December 2024
On today's episode, we speak with DeOnna Clark, Beth Johnson, and Melissa Tilton about identifying, addressing, and preventing compassion fatigue and burnout in your OT practice. They highlight the need to destigmatize burnout and compassion fatigue, introduce the Emotional PPE Project, and provide personal and systematic recommendations to decrease the barriers that healthcare workers face when seeking, accessing, and receiving emotional and mental health support.
The Emotional PPE Project
PROQOL: Professional Quality of Life
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November 2024
On today's episode, we speak with Maggie Deforge, an OT practitioner and chair of the group Occupational Therapy for Native Americans. She shares lived experiences, insights, and recommendations to address Native issues and to encourage culturally safe practices across settings.
Occupational Therapy for Native Americans
OT MDI Network
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October 2024
On today's episode, we speak with AOTA Director of Quality Jamar Haggans and AOTA Senior Legislative Representative Andy Bopp. We discuss the Medicare Home Health Accessibility Act (Bill H.R. 7148) and occupational therapy's role and impact within Medicare home health. Jamar and Andy share insights into their efforts to support OT quality and advocacy and provide recommendations for practitioners.
AOTA Legislative Action Center: Support the Home Health Accessibility Act
AOTA Home Health Accessibility Act Resource Sheet
AOTA OT Home Health Evaluation Checklist and Quality Measures 2024
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September 2024
On today's episode we speak with Apple Sepulveda. Apple is a co-founder of the Nurture Collective, occupational therapist and lactation consultant. We discuss the importance and process of addressing maternal and infant mental health within the scope of OT to facilitate improved developmental and wellness outcomes. She shares recommendations for occupational therapy practitioners across settings and resources to support change and best practices.
Nurture Collective
Brazelton's Touchpoints
Postpartum Support International
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August 2024
On today's episode we speak with Alexandra Bruce. Alexandra serves as the medical advisory board chair and advocacy committee chair for the non-profit organization All Wheels Up. We discuss the barriers and risks that people with disabilities face when participating in air travel, and proposed solutions to improve air travel accessibility. She shares recommendations for occupational therapy practitioners across settings and resources to support change and equity.
Paralyzed Veterans of America- Accessible Air Travel for People with Disabilities
Muscular Dystrophy Association- Accessible Air Travel
All Wheels Up- Research Webpage
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July 2024
This podcast contains explicit sexual information and is not suitable for all audiences. Listener discretion is advised.
On today's episode we speak with certified sexuality counselor and Doctor of OT, Kathryn Ellis. We discuss the book Sexuality and Intimacy and she provides expert opinion and recommendations to help students, clinicians, and researchers improve how they address sexuality and intimacy in practice.
AOTA Press: Sexuality and Intimacy an Occupational Therapy Approach
Dr. Kathryn Ellis Webpage
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June 2024
On today's episode we speak with Ariel Schwartz, Micah Peace Urquilla, Nikola Davern, Alix Herer, Jesse, and Dheva about their research and experiences with peer mentorship for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and co-occurring mental health conditions. They share perspectives and recommendations to encourage stakeholder participation and leadership in the development and application of peer mentoring programs.
Podcast: Meet Boston University Peer Mentoring Research Team
Video: Boston University Mentoring and Research Team
Article: "Being A Part of Something"
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May 2024
On today's episode we speak with early AI adopters Vijay Muni and Jayson Davies who recently presented a webinar titled Integrating Artificial Intelligence into OT Practice. Their webinar outlines how to use artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance occupational therapy services and today they share helpful AI resources and techniques to help the practitioner streamline care.
Free Webinar: Integrating Artificial Intelligence in OT Practice
ChatGPT
Google Gemini
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April 2024
The Current Procedural Terminology 2024 code that is effective as of January 1, 2024, includes a new subsection containing three new codes related to caregiver training without the patient present. On this episode we speak with AOTA's incoming Executive Director, Katie Jordan, about the changes and implications for billing and coding practices.
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March 2024
On today's episode we speak with Christine Urish about Mental Health First Aid. Mental Health First Aid is a course that teaches you how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental illnesses and substance use disorders. The training gives you the skills you need to reach out and provide initial help and support to someone who may be developing a mental health or substance use problem or experiencing a crisis.
Resources:
National suicide and crisis lifeline: 988
Crisis text line: 741-741
The Trevor Project for LGBTQ+ youth; phone: 866-488-7386 or text: 678-678
Wellness Recovery Action Plan
To locate a Mental Health First Aid course in your community
Mindspring Mental Health Alliance FREE WEBINARS typically over lunch about a WIDE range of mental health, wellness and wellbeing topics
February 2024
Today we are joined by three founders of the National Black Occupational Therapy Caucus (NBOTC), Dr. Joyce Lane, Ms. Jerry Bentley, and Dr. Lela Llorens, and the current NBOTC President, Dr. Riqiea Kitchens. Also joining us in the interview is Varleisha Lyons, VP of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Justice, Access, and Belonging at AOTA. Our guests reflect on their experiences in occupational therapy and preview the NBOTC 50th anniversary celebration, “An Enduring Legacy,” planned for AOTA INSPIRE 2024.
Learn more about NBOTC and get involved
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January 2024
We speak with Maribeth Clifton, occupational therapist and professor at University of Nebraska Medical Center. She shares details about her 2023 AOTA INSPIRE short course as we discuss stress, trauma, occupational performance, and provide recommendations on how to address mental health and community health as a practitioner.
Article: Toxic stress in children and youth
The National Child Traumatic Stress Network
Center on the Developing Child
