Difficulty Swallowing

Speech Therapy involves the evaluation and treatment of people who have trouble with speech, language, cognitive function, as well as swallowing disorders. Adults can develop these problems after a stroke, traumatic brain injury, concussion, or a neurological disease such as Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, ALS or multiple sclerosis. Having a swallowing disorder, also known as dysphagia, is a challenging condition that can greatly affect a person’s quality of life.

Signs that a person may be struggling with a swallowing disorder:

  • Coughing during or right after eating or drinking
  • Wet or gurgly sounding voice during or after eating or drinking
  • Extra effort or time needed to chew or swallow
  • Food or liquid leaking from the mouth or get stuck in the mouth
  • Recurring pneumonia or chest congestion after eating
  • Weight loss or dehydration from not being able to eat enough

How Can Speech Therapy Help?

Speech-Language Pathologists (SLP) are uniquely qualified to help people who are experiencing problems with eating and drinking. During treatment, a Speech-Language Pathologist may recommend:

  • Swallowing exercises to improve muscle movement
  • Strategies to help swallow more effectively
  • Food and liquid textures that are easier and safer to swallow

Speech and language disorders affect more than 20 million Americans. Speech Therapy can help anyone struggling with speech, language, cognitive function, or swallowing disorders. Talk to your doctor today about how Speech Therapy can help you have a better quality of life!

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References: nidcd.nih.gov

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Life is Good. Occupational Therapy Can Make it Better.

Occupational Therapists work every day to help others live their life to the fullest.

When a person is affected by illness, accident, disability, or a mental health condition, occupational therapists help individuals stay active and live well despite limitations. With the help of Occupational Therapists, people can live more independent and productive lives.

Benefits of Occupational Therapy
Nearly one-third of occupational therapists work with older adults. They perform many types of activities, using many types of therapies, with the overriding goal of helping older adults regain or maintain a level of independence that will allow them to live a healthy and productive life.

Daily Life Activities and Modifications
Occupational therapists help people with daily life activities such as bathing, dressing, feeding, homemaking, and more. By developing individualized strategies, chronic pain and arthritis no longer keep patients from participating in activities. Occupational therapists also provide patients with the tools they need to optimize their home environment in order to promote full participation in life activities.

Life Transitions
As we age, we go through numerous transition phases in life, such as retirement, relocation, widowhood, etc. Occupational therapists provide opportunities for patients to recognize the commonalities in their experiences and to gain problem-solving abilities to handle these transitions.

Fall Prevention
People often fall because of bone fragility, slower reflexes, loss of footing, and many other factors. These falls are dangerous as they may result in severe injuries and broken bones. Therapists help inform and instruct patients on staying active, conserving energy, and on techniques and methods of preventing falls.

Celebrate Occupational Therapy Month — April 2018

Occupational therapists dedicate their lives to helping others achieve their best life by helping them overcome life changes after an injury or illness or due to aging. If you think you or a loved one could benefit from the help of an occupational therapist talk to your doctor today!

 

 

Sources: AOTA, www.aota.org

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Regaining Control: Managing Urinary Incontinence

Have you ever leaked urine when you cough, sneeze, laugh or lift?
Have you ever had a sudden and uncontrollable need to urinate?
Have you ever lost control of your bladder?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, you may find yourself struggling with urinary incontinence and you’re not alone.

What is Urinary Incontinence?
It’s a condition defined as the inability to hold urine in the bladder. The severity ranges from occasional leaking due to a sneeze to having a sudden urge to urinate that you can’t make it quickly enough to the toilet.

Estimates say that urinary incontinence affects 25 million American adults. Though incontinence is a very common issue, most people don’t feel comfortable talking to their doctor about it or they think it is a normal part of aging. Urinary incontinence doesn’t have to be a normal part of the day-to-day, effective treatment options are available.

Talking to your doctor about urinary incontinence can be a tough subject, but don’t let a feeling of embarrassment keep you from your best life. Some treatments include: medication, surgery, injections, bladder training, fluid/diet management, and exercise. The treatment that you and your doctor decide on will be determined by the severity and the type of urinary incontinence you suffer from.

