Physical Therapy Newsletter: Fall 08

Re - ‘FLEX’ions

Fall 2008 Volume 4, Issue 2

At Nazareth College Physical Therapy

Inside this issue:

News From the Chair

Self‐Study, Accreditation, CAPTE… What’s All the Fuss?

Anyone associated with the Nazareth College Physical Therapy pro‐ gram in the last several months has probably noticed a bit more activ‐ ity around here than usual. We are preparing for an event that hap‐ pens every ten years in physical therapist education. The Commission on Accreditation for Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) is the ac‐ crediting agency responsible for accrediting physical therapist and physical therapist assistant education programs in the United States.

Any candidate wishing to sit for the licensing examination in order to practice in physical therapy must have graduated from an accredited program – that’s what all the fuss is about!

The accreditation begins with a process titled “self‐study”. Self study describes the process of reviewing your own program to determine whether the program meets the CAPTE Evaluative Criteria, with an emphasis on whether the program meets its own mission, goals, and expected outcomes. Hence, the term, “self‐study”. Faculty members have been involved in reviewing every aspect of our physical therapist education program from our courses, to our teaching and research space, our number of faculty and their performance, and adequacy of our equipment. Assessment has been our theme for the summer and fall!

Faculty members have not been the only ones working on this im‐ mense project. We have mailed our program graduates surveys about their preparation for professional practice. We have had our Commu‐ nity Advisory Board review many documents. We have invited em‐ ployers of our graduates in to participate in focus groups about the skills of the Nazareth graduates that they employ. And, we have asked our Institutional Research staff for countless print‐outs of data pertinent to this self‐ study.

Continued p. 2

News From the Chair Con’t on page

Cover 2

Centro de oro

2

HCR/Naz Continuing Education

3

Rochester River Challenge

4

Rachel trip to Budapest

5-7

HHS Students Have an Adventure

8

PT Clinic News

9

Upcoming Events

10

Alumni Corner

11

Production of RE”FLEX”IONS at NAZ PT was completed with the assistance of Mary Ellen Vore ♦ Editor

Melissa Carter ♦ Department Secretary

Connie Chau ♦ Photography

The PT Dept. would like to thank everyone who took the time to submit articles

Page 2

News from the Chair Continued from p. 1

In early February, this document (actually six copies of the document and all of its exhibits and appendi‐ ces) will be shipped to CAPTE for the beginning of the review process. For the next two months, our faculty and staff will finish accumulating all of the evidence that the accreditation team wishes to re‐ view when they come to the college. On April 26, 2009, the team of three reviewers arrives for three full days of on‐site review. During this review visit, they will meet with faculty, administrators, staff, clinic clients, students, clinical instructors, and employers to complete the assessment of how well we meet the standards and our own mission.

The “fuss” is about putting our best foot forward and showing the accreditation team what a terrific program of study physical therapy really is at Nazareth. We are proud of the way this program has evolved in the last several years and our strong, collaborative working relationships with other parts of the college community and the community around us. We believe this is an opportunity to show our colleagues in education how far this relatively young program has come in such a short period of time. We thank all of you for helping us get to this point.

Centro de Oro By: Mary Therese Novak, PT, MBA This is the third year that Nazareth College Physical Therapy students have been providing a weekly group exercise program for senior citizens of Puerto Rican de‐ scent. The program is held at Centro De Oro, on 777 Clifford Ave‐ nue, corner of Hudson Avenue (soon to move to a new location on Clinton Avenue) in Rochester.

Centro De Oro is a senior citizen center that serves 193 partici‐ pants, with the average daily attendance of 40 . The group exer‐ cise programs offered are designed and lead by physical therapist students. The activities vary from week to week and include: strengthening, flexibility, balance and co‐ordination exercises, dancing and games. Leading the group can be very challenging for the students, as many of the participants are only fluent in Spanish.

Attendance has been consistent and the overall feedback from the participants has been very posi‐ tive. The enthusiasm of the seniors involved is reflected in the following quotes: Ernestina Zagal "fabulous I love it, helps my arthritis". Rosaura Vargas "It is great, it makes me feel really good". Olga Querales "I love it, it helps my bones and makes me feel good". Elsa Roche and Dominga Sanchez “It is really good and it helps the bones, we look forward every Thursday in doing the exercise".

This is a unique, culturally diverse and fulfilling experience for both students and participants. The physical therapy department looks forward to continuing with this endeavor in the future.

