Community Health Network Rehab & Sports Medicine Centers

Nichole Wilson, director of rehab services, and Rena Reaves, physical therapist, were recently featured in the first quarter 2010 issue of Indiana Minority Business Magazine.  The article highlights various careers in health and fitness and the growing demand for these professionals.  Reaves describes her role as a physical therapist and how she helps her patients regain function, prevent future injuries, and gain independence after an injury or surgery.  Wilson describes the compassion and listening skills that therapists need to truly understand the goals of her patients.  She also discusses the demands that athletic trainers and other health care professionals must balance when working with athletes.  To read the full article, pick up a printed copy of Indiana Minority Business Magazine or subscribe online at www.IndianaMinorityBusinessMagazine.com.

One of the best pieces of advice I have ever heard always comes to mind this time of year.  “Don’t change anything that you are not willing to change forever.”   Think about it.  Have you ever said “I am never eating sweets again.” ?  And you don’t for a while, but eventually you have that small treat and then you feel like you have failed.  The next thing you know, it is easy to take a larger treat because you have already missed your goal.  While the word forever is a bit dramatic, you get the idea.

One of the growing problems in America, in addition to obesity,  is the sedentary lifestyle, and this time of year those sedentary people are actually TRYING to make a change.  And they do for a while.  Soon, February fatigue will hit and the gyms begin to slow down as many people find themselves giving up on their resolutions.  Recently, the Wall Street Journal had an excellent article called The Hidden Benefits of Exercise (link below) that goes into detail about the overall health benefits of exercise.  These benefits reach far beyond shedding a few pounds.  I challenge you to do this–make one healthy change this year, no matter how small it may seem, but choose something that you are willing and able to do for more than just a few months.  Set reasonable, realistic goals because huge changes simply do not happen quickly.  For instance, setting a goal to walk 3-4 times a week can yield more health benefits than you might imagine.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704350304574638331243027174.html

Physical and occupational therapy at Community Rehab & Sports Medicine Centers may be more fun for patients in 2010.  Thanks to donations from grateful patients, most of Community’s Rehab & Sports Medicine Centers will have therapeutic exercise available with the Wii.  Therapists are excited to utilize this tool to enhance balance exercises, agility activities, patient coordination, and strength exercises.  Many therapy providers across the country have used the Wii for therapeutic exercise with patients of all ages.  Hook Rehabilitation Outpatient Services with Community Health Network has been using the Wii for neurological rehabilitation for some time and now all of our outpatient therapy clinics will have the opportunity to use this tool to improve therapeutic outcomes and make therapy more fun and feel a little less like work.

Christmas is a wonderful time of year to enjoy time with friends, to play holiday games, and to visit Santa.  Children who have attended Rehab & Sports Medicine-Library Park had the opportunity to do all of these things on Thursday 12/3/2009 at Library Park’s annual Christmas party.  More than 50 children attended the party and participated in cookie decorating, crafts, games, a special Christmas Story, and had the opportunity to sit on Santa’s lap for a chat and a photo.  While many parents may take a visit with Santa for granted, some special needs kids have difficulty standing in line at the mall or they may require a little extra help during the visit.  RSM Library Park therapists and staff were excited to help these kids and  they made sure everyone at the party had a chance to visit with the jolly guy himself!

Kristina Watkins, OTR and Nancy Lewark, Rehab Manager

At this busy time of year, don’t neglect your health.  With extensive media coverage about the economy and stress around the holiday season you may be feeling a bit overwhelmed.  The trick to coping is to recognize the problems or things causing stress and address them.  But what happens when back pain or knee pain is thrown into the mix?  Physical pain can adversely affect your mood and your quality of life.  Studies have shown that people who “just live with” their pain are at a greater risk for depression and other mental illnesses.  If you are experiencing joint pain, back pain or neck pain, talk to your doctor about seeing a therapist to help resolve these issues.  By this time of year most people have met their insurance deductibles, and if you take care of a problem before it becomes chronic, it will cost you much less in the long run.   Enjoy this holiday season, even if you are on a tighter budget–take care of yourself and give yourself the gift of well-being!

