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From Biochemistry to Business: What One Summer Intern Built at Tx:Team

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In a month, Patrick Countryman will begin his master’s program at Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management. This summer, he built AI-powered forecasting tools, developed user interfaces, automated clinic-hour allocations across our network, and contributed to a range of finance and operational initiatives.

A biochemistry major with a math minor from Wabash College, Patrick originally expected to pursue medicine. But internships, research, and conversations with healthcare executives shifted his focus toward the business that supports healthcare rather than the practice of it—a realization that led him to Kellogg’s Master’s in Management program.

His path to Tx:Team started with a conversation, too. Through the Wabash alumni network, fraternity brothers connected him with Scott Benedict, CEO of Tx:Team. A networking call turned into an internship offer that same afternoon.

Patrick arrived hoping for hands-on experience with financial modeling and spreadsheets. He will leave having rebuilt a significant piece of our forecasting infrastructure.

Working with Spencer Sheridan, Director of Finance, Patrick streamlined a lot of the coding behind allocating clinic hours across the organization. His Python scripts now extract the hours and apply the allocations across clinics automatically, handling the distribution without manual intervention. He automated several related processes too, from making sure charges are entered correctly to recording hours and generating logs throughout the workflow.

The most impressive piece is a platform he built called Watchdog, a monitoring and logging system that tracks all of those processes to confirm they’re running successfully. If something fails, Watchdog pinpoints exactly where and why, continuously monitoring the systems for changes and flagging errors the moment they occur.

That phase of the work is essentially done—the team has maximized what it can leverage out of Access—and Patrick has since moved on to the next phase: work focused on building out the user interface. The longer-term vision is layering AI on top so leaders can ask plain-language questions about the data.

What makes that more impressive: Patrick started the summer with almost no programming experience. Learning by doing meant making mistakes, including the script that erased a clinic’s year-to-date hours and cost the team several hours to recover. He tells it with a laugh now, but it also reflects the kind of internship it was: real ownership of real systems, not busywork.

“His ability to dive in and learn these things really quickly, and work independently, has been really amazing,” Spencer said. “He just graduated from undergrad, and his ability to take on some of these bigger projects and work autonomously is pretty impressive.”

Spencer’s advice heading into Kellogg: keep networking—already Patrick’s instinct—and build a career that balances ambition with the life he actually wants to lead.

Patrick’s own sights are set on healthcare consulting or life sciences investment banking, work that would combine the science that first drew him toward medicine with the business perspective that ultimately won him over.

Digital Overuse: Is Your Screen Time Affecting Your Health?

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Screens are a part of everyday life. Whether we’re working on a computer, scrolling through our phones, attending virtual meetings, or relaxing with a favorite show, digital devices help us stay connected and productive. However, spending too much time on these devices can have unintended effects on our physical health.

Known as digital overuse, this growing concern can lead to discomfort, pain, and decreased mobility if left unaddressed.

What Is Digital Overuse?

Digital overuse occurs when prolonged screen time and repetitive device use lead to physical strain on the body. Hours spent sitting, looking down at devices, or performing repetitive movements like typing and texting can contribute to poor posture and musculoskeletal issues.

Common symptoms include:

  • Neck and shoulder pain (“tech neck”)
  • Back pain and poor posture
  • Wrist and hand discomfort
  • Headaches and eye strain
  • Reduced flexibility and overall movement

Over time, these issues can interfere with daily activities and overall well-being.

How Physical Therapy Can Help

Physical therapy offers an effective way to address both the symptoms and underlying causes of digital overuse. Rather than simply managing pain, physical therapists focus on improving movement, strengthening weak areas, and preventing future injuries.

Some of the ways physical therapy can help include:

Posture Improvement

A physical therapist can identify postural imbalances and provide strategies to improve alignment while working, sitting, and using digital devices.

Targeted Exercises

Personalized stretching and strengthening programs can help relieve tension in the neck, shoulders, and back while improving mobility and core stability.

Pain Relief

Hands-on treatment techniques, therapeutic exercises, and other non-invasive interventions can help reduce pain and restore function.

Ergonomic Guidance

Simple adjustments to desk setup, screen height, and workstation positioning can significantly reduce strain during daily activities.

Movement Strategies

Learning to take regular movement breaks and incorporate stretching throughout the day can help combat the effects of prolonged sitting.

Simple Steps You Can Take Today

Reducing the effects of digital overuse doesn’t have to be complicated. Try these simple tips:

  • Follow the 20-20-20 Rule: Every 20 minutes, look 20 feet away for 20 seconds.
  • Keep screens at eye level whenever possible.
  • Sit with your feet flat on the floor and your back supported.
  • Stretch your neck, shoulders, and upper back throughout the day.
  • Take movement breaks every 30–60 minutes.

