In a massive 53 page treatment guideline on Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), the authors state:

“Occupational therapists are the ideal therapeutic leaders in the functional restoration process…”

And, go on to devote 2 pages to what this OT care can entail. 

In this one hour course, we’ll pull out important implications for OT practice from the entire guideline. As you’ll see, when it comes to treating chronic pain, like CRPS there are a lot of best practices to draw on—but also a lot of unknowns that necessitates close attention to the individual in front of you. 

To help us flesh out what this means for OT practice, we’ll welcome to the podcast Megan Doyle, a program manager at an outpatient pain program and a leading voice on OT’s role in pain management.

You can find more details on this course here:
https://otpotential.com/ceu-podcast-courses/ot-complex-regional-pain-syndrome

Learn more about our guest:
Megan Doyle MS, OTR/L, TPS, FPS, CERT-APHPT

Here's the primary research we are discussing:
Complex Regional Pain Syndrome: Practical Diagnostic and Treatment Guidelines, 5th Edition.

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In a rapidly changing world,  we as OT professionals need collective mobilization like never before. 

But, it feels like our systems of advocacy are all underfunded and difficult to navigate. 

Against this backdrop, which can feel discouraging, I think it is critical to shine the light on what I consider one of the greatest OT triumphs of the past decade: 

The breakthrough of OTs into pelvic health.

This is a story of grassroots organization, individual thought-leadership, Facebook groups, podcasts, phone calls, and ultimately collaboration on the individual, state and national level. 

We are thrilled to have 3 leaders from this movement, Alyson Stover, Carlin Reaume and Lindsey Vestal. Each has played a unique role in this movement and are here to share what they’ve learned from the wins and fails along the way. Ultimately, we hope this story and conversation helps you reflect on your role in advocacy in this new era.

You can find more details on this course here:
https://otpotential.com/ceu-podcast-courses/ot-advocacy-in-pelvic-health

Find a pelvic floor OT near you:
https://otpotential.com/blog/pelvic-health-occupational-therapy

Learn more about our guests:
Carlin Reaume OTD, OTR/L, DipACLM, PMH-C, PCES
Lindsey Vestal OTR/L
Alyson Stover MOT, JD, OTR/L, BCP

Here's the primary research we are discussing:
Pelvic floor dysfunction after childbirth: Occupational impact and awareness of available treatment.

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The idea of AI transforming occupational therapy stirs both hopes and fears. 

Will it help us revolutionize our broken systems? Will it augment the best of our care? 

Or will it bolster inequality and threaten our jobs? 

This is a story we are actively writing—and have the power to shape.

In this one hour course, we’ll talk to two leading voices on the adoption of AI and OT, Alyson Stover MOT, JD, OTR/L, BCP and Karen Jacobs OT, EdD, OTR, CPE, FAOTA. We’ll discuss how they are currently using AI, what they are learning—and the opportunities for OT in what is shaping up to be the revolution of our lifetime.

You can find more details on this course here:
https://otpotential.com/ceu-podcast-courses/ot-hopes-and-fears-ai

Learn more about our guests:
Alyson Stover MOT, JD, OTR/L, BCP
Karen Jacobs, OT, EdD, OTR, CPE, FAOTA

Learn more about Korro AI:
https://korro.ai/

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There is a growing public consciousness around the power (and difficulty) of habit change, especially as the impact of chronic conditions soars.  

And, as we’ll see in the featured scoping review on OT and habit change/health promotion, we’ve been addressing habits since 1912, it is a core part of our 2020 practice framework, and is increasingly embedded in OT research. 

On this OT Potential Podcast episode, we’ll welcome Dr. Zipporah Brown, and her and I will discuss ways you can embed best practices around habit change in your practice.

You can find more details on this course here:
https://otpotential.com/ceu-podcast-courses/ot-and-habits

Learn more about our guest:
https://otpotential.com/occupational-therapy-directory/zipporah-brown

Here's the primary research we are discussing:
Habits and health promotion in occupational therapy: A scoping review.

