private practice physical therapy with evidence-based business and best practices.  PT's will develop documents specific to their practice to enhance the management of their operation.

With completion of the Executive Program, graduates will secure a strong base of knowledge of evidence-based business and best practices, gain access to a network of private practitioners for long-term collaboration, and integrate 'best in class' tools and practical techniques for all major aspects of private practice.  

Allstate agent Denise Poller of Newtown Square presented Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital with a $500 grant as part of The Allstate Foundation's "Agency Hands in the Community" Program. The program began in 2003 to recognize Allstate agents' volunteerism within the community they serve and to provide financial support to organizations through The Allstate Foundation. Each Allstate agent who volunteers for a charitable organization in their community may qualify for this award.

"The very fabric of Allstate consists of people who care about their local community," said Stephanie Demchik-Pascual, northeast regional director for The Allstate Foundation. "The Agency Hands in the Community Program is a powerful way for Allstate agents to get involved with their local nonprofits and partner with them in making their communities stronger and safer places."

Allstate agents who are honored with an "Agency Hands in the Community" Award can serve nonprofit groups in many capacities-as volunteers, mentors, program partners and leaders. Poller served on the Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital Foundation Board for many years.

Anna DePold Hohler, MD, has been named new medical director for the Parkinson's disease program at Braintree Rehabilitation Hospital.

Dr. Hohler completed her undergraduate and medical school training through the Boston University seven year accelerated medical program in 1998.  She completed a neurology internship and residency at Madigan Army Medical Center in Tacoma, WA.  Dr. Hohler became board certified in adult neurology and served as chief of the neurology clinic for Madigan Army Medical Center from 2002 to 2004.  She was subsequently selected to be the assistant residency program director from 2004 to 2005. 

During her last year at Madigan Army Medical Center she served as the neurology residency program director from 2005 to 2006.  Dr. Hohler completed a movement disorder fellowship at Boston University School of Medicine in 2007.

She is involved in research on symptomatic predictors of Parkinson's disease and novel medication and surgical therapies for patients with Parkinson's disease. She is also actively involved in research on abuse and violence and its impact on neurology patients.

Dr. Hohler has lectured locally, nationally and internationally on the topics of movement disorders and recognizing patients with abuse and violence in the medical practice.   

Rehabilitation Hospital of Indiana, Indianapolis, IN, announced that two of its ongoing lines of brain injury research have been awarded a total of $240,000 from the new Indiana Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Board.

RHI's Jacob T. Kean, PhD, and his team of investigators will receive $120,000 for research into the involvement of acetylcholine, which is critical to the function of the brain and nervous system, in the rehabilitation phase of recovery following traumatic brain injury (TBI).  Among the goals of the study is reduction of the severity of delirium-a state of disorientation and confusion-after TBI. 

In addition, Kean's study, titled "An Exploration of the Hypocholinergic Hypothesis of Delirium Following Traumatic Brain Injury," will also result in a first look at variables that may co-contribute to delirium risk and incidence, along with the effects of greater anticholinergic drug burden. Anticholinergic drugs reduce the effects of acetylcholine and include commonly prescribed medications such as stomach acid blockers.

Samantha Backhaus, PhD, and her fellow researchers will also receive $120,000 for their important work, "Brain Injury Coping Skills Group for Improving Self-Efficacy and Adjustment in Individuals with Brain Injury and Their Caregivers."

Beebe Medical Center, Lewes, DE, announced that physical therapist Graham Robbins, PT, took over as director for Beebe Physical Rehabilitation when current director, Mark Blaskey, PT, retired.

He Robbins assumed overall responsibility for physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech pathology services at the Beebe Medical Center's main campus in Lewes, at the Baylis Rehabilitation Center in the Bookhammer Outpatient Center, located at the Beebe Health Campus on Route 24 in Rehoboth Beach, and rehabilitation services for Beebe Home Health and at outpatient clinics in Millsboro and Millville. 

Previously, Robbins, who has been with Beebe Medical Center since 1997, managed The Baylis Rehabilitation Center. He earned his master's in physical therapy in 1995 from Hahnemann University in Philadelphia, and then worked as a traveling therapist in facilities in New Mexico, Virginia and Wisconsin. Since he joined Beebe Medical Center, he has worked with patients in the hospital, at Lewes Convalescent Center and through Beebe Home Health. He also has worked with patients at the outpatient facilities in Millville and Millsboro.

"Everyone has been so accepting and helpful throughout all my transitions to different locations and different positions at Beebe" he said.

American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) member Cathy Ellis, PT, was elected to serve a one-year term as chair of the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) Board of Directors. Her term began on January 1, 2009.

"We are confident Ms Ellis will bring her considerable talents and expertise to advance the mission of CARF - to provide consumers services that are of the highest quality," said APTA President R. Scott Ward, PT, PhD.

"I look forward to working with CARF to grow their accreditation services and to meaningfully improve the lives of persons served by those in health and human services," Ellis said.

Ellis has served on the CARF Board of Directors since 2006. She previously served on the CARF Board of Trustees, forerunner of the CARF Board of Directors, from 2000 through 2005.

Ellis is director of physical rehabilitation and the clinical director of the spinal cord program at the National Rehabilitation Hospital (NRH) in Washington, DC. Ellis is also a clinical instructor in health care sciences on the faculty of the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences and serves on the advisory board of the physical therapy program at Marymount University.

Before joining the NRH in 1985, Ellis practiced for eight years at George Washington University Hospital. She has held numerous leadership positions within APTA including working with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. 

