Best Practices

Spring has sprung and soon everyone will take their exercise routines outside. There is nothing better than a good workout with the sun shining down on you and the fresh air filling your lungs. However, with all exercise, there are certain measures you should take to stay safe and prevent injury. NARA has compiled a short list of things you can do to get the most out of your workout this spring.

1.   Start Slow

Almost... Read More

We heart February! Why you may ask? It's because February is heart health month and we are so excited to educate and remind everyone on heart-healthy choices they can start making today. 

It doesn’t matter your age, your heart is important and keeping it in the best shape possible will help to improve your quality of life and longevity. The heart is responsible for providing the entire body with oxygen, nutrients and waste removal. These are some... Read More

Once you’ve had an injury, it’s easy to get injured in the same spot again and again. This is particularly true for athletes and children who may not be as cautious with their weak spots as an adult. Further exacerbating old injuries can cause more hardship than the original injury.  However, there are some tricks that can be done to help treat and prevent recurring injuries with physical therapy. Don’t let these injuries follow you into the new year!

Even seemingly... Read More

Don’t let the holidays halt the health strides you have made the past year. There are ways to keep your active lifestyle on track as you travel, eat and prepare for the fun festivities. We hope you can find something that helps you this season with some guidance on overcoming common barriers to a healthy lifestyle. 

We live in a culture where there is a holiday to celebrate nearly every month. If we use the holidays as a reason to bail on our health goals we will always be... Read More

We’re about to be turning our calendars to 2020. Like most people, it’s a time to reflect on what went well the past year and imagine what kind of year we would like to see come to fruition moving forward. It’s important to always push ourselves to provide the best care for our patients. For many, the goal is to reduce no shows and increase patients. This can be done by providing exceptional service in the following ways. 

Bring Patients In

You... Read More

Think about your last experience in customer service - maybe you got your car fixed at the auto body shop or experienced a plumbing issue in your home. These are usually not cheap fixes and an area where many feel uneducated about the terminology. It can make you feel uneasy and requires a sense of trust in the technician diagnosing or fixing the problem. In the same way, your patients are trusting you to not only be clear in your directions but prove you are trustworthy and have their best interests... Read More

For many, the days leading up to surgery are a little nerve-wracking. Patients may be grateful to be on their way to restored health but still realize that they have a journey ahead of them. Fast forward to the days and months after surgery. You should be sure to note these special considerations when planning and implementing post-op treatment sessions. 

Results

Surgery is serious, and it is likely your patient... Read More

A Message From NARA's President: Reflections on Inter-Professional Practice, ASHA, and PDPM

The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) has been making a concerted effort to build partnerships between their Speech Language Pathologist members and SNF therapy providers.  I had the privilege of sitting on a panel last week representing NARA and skilled nursing rehabilitation providers at the ASHA Healthcare Connect conference in Chicago, Il.  Monday,... Read More

Attracting new patients is probably at the top of your marketing efforts, and though that means new business and more revenue, it is highly important to make sure the patients you do have keep walking through your doors. The effort to retain your patients can be more cost-effective. They know who you are and what you do, and have already benefited from the work you do. Why not make the most out of their experience and put a focus on making them a long-term patient? Also, when your patients have... Read More

This month we highlight the importance of caution in the home in honor of National Safety Month. With more and more adults deciding to age in place, there is no better time than now to discuss how occupational therapy can not only assist but improve life at home for aging adults. One of the biggest concerns with aging in place among OT is how vision can impact not only safety but quality of life. Here are a few quick tips from... Read More