Page 3 National Physical Therapy Month:

A focus on “movement” in the geriatric population By: Chris Chimenti, MSPT

Since 1982, APTA has promoted October as National Physical Therapy Month. Various themes for this annual celebration, such as “For All Ages” (’83) and “Your Health. Our Hands” (’05), have been created to promote our profession and capture the nation’s attention. The 2008 theme recently cele‐ brated was “Physical Therapy: It’s All About Movement”.

To honor National Physical Therapy Month, Home Care of Roch‐ ester (HCR) and Nazareth P.T. have once again collaborated for high quality continuing education. In keeping with the national theme, organizers sought to promote a focus on movement in the geriatric population. On October 25, 2008, HCR and Naz co‐hosted a full‐day, continuing education program titled “Intervention Planning for Treatment of the Geriatric Population: An Active Problem Solving Workshop”. Highlights of the course included video footage analysis of movement patterns, breakout sessions for critical thinking/problem‐solving, and content specific to the Occupational Therapy discipline.

JJ Mowder‐Tinney, PT, PhD, NCS, Director of Clinical Education (DCE) and Assistant Professor for Naz‐ areth College, served as the faculty member from the academic setting. Judy Daniel, MSPT, GCS (Therapeutic Services Program Manager), Alice Pena, PT, DPT, CHT (Staff Physical Therapist), and Keri Finzer, OTR/L (Staff Occupational Therapist) from HCR served as faculty representatives from the clini‐ cal setting. All faculty members waived an honorarium in order to offer the 7.0 CEU course. Two local businesses also played a part in making the course affordable. Crimson Ridge (a senior living commu‐ nity) and Monroe Oxygen & Medical Equipment (a durable medical equipment provider) covered ex‐ penses for breakfast and lunch for event participants. Nazareth College provided the venue and cater‐ ing services.

Fifty clinicians (PT, PTA, OT, and COTA) registered for the 7‐hour course. Registrants attended from a variety of settings including home health, acute care, subacute rehab, skilled nursing, outpatient, and academia. As a direct result of the fundraising event, a donation in the amount of $2,530 was dedicated to Lifespan, a non‐profit organization whose mission is to “provide information, guidance, and services that help older adults take on both the challenges and opportunities of longer life”. Anne Marie Cook, President and CEO of Lifespan, was in attendance to accept the donation.

Participants indicated enthusiasm for a similar event in the future. In fact, the continuing education re‐ quirement for licensure beginning in 2009 is expected to elevate the demand for affordable course‐ work. Home Care of Rochester and Nazareth College anxiously await suggestions for future topics as they begin planning for a third annual event in honor of National Physical Therapy Month in 2009.

Chris Chimenti is the Director of Therapeutic Services at Home Care of Rochester and can be reached at cchimenti@hcrhealth.com.

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Rochester River Challenge By: Andrew Bartlett, PT, MPA

The Rochester River Challenge, an International Out‐ rigger Canoe Sprint Race and Wounded Warrior Dis‐ abled Sports Project, was held on September 13, 2008 on the Genesee River. The event was covered extensively by the Democrat and Chronicle and fea‐ tured the Wounded Warrior Disabled Sports Project whose mission is to honor and empower wounded warriors. To raise and enlist the public’s aid for the needs of severely injured service men and women.

No one was quite sure what to expect since this was our first time volunteering for this type of event.

Naz PT Students from left to right: Will Means, Brigid Kilroy, We just thought we would help out where we were Rich Monaco, Sam Bachman, Chris Hall, Tom Maving needed. Much to everyone’s surprise, the 12th Annual Rochester River Challenge turned out to be an enriching experience, one that personified the diverse experience of Nazareth College physical therapist students. Approximately 20 physical therapy students from Nazareth College volunteered for the event, with some arriving as early 7:00 in the morning, assisting athletes in registration, equipment, and perhaps most importantly; providing them with encouragement. The event con‐ sisted of multiple races and divisions.

Each team included seven athletes which paddled a 30 foot doubled‐hulled outrigger canoe 400 me‐ ters down the Genesee River. The lowest com‐ bined time of two races would determine the win‐ ner. Several of the participants were the same ath‐ letes the students trained as part of the class in “Exercise Science”. As one student stated, “It was great to see Joe, Sue, and Rebecca actually partici‐ pate in a real outrigger canoe event on the water rather than just seeing them train on the paddle ergometer in the fitness gym.” Everyone had a great time on this Saturday morning helping ath‐ letes both with and without disabilities participate in a community event to further the opportunity for individuals with disabilities. The consensus The race starting down the Genesee River among the students was to continue the tradition of volunteering, participating in the Rochester River Challenge and to take an even more active role next year. Special thanks to Cape Ability Outrig‐ ger Ohanna, Inc. for sponsoring an outrigger canoe for Nazareth College, who in‐turn medaled in the Open Mixed Division.