Sue Golden, LPT, Angie DeEsch, PTA, and Kathy Slezak, MSPT, physical therapists at Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Network, Allentown, PA, recently achieved certification from the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers as Certified Multiple Sclerosis Specialists. The certification is reserved for clinicians who demonstrate quality and consistent care to those living with multiple sclerosis, along with a commitment to continuous learning to keep informed of treatment advancements.  

Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Network has the highest concentration of Certified Multiple Sclerosis Specialists in the Lehigh Valley. Good Shepherd offers a comprehensive program for MS patients that includes the latest in assistive and rehabilitation technology, speech and cognitive rehabilitation, home modification and support groups.

MS is a lifelong neurological disease, which attacks the central nervous system. The progress, severity and specific symptoms of MS are unpredictable and vary from one person to another. Symptoms may be mild, such as numbness in the limbs, or severe, such as paralysis or loss of vision.

Nearly 100 students and faculty members from Widener University's Institute for Physical Therapy Education have joined forces with the Brain Injury Association of Pennsylvania (BIAPA) to promote brain injury awareness and prevention. To advocate for Brain Injury Awareness Month (March), Widener students and faculty have volunteered to help organize and participate in the 2009 Brain Safety Fairs on Saturday, March 21 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Wednesday, April 15 from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia.

The Brain Safety Fairs will feature family-friendly presentations and activities that demonstrate how the brain works and ways to keep it safe. Volunteers will challenge participants to complete a series of tasks from walking a balance beam with blurry glasses to tying their shoes with one hand, all demonstrating the many important functions controlled by the brain.

To top off the day, attendees may receive complimentary bicycle helmets provided by BIAPA after being fitted by Widener physical therapy and BIAPA volunteers. This initiative supports BIAPA's efforts to promote brain injury prevention.

Admission to the Franklin Institute for the March 21 fair is $11.50 for children and $14.25 for adults. Admission is free for the April 15 fair as it falls on the Insitute's community night.

According to BIAPA, most brain injuries can be prevented. It reports that each year 50,000 people die from brain injuries and 80,000-90,000 experience long-term disability.

Shaun Madary, BA, PTA, DCE, assistant program director and academic coordinator of clinical education in Harcum College's Physical Therapist Assistant Program, recently received an award at the annual Pennsylvania Physical Therapy Conference in Harrisburg, PA.

Madary received the Steven Kolumban Award for outstanding achievement in clinical practice, community service, and personal commitment to physical therapy. In memory of the late Steven Kolumban, the award is given to honor an individual who gives to the profession and the community as Steven Kolumban did, and to someone who is "selfless of their time, their energy and their love."

Shaun Madary received this honor because she has been active at the state level in regards to issues in physical therapy assisting for the past 12 years. "I'm absolutely delighted to win the award" said Madary.

Washington is one of only two states in the nation that prohibits physical therapists from performing spinal manipulation. Back and neck pain are two of the most common reasons patients seek medical care. The ability of physical therapists to perform spinal manipulation is supported by numerous high quality randomized clinical trials.

This body of research, much of it developed by physical therapists, has demonstrated the proven efficacy of manual physical therapy interventions, to include mobilization AND manipulation, for patients with back and neck pain. Physical therapists have produced landmark research in the area of low back and neck pain which is recognized by national and international physician groups.

Spine reports on the results of a randomized clinical trial, which demonstrated that patients with neck pain who received a physical therapy program of spinal manipulation and exercise had twice the improvement in symptoms compared to the current guideline group (Walker, 2008). Unfortunately, the current law prevents the citizens of the state of Washington from receiving physical therapy treatment that is evidence based, proven to be effective, and recommended in clinical practice guidelines.

Tim Flynn, PT, PhD, president of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapists, expressed confidence that, "Given the overwhelming evidence of the benefits of physical therapy I would expect that this limitation will soon change. It is time to bring health care in Washington into the 21st century." Flynn continues, "The American Medical Association, the Department of Defense, the American Physical Therapy Association's Scope of Practice, as well as 48 other states in our nation recognizes physical therapists' ability to perform spinal manipulation. Furthermore, the American College of Physicians and the American Pain Society (Chou, 2007) have published clinical practice guidelines recommending manipulation by physical therapists as the only proven treatment for patients suffering with acute low back pain."

Todd Conklin joined Exempla Healthcare as the senior vice president and CFO.  Todd served in various CFO / vice president of finance roles and has over 21 years of health care experience. 

Prior to joining Exempla Healthcare, Todd served as the vice president of finance at Edward Health Services Corporation.  Todd's prior experience also includes serving as vice president and CFO of Saint Anthony Hospital (Ascension Health), vice president of finance at Loyola University Health System, vice president and CFO at Loyola University Physician Foundation, and nine years as a senior manager at Deloitte & Touche, LLP.

Todd holds a BS in accounting from Illinois State University, Normal IL, and an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, Evanston, IL. 

Shaun Madary, BA, PTA, DCE, assistant program director and academic coordinator of clinical education in Harcum College's Physical Therapist Assistant Program, recently received an award at the annual Pennsylvania Physical Therapy Conference in Harrisburg, PA.

Madary received the Steven Kolumban Award for outstanding achievement in clinical practice, community service, and personal commitment to physical therapy. In memory of the late Steven Kolumban, the award is given to honor an individual who gives to the profession and the community as Steven Kolumban did, and to someone who is "selfless of their time, their energy and their love."

