Inclusion, Diversity, and Belonging

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In September 2021, Tx:Team launched a formal Inclusion, Diversity, and Belonging (IDB) Initiative. This initiative came out of a question we asked our leadership team: how do our associates and patients experience Tx:Team?

Our mission is to provide everyone with the opportunity to live the healthiest life possible. Diversity of background, experience, identity, ethnicity, race, sexual identity and orientation, and perspective improves the creativity, innovation, quality, and effectiveness of the therapy we provide.

On October 28th and 29th, 2021, we convened a meeting of Tx:Team’s IDB workgroup comprised of associates from around the country and members of our home office, along with guests from the Indiana University Schools of Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy. Facilitated by Rob Shook and Bill Kirst, our workshop generated five specific initiatives that Tx:Team has adopted and will execute in 2022 and 2023:

  1. Develop an authentic and clearly articulated statement of Tx:Team’s IDB philosophy.
  2. Establish safe spaces for associates to be themselves, talk openly about key issues, and seek guidance from easily identifiable allies/mentors.
  3. Incorporate IDB into Tx:Team’s internal and external marketing and communication platforms and materials.
  4. Create a one-year fellowship for new Physical and Occupational Therapy, and Speech Language Pathology graduates with a specific focus on engaging therapists from groups that are historically underrepresented in our profession.
  5. Target groups in schools and organizations that are historically underrepresented in our industry and provide education, opportunities for shadowing, and other exposure to possible career paths in the rehab profession.

One of Tx:Team’s core identifying characteristics is authenticity, and we take this very seriously. Our intent was to clearly and publicly state who we are and what we believe, and then put those beliefs into action. To broaden our reach and better reflect the diversity found in our communities, we are creating opportunities for historically underrepresented groups to access the education, experience, and support necessary to join the therapy profession.

Tx:Team is a place for anyone with a passion for healing and a desire to change the world, and we are committed to fostering an environment where each associate can be included, valued, and seen. We want everyone who walks through our doors to feel safe and comfortable just being themselves.

Posture vs Movement

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Quite a few studies have tried to link posture to chronic pain and tightness, but none have been successful. That’s because our bodies are adaptable and it is hard to be in a harmful position when just sitting at a desk. However, there is evidence demonstrating that being sedentary can actually result in an individual experiencing discomfort, tension and other physical concerns.

Focusing on regular movement breaks rather than being in any specific posture is a good way to start to alleviate these issues. You should try to take these movement breaks about once every 45 minutes and they can be as simple as doing some neck and shoulder rolls or walking to the water cooler.

If you have questions about your posture or pain in general, contact Tx:Team today!

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    Take a Breath

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    Do you have consistent pain and tightness in your upper neck muscles, and no amount of stretches or movements seem to help? You might just need to take a breath.

    Stress can be a primary driver and exacerbator of pain and tightness because it engages your sympathetic nervous system. To reduce tension in the muscles and ultimately lessen pain and discomfort, you need to take some breaths! To learn how simple breathing techniques can help, watch this quick video:

    Ergonomics Assessment in the Workplace

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    Poor posture and ineffective workplace ergonomics are the leading causes of back pain and muscle stiffness. Ergonomics can improve the health and well-being of employees while also promoting productivity and efficiency.

    There’s a certain way we should be sitting at our desk and be positioned in order to prevent stiffness and pain, but what does that look like? Here are a few tips:

    • The top of your computer monitor should be lined up directly with your eyeline so that while you’re working you can keep your head in a nice, neutral, and comfortable position.
    • There should be enough room on your desk to rest your forearms to prevent your upper neck muscles to overwork and support the weight of your arms.
    • Your lower back should be touching the chair ideally in a neutral or slightly extended position. If you need to, feel free to add a pillow to get in this position.
    • Your feet should be flat on the floor with your knees bent at roughly 90 degrees.

    If you’re struggling with your ergonomic setup, contact Tx:Team today to find out how you can set up a personalized ergonomic assessment.

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      Prehab to Prevent Injuries

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      One of our innovative approaches to physical therapy at Tx:Team is Prehab. We focus on the prevention of injuries before an issue or pain arises. What does Prehab look like in terms of physical therapy? From ergonomic assessments in office environments to movement engagement for workers in the manufacturing setting, we can help.