When to Seek Help

If you’re experiencing persistent neck, back, or shoulder pain, tingling in your hands or arms, frequent headaches, or difficulty maintaining good posture, it may be time to consult a physical therapist. Early intervention can prevent minor aches from becoming long-term problems.

Stay Connected—Without the Pain

Technology isn’t going anywhere, and it shouldn’t have to. By building healthier habits, improving posture, and staying active throughout the day, you can enjoy the benefits of digital devices without sacrificing your physical health.

Taking care of your body today can help prevent discomfort tomorrow—and physical therapy can help you stay moving, healthy, and connected.

 

If Payors Shift Routine MSK Away From Hospitals, What’s Left? 

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For hospital rehabilitation leaders, the shift of routine musculoskeletal (MSK) care to lower-cost settings can feel like a direct threat. As payors increasingly direct straightforward orthopedic and MSK cases toward retail outpatient clinics many hospital-based programs are asking the same question: 

What’s left for us? 

The answer is not to cede ground — it’s to compete smarter. 

Hospital rehabilitation programs that thrive in this environment will do two things well: continue to compete for routine MSK volume using outcomes, clinical quality, and specialized certifications, while simultaneously building the specialty services that lower-cost competitors simply cannot match. These are not competing strategies. They are complementary ones. 

 

Why Payors Are Directing Care Elsewhere 

Payors have a clear financial incentive to direct care to lower-cost settings. In many cases, this is as much about improving their own margins as it is about managing costs on behalf of employer-sponsored health plans. When a straightforward knee replacement recovery or uncomplicated low back pain episode can be treated safely outside a hospital, payors will continue to direct those patients away from hospital-based services. 

This trend is unlikely to reverse. 

But the response shouldn’t be retreat. Hospitals have real advantages in routine MSK care — clinical outcomes, staff credentials, specialized certifications, care coordination infrastructure — and those advantages are worth competing on. The goal is not to abandon routine care. It’s to ensure that routine care is not all you offer. 

 

The Case for Specialty Services as a Differentiator 

Specialty rehabilitation services matter not as a fallback when routine volume disappears, but as a strategic layer that strengthens the overall program. They deepen physician relationships, expand the patient population a program can serve, and create a level of clinical value that independent and community providers are poorly positioned to replicate. 

Profitability in specialty populations is genuinely challenging. Neuro, oncology, and complex orthopedic patients require more time, more coordination, and more clinical resources than routine MSK cases. That’s precisely why these services work best as part of a balanced program. 

Hospitals that build specialty services alongside a healthy routine volume base are better positioned to sustain them. 

Neuro Rehabilitation: A Growing Opportunity 

Patients recovering from stroke, traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, and other neurological conditions require far more than routine therapy visits. Successful neuro rehabilitation demands close physician collaboration, advanced clinical specialization, multiple therapy disciplines, complex care coordination, and longitudinal patient management. 

These programs depend on integrated teams — physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, physiatrists, neurologists, nurses, social workers, and case managers working in concert. That level of coordination is difficult to duplicate in fragmented care settings. 

As healthcare becomes more specialized, comprehensive neuro rehabilitation may become one of the strongest differentiators for hospital-based programs because it signals a depth of capability that routine providers cannot claim. 

 

Oncology Rehabilitation Is Becoming Essential 

Cancer survivorship continues to grow, creating increasing demand for rehabilitation services before, during, and after treatment. Patients frequently experience cancer-related fatigue, neuropathy, lymphedema, functional decline, balance deficits, cognitive changes, and complex comorbidities — often simultaneously. 

Effective oncology rehabilitation requires close alignment with oncology teams and individualized treatment plans that evolve alongside medical care. Hospitals are uniquely positioned to integrate rehabilitation into the broader cancer care continuum, making oncology rehab an area where specialized expertise creates significant value for patients, providers, and payors alike. 

 

Complex Orthopedic Programs Remain a Hospital Strength 

Not all orthopedic rehabilitation is routine and hospitals shouldn’t treat it as though it is. 

Revision surgeries, trauma cases, multiple-joint involvement, post-operative complications, medically fragile patients, and individuals with significant comorbidities require a higher level of clinical oversight and coordination. These patients benefit from specialized orthopedic pathways, collaborative physician management, advanced outcome tracking, and clear escalation pathways when complications arise. 

As payors direct more routine orthopedic cases elsewhere, hospitals have an opportunity to become recognized centers of excellence for the cases that require deeper expertise. That positioning reinforces rather than replaces their value to the orthopedic service line. 