Shaun Madary received this honor because she has been active at the state level in regards to issues in physical therapy assisting for the past 12 years. "I'm absolutely delighted to win the award" said Madary. Shaun exemplifies and promotes the role of the physical therapist assistant through education, practice and research.

Charles L. Martin, Jr, CAE, CIA, retired after a distinguished 17-year career as the Chief Operating Officer of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA).

Martin joined APTA in January, 1991. During his tenure, he managed the finance, budget, membership, information technology, human resources, risk management and member benefit services, facilities, administrative services, publications, art, and public relations and marketing functions. For 15 years, Martin also oversaw the management of the Foundation for Physical Therapy and two other subsidiary corporations under APTA.

"Chuck has been an outstanding team player, role model and asset to the APTA, and his leadership and good humor will be missed. He was always a source of sound advice and quick wit to the staff of the many departments he led, as well as members of the board of directors, component leaders, and Foundation for Physical Therapy staff and trustees," said APTA Chief Executive Officer John D. Barnes. "Chuck earned the respect and friendship of everyone he met along the way, whether on APTA staff, within the physical therapy profession or among his association peers. He'll always remain a part of the APTA family."

Martin holds the record for leading the widest range of departments and operations. His accomplishments include the development of a Member Service Center years before other organizations; advancing the profession by building the Foundation for Physical Therapy, which  provides numerous opportunities for those conducting research in the field of physical therapy; taking APTA's monthly scientific journal, PTJ, online with the HighWire Web platform and emphasizing clinically relevant articles; investing in technology, facilities, and equipment to enable staff to work more effectively; and providing the financial acumen to place the Association in a solid financial position.

A member of the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) since 1991, Martin currently serves as a facilitator of various ASAE online courses.  A former member of the ASAE Finance & Business Operations council, Martin is a frequent workshop and roundtable presenter and has conducted 11 ASAE Peer Review visits.  Martin also serves on the Board of Directors and the Investment Committee of the Military Officers Association of America.

He holds an MBA degree from Michigan State University; a BBA degree from Manhattan College; and is a graduate of Cardinal Hayes High School in the Bronx, New York. Martin served 27 years in the United States Air Force.  He recently made his first skydive, jumping from an airplane at 13,500 feet with the Army's Golden Knights.  His land-based retirement pursuits will include his favorite sport of golf and spending time with his wife Carol, two children and four grandchildren.

Nearly 100 students and faculty members from Widener University's Institute for Physical Therapy Education, Philadelphia, PA, have joined forces with the Brain Injury Association of Pennsylvania (BIAPA) to promote brain injury awareness and prevention.

To advocate for Brain Injury Awareness Month (March), Widener students and faculty have volunteered to help organize and participate in the 2009 Brain Safety Fairs on Saturday, March 21 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Wednesday, April 15 from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia.

The Brain Safety Fairs will feature family-friendly presentations and activities that demonstrate how the brain works and ways to keep it safe. Volunteers will challenge participants to complete a series of tasks from walking a balance beam with blurry glasses to tying their shoes with one hand, all demonstrating the many important functions controlled by the brain.

To top off the day, attendees may receive complimentary bicycle helmets provided by BIAPA after being fitted by Widener physical therapy and BIAPA volunteers. This initiative supports BIAPA's efforts to promote brain injury prevention.

Admission to the Franklin Institute for the March 21 fair is $11.50 for children and $14.25 for adults. Admission is free for the April 15 fair as it falls on the Insitute's community night.

Bryne L. Solberg, MD, a physiatrist specializing in physical medicine and rehabilitation, joined the medical staff at Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital, Malvern, PA, and became a member Rehabilitation Associates of the Main Line

Dr. Solberg is a graduate of Temple Medical School and completed his internship in internal medicine at St. Agnes Medical Center, Hahnemann University, and his residency in physical medicine and rehabilitation at Thomas Jefferson University. Dr. Solberg has a long background of working in the Mercy Health System where he provided inpatient and outpatient care and also served as acting medical director at St. Lawrence Rehabilitation Center in Lawrenceville, NJ, and director of physical medicine and rehabilitation at St. Francis Medical Center in Trenton, NJ.

His professional affiliations include the American Medical Society, Pennsylvania Medical Society, Delaware Medical Society, Philadelphia Society of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, American Congress of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, American Association of Electromyography and Electrodiagnostics and American Association of Disability Evaluating Physicians.

Linda Horn, PT, DScPT, MHS, NCS, a physical therapist at Saint Agnes Hospital, Baltimore, MD, has been awarded the 2008 Henry O. and Florence P. Kendall Award from the Maryland Chapter of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA).  The Kendall Award was established as a way for the APTA of Maryland to honor its members for outstanding contributions to the field of physical therapy.

The APTA of Maryland recognized Horn because of her outstanding service to the profession of physical therapy in the areas of patient care, supervision, administration and education. Horn has been a neurologic certified specialist since 1993 and has been involved with advanced clinical practice in the area of balance and vestibular disorders.

Additionally, she has contributed to the professional growth and development of the chapter through teaching continuing education courses as an adjunct instructor at the University of Maryland Baltimore, and as a guest lecturer at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore in the physical therapy programs.
  

Emilio J. Rouco has been named director of public relations and marketing of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA).  

In his new position, Rouco will help direct a new physical therapist branding campaign, product and service marketing initiatives, and public and media relations efforts.

Prior to joining APTA, Rouco was director of marketing at InformexUSA, a position he held since 2005. He also served as manager of public relations at the Synthetic Organic Chemical Manufacturers Association.