The theme for National Physical Therapy Month this year is “Move Forward: Physical Therapy Brings Motion to Life”.  If you have ever experienced therapy as a patient, you can certainly appreciate this phrase.  Most people who receive physical therapy services are hindered by pain or immobility and seek the advice of a motion expert, a physical therapist, to regain their prior level of function.  People of all ages have benefitted from the guidance and care of physical therapists. From the infant with torticollis, to the elderly adult recovering from a stroke,  physical therapy professionals truly do bring motion back into the lives of their patients.

During this month when physical therapists, physical therapy assistants and physical therapy students are celebrating their profession be sure to recognize the importance of the freedom of motion in your daily life.  For more information on PT month, please visit http://www.moveforwardpt.com/ or www.ecommunity.com/rehab .

Junior Achievement of Central Indiana hosted its awards event for Indy’s Best and Brightest on September 23, 2009.  Finalists for the awards included 100 professionals, age 40 and younger.  Of the ten finalists in ten different categories, one of these professionals was recognized in each category as the Best and Brightest winner.  Nichole Wilson, DPT, Director of Rehab Services for Community Health Network was named the winner in the Health and Life Sciences category.  To view the list of current and past winners visit www.indysbestandbrightest.com.  Congratulations Nichole on being one of Central Indiana’s most recognized young leaders in the health care profession!

Ed Jones and Britney Combs

Community Health Network would like to congratulate our own Ed Jones, MSPT for being recognized  as the Clinical Educator of the Year by Indiana University’s School of Health and Rehabilitation Services.  Ed was nominated by a former student, Britney Combs.  Valerie Strunk from Indiana University and Britney Combs, DPT presented Ed with this honor last week.  This award is given every year to an outstanding Clinical Instructor who excels in clinical instruction and the facilitation of relationships between universities and the clinical workplace. 

Ed has been with Community Health Network since 1997 when he began working as a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist at Hook Rehab Center.   After graduating from the University of Indianapolis in 2003, Ed moved into the role of Physical Therapist with Community’s Rehab & Sports Medicine Centers.  Since 2003, Ed has also been involved with the University of Indianapolis as a Graduate Assistant in their Entry-Level DPT program and as Adjunct Faculty for the PTA program.  Ed currently serves as the Clinical Education Site Coordinator for Community Health Network.  In this role he facilitates clinical experiences for physical therapy students from a variety of universities in the United States and abroad.

We have all heard horror stories of kids involved in 3 or 4 activities that require numerous hours of after school practice time, meeting time or other time away from home.  Perhaps you are the parent who has a child (or children) in this situation.  A recent study at the University of Maryland at College Park took a closer look at this growing phenomenon among families and found some interesting results.  According to  Sandra L. Hofferth, director of the Maryland Population Research Center and author of a study named  “The ‘Hurried’ Child: Myth vs. Reality”,  the most emotionally sound children are the ones that are heavily involved in structured activity.  Of course there is a “balance” that has to occur within the family unit as parents and caregivers have to balance their own lives with the social calendar of their child or children.  Read the entire MSNBC article–from the Kids and parenting section–here http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32573893/ns/health-kids_and_parenting/

Physical Therapist, Beth Genday (left) was awarded the Community Health Network Hot Shot award in August 2009.  Kristi Leiter (right) nominated Beth for this recognition after noticing Beth going above and beyond for a patient in need that she ran into in the hall at Community Hospital South.  Additionally, Beth, who works as a PRN therapist,  regularly goes out of her way to satisfy patients and to help out her co-workers at Rehab & Sports Medicine-Library Park.  Most recently, Beth has been working many extra hours and has shown flexibility with her home life to help cover a co-worker’s maternity leave.  Congratulations Beth!