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Rachel’s Quashnoc’s trip to Budapest By: Rachel Quashnoc, PT Student

The Chain Bridge

As a physical therapy student at Nazareth College, I have been provided with many invaluable opportunities over the past four and one half years. Clinical knowledge is taught in the classroom and applied during labs and clinic. I've had chances to work side‐by‐side with fellow classmates volunteering within the community, and I've spent countless hours working collaboratively on research projects keeping me up‐to‐date with the latest in physical therapy practice. The educational experience at Naz is unique and progressive in preparing PT students for graduation; however, as of last spring, there was one aspect of physical therapy practice not yet explored

by Nazareth College physical therapy students: PT practice

abroad.

Ever since my freshman year at Nazareth, the study abroad programs have intrigued me, but because of the demanding course load, physical therapy students really didn't have any semesters to travel. I saw my opportunity to go abroad the summer after my senior year since clinical only lasted for half of the summer. I knew that although I would be unable to travel with any school programs, I could use the school's international connections to set up a personalized clinical experience abroad. My motiva‐ tion for gaining physical therapy experience abroad was twofold. First, I wanted to study a foreign cul‐ ture and their health care practices. Secondly, I felt that an important part of a well rounded education to have an international experience. I was put in touch with Dr. Eisen, the head of international studies. Being a native of Hungary, he was enthusiastic about sending me to Budapest.

After making some connections at Semmelweis University, a medi‐ cal university in Budapest, Dr. Eisen arranged to get the University to agree to customize a clinical experience for me in my main inter‐ est of study: Oncological Physical Therapy. After working out some of the finer details, it was set. I was going to Budapest, Hungary for 6 weeks of my summer.

I left on my journey the last weekend in June. Since I knew abso‐ National Oncological Institution lutely no one in Budapest, I was picked up from the airport by a physical therapy student guide named Zsuzsa. Zsuzsa was my designated tour guide, clinical inter‐ preter, and friend during my 6 weeks in Budapest. My first clinical experience in Budapest was at the Oncological Institute. Since Hungary is a country that offers a universal health care system, it was no surprise this hospital served a lot of patients. On average, the front desk saw 2,000 patients per day. Each doctor at the Oncological Institute evaluated and determined a plan of care for 70 patients a day! I was placed under the supervision of one of the head English‐speaking physical therapist named Zeta.

Continued on p. 6

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Rachel’s Quashnoc’s trip to Budapest By: Rachel Quashnoc, PT Student

During my three week stay at the Oncological Institute, I ob‐ served 7 surgical procedures ranging from mastectomies, colonectomies, and gynecological surgeries. All of the doc‐ tors spoke fluent English, so they were able to communi‐ cate with me throughout the procedures. They allowed me to stand directly behind the main surgeon for a close up view of every surgery. When I wasn't observing surgeries, I would see patients with Zeta. We went to see most patients bedside, but this hospital was unlike any hospital we have in the US. The first difference was that the hospital wasn't one Rachel Q. “on right” pictured with Nora from the big structure. Instead, it was many separate buildings all Oncological Institute congregated on one plot of land within the city. Second, there was almost no patient privacy.

Anywhere from 4‐9 patients were placed in one room with no curtains or private quarters. To go to the bathroom, they had to walk down the hall to a public restroom shared by all of the patients on the floor. Therapy ranged from AROM exercises to pulmonary exercises. I saw patients both in the ICU and on the post‐surgical floor. At 11:00am each day, a group therapy class was offered for post‐op mastectomies. The women were all very supportive of one another. Their strength was inspiring, and I knew I had made the right choice of choosing Budapest for my cancer‐based abroad experience.

After spending 3 weeks at the Oncological Institute, I changed my setting to shadow a physical thera‐ pist named Nora who worked in oncological hospice and home care. During this one week experi‐ ence, Nora and I saw patients with diagnosis ranging from end stage cancer, lymphedema, neurologi‐ cal problems after radiotherapy to glioblastoma. Each session focused on patient comfort and main‐ taining ROM. Caregiver education played a large role in home care while a large psychological compo‐ nent was implemented when working in the hospice setting. These two settings gave me the oppor‐ tunity to engage in more personal patient interactions with sessions lasting about one hour each. Nora had been visiting some of these patients for years, so the atmosphere was completely dif‐ ferent from that in the hospital. This opportunity to work in hospice care enabled me to experience the rewards associated with helping this patient population.