Therapy’s Role in Treating Urinary Incontinence
Physical and Occupational Therapy can help you regain control over your life and bladder. After performing an initial assessment, your therapist will create an individualized treatment plan specifically for you.

Therapy can provide information about:

  • Diet and nutrition — to help you avoid food and drinks that may irritate the bladder
  • Changing the behaviors that make your symptoms worse
  • Techniques to decrease urinary urge and frequency, such as muscle strengthening or stretching
  • Maintaining a healthy bathroom schedule
  • Drinking healthy fluids regularly to maintain hydration
  • Maintaining a regular exercise regimen or active lifestyle

Talk to your doctor about your symptoms and ask if therapy can help.

 

Sources: Health.com, APTA

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Strong at Heart

Did you know that the heart is the hardest working muscle in your body? The heart beats 115,000 times a day, pumping about 2,000 gallons of blood throughout the body. Because the heart works so hard, we need to do our best to take care of it.

By keeping your heart healthy, you decrease your chances for heart disease which can be a very serious condition. Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women in the United States.

Take a look at these heart healthy tips to find out what changes you could make today!

Heart Healthy Eating  Did you know foods you eat each day can have a big impact on the health of your heart? Limit foods high in sugar and fat. Instead eat more vegetables, nuts, fish, and chicken. Nutritionists recommend 7-9 servings of fruits and vegetables a day to help prevent disease.

Maintain a Healthy Weight  Obesity can cause high cholesterol, high blood pressure and lead to type 2 diabetes. Losing just 10lbs can have a great impact on lowering blood pressure and reducing risk for heart disease.

Stay Active  You are never too old to exercise. Just like any other muscle in the body, the heart needs exercise to stay healthy. Research shows that exercising 30 minutes a day, 4-5 times each week helps to control blood pressure and strengthen our heart and bones.

 

Easy Heart Healthy Snack • POPCORN SNACK MIX
Try popcorn that’s popped in healthy oil then lightly sprinkle with dark-chocolate chips and nutrient-rich pistachios

 

Implementing these heart healthy changes into your life can help you prevent heart disease or improve your condition if you’re already suffering from heart disease. If you currently suffer from a cardiac/cardiopulmonary condition, talk to your doctor about your treatment plan and ask if Physical or Occupational therapy can help. Cardiac Rehabilitation programs are designed to help you control your symptoms and resume an active and productive life within the limits of your condition.

 

Sources: Live Strong, CDC, Heart.org, Healthline

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Pneumonia Can Be Prevented – Lower Your Risk

Pneumonia is lung inflammation caused by bacterial or viral infection, in which the air sacs fill with liquid, rendering them useless for breathing. Having pneumonia is very taxing on the body, especially for older adults. Older adults are more susceptible to developing pneumonia especially after a surgery. Weakened immune systems, pain medications, sedatives, and anesthesia are all factors that contribute to the vulnerability of postoperative patients. Pain medications, sedatives, and anesthesia all cause patients to take shallower breaths. Breathing deeply helps to keep mucus from gathering in the lungs and prevent the development of pneumonia.

The symptoms of pneumonia are often difficult for older adults to recognize as they frequently mirror ailments that are common for the aging population. Pay close attention to changes in your body.

Common Symptoms Include:

  • Coughing up mucus
  • Confusion
  • Fever
  • Lethargy
  • Headache
  • Chills
  • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
  • Pain in the lungs when breathing or coughing

Recognizing the symptoms of pneumonia is crucial for inhibiting the further development of the illness, but prevention is an even better solution. You can reduce your risk of getting pneumonia by following a few simple tips.

  1. CDC recommends two pneumococcal vaccines for adults 65 years or older.
  2. Get a flu shot every year to prevent seasonal influenza. The flu is a common cause of pneumonia,
    so preventing the flu is a good way to prevent pneumonia.
  3. Stay away from people who are sick.
  4. Manage and prevent conditions like diabetes.
  5. Limit your contact with cigarette smoke.
  6. Healthy habits such as: hand washing, dental hygiene, eating right, exercise, and deep breathing
    exercises after surgery are other important factors to help pneumonia prevention.