 

Multidisciplinary Care Is Difficult to Replace 

One of the most underappreciated advantages of hospital rehabilitation programs is their ability to bring multiple specialists together around a single patient. Complex patients rarely fit neatly into one diagnosis. A patient recovering from stroke may also have cardiac disease. A cancer survivor may have orthopedic limitations. An older adult recovering from surgery may face neurological, cognitive, and social barriers simultaneously. 

Hospital-based programs can coordinate care across disciplines in ways that independent providers often cannot — and that integrated approach creates a level of clinical value that is difficult for competitors to replicate, regardless of their cost structure. 

 

Specialty Populations Create Sustainable Differentiation 

The most resilient rehabilitation programs are often built around patient populations with unique needs: pediatric rehabilitation, vestibular disorders, pelvic health, movement disorders, limb loss and amputee care, spinal cord injury, chronic pain programs, and adaptive sports and performance programs. 

These services require specialized expertise, dedicated staff training, and clinical infrastructure that takes years to develop. As a result, they are less vulnerable to site-of-care shifts and reimbursement pressures — and they give referring physicians a reason to think of your program first across a broader range of patients. 

 

What This Looks Like in Practice 

These aren’t hypothetical strategies — they’re outcomes from rehabilitation programs we partner with through our Hospital Solutions model. 

In one community market, we helped grow a hospital-based outpatient clinic by recruiting physical therapists and PTAs who had earned the trust of local physicians and established strong referral relationships within the healthcare community. Rather than starting from scratch to build a referral network, we leveraged those existing relationships, allowing the program to grow more quickly. 

In another partner program, we worked with the hospital’s orthopedic service line to develop a formal Total Joint Program — standardized pre-operative education, streamlined scheduling, and structured communication between therapy and surgical teams. What had been an informal referral relationship became an integrated care pathway that strengthened routine orthopedic volume while positioning the program as the obvious choice for more complex cases. 

That same program identified an untapped opportunity in women’s health. By establishing standardized referral protocols with OB/GYN physicians — including clear indications for referring new mothers from the maternity ward — pelvic health services went from ad hoc to consistent and growing. 

We’ve also supported partner programs in building out occupational therapy upper extremity and hand specialty services across multiple clinic locations. These aren’t add-ons — they’re purpose-built service lines that referring orthopedic and sports medicine physicians increasingly depend on, and that community competitors are poorly positioned to replicate. 

The throughline across all of it: growth came from competing deliberately for routine volume while building the specialty depth that makes a program genuinely hard to replace. 

 

The Strategic Question Has Two Parts 

Hospital leaders shouldn’t just ask which patients are moving elsewhere. They should ask two questions in parallel: 

How do we continue to compete for the routine cases that sustain our program? 

Which patients are uniquely dependent on capabilities that only we can provide? 

The answers to both questions point toward the same destination — a rehabilitation program that is clinically credible across the full spectrum of patient need, financially sustainable because it isn’t dependent on any single patient population, and strategically differentiated in ways that are genuinely hard to replicate. 

 

The Bottom Line 

Payors directing routine MSK care away from hospitals does not signal the end of hospital-based rehabilitation. It signals the need for a more deliberate strategy. 

The programs most likely to thrive will be those that do both: compete hard for routine MSK cases on the strength of their outcomes and clinical quality, while building specialty services that deepen their value to physicians, patients, and health systems. 

Hospital Solutions

How Hospital Outpatient Rehab Programs Win by Operating Like a Business

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Most hospitals treat outpatient rehab like a department. They staff it, schedule it, and hope the referrals keep coming — measuring performance by headcount and complaints, not margin and market share. The hospitals winning right now treat it like a business.

Why the “department” mindset no longer works for outpatient rehab

For a long time, passive management worked. Internal referrals were predictable, reimbursement was stable, and competition was limited. That environment no longer exists.

Today, outpatient rehab is consumer driven. Patients choose based on access, convenience, and experience — not hospital brand loyalty. Major payors like Cigna and Anthem are actively redirecting routine musculoskeletal (MSK) care to lower-cost sites of care. Freestanding clinics are investing in marketing, building referral relationships, and capturing patients earlier. Meanwhile, hospital rehab margins are compressed from both sides — reimbursement flat or declining, labor costs rising. There is no slack left for operational inefficiency.

5 shifts that define a high-performing outpatient rehab program

Running an outpatient rehab program like a business is not about profit for its own sake. It is about the discipline, intentionality, and market awareness that any successful ambulatory business requires to grow and sustain itself.