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The number of OT entry-level doctoral (OTD) programs has been expanding rapidly. In 2017 there were 7 programs. As of 2023, there are 95, with an additional 76 in development. 

The article we'll cover in this course presents early stage research on the doctoral capstone experience and employment opportunities. It backs up what I have now personally observed through mentoring a student: that doctoral students are uniquely prepared for more diverse job opportunities, and sometimes jobs are even created due to the clear value of the capstone experience. 

There seems to be a benefit for the profession as a whole, in terms of increased awareness. (Our Achilles heel!)

After reviewing the article, I’ll welcome our own student, Alana Woolley, and her capstone coordinator, Daniel Rortvedt. Our goal will be to help you decide if you should be a capstone mentor, and shed light on the experience from 3 perspectives.

You can find more details on this course here:
https://otpotential.com/ceu-podcast-courses/making-the-otd-capstone-matter

Learn more about our guests:
https://otpotential.com/occupational-therapy-directory/daniel-rortvedt
https://otpotential.com/occupational-therapy-directory/alanawoolley

See our Capstone Catalog:
https://otpotential.com/blog/otd-capstone-catalog

Here's the primary research we are discussing:
An exploration of the occupational therapy doctoral capstone: Perspectives from capstone coordinators, graduates, and Site Mentors.

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I’ve been surprised as my own kids enter elementary school to anecdotally find that constipation is a common reason to miss activities. 

But, this aligns perfectly with the research we look at today, and the growing concern that constipation has become a public health concern. 

As many as 32% of kids (0-18) experience constipation. And, a growing number of occupational therapy professionals are seeing these kids on their caseload. Today we’ll look at an article that examines what an interdisciplinary approach to pediatric constipation can look like. 

Then, we are excited to welcome to the podcast, Quiara Smith, an OT who owns a pediatric pelvic health practice. Her and I will discuss the practical implications from this article for your OT practice.

You can find more details on this course here:
https://otpotential.com/ceu-podcast-courses/ot-pediatric-constipation

Learn more about our guest:
https://otpotential.com/occupational-therapy-directory/quiara-smith

Here's the primary research we are discussing:
Interdisciplinary occupational and physical therapy approach to treating constipation and fecal incontinence in children.

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It takes an average of 17 years for evidence to make its way into practice. 

The fields of knowledge translation and implementation science are seeking to change this. And, today we are looking at a scoping review of knowledge translation research in rehab. 

To be frank, I think the article is pretty convoluted. (Which is funny since it comes from researchers interested in knowledge translation.🤔)  But, it certainly gives us a good jumping off point to talk about the challenges around knowledge translation, and the need for innovation in this field. 

Next week, we’ll welcome Tim Dionne, PhD, OTR/L to the podcast. His research emphasis is on supporting therapists providing quality care, through knowledge dissemination and dissemination and implementation research methods.

You can find more details on this course here:
https://otpotential.com/ceu-podcast-courses/knowledge-translation-and-ot

Learn more about our guest:
https://otpotential.com/occupational-therapy-directory/tim-dionne

Here's the primary research we are discussing:
Knowledge translation research to promote behavior changes in rehabilitation: Use of theoretical frameworks and tailored interventions: A scoping review.

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The art and science of digital prosthetics is rapidly advancing. 

Yet, many people with amputated fingers do not wear a prosthetic. 

Part of the problem may be our own fault as health providers. We may be stuck in old stereotypes of poor outcomes and limited options related to digital prosthetics. 

In this one-hour podcast-base course, we’ll look at a research article that explores the experiences of people who wear digital prosthetics. Our goal is to develop your skills in listening closely to your own clients and their needs in this area. 

Next week on the podcast, we’ll welcome Haley Van Escobar. Haley has her own hand therapy private practice and works for a digital prosthetic company. You’ll learn how she landed this job, and what the average OT needs to know about this rapidly advancing space.