My last clinical experience took me back to the Oncological Institute where I was placed on a new floor working with the head and neck surgical population. This was an area of physical therapy I didn't even know existed. Most of the patients I saw had tracheotomies from throat cancer. The interven‐ tions focused primarily on pulmonary functioning.

Continued on p. 7

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Rachel’s Quashnoc’s trip to Budapest By: Rachel Quashnoc, PT Student

The physical therapist I worked with on this floor was a young lady named Kitty. In the evenings, Kitty and the head nurse from her floor, lead therapeutic belly dancing classes for breast cancer survi‐ vors. The theory behind therapeutic belly dancing is for participants to restore harmony within their bodies after having a mastectomy which leaves disfiguring scars. The group dancing also encourages the women to feel attrac‐ tive and feminine while building a support group for those going through the same struggles.

The comprehensive educational experience I received while abroad proved to be both personally rewarding and professionally en‐ riching. In addition to the clinical experience, I had outside opportunities to spend time in other realms of cancer rehabilitation in‐ cluding psychological rehabilitation Therapeutic belly dancing classes and prosthetic fitting.

Semmelweis University provided me with a holistic experience and prospective in the treatment of patients suffering with all forms of cancer. My hope is that this experience will enable other PT stu‐ dents to pursue similar opportunities in their educational paths. Budapest supplied a unique environ‐ ment for a globalized perspective on health care that could not be taught within the confines of a classroom. The cross‐cultural awareness and professional growth I developed while abroad will be yet another invaluable tool I will carry away from my college education here at Nazareth. I would like to extend my deepest thanks to all who believed in me and helped me in achieving my dream of studying physical therapy abroad.

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HHS Students Have an Adventure!

By: Annette Willgens, PT, MA, PCS

The Nazareth College departments of Physical Therapy, Music Therapy, Art Therapy and Communication Sciences and Disorders have created an Adven‐ ture Club at Nazareth, for kids with spe‐ cial needs from the greater Rochester area. The focus of this 8‐week after‐ school Club was to promote a wellness experience for children, aged 5‐10 years of age. Health sciences research tells us that kids with special needs are often less fit than their peers. They also lack opportunities to socialize and have fun in a safe and motivating environment.

Each week’s session began with speech‐language pathology students introducing the theme and schedule for the day, followed by an Adventure Club welcoming song written by the music therapy students. The activities for each week were co‐planned by students from the different disciplines.

Physical therapy student’s worked in teams to develop obstacle courses, games, and races designed and adapted for the individual needs of their campers. Speech‐language pathol‐ ogy students collaborated with the other students on ways to facilitate and encourage communication and socialization among the campers. Art therapy students created activi‐ ties related to the day’s theme to help campers express themselves by drawing, painting and creating something special to bring home at the end of the day. Music therapy stu‐ dents helped build relationships through songs and rhythms. Supporting mobility, ar‐ tistic expression, and language.

Students enjoy this experience because “… the campers teach us what to do….we’ve learned how to help them enjoy the same activities as typically developing kids… everyone wins…” Students had first hand experience in collaboration, facilitation and fun!

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Home Transition Laboratory finally becomes “homey” By: Jennifer Collins, PT, MPA, EdD

Last year, a Home Transitions Lab was added to Carroll Hall to providing students with an authentic environment in which to teach clients the necessary skills to function in the complexi‐ ties of the home environment. The room had been largely va‐ cant for several months. Thanks to a generous alum and her husband, the labora‐ tory finally resembles its name! Bob & Caro‐ lyn Thomson (pictured below) are deserving of our thanks.

Carolyn is a alumni of Student Kevin B. getting some cooking lessons Nazareth (class of ‘55) from one of our patients. who majored in Biology and Bob is an alumni of Brockport College. Bob taught for the Student Melissa S. helping a patient familiarize herRochester City School District grades 4‐12. The Thomsons self with the Lab. have a granddaughter that is presently a graduate student majoring in Education here at Nazareth, continuing the Nazareth tradition.

Carolyn read the article written by Mary L. Van Keuren in the CONNECTIONS magazine and was very impressed with it. She noticed from the pictures that the "home" was still quite bare and decided she would like to help purchase items needed to finish the space as intended. During the summer Mr. & Mrs. Thomson visited Carroll Hall and toured the fa‐ cilities with Dr. Collins. After learning more about the program, seeing the space and meeting with Presi‐ dent Braveman, they were convinced that the fur‐ nishings made a worthwhile gift.