"Emilio has a strong, diverse background in leading marketing and public relations campaigns," said APTA Chief Executive Officer John D. Barnes. "His extensive and varied experience in communications made him the clear choice for this position. The APTA team looks forward to continuing work to move the profession forward under his leadership."

Rouco is a graduate of George Mason University, where he earned a BA in speech/public communications. He also holds a master of public communications degree from The American University. He resides in Washington, DC.

In an era where obesity rates continue to rise among children, TriActive's Outdoor Gyms offer a unique, environmentally friendly way to encourage everyone to improve their health through exercise. 

A new program from TriActive gives communities, organizations, companies, schools, parks, the military, universities, hospitals, wellness centers, spas, hotels and individuals the opportunity to win a grant to be applied to a purchase of TriActive Fitness outdoor exercise equipment. The TriActive Fitness Grant provides North Americans with financial assistance for their outdoor exercise projects.

Throughout North America, as well as overseas, TriActive fitness zones, walking trails, outdoor gyms, and other exercise areas are installed at parks, schools, university campuses, organizations, communities, hospitals, recreational areas, corporations, hotels and even cruise ships.  Many of these outdoor gyms are open to the public, offering opportunities for the entire family, from children to teens to adults to seniors, to exercise and socialize together.

To Apply:

1. Complete a grant application, available by calling TriActive at 800-587-4228 or emailing staff@triactiveamerica.com.
2. Submit the application before January 31, 2009, which is the grant deadline.
3. All applicants will receive notification of the results of their application by February 28, 2009. 

Grant awards will only be offered and applied to the following TriActive Fitness packages:  Elementary Exercise package; Community Recreation package; Universal Fitness Trail package; Customized outdoor fitness package consisting of TriActive Fitness products that you want to purchase: the total must be more than $15,000.  Most applications will receive grants between $500 and $3,000.

Active Ankle Systems, Inc., Jeffersonville, IN, announced a new company division called Active Innovations.  This new medical division is introduced as the company prepares to bring a number of new products to market.  While Active Ankle currently markets several non-ankle products for medical use, this is the first time these products will have a common home in a distinct division.

After creating the industry's first semi-rigid, hinged ankle support in 1989, Active Ankle began developing devices tailored to the medical field.  A night splint for plantar fasciitis was launched in 2000 and a trigger finger product was introduced in 2006. Active Ankle and its new medical division have a dedicated engineering staff focused on meeting the demands of medical and physical therapy patients. 

"While Active Ankle's heritage is rooted in the athletic community, we realized the need to concentrate our strengths in product design to benefit medical patients outside the athletic training field," said Glen Snow, Active Ankle president.  "We thrive on the ideas we receive from rehab and medical professionals regarding products already on the market."

Martin Buchalter, 76, a pioneer in the field of medical ultrasound, passed away November 17th.  Buchalter was the president and CEO of Parker Laboratories, Inc., a manufacturer of ultrasound and electromedical contact media. He guided Parker to international prominence through a career dedicated to inventiveness and marketing savvy.

Through his foresight, an ultrasound gel was developed that helped to shape the medical ultrasound industry.  A graduate of the University of Sciences in Philadelphia, PA, Buchalter also held an MSc from Long Island University. 

He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Carol; three children; and six grandchildren. Memorial donations to the Martin Buchalter Scholarship fund at University of Sciences, Philadelphia, PA  19104, or to Alzheimer's research are welcomed.

Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital, Malvern, PA, its employees and a former patient were honored by the Pennsylvania Association of Rehabilitation Facilities (PARF) for their contributions to the rehabilitation of individuals with disabilities and for contributing in a significant way to the well being of individuals with disabilities.

Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital received the Rehabilitation Agency Recognition Award; Susan Christie, PT, ATP, supervisor of the Assistive Technology Center received the Distinguished Service Award; Sal Panasci, a former patient, received the Empowerment Happens Award.

The Rehabilitation Agency Recognition Award presented to Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital for its diabetes education and safety program recognizes outstanding achievement and exemplary service or programming for individuals with disabilities. Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital received honors for its multidisciplinary diabetes support program, developed cooperatively by clinical departments hospital-wide, including nursing and medical, therapy, nutrition and materials management. The program emphasizes patient education and patient safety through weekly education sessions and new emergency protocols established for patients at risk of hypoglycemic emergencies. 

The Individual Distinguished Service Award, presented to Susan Christie for her dedication over the past 30 years of ensuring equality for individuals with a disability, recognizes an individual who has made substantial contributions to and a market impact on the quality and quantity of services provided by rehabilitation programs.

The Empowerment Happens Award honored Sal Panasci, a former brain injury patient at the hospital, for his remarkable recovery and for demonstrating how he "beat the odds" when given opportunity and encouragement by Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital therapists and clinicians to continue his artistic career.  

A team of researchers at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), Worcester, MA, will receive $1 million in federal and state grants to advance the critical development of neuroprosthetics-next-generation artificial limbs that could one day be permanently implanted and perform most of the movements and functions of natural limbs.

The majority of the funding comes through a two-year $860,000 grant awarded to WPI's Bioengineering Institute (BEI) by the U.S. Army's Military Amputee Research Program of the Telemedicine and Advanced Technology Research Center (TATRC).

"There is a great human need for better, more functional prosthetic devices, especially for our soldiers who have been severely injured in Iraq and Afghanistan," said W. Grant McGimpsey, professor of chemistry and biochemistry, and director of the BEI. "So we are very pleased to receive this funding to enable our work. We are taking a comprehensive approach to this research, looking at how we can leverage our expertise at WPI to fill the gaps and advance the field."