1.Know your numbers — and act on them in real time

A business does not wait for the annual review to find out it had a bad quarter. It tracks key metrics continuously and builds accountability structures that drive action when performance moves in the wrong direction.

Most hospital outpatient rehab programs lack this infrastructure. Performance data lives in the EMR, gets pulled quarterly at best, and rarely drives meaningful operational changes. The gap between knowing and acting is where margin quietly erodes.

2.Compete actively for patients and referrals

A business does not assume customers will find it. It invests in being found through targeted marketing, active referral relationship development, and a consistent presence with the physicians and community partners who drive volume.

Passive reliance on internal referrals is no longer a growth strategy for outpatient rehab. It is a slow decline. The freestanding clinic down the street calls your referring physicians weekly. It has a dedicated person whose job is to make those relationships stronger. It is building trust through consistent outreach, outcome transparency, and ease of access.

Hospital-based programs that do not invest in proactive referral development and community presence will continue to lose volume to more aggressive competitors — regardless of clinical quality.

3.Treat patient access as a core growth strategy

In competitive outpatient rehab markets, wait time is often the deciding factor for both patients and referring physicians. Patients who cannot be seen within a few days will find a provider who can. Referral sources that receive consistent feedback about long wait times will begin routing patients elsewhere.

High-performing outpatient rehab programs treat access as a strategic lever, not an operational detail. They optimize scheduling models, reduce throughput bottlenecks, and protect their ability to provide timely evaluations because they understand that every additional day of wait time is a patient conversion risk and a referral retention risk.

4.Retain patients through the full plan of care

Acquiring a new patient is only the beginning. Retaining them through a complete plan of care is where both outcomes and revenue are captured.

High cancellation and drop-off rates are one of the most significant and most under addressed drains on outpatient rehab financial performance. Patients who do not complete their plan of care do not achieve the outcomes they came for, do not refer others, and represent a direct revenue loss that compounds across high visit volumes.

Leading programs invest in patient engagement infrastructure: automated appointment reminders, digital touchpoints between visits, and patient education that builds understanding of why each session matters. They also align front office teams and clinicians around shared accountability for retention — not just first appointments, but final ones.

5.Develop rehab directors who manage a business, not just a team

Perhaps the most consequential shift is in how rehab directors understand their own role.

The best outpatient rehab leaders today are not just clinical experts. They are operators. They own the financial performance of their program. They manage referral relationships intentionally. They partner with hospital service line leaders — orthopedics, neurology, oncology — to design care pathways that create value for the whole organization. They recruit and develop talent with the same intentionality a business leader brings to building a high-performing team.

This is a harder job than managing a department. It requires a broader skill set, a wider field of vision, and a willingness to be accountable for outcomes that extend well beyond clinical quality. But it is the role the current market requires of anyone leading a hospital outpatient rehab program.

The competitive gap between programs is widening

The distance between outpatient rehab programs that operate like businesses and those that do not is growing and it is becoming increasingly difficult to close.

Programs investing in real-time data, operational discipline, proactive referral development, patient engagement, and strong leadership are building compounding advantages: stronger physician relationships, faster access, higher retention, more differentiated clinical offerings, and better margins. Programs that are not investing in these areas are losing volume, losing talent, and losing relevance — often slowly enough that leadership does not notice until the damage is significant.

The question for hospital executives and rehab leaders is not whether outpatient rehab should be run like a business. The market has already answered that question.

The question is whether your program is ready to make the shift and whether you are willing to invest in the capabilities it requires before the competitive gap becomes too wide to close.

 

Stroke Support Month – The Power of Rehabilitation Through Every Stage of Recovery

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Stroke Support Month – The Power of Rehabilitation Through Every Stage of Recovery

Each May, Stroke Support Month shines a light on the millions of individuals and families impacted by stroke—and the journey of recovery that follows. A stroke can change life in an instant, affecting movement, communication, thinking, and independence. While every stroke is different, one thing remains consistent: rehabilitation therapy plays a vital role in helping people rebuild their lives.

Recovery is not a single moment—it is a journey that unfolds over time. From the earliest days in the hospital to long-term outpatient care, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy work together to support recovery, maximize function, and restore confidence.

 Understanding Stroke Recovery

A stroke occurs when blood flow to the brain is interrupted, causing damage that can affect the body in many ways. Individuals may experience:

  • Weakness or paralysis
  • Difficulty walking or balancing
  • Trouble speaking or understanding language
  • Challenges with daily tasks
  • Memory, attention, or problem-solving difficulties
  • Swallowing or voice changes

Recovery looks different for everyone, but therapy is most effective when it begins early and continues as long as progress is possible.