Did You Know? Physical Therapy can improve your ability to exercise and address difficulty breathing with helpful breathing exercises. Talk with your doctor to learn if therapy could benefit you.

Resources:
https://www.thoracic.org/patients/patient-resources/resources/top-pneumonia-facts.pdf
http://www.cpmc.org/learning/documents/pneumonia-ws.html
https://www.cdc.gov/Features/Pneumonia

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Don’t Let Diabetes Stop Your Holiday Fun!

Managing diabetes during the holidays can be challenging. Health often takes a back seat to attending parties,
shopping, and travel. Planning ahead and making deliberate choices can make all the difference in keeping
your diabetes in check. Use these tips below to make your holidays healthier!

Plan for Parties

  1. Offer to bring a dish to share. Knowing that you have one healthy option can help you keep your
    carbohydrates in line.
  2. Eat slowly, and savor the holiday treats. If possible, eat near your usual meal time and keep
    carbohydrates within your normal meal parameters.
  3. Skip seconds and plan for dessert. Let yourself indulge but remember to keep it in moderation.

Plan for Travel

  1. Create a travel checklist. This can help you ensure you have packed all your medical supplies.
  2. Create an itinerary and pack snacks. Staying on schedule can help keep meal and medication on track
    throughout your trip. Having snacks on hand can help ensure your sugar level stays where it needs to be.
  3. Check your blood sugar often so you’re aware of any effects travel may have on your body.

Stay Active
Whether you’re attending parties or going to visit family and friends out of state, one of the most important
keys to staying healthy during the holidays is exercise. Exercise is known to help lower blood sugar. Find
time for exercise by taking a couple extra laps at the mall, a rest stop, or the airport.

How Therapy Can Help!
Physical Therapists can help people with diabetes improve their ability to move, perform daily tasks, reduce
pain, and sometimes even lower their blood glucose levels. Physical therapy treatments may also help patients
with diabetes associated skin problems and wounds heal more rapidly than they would without treatment.
If you or a loved one has diabetes, talk to your doctor today about how physical therapy may benefit you!

 

Five-Ingredient Chocolate Chip Cookies | Source: Martha Stewart Living, March 2015
Nut butter does double duty by replacing both flour and regular butter in these two-bite (gluten-free!) treats.

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup almond butter
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1/2 teaspoon coarse salt
  • 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
  • 1/2 cup packed light-brown sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a bowl, stir together almond butter, chocolate chips, sugar, eggs, and salt until a dough forms. Place 1-tablespoon mounds of dough 1 inch apart on parchment-lined baking sheets. Bake cookies until puffed and tops are set, about 10 minutes.

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Therapy Can Help Those With COPD

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease or COPD is an umbrella term used to describle progressive lung diseases such as emphysema, chronic bronchitis, and non-reversible asthma. People with COPD suffer with continued and increasing breathlessness. The symptoms of COPD are sometimes difficult to notice because they can be mistaken for the common cold or normal aging. COPD affects an estimated 30 million people in the United States and over half of them are unaware of their condition. Taking note of your symptoms and asking your doctor to screen you can help you avoid losing major function in your lungs.

Symptoms of COPD:

  • Increased Breathlessness
  • Frequent Coughing
  • Wheezing
  • Chest Tightness
  • Increased Mucus
  • Dizziness Upon Waking
  • Swollen Ankles
  • Frequent Respiratory Infections
  • Difficulty Sleeping
  • Fatigue or Inability to Exercise

COPD leads to the decline of pulmonary function and can lower your quality of life. Genetics and exposure to work/environmental pollutants can cause COPD, but the primary cause is smoking. Smoking and second-hand smoke account for 90% of COPD cases. Quitting smoking is extremely important to slow the progression of COPD. Slowing the progression of the disease can also be done through changing the air quality in your home and work environment.