      The applications of Prehab are endless and they can end up saving companies and patients money in unneeded care. If you would like to learn more about preventing injuries from happening, fill out the form below:

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        Virtual Physical Therapy

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        The way that jobs are done has changed quite a bit in the past few years and physical therapy is no different. Since the pandemic began, a need for physical therapy in a virtual setting has grown exponentially and here at Tx:Team, we are ensuring we are delivering on this need. Individuals want to have services from the privacy of their own home or worksite, and virtual services enable better adherence to their plan of care.

        Tx:Team provides a fully virtual physical therapy service when the situation calls for it, and we do this on a safe and HIPAA-compliant platform that works on any web browser with no downloads needed. All you need to do is simply join the virtual waiting room at the time of your appointment and you will be connected to your physical therapist.

        While in-person visits are still preferred in certain situations, the outcomes data from FOTO supports the effectiveness of virtual physical therapy. FOTO is the top outcomes data platform in the U.S. with over 9.5 million encounters and more than 24,000 clinicians inputting results – and Tx:Team is ranked in the top 4% nationally on this platform..

        If you are looking for the most effective virtual physical therapy experience on the market today, contact us at Tx: Team.

        Direct Access for a Physical Therapy First Approach

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        Did you know that if you are in pain or have sustained an injury you can see a physical therapist with no referral needed? Not only that, but it can save you both time and money in the long run.

        There is mounting evidence that visiting a physical therapist first can reduce costs and improve the overall outcome of injury rehabilitation. When you choose physical therapy first, it has been shown to lower costs by 72% and often provides similar if not better outcomes. A physical therapy first approach for uncomplicated low back pain leads to an average treatment duration of only 22 days, while seeing your primary care provider first leads to an average treatment duration of 66 days.

        Physical therapy helps patients reduce or eliminate pain by addressing the factors that are contributing to their pain. This also helps patients avoid surgery, and in the other cases pre-surgery PT helps patients recover more quickly with better outcomes. Plus, early physical therapy is associated with a reduced risk of opioid use.

        If you’re looking for someone to help you with a physical therapy first approach, contact Tx:Team today!

        It’s Women’s Health Week! Questions? We Have Answers!

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        May 8th through the 14th is Women’s Health Week and the goal is to empower women to make their health a top priority and educate on the steps women can take to improve their health.  During the week, you can get the answers to top questions that are asked about Women’s Health. 

        Women’s issues are important and most women suffer needlessly because they are not aware of the rehabilitation programming designed especially for women. Many patients suffer in silence from disorders caused from pregnancy, disease, musculoskeletal injury and surgery, or an unknown etiology.

        Women’s Health physical therapists are trained to evaluate and treat the common conditions as well as more extensive diagnoses. The Tx:Team’s Women’s Health Program works with each patient on an individual basis with the ultimate goal of returning you to your daily routine as quickly as possible.  Physical Therapists work alongside you, the patient, to examine, treat, train, and educate.

        Many of the diagnoses that women face are sensitive and can make a woman feel embarrassed. It’s time to get the conversations started! Since a women’s health program may be new to a majority of women, there are typically many questions surrounding how the program might help with your diagnosis or problem.

        What does a Women’s Health Physical Therapist do?  

        Women’s Health Physical Therapists provide specialized physical therapy services to diagnoses specific to women. These clinicians have received additional training for evaluation and treatment of the pelvic floor including both external and internal assessments.

        What conditions does the Women’s Health Program address?

        • Urinary Incontinence
        • Pelvic Pain
          • Clitirodynia
          • Levator Ani Syndrome
          • Prudendal neuralgia
          • Vulvodynia/VVS
          • Dyspareunia
          • Coccygodynia
          • Tension Myalgia
        • Pelvic Organ Prolapse
        • Low/Mid Back Pain
        • SI Joint Dysfunction
        • Pregnancy related pain
        • PreNatal/PostPartum Conditions
        • Painful scars (c-section/episiotomy)
        • Diastasis Recti
        • Back Pain
        • Neck/Shoulder Pain
        • Painful Intercourse
        • Sacrococcygeal Joint Dysfunction
        • Osteoporosis
        • Lymphedema Management
        • Fibromyalgia
        • Gynecological surgery (pre/post op care)
        • Myofascial Pain Syndrome
        • Pain associated with Interstitial Cystitis & Endometriosis

        Tx:Team Women’s Health Physical Therapy programs can be found at FMH Rehabilitation in Frederick, MD. Ladies, it’s time to take the steps to improve your health and Women’s Health Week is the perfect time to start!