 Therapy in the Hospital: Beginning the Recovery Journey

Rehabilitation often begins within days of a stroke while a patient is still in the hospital. This early phase focuses on stability, safety, and preventing complications.

Therapists may help individuals:

  • Sit up and begin moving safely
  • Stand, transfer, or take early steps
  • Swallow safely to reduce risk
  • Start basic communication

These first steps are critical in setting the foundation for ongoing recovery and regaining independence.

 Therapy at Home: Building Independence

After discharge, many patients continue therapy through home health services. Receiving care in a familiar environment provides comfort while allowing therapy to focus on real-life tasks.

In-home therapy helps individuals:

  • Regain strength and balance
  • Practice walking, dressing, bathing, and other daily activities
  • Improve speech, thinking, and swallowing skills
  • Reduce fall risk and increase confidence

This stage supports the transition from hospital to everyday life, helping patients rebuild independence safely.

 Outpatient Therapy: Maximizing Long-Term Recovery

As strength and endurance improve, many individuals move on to outpatient therapy. This phase focuses on higher-level goals and long-term function.

Outpatient therapy may include:

  • Improving walking speed, distance, and endurance
  • Refining arm and hand function
  • Enhancing communication and cognitive skills
  • Supporting return to work, hobbies, and community activities

Recovery can continue for months—or even years—with consistent therapy and support.

 The Power of Rehabilitation: A Team Approach

Stroke recovery is most successful when therapies work together. Each discipline plays a unique and essential role:

 Physical Therapy: Rebuilding Strength and Mobility

Physical therapists help individuals regain movement, balance, and coordination. Therapy may focus on:

  • Improving strength and endurance
  • Restoring safe walking and mobility
  • Reducing fall risk
  • Managing pain, stiffness, or muscle tone changes

 Occupational Therapy: Restoring Daily Independence

Occupational therapists focus on meaningful daily activities and independence. They help with:

  • Dressing, bathing, grooming, and eating
  • Using the affected arm or hand
  • Cognitive skills like planning and problem-solving
  • Adaptive tools and home modifications
  • Returning to work and hobbies

 Speech Therapy: Supporting Communication and Swallowing

Speech-language pathologists address communication, cognition, and swallowing. Therapy may include:

  • Improving speech clarity and language skills
  • Addressing memory and attention challenges
  • Supporting voice strength
  • Treating swallowing difficulties

Together, these therapies address the whole person—body, mind, and communication—ensuring comprehensive and coordinated care.

 Recovery Doesn’t Stop—And Neither Does Support

Progress after a stroke doesn’t end at discharge. Many individuals continue to make meaningful gains long after the initial event. Rehabilitation empowers survivors to:

  • Regain skills
  • Adapt to changes
  • Build confidence and independence
  • Reconnect with loved ones
  • Reclaim their sense of self

Every step forward—no matter how small—is significant.

 Honoring Strength During Stroke Support Month

This Stroke Support Month, we celebrate the resilience of stroke survivors, the dedication of caregivers, and the expertise of rehabilitation professionals who guide recovery every step of the way.

Whether recovery begins in the hospital, continues at home, or progresses through outpatient care, therapy plays a powerful role in helping individuals move forward with strength, confidence, and hope.

If you or a loved one has experienced a stroke, rehabilitation therapy can make a difference—at any stage of the journey.

Voice Changes Across the Lifespan: How Speech Language Pathology Can Help

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Voice is central to how we communicate, express emotion, and connect with others. When voice quality changes—whether gradually with age or suddenly after illness—it can be unsettling, frustrating, and isolating. While voice changes are common, they are not something people have to simply accept.

Speech‑language pathologists (SLPs) play a vital role in identifying the cause of voice changes and helping individuals restore strength, clarity, and confidence in their voice—at any age and stage of health.

The eyes may be the window to the soul, but the voice tells the story. The vocal cords are incredible little muscles that reflect who we are and what we’re feeling. They’re tied to our overall wellbeing. I believe everyone deserves a healthy, clear, strong voice to tell their story and connect with loved ones. – Kristen Davis, CCC-SLP, CBIS, Speech Language Pathologist at Frederick Health Liberty Outpatient Clinic.

Why Do Voice Changes Happen?

Voice changes occur when something affects the complex coordination of the vocal cords, breath support, and surrounding muscles. These changes may develop gradually or appear suddenly, depending on the cause.