In addition, WPI will receive a $150,000 grant from the John Adams Innovation Institute, the economic development division of the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative, to undertake market evaluation, strategic planning, and business development activities supporting the growth of the Center, and to help stage a national neuroprosthetics conference at WPI in 2009. 

The TARTC grant, funded through appropriations supported by U.S. Senators Edward M. Kennedy and John Kerry, as well as Congressman James P. McGovern, will cover three areas of prosthetics research at WPI: control signal processing, nervous system integration, and the tissue-interface between device and body.

Ted Clancy, associate professor of electrical and computer engineering at WPI, will lead the signal processing work. His lab will study the electrical signals that control normal muscle activity, to apply that knowledge for enhancing the control of prosthetic limbs. Current prosthetic limbs often rely on remnant musculature for control. Clancy's work may be able to enhance the control of current prosthetic technology, while also laying the foundation for signal processing for artificial limbs that are connected to the nervous system so they can be controlled directly by the brain and provide sensory feedback to the brain, such as limb orientation, temperature of surfaces, and so on.

Stephen Lambert, research associate professor with BEI, will direct basic science studies needed for eventually connecting external prosthetic devices with the nervous system. His team will try to direct the growth of neurons on artificial surfaces, such as glass, gold, or silicone, so their axons extend along channels etched in the materials.

George Pins, associate professor of biomedical engineering, will focus on the top layer of skin, the epidermis, and study how those skin cells interact with a variety of post materials. Kristen Billiar, associate professor of biomedical engineering, will examine the deeper layer of skin tissue called the dermis, to analyze how it reacts to the stresses and movements associated with the integration of a prosthetic device. The idea is to coax the cells of the dermis to create a stronger bond around the implanted post to provide a foundation for the epidermis, which would then form a tight, yet flexible seal around the post to prevent infection.

Widener University's Physical Therapy Student Association (PTSA), Chester, PA, hosted a fast-paced fundraiser to support the Magee Eagles quad rugby team. The October 1 event featured five quarters of all-out, aggressive wheelchair rugby, with competitions between the Magee Eagles and physical therapy students from Widener and Arcadia Universities. Play began at 7 p.m. in the Widener University Wellness Center Gymnasium, 17^th and Melrose Avenues, Chester.

Proceeds benefited the Magee Eagles, mainly supporting the repair and replacement of equipment needed for the sport. Formed through a partnership between the Magee Rehabilitation Hospital and the Philadelphia Eagles, the Magee Eagles compete within the United States Quad Rugby Association and are former national champions.

"Many of these athletes come from a competitive background where they participated in sports prior to becoming quadriplegic," said Jeremy Brose, Widener PTSA president. "Wheelchair rugby enables them to remain athletic and competitive despite their injuries. The Magee Eagles are world-class athletes, and we are excited to help support the team."

Wheelchair rugby is played on a regulation basketball court. To score, players must move the ball down the court and have possession of it when their first two wheels cross the goal line. Players may carry the ball, but must dribble or pass it within ten seconds.

Evidence In Motion, Louisville, KY, a provider of physical therapy education and practice consultation, is proud to announce it has been credentialed by the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) as a post-professional clinical residency program in Orthopaedic Physical Therapy.

This prestigious designation allows Evidence In Motion (EIM) to continue its mission to elevate the physical therapy profession and the role of physical therapists in health care delivery. An APTA-credentialed residency program promotes standards of quality and consistency in the teaching and practice of physical therapy.

"We are excited and proud to receive this esteemed credential from the APTA," said Rob Wainner, PT, PhD, EIM's Residency Program Director. "We believe that post-professional residency and fellowship training for physical therapists is the most effective and efficient way to accomplish and realize the goals stated in APTA's Vision 2020 and we are committed to the task," he said.

Evidence in Motion's residency is an 18-month program of post-professional clinical and didactic education for physical therapists designed to advance the resident's preparation as a provider of patient care services in orthopaedic physical therapy. 

EIM's program is unique in its ability to provide physical therapists the opportunity to participate in a post-professional residency without moving from their current location or place of employment. The EIM Orthopaedic Residency uses a combination of distance learning, online courses, weekend intensive hands-on courses and clinical practice hours. EIM's programs seek to partner with and equip practitioners and physical therapy practices with the resources and training necessary to become leaders in evidence-based practice.

The program is designed to facilitate the growth of practitioners as physical therapists skilled in orthopaedic physical therapy by combining opportunities for ongoing clinical supervision and mentoring. Graduates will be highly skilled practitioners with a strong base of knowledge of evidence-based practice, orthopaedic manual therapy techniques, advanced medical screening, and radiology. EIM's next cohort begins in January of 2009. 

The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) applauds the final passage by Congress of the "ADA Amendments Act" (S. 3406), legislation that strengthens legal protection for people with disabilities against discrimination in employment, transportation, and public accommodations.

The US House of Representatives gave its final approval following Senate approval, and President Bush is expected to sign the bill, which is intended to restore the original intent of provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990.

APTA President R Scott Ward, PT, PhD, said, "People with disabilities share the same rights as all other individuals to have access to and opportunities for full economic, social, and personal development. We are heartened that this important legislation will champion these rights for the patients we treat each and every day."     

The legislation expands the definition of disability and makes it easier for workers to prove discrimination. It explicitly rejects the strict standards used by the Supreme Court to determine who is disabled.