        Come Find Out Why Working With Us is Good Therapy

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        Are you a Physical Therapist who loves working in outpatient orthopedics but are tired of the double bookings and long hours? Do you want quality one on one time with your patients? We’re hiring a Physical Therapist for our employer based clinic at the Finish Line Headquarters Health and Wellness Center in Indianapolis, Indiana.

        What makes this opportunity so unique? You will be practicing on the Finish Line campus in a private clinic where you will see all your patients one on one. There is no cost to the employee for physical therapy services and therefore no out-of-pocket expenses. This position only treats employees and their family members covered under Finish Line’s health plan.

        Tx:Team is ranked in the top 4% nationally for effectiveness due to our treatment style. And we don’t just get great results for our patients; at Tx:Team, we take pride in the satisfaction of our associates as a company that was founded and is still managed by therapists.

        Dan is here to explain more about the position:

        Come find out why working with us is good therapy. Get all the details about this unique setting and apply here!

        April is Occupational Therapy Month

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        Written by Carroll Nelligan, Tx:Team President and Chief Operating Officer

        “You know that occupational therapy is more than a profession—it’s a passion, and it’s about people.”  AOTA

        It’s April, an entire month dedicated to promote and create more awareness around the great field of Occupational Therapy. I encourage all of our Occupational Therapists to carve out some time to reflect on the great work you do and recharge yourselves with empowerment and inspiration. Here’s what inspires me about our profession:

        OT is Creative. I had the pleasure of attending the Quarterly OT meeting with OTRs and COTAs from our Bridge region and our Indiana hospitals. We opened with a sharing activity, “What is a favorite Therapeutic Activity that you use in your practice?”  The inventive and resourceful list included making overnight oatmeal, packing a suitcase, selecting and wrapping a gift and many others. OTs have the training and expertise to select an activity and break it down into all of the required motor, cognitive, visual, and perceptual components to help our patients achieve meaningful occupation based goals. As we were sharing, my first supervisor at Good Samaritan Hospital Georgina Miller’s words echoed in my brain. “If you are doing straight exercise with a patient, you are NOT an occupational therapist.” OTs are creative experts in therapeutic activity!

        OT is Evidence Based. Occupational therapy is a science-driven, evidence-based profession that enables people of all ages to participate in daily living or live better with injury, illness, or disability. This is accomplished through designing strategies for everyday living and customizing environments to develop and maximize potential. An independent study published in Medical Care Research found that “occupational therapy is the only spending category that has significantly lowered hospital readmission rates.”  What were the OT interventions that drove this?  Recommendations and training for caregivers, assistive devices, home safety assessments, assessing cognition around medication management, and functional mobility. Tx:Team Occupational Therapists and Certified Occupational Therapy Assistants in the hospital environment are impacting readmission rates each and every day!

        OT is Holistic. We do with people not to people. We are about helping people live life to the fullest, regardless of what their life is like or who they are. By taking the full picture into account—a person’s psychological, physical, emotional, and social make-up—occupational therapy assists people in:

        • Achieving their goals
        • Functioning at the highest possible level
        • Concentrating on what matters most to them
        • Maintaining or rebuilding their independence
        • Participating in the everyday activities that they need to do or that simply make life worth living

        We are experts in helping people perform the occupations they need and want to do every day.

        Forever an OT.  Every weekend I visit my Mom at her senior living campus to spend time with her and help her with household tasks. On my most recent trip, I arrived at her apartment only to I realize I had left an item on my kitchen counter that was meant for her. Honestly, I was a bit frustrated, and I hurriedly exited the building to return (for yet another trip) to CVS.  It was then I saw a car door open in the parking lot and a resident was on the pavement. Her rolling walker (tennis balls in the air!) was turned over and she was struggling to get up. God works in small mysterious ways by sending a frustrated OT out to the parking lot at just at the right time. Occupational therapists (no matter what we are doing) are OTs at heart and are indispensable healthcare professionals within our communities.

        Thank you to all of our talented, creative, smart, and dedicated Occupational Therapists and Certified Occupational Therapy Assistants. Take the time this month to celebrate and recognize our fabulous OTRs and COTAs for the passionate professionals that they are.