Voice Changes Related to Aging

As part of the natural aging process, the voice can change due to:

  • Weakening or thinning of vocal cord muscles
  • Reduced lung capacity and breath support
  • Changes in posture and muscle coordination
  • Reduced tissue elasticity and hydration

These changes—often referred to as presbyphonia—may lead to:

  • A softer or weaker voice
  • Hoarseness or breathiness
  • Vocal fatigue
  • Difficulty being heard or understood

Voice Changes Related to Illness or Medical Conditions

Voice changes are also common following illness or medical events and can affect adults of any age. These may include:

  • Respiratory illnesses (such as pneumonia, COVID‑19, or chronic lung disease)
  • Neurological conditions (Parkinson’s disease, stroke, multiple sclerosis)
  • Prolonged intubation or hospitalization
  • Reflux or gastrointestinal conditions
  • Cancer treatments involving the head, neck, or chest
  • Viral infections that irritate or inflame the vocal cords

Illness‑related voice changes may result in:

  • Sudden hoarseness or voice loss
  • Weak vocal projection
  • Vocal strain or discomfort
  • A shaky, rough, or unstable voice

Regardless of the cause, persistent voice changes should be evaluated—not ignored.

Why Voice Changes Matter

Voice issues affect more than speech—they affect participation in life. When speaking becomes difficult or effortful, people may:

  • Avoid phone calls or social gatherings
  • Feel frustrated during medical appointments
  • Reduce work or volunteer activities
  • Experience emotional stress or withdrawal

In some cases, voice changes can indicate underlying medical conditions that benefit from early intervention.

The Role of Speech‑Language Pathology

Speech‑language pathologists are specially trained to evaluate and treat voice disorders caused by aging, illness, or injury. Treatment is non‑invasive, personalized, and function‑focused.

How an SLP Can Help

Comprehensive Voice Evaluation

An SLP assesses voice quality, strength, pitch, endurance, breathing patterns, and vocal habits while considering medical history and recent illnesses or treatments.

Targeted Voice Therapy

voice changes across the lifespan

 


Therapy focuses on:

  • Improving vocal cord function
  • Increasing vocal strength and projection
  • Enhancing breath support and efficiency
  • Reducing strain, hoarseness, and fatigue

Education and Vocal Care Strategies
SLPs teach practical strategies to protect the voice, manage fatigue, and avoid habits that may worsen symptoms.

Restoring Confidence and Participation
Improving voice quality often leads to renewed confidence in conversation, social interaction, and daily communication.

Voice Therapy Is Effective at Any Age and Any Stage of Recovery

A common misconception is that voice therapy won’t help once changes are established or if someone is older or medically complex. In reality, many people experience meaningful improvement, even months or years after voice changes begin.

Voice therapy adapts to each person’s needs—whether they are recovering from illness, managing a chronic condition, or experiencing age‑related changes.

“Voice therapy can improve not only the speaking voice but also the singing voice—whether you sing for enjoyment or are a trained vocalist,” says Davis. “Often, people first notice a problem when they have difficulty reaching higher pitches while singing.”

She adds that “singing requires complex coordination of breathing and the muscles responsible for raising and lowering pitch. When these muscles aren’t working together properly, ongoing vocal strain can build over time, potentially leading to vocal cord problems such as nodules, polyps, or chronic inflammation—all of which can negatively affect singing quality.”

When to Seek Help

Consider evaluation by a speech‑language pathologist if voice changes:

  • Last longer than a few weeks
  • Follow illness, hospitalization, or surgery
  • Interfere with daily communication
  • Cause vocal discomfort or fatigue
  • Lead to avoidance of speaking situations

Early intervention leads to better outcomes—but improvement is possible even later.

Supporting Communication at Every Stage of Life

Healthy communication is essential to quality of life. Whether voice changes develop with aging, illness, or recovery, speech‑language pathology provides expert care to help individuals stay heard, stay connected, and stay engaged.

If you or a loved one are experiencing voice changes, a speech‑language pathologist can help restore strength, clarity, and confidence—no matter the cause.

 

Celebrating National Speech-Language-Hearing Month!

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Celebrating National Speech-Language-Hearing Month: Why Communication Matters and How Speech Therapy Helps

Each May, we celebrate National Speech-Language-Hearing Month , a time dedicated to raising awareness about communication health and the professionals who help people of all ages hear better, speak clearly, and connect more fully with the world around them.

Communication is essential to daily life. It shapes how we learn, work, build relationships, and express who we are. When speech, language, voice, hearing, or swallowing challenges arise, they can affect confidence, independence, and quality of life. That’s where speech-language therapy makes a meaningful difference.

What Is National Speech-Language-Hearing Month ?

National Speech-Language-Hearing Month , led by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), highlights the importance of early identification, prevention, and treatment of communication disorders. It’s also a time to recognize the impact that speech-language pathologists (SLPs) and audiologists have in helping people communicate effectively at every stage of life.