APTA actively supported passage of the legislation as part of a broad coalition of patient and provider organizations.  In addition, the APTA House of Delegates has determined that APTA shall advocate for full inclusion of people with disabilities in all aspects of community life and within the profession and that APTA will promote education regarding the ADA Accessibility Guidelines and implementation of the ADA.  

Julie Mount, PhD, PT, professor in the department of physical therapy at Jefferson School of Health Professions, in Thomas Jefferson University's Jefferson College of Health Professions, Philadelphia, PA, will be inducted into the National Multiple Sclerosis Society's Volunteer Hall of Fame for Health Professionals and Researchers in November.

Dr. Mount's relationship with the National Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Society began about 15 years ago when she wanted to offer her physical therapy students an opportunity to evaluate complex neurological patients.

"I wanted to give students a chance to learn more about neurological physical therapy by interacting with people with disabilities in their own homes," Dr. Mount said. She explained that when she did home health care in center city Philadelphia she realized the physical therapy that makes sense in the clinic does not always work in a person's home.

"I would visit patients who kept their assistive equipment under their beds or, even worse, used it improperly because it simply didn't work in their homes," she said.

Dr. Mount worked with the Comprehensive Multiple Sclerosis Center at Jefferson Hospital to identify MS patients who were willing to invite students to conduct a home assessment and provide an exercise program. She soon became involved in the Greater Delaware Valley Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, and is the first and only physical therapist and rehabilitation therapist on the chapter's Clinical Advisory Committee (CAC). The other CAC members are physicians and nurses.

"The chapter depends on the CAC to evaluate policies, services and literature for accuracy according to science and health professions," Dr. Mount explained. CAC members also provide courses and in-services about MS to health professionals, speak at conferences and support groups for people with MS and their families, and review insurance companies' policy changes, offering expertise about the impact on the MS population.

As a physical therapist, Dr. Mount offers unique input to the CAC.  She advises the chapter on rehabilitation services and wellness programs and reviews exercise videos and books about rehab for accuracy and appropriateness for the National MS Society library.  She has also conducted research on the effects of exercise for people who have MS and suffer from foot drop.

Evidence In Motion (EIM), Louisville, KY, a preeminent provider of physical therapy education and practice consultation, is excited to announce the addition of Dr. Julie Whitman PT, DSc, OCS, FAAOMPT, as the program director for the company's orthopaedic manual physical therapy fellowship program.

Dr. Whitman will be responsible for the overall leadership, management, delivery and execution of all program activities. She will work with the goal of ensuring each fellow is advancing and gaining experience in accordance with the program's guidelines and mission. Dr. Whitman has extensive experience teaching professional and post-professional students in musculoskeletal management and is an expert in evidence based practice, clinical education and clinical research. 

"We are thrilled to add Dr. Whitman to our leadership team and faculty," said George Burkley, President of Evidence In Motion. "EIM prides itself on giving students the opportunities to learn from the best in the industry and the addition of Julie to our staff only strengthens that commitment," he said. 

EIM's fellowship in orthopaedic manual physical therapy features an intensive combination of didactic and clinical education experiences using a combination of distance learning, on-line courses, weekend intensive hands-on courses and clinical practice hours. The fellowship program is designed to graduate clinician scientists skilled in the evidence-based integration of thrust and non-thrust manipulation and other manual therapy techniques into the overall care of patients with musculoskeletal conditions. 

The appointment as program director is not Dr. Whitman's first opportunity working with EIM. Earlier this year, she co-authored an EIM-published text that was recently released titled Users' Guide to the Musculoskeletal Examination: Fundamentals for the Evidence-Based Clinician. Dr. Whitman has been frequently published including 35 peer-reviewed manuscripts, over 20 national and international presentations at scientific meetings, and a comprehensive 30-plus published abstracts in the areas of orthopaedics and manual physical therapy. She is board certified in orthopaedic physical therapy and is a fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapists (AAOMPT).

Magee Rehabilitation Hospital, Philadelphia, a U.S. News & World Report Best Physical Therapy Hospital, opened a brand new outpatient facility in the Watermark Building at 2 Franklin Town Boulevard in the Logan Square section of the city.

The new, 1500-square foot facility will treat residents of the Watermark-a retirement community-and will also treat adolescents (14 and up), adults, and geriatrics from the surrounding communities such as Logan Square, Center City and Fairmount.

"We were looking to expand our outpatient physical therapy services, and the Watermark was looking to partner with a physical therapy provider with an excellent reputation," said Rosemarie Battiato, Magee's outpatient administrator who oversees Magee's outpatient facility on Columbus Boulevard in South Philadelphia and the new Watermark site.

"We're looking forward to serving the Watermark residents, and new patients from the community will be able to get an appointment within twenty-four hours, and walk-ins might be available as well."

The new outpatient facility can serve those who need physical rehabilitation due to orthopedic conditions, balance disorders, arthritis, sports injuries, spine surgery, neurological conditions and those who need post-surgical conditioning.

Nintendo's Wii® video game system has long been popular with teens, allowing them to simulate the movements of boxing, bowling or a game of tennis from the comfort of their homes. Now the Wii system is gaining popularity in health care settings like Weldon Rehabilitation Hospital, Springfield, MA, as a tool to assist with physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy. 

To use the Wii system, patients use a controller that is sensitive to their hand and arm movements to drive the activity or game on a computer screen. These movements mimic exercises used in various types of therapy to improve balance, coordination, range of motion and cognition. But unlike traditional therapy, patients engaged in the competitiveness of the Wii games often forget that they are in a rehabilitative setting.  