Exercise and rehabilitation are great weapons in the war on COPD. Too often, patients with COPD avoid exercise because of their shortness of breath. Without exercise and improving endurance, the shortness of breath will only worsen. Physical therapists can help COPD patients exercise in a safe and secure environment. Physical and occupational therapy can improve your ability to exercise, your strength and endurance, and help you conserve energy doing daily tasks. Therapists can also help reduce difficulty in breathing by providing helpful breathing exercises. Talk to your doctor today about the benefits of both physical and occupational therapy to slow the progression of COPD!

 

Sources: COPD Foundation
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Byron Health Center to Host Trunk-O-Treat Event

Start Your Trick-or-Treating Fun a Bit Early

Byron Health Center will host a Trunk-O-Treat Event in the Friendship Corner courtyard and parking lot, on Thursday, October 26th from 5:00–7:00 p.m.  Byron Health Center is located at the corner of Carroll and Lima Roads, 12101 Lima Rd in Fort Wayne, IN.

What can be better than cars and candy bars?  Byron Health Center staff and family along with special guests, the Fort Wayne Corvette Club and the Eel River Elementary school PTA, are expected to bring trick-or-treaters out a bit early to enjoy some pre-Halloween Trunk-O-Treat fun among parked cars with decorated trunks and plenty of candy.  Members of the community are also invited to join in on the family-friendly Trunk-O-Treat presented by HTS Healthcare Therapy Services event.  Byron Health Center residents will also come out and help pass out the candy.  There will be a fire roaring in the fire pit.  You can also warm up in the Eakin Family Room with some hot chocolate and catch a spooky movie on the big screen TV.  The Wyss Farm Enterprises straw bale maze will also provide fun and frolic for area children.  This will be a fun-filled fall evening for all!  The event will be held rain or shine and is FREE of charge.

Several local mascots, including the Fort Wayne Derby Girl’s Mean Jean, the Fort Wayne TinCaps’ Johnny TinCap, Crazy Pinz’s Stryker the Parrot, the Fort Wayne Mad Ant, Indiana Tech’s Maximus & the Indiana Tech Cheerleaders, the Three Rivers Festival’s Admiral Andy, IPFW’s Don the Mastodon and the Fort Wayne Fire Department’s Spotz and are expected to attend the event along with the Huntertown Fire Department.  Several area car clubs have also been invited to attend the event.  Candy for the Trunk-O-Treat presented by HTS is being generously provided in part by several Byron Health Center friends and partners, including Goodwill and MKM architecture + design, as well as members of the Byron Health Center staff.  As always … donations of Halloween candy are appreciated.  Current sponsors include HTS, Indiana Tech and ProStrip Professional Metal Refinishing.

Byron Health Center provides compassionate long-term care for adults with complex needs including physical, mental, emotional and neurological services.  Each resident is recognized as an individual who seeks and deserves to reach his or her optimal potential.  Byron Health Center and Miller’s Place continue a tradition of over 160 years of serving the long-term health care needs of Indiana residents.  Byron Health Center is licensed to provide intermediate and skilled nursing care while Miller’s Place provides assisted living services to individuals who are more independent and are able to live in a residential setting.

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5 Ways Physical Therapy Can Help!

Physical therapists work to preserve, enhance, or restore movement and physical function. Physical therapy may be necessary for those recovering after an illness, injury, surgery or chronic condition. It can help reduce pain and speed up the recovery process by improving mobility, strength and balance.

Here are some ways physical therapy may help you:

Improve Mobility and Reduce Pain. If you’re having trouble standing, walking or moving — physical therapy can help. Therapists customize care plans that can restore muscle and joint function, reducing pain and improving mobility.

Manage Diabetes and Vascular Conditions. If you have diabetes, physical therapy can help you control your blood sugar through exercise. Diabetes may also cause a person to lose sensation in their feet and legs. Physical therapists can help you to regain sensation and prevent further problems.

Improve Balance and Prevent Falls. If you have fallen or are at high risk for falls, therapists will provide exercises that will help you improve coordination and problems stemming from the vestibular system.