The Power of Speech Therapy Across the Lifespan

Speech therapy is not just for children—and it’s not only about speech sounds. Speech-language pathologists address a wide range of communication and swallowing needs for infants, children, adults, and older adults.

Speech Therapy Can Help With:

  • Speech clarity and articulation
  • Language understanding and expression
  • Voice changes from aging, illness, or injury
  • Cognitive-communication challenges (memory, attention, problem-solving)
  • Hearing-related communication strategies
  • Swallowing difficulties (dysphagia)
  • Communication changes after stroke, neurological conditions, or cancer treatment

Speech therapy is personalized, functional, and focused on helping individuals communicate in ways that matter most to their daily lives.

Why Communication Health Matters

When communication becomes difficult, people may withdraw from conversations, avoid social situations, or feel misunderstood. These challenges can impact:

  • Academic success
  • Workplace performance
  • Social participation
  • Mental health and emotional wellbeing
  • Independence and safety

Early evaluation and treatment by a speech-language pathologist can prevent small issues from becoming bigger barriers.

Speech Therapy Is Effective—At Any Age

A common misconception is that speech therapy only helps young children or that it’s “too late” for adults. In reality, people of all ages benefit from speech therapy, whether they’re:

  • A toddler learning first words
  • A student struggling with language or literacy
  • An adult experiencing voice changes after illness
  • Someone recovering from a stroke or neurological condition
  • An older adult noticing changes in speech, voice, hearing, or swallowing

SLPs meet individuals where they are and tailor therapy to their goals, abilities, and environments.

Celebrate by Taking Action

National Speech-Language-Hearing Month h is the perfect time to:

  • Pay attention to your own communication health
  • Encourage loved ones to seek help if they’re struggling
  • Schedule a screening or evaluation if concerns are present
  • Learn more about how speech therapy can help at any stage of life

Communication connects us—to our families, our communities, and our sense of self. Supporting communication health supports overall wellbeing.

Let Your Voice Be Heard

Speech therapy empowers people to speak up, be understood, and participate fully in life. This National Speech-Language-Hearing Month h, we celebrate progress, possibility, and the power of communication.

If you or someone you love has concerns about speech, language, voice, hearing, or swallowing, a speech-language pathologist can help—today, tomorrow, and for life.

“Home is where the heart is” and the place where my patients heal

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“The magic thing about home is that it feels good to leave, and it feels even better to come back.” – Unknown

“Home is a shelter from storms – all sorts of storms.”- William J. Bennett

Home is where the heart is.  For many of us, our home is the place we most want to be, especially while we are recovering from surgery, a hospitalization, or experiencing a decline in our ability to care for ourselves. In-home rehabilitation services have been offered through home health agencies for years.  Patients are being discharged from hospitals sooner, sicker, and more patients are declining rehab placements after discharge from the hospital. The home health team becomes an important step in the care continuum. As an Occupational Therapist in home health, I am an important player on that team.

As an Occupational Therapist, I work on all those things that occupy your time, from getting dressing, getting up and down from the toilet, taking a shower, making a meal, doing the laundry, driving, working, and enjoying your hobbies or leisure activities. After I assess someone’s abilities, I determine the areas that need to be improved and design a program that addresses those areas. The program could involve:

  • interventions in many different areas such as, therapeutic exercise, balance training, or cognition/thinking skills.
  • addressing Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) and mobility in the home, sometimes recommending adaptive devices to improve independence.

Think of me as the “gadget girl.”  I especially enjoy seeing how the right piece of equipment can make all the difference with someone’s independence. Equipment recommendations include the trialing and training on the use of the equipment, which is an important part of the job in the home. No matter how good a simulation in a clinic is, it can never replicate their home. Trialing the equipment in the patient’s actual home ensures the appropriate piece of equipment is obtained.

Home Health OT plays a huge role in the prevention of re-hospitalization. Home health clinicians wear many hats. I am an OT but at any given moment, I may have to function as a PT, Social Worker, or RN. Some days it seems that I spend half of my time talking to physicians, other clinicians, and family members trying to problem solve what will work best for my patient.

As with anything, there are aspects of my job that I love as well as the ongoing challenges that require creative resourcefulness to complete my job to the best of my abilities.

  • I enjoy the intimacy that comes being in someone’s home, connections seem easier to establish.
  • I enjoy seeing people’s family photographs, the things they collect, from stamps, vintage Pyrex, perfume bottles, or teapots.
  • I enjoy being able to use things like pet or plant care in my treatment sessions.
  • I am happy that my personal confidence with driving, navigation, and parking has improved.
  • The challenges of my days include scheduling, finding clean bathrooms, communication with coworkers who I rarely see, traffic woes, and caring for an increasingly sick population.