"I had a patient who liked to golf but needed assistance standing. We tried the Wii golf game and after about 20 minutes, the patient was able to stand on his own and had reestablished the functional 'motor plans' needed to play golf," said Robert Landauer, PT, who has been using the Wii system since it arrived at Weldon Rehabilitation Hospital. "The patient later asked when we would start his therapy session. He was having so much fun; he didn't realize he was already doing therapy."

The so-called "Wii-habilitation" is also used in occupational therapy at Weldon Rehabilitation Hospital, to improve standing balance and endurance. Sheryl Moriarty, OTR/L, often asks her patients to stand while playing a game on the Wii, "so that they will use their arms dynamically while maintaining their standing balance." This action provides practice for the activities they will face after discharge from Weldon.

"Most of the things you do at home are not static; you are standing, reaching into cabinets, doing laundry, etc. The Wii uses those same movements to some degree, but in a fun way," Moriarty said.

Accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities, Weldon Rehabilitation Hospital is a comprehensive, integrated facility that offers inpatient, outpatient, day rehabilitation and pediatric services on one site. Weldon Rehabilitation Hospital is located at 271 Carew Street in Springfield, on the campus of Mercy Medical Center.  

Staffing firm Hire Methods Inc. ranks No. 399 on the 2008 Inc. 500 List of the fastest-growing private companies in the United States.

Hire Methods increased its revenue by 771.4 percent from 2004 to 2007, from $415,553 to $3.6 million.  It was the only company from Northeast Florida to make the list, which is published annually by Inc. magazine.

"We're thankful that we have made this special list," Hire Methods cofounder Clint Drawdy said. "It speaks to the remarkable work of our employees and clients."

Companies such as Zappos, Intuit, GoDaddy, Under Armour, Jamba Juice, American Apparel and Oracle gained early exposure as members of the Inc. 500.

"If you want to find out which companies are going to change the world, look at the Inc. 500," Inc. editor Jane Berentson said.  "These are the most innovative, dynamic, fast-growing companies in the nation."

Hire Methods ranked 18th among Inc.'s Top 100 Human Resources Companies. It also placed 18th among Florida companies.

Guyana is like a lot of developing countries: A poor infrastructure for the national economy, education and health care systems stymie attempts by their leaders to build better lives for their countrymen.

Oftentimes, these countries rely upon the goodwill of world powers to develop their countries and the benevolence of myriad of volunteers to educate and care for their people. During the summer, Misericordia University, Dallas, PA, students, faculty and staff gave their time and talent to hospitals, clinics and the Guyanese people in an effort to make every day better than the last.

Misericordia University is known for its volunteer work around the globe. The institution makes annual service trips to Jamaica, Guyana, Texas, California and other locations with one goal in mind: to help those most in need.

It's the service aspect of a Misericordia University education that first attracted Maureen Romanow Pascal, PT, DPT, NCS, associate professor of physical therapy, to the institution in 1998. Tens years later, she has participated in three service trips to Guyana and two to Haiti. This summer she spent four weeks in Georgetown, Guyana, as part of the service-learning course, "Physical Therapy in Developing Countries," which was funded by an MU Strategic Initiative Grant. It also marked the 18^th annual service trip to the northern South American country's capital city.

"Physical therapy is a very service-oriented profession and it can be a very lucrative profession," Dr. Pascal acknowledged. "I think it's important for students to remember that there are populations here and abroad that need physical therapy.

"Two of our core values in the profession is altruism and social responsibility, which includes providing pro bono service," said Dr. Pascal, who has a Master of Science from Boston University and a doctorate from Temple University in physical therapy.

As part of the international learning experience, Misericordia physical therapy students Alexis Hause, PT, DPT, Amanda Gates, PT, and Fallon Shriner observed and provided hands-on clinical therapy at hospitals, rehabilitation clinics and nursing homes, conducted educational seminars for Guyanese therapy staff and nursing students, and did additional volunteer work outside their everyday service.

"I've always felt a calling to do some kind of service," said Dr. Pascal. "I'm in a profession where I should give back outside of my daily work. I learn a great deal meeting people from other cultures, seeing how they live and how their health care system works-and even how they approach health problems and disability."

At Mercy Hospital, Dr. Pascal and her students provided chest physical therapy to Arthur Chung, the country's former beloved president who had pneumonia, and they also worked with Mr. Ramjam, a 51 year old who had sustained a stroke. They helped him learn to re-use his right hand and provided him an adapted utensil. Outside of the medical system, Misericordia's representatives learned about Elsie's struggles to overcome a broken hip at home. The 87-year-old Guyanese woman had grown frail from being bed ridden.

Overall, Misericordia's academic course enables students to experience how physical therapy is provided in a developing country, understand the differences between health care systems in South America and the United States, and discuss what can be done to improve it in both countries, Dr. Pascal said. 

MedRisk, Inc., King of Prussia, PA, has selected David W. Clifton, Jr., PT, to serve as Director of Clinical Services. In this role, Clifton oversees and coordinates all clinical internal and external peer review activities and assists in product and network development.

Most recently Clifton served as a utilization review consultant of physical therapy cases for Independence Blue Cross. His 28-year career includes numerous leadership positions with rehabilitation and occupational medicine companies and managed care firms.

In addition, Clifton developed the nation's first Peer and Utilization Review Organization devoted to physical therapy and rehabilitation. He also authored the textbook "Physical Rehabilitation's Role in Disability Management."