Manage Age-related Issues. Osteoporosis and arthritis are common ailments for seniors. Physical therapists can help you recover from joint pain, joint replacements, and manage these conditions.

Manage Heart and Lung Conditions. After suffering a heart attack or having surgery you may need physical therapy to regain strength and daily function. If you suffer from a pulmonary condition, physical therapy can help improve breathing and clear fluid from the lungs.

Physical therapists work hard to help patients retain and regain their quality of life. Speak with your doctor to find out how a therapy treatment plan could benefit you!

October is National Physical Therapy Month!

National Physical Therapy Month is designed to recognize the impact that physical therapists and physical therapist assistants make in restoring and improving motion in people’s lives. Healthcare Therapy Services is proud to be a leading provider of therapy services throughout the Midwest. More info here.

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Is Your Therapy Provider Losing You Money?

Therapy Part B MPPR

 

Background of MPPR

Effective January 3, 2011, as part of the Affordable Care Act, CMS implemented the MPPR (Multiple Procedure Payment Reduction).  This is a reduction on fees paid to providers for Part B services, with the reduction of the “Practice Expense” (PE) portion of the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule.  This affects physicians and non-physician practitioners that bill Medicare Part B via code or unit. For long term care providers, this relates to your Part B therapy services, and even sometimes many private B-type insurances.

Initially, CMS reduced the PE portion by 20%, but then increased it to a 50% reduction of the PE, as of April 1, 2013.  These reductions apply when more than one code is performed/billed on the same day, regardless of discipline.  For example, if your physical therapist bills 4 codes, your occupational therapist bills 3 codes, and your speech therapist bills 2 codes, all on the same day, then the FIRST CODE BILLED is paid at 100%. MPPR is then applied to the rest of the codes, thus reducing the reimbursement for each of the remaining codes for that day.

 

Why Is This Important?  We Already Know About This!

I think by now, most all long-term care providers that also provide part B services to their inpatients, and/or provide outpatient therapy, are well aware of these reductions.  However, here is where it can get surprising….this on average is a 6-7% reduction in your overall reimbursement for those services.  Thus, if you typically bill (excluding your contractual allowances and co-insurance) $20,000 per month in therapy Part B services (inpatient and/or outpatient), then this lessens the reimbursement between $1200 to $1400 per month or more.  That may not sound like a lot of money, but keep reading…

 

My Therapy Company Charges Me Based On The Medicare Fee Schedule, So It’s Their Problem, Right?

Um, not necessarily.  Your contract may state that they are charging you 70% of the fee schedule, but more and more I am seeing therapy contracts that DO NOT ADDRESS THE MPPR.  If they don’t, that means you as the provider are EATING THAT COST.  NOOOOOO!

Suddenly, if you look at a provider that says they are charging you 70%, but do not take out the MPPR, then you are billing $20,000, they are taking $14,000, but you are only getting back $4,600, not $6,000.  That’s a pretty big deal since that money typically flows directly to your monthly bottom line.  That means that the therapy provider is actually charging you 77% of the fee schedule, not the 70% you THINK you are getting charged.

Think of what you could do in a year with just an additional $1,200 to $1,400 per month?  That $16,800 of pure net revenue could go a long way in any building, as there is no additional costs associated with that revenue going straight to your bottom line.

 

Here’s Your Homework…

If you use contract therapy, reread and double check your contract.  If it’s not stated in the contract, look at your invoice and see if the MPPR reduction has been applied, or ask your therapy company directly.  When we talk with other LTC providers, we are seeing this with both local therapy providers in additional to national providers.  Getting a handle on this is increasingly important as we see SNF utilization going down nationally and outpatient utilization trending up by our surgeons and acute care partners.  In today’s ever-changing reimbursement, we all know that every penny matters.  And in this case, we aren’t just talking chump change!

GUEST BLOG:

Kerry Wright, OTR/L
Executive Director of Business Development and Southern Operations
Healthcare Therapy Services, Inc.
kerry@htstherapy.com

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