Bob stated, Dr. Jennifer Collins (Department Chair), giving Bob And Carolyn Dr. Sekeres gave Carolyn a list of “ I enjoy supporting Thomson a tour of the Home Transition Lab. furniture items that were Nazareth College needed, and without hesitation Nazareth’s College Physical Therapy Home Transi‐ because it is a high tions Lab was on its way to becoming operational. Carolyn also spearheaded her quality school” class’s 50th anniversary fund drive in 2005 to raise money to purchase the liturgi‐ cal items needed for the Linehan Chapel. Mrs. Thomson is a supporter of the “Founders Group” which is made up of individuals planning to remember Nazareth in their wills. Cli‐ ents, students and faculty all thank Carolyn and Bob Thomson for their generosity in making the goal for the lab a reality.

Upcoming Events Page 10

Nazareth College Physical Therapy Continuing Education Workshop Diagnosis and Treatment of Movement System Impairment Syndromes: Introduction to Concepts and Application Featuring Dr. Shirley Sahrmann

Where: Nazareth Performing Arts Center 4245 East Ave Rochester, NY 14618

Time & Date: March 14 & 15th 2009 14th – 8:00am ‐ 5:00pm 15th ‐ 8:00am ‐ 4:30pm

APTA Clinical Instructor Credentialing Course Level 1 Program for Enhancing Clinical Instructor Skills

Registration Information $200.00 Early Bird (postmarked by 2/1/09) $225.00 Regular (postmarked by 3/1/09) $275.00 (postmarked by after 3/1/09) $150.00 Friends of Nazareth: ♦ Active Clinical Education Program participants ♦ Alumni and Faculty $100.00 Students (space limited) Please make checks payable to: Nazareth College Physical Therapy Mail check & Registration Form to: Melissa Carter Nazareth College Physical Therapy 4245 East Ave Rochester, NY 14618

Where: Nazareth College Carroll Hall C‐006 Time & Date: February 6th and 7th, 2009 6th – 8:00am – 5:00pm 7th ‐ 8:00am – 3:00pm

Fee: $70.00 APTA Members $140.00 Non‐APTA Members

Registration is due by: January 2, 2009 Enrollment is limited, so please register early.

Fee includes CI Education Manual, Continuing Education Unit Certificate (12 contact hours) and registry in database.

Please make checks payable to: Nazareth College Physical Therapy

Mail check, registration form, a copy of your current PT License, and a copy of your APTA membership card to: Arlene Bucci Nazareth College Physical Therapy 4245 East Ave Rochester, NY 14618

Physical Therapy Research ‐ Annual Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser

The Nazareth College PT Students hold this Spaghetti Dinner annually as part of the Mar‐ quette Challenge. This is a grassroots fundraising effort coordinated and carried out exclu‐ sively by physical therapist and physical therapist assistant students to raise money for the foundation for Physical Therapy . Marquette University students founded the Marquette Challenge in 1988 and serve as the permanent sponsor. The 20th Marquette Challenge raised $171,124. Since the inception of the Challenge, students have raised over $1.3 million dollars for the Foundation for Physical Therapy.

Where: Pittsford Fire House 465 Pittsford‐Mendon Road Pittsford, NY 14534

Time & Date: Friday March 6, 2009 4:00 p.m. ‐ 7:00 p.m.

Take Main Street South from the college campus, follow Route 64 Pittsford‐Mendon Rd. (across from the high school).

Page 11

Alumni Corner By: Melissa Carter

Julie Soprano (‘05) got married this summer July 5, 2008 and honeymooned in Maui! Her new name is now Julie Borsz. She and her husband, Greg, live in Syracuse.

Grace Kathryn Quarles daughter of Betsy Hamm (‘08) and Randy Quarles, born September 16th, 2008 @ 11:42PM, 7 lbs. 15 ounces, 20 inches.

Jeff and Angela May –Cass (‘06) welcomed the arrival of their new baby boy, William "Will" Joseph Cass on August 17th, 2008 at 10:13 AM. He was 8 lbs. 2 oz. and 21 3/4 inches long.

Page 12

Season’s Greeting from your friends at the Nazareth College Department of Physical Therapy

Top Left to Right: Annette Willgens, Sara Gombatto, JJ Mowder‐Tinney, Marcia Miller‐Spoto, Connie Chau, Staffan Elgelid, Jennifer Collins Bottom Left to Right: Andrew Bartlett, Mary Therese Novak, Andy Opett, Mary Ellen Vore