You can find more details on this course here:
https://otpotential.com/ceu-podcast-courses/finger-prosthetics-and-ot

Learn more about our guest:
https://otpotential.com/occupational-therapy-directory/haley-van-escobar

Learn more about OT and hand therapy:
https://otpotential.com/blog/hand-therapy

Here's the primary research we are discussing:
User experiences of digital prostheses in daily functioning in people with an amputation of thumb or finger

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In previous courses, we’ve discussed that one of the primary ways we can improve our care, as OT professionals, is to increase the diversity of our workforce—with the ultimate goal of having our workforce’s diversity mirror the diversity of the populations we are seeing.  This goal will ensure we have the multiple perspectives needed to respond to the needs of our clients. 

But, until now, we’ve mostly talked about this theoretically. 

So, what do the actual numbers have to say about the current diversity of our workforce? 

It’s a mixed bag. 

In today’s 1 hour CEU course, we’ll look at a report from JAMA that estimates racial/ethnic representation in 10 U.S. healthcare professions.

To give you a taste of the positive news: the percentage of Black OTs is better than in PT and SLP. But startlingly, the authors specifically call out OT for having a smaller percentage of Black OTs students than is in our workforce. In other words this measure of diversity showed shrinkage. 

There is so much to unpack from this data, and we are excited to welcome back to the podcast a guest from one of our most popular episodes: Arameh Anvarizadeh OTD, OTR/L, FAOTA.

You can find more details on this course here:
https://otpotential.com/ceu-podcast-courses/diversity-in-ot

Learn more about our guest:
https://otpotential.com/occupational-therapy-directory/arameh-anvarizadeh

Here's the primary research we are discussing:
Estimation and Comparison of Current and Future Racial/Ethnic Representation in the US Health Care Workforce.

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Through OT Potential, we’ve released over 70 episodes all exploring new influential OT research. As we enter 2024, it’s time to reflect on the research and ask: 

What trends are we seeing in OT? How is new research enriching how we think about our practice? 

In this 1 hour-episode, we’ll talk about new trends, with a particular focus on what commonalities we see leaders in our field doing in their occupational therapy process. We’ll culminate our discussion by exploring how people describe OT. This will be informed by our OT practice framework, but with a special focus on how we communicate about OT to the public. 

For this exploration, we’ll welcome back to the podcast two of our podcast hosts from 2024, Carlin Reaume OTD, OTR/L, DipACLM, PMH-C, PCES and Ryan Lavalley PhD, OTR/L. Together we’ll unpack what all of these trends mean for your OT practice.

You can find more details on this course here:
https://otpotential.com/ceu-podcast-courses/ot-in-2024

Read OT Potential's guide to What is OT?
https://otpotential.com/what-is-ot

Learn more about our guests:
https://otpotential.com/occupational-therapy-directory/ryan-lavalley
https://otpotential.com/occupational-therapy-directory/carlin-reaume

Here's the primary research we are discussing:
Occupational therapy practice framework: Domain and process—Fourth edition

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Since this keynote address from the World Federation of Occupational Therapy Congress was published in 2019, it has been cited so many times that it made our list of the 100 most-cited OT journal articles. 

It’s easy to see why this has become such a popular read. The article stitches occupational therapy together with global trends, in particular growing inequality. 

The author challenges us to see this problem clearly. And, calls us upon us to build globally relevant occupational therapy from the strength of our diversity.
In this one hour CE course, we’ll review this article, then to talk about practical implications of creating change in occupational therapy we are excited to welcome Vikram Pagpatan EdD, OTR/L, ATP, CLA, BCP, FAOTA to the podcast.

You can find more details on this course here:
https://otpotential.com/ceu-podcast-courses/building-a-global-ot-profession

Learn more about our guest:
https://otpotential.com/occupational-therapy-directory/vikram-pagpatan

Here's the primary research we are discussing:
Building globally relevant occupational therapy from the strength of our diversity

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