Actively involved in the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), Clifton has served as a faculty member for APTA's Quality and Risk Management program and as vice chairman for its Foundation for Research. He wrote a Utilization Review & Management column for the APTA's PT Magazine and contributed to the organization's Peer Review Guidelines and served as a member of the task force that was the precursor of the Guides to Physical Therapist Practice. Clifton has also been involved with the APTA Orthopedic Section, APTA Section on Health Policy and Administration, APTA Geriatric Section, Case Management Society of America, and the Pennsylvania Physical Therapy Association.

Leading wound care specialists, including national expert Diane Krasner, PhD, RN, will present the latest evidence in pressure ulcer prevention and treatment at The Pennsylvania Pressure Ulcer Partnership's Kick-off Conference on Tuesday, October 21, 2008, from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia.

Long considered an important quality-of-care indicator, pressure ulcers are one of the conditions targeted for improved prevention by the Institute for Health Improvement's 5 Million Lives Campaign. Pennsylvania withholds hospital Medical Assistance payments for the treatment of pressure ulcers acquired during inpatient stays. Effective October 1, 2008, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services will withhold Medicare hospital payments for hospital-acquired pressure ulcers. Many commercial insurers have, or are considering, similar policies.

The kick-off event for the Philadelphia area and overall statewide initiative are the result of collaboration by The Health Care Improvement Foundation, The Hospital & Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania, the Hospital Council of Western Pennsylvania, ECRI Institute and Quality Insights of Pennsylvania. Faculty for the Philadelphia event includes:

• Diane Krasner, PhD, RN, CWCN, CWS, BCLNC, FAAN, wound specialist and lead co-editor of Chronic Wound Care: A Clinical Source Book for Healthcare Professionals;
• Thomas E. Serena, MD, FACS, founder and medical director of the Penn North Centers for Advanced Wound Care with more than 20 centers nationwide;
• Janice M. Beitz, PhD, RN, CS, CNOR, CWOCN, CRNP, co-director of the Wound, Ostomy, Continence Nursing Education Program at LaSalle University School of Nursing and Health;
• Pamela G. Unger, PT, CWS, FCWWS, physical therapist and wound care and management expert;
• Karen M. Schoelles, MD, SM, director of ECRI Institute's Evidence-based Practice Center and a geriatrics expert.

A broad range of health care professionals - including physicians, nurses, therapists, dietitians and safety experts - from hospitals, long-term care facilities, hospice, home care and staffing agencies are invited to attend. Conference organizers are seeking Continuing Medical Education (CME) and nurse contact hours for the event.

For more information about the conference or to register, please contact Pamela Braun, RN, MSN, The Health Care Improvement Foundation's director of patient safety programs, at Pbraun@hcifonline.org or 215-575-3750.

People with disabilities who are interested in learning to golf or improving their game can attend the 17th Annual NAGA "First Swing / Learn to Golf" Clinic from 12:45 to 3 pm. on Wednesday, Sept. 17, at Rivercrest Golf Club and Preserve, 100 Golf Club Drive, Phoenixville, PA.

The free clinic is sponsored by the National Amputee Golf Association (NAGA) and organized by Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital in Malvern. The program offers both educational and practice sessions for individuals with various disabilities, such as an amputation, spinal cord injury, brain injury or stroke.

"Individuals who want to return to golf after a life-changing illness or disability, or who want to learn to golf for the first time will learn how to use modified golf equipment and adaptive golf accessories to help them improve their swing," said Ashley Slick, recreational therapist at Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital.

"The game of golf is an enjoyable activity that has the potential to improve a player's physical, emotional, and social well-being," Slick added. "The golf club can truly become a tool for recreational rehabilitation."

In the morning from 8 a.m. to noon, an educational workshop will be offered for physical, occupational, recreational therapists and golf professionals interested in learning how to coach people with disabilities. The therapists and golf pros will practice with modified clubs, grips and accessories developed to compensate for various disabilities. These professionals are welcome to attend the afternoon session to help coach people with disabilities. The registration fee for therapists and golf professionals is $25 for the day to cover Continuing Education Units (CEUs).

Instructors will be Bob Buck, executive director of the Eastern Amputee Golf Association; Jamie Komancheck, head golf professional at Rivercrest Golf Club; Ann Morton, former board member of the Women's Golf Association of Philadelphia, and John Prestwood, former PA Amputee Open Champion. These instructors will be joined by other PGA members and rehabilitation therapists from Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital. 

Magee Rehabilitation knows that helping their patients heal involves more than just treating their bodies.

It means healing their souls.

Thanks to a 5-year grant from the Gray Charitable Trust-a small family foundation based in Bryn Mawr, PA-Magee's Art Therapy program will be doing a lot more of that.

The grant provides Magee with the funds to increase the amount of time patients spend creating, venting, expressing and enjoying themselves through art by allowing for a full-time art therapist. And the benefits are vast.

"Patients use a variety of materials to create drawings, paintings, collage and sculpture," said Magee's art therapist, Lori Tiberi, who is looking forward to doubling the amount of time she spends working with patients from 20 to 40 hours per week. "Doing so increases fine motor skills, upper extremity strength, and coordination and balance. Emotionally, patients increase self-esteem, self-awareness and insight, reduce stress, develop coping skills and learn self expression through creativity."

Art therapy is just a part of Magee's Clinical Outreach Program which also includes music therapy, horticultural therapy, theatre classes, pastoral care and various sports programs.