I feel that the rubber meets the road in home health. I see how people actually live, not just what they or their family report. When my primary care provider and I have talked shop during my visits, I have told her that if she could make home visits it would change the way she practices medicine. Seeing patients in their home is that powerful, and for an OT, is completely natural and just makes sense.

“Home is where the heart is” and it is where my patients heal.

 

Monica Laird is an Occupational Therapist in the Home Health setting in Frederick, MD.  In her 38 years as an OT, Monica has worked in a variety of settings including subacute rehab, outpatient rehabilitation, acute care, and now home health.

Happy Occupational Therapy Awareness Month!

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Celebrating Occupational Therapy Awareness Month: Empowering Lives Through Meaningful Action

Every April, we recognize Occupational Therapy Awareness Month, a time dedicated to celebrating the vital role Occupational Therapists (OTs) and Certified Occupational Therapy Assistants (COTAs) play in helping people of all ages live fuller, more independent lives.

Occupational therapy is about far more than recovery—it’s about enabling people to do the things that matter most to them.

What Is Occupational Therapy?

Occupational therapy focuses on helping individuals participate in the activities—or “occupations”—that give their lives meaning. These activities may include self‑care, work, school, play, leisure, or social participation. When illness, injury, disability, or life changes make everyday tasks challenging, occupational therapy provides practical tools and strategies to restore independence, confidence, and quality of life.

OTs and COTAs work with people across the lifespan—from infants learning to feed or play, to older adults adapting to changes in mobility or cognition. The common thread is a client‑centered approach that meets people where they are and supports their unique goals.

Where Occupational Therapists Make an Impact

Occupational therapy services can be found in a wide range of settings, including:

  • Hospitals and rehabilitation centers, supporting recovery after injury, surgery, or illness
  • Schools, helping children succeed academically, socially, and emotionally
  • Mental health settings, promoting coping skills, routines, and emotional well‑being
  • Outpatient clinics, addressing hand therapy, neurological conditions, and chronic pain
  • Home health and community settings, ensuring people can live safely and independently
  • Workplaces, where OTs improve ergonomics and support return‑to‑work programs

No matter the setting, Occupational Therapists and Certified Occupational Therapy Assistants focus on enabling participation—not just improving physical abilities, but also adapting environments, building routines, and fostering resilience.

More Than Therapy: A Holistic Approach

One of the most powerful aspects of occupational therapy is its holistic philosophy. Rather than focusing solely on a diagnosis, OTs consider the whole person—their physical abilities, mental health, environment, culture, and personal priorities.

For example, occupational therapy may involve:

  • Teaching energy‑conservation techniques for someone with chronic fatigue
  • Modifying a home to reduce fall risk after a stroke
  • Supporting a child with sensory processing challenges
  • Helping individuals manage stress, anxiety, or depression through healthy routines
  • Assisting older adults in maintaining independence and dignity

This personalized approach allows occupational therapy to make a meaningful and lasting impact.

A Month—and a Mission—Worth Celebrating

Occupational therapy empowers people to overcome challenges, adapt to change, and engage in the activities that bring purpose and joy to daily life. This April, we honor the professionals who make that possible and celebrate a field dedicated to helping people not just survive—but truly live.

Happy Occupational Therapy Awareness Month!

 

Patient Safety in Inpatient Physical, Occupational, and Speech Therapy: Working Together for Safer Healing

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During Patient Safety Awareness Week, we recognize the many ways hospitals protect patients every single day. In rehabilitation services—Physical Therapy (PT), Occupational Therapy (OT), and Speech‑Language Pathology (SLP)—patient safety is at the heart of everything we do.

Whether a patient is recovering from surgery, illness, injury, or a neurological condition, therapy plays a key role in helping them regain strength, function, and independence. And none of that is possible without a strong commitment to safety.

How Physical, Occupational, and Speech Therapists Support Patient Safety

Rehabilitation professionals help patients rebuild their abilities—but they also work to prevent complications, injuries, and setbacks. Here’s how each discipline contributes to a safer healing process.

 

🟦 Physical Therapy: Safe Mobility, Strength, and Recovery

Physical therapists help patients move safely throughout their hospital stay. Mobility is essential for recovery—but it has to be done the right way.

PT focuses on safety by:

  • Assessing mobility and balance before each session
  • Preventing falls through proper technique and assistive devices
  • Teaching safe ways to stand, transfer, and walk
  • Monitoring vital signs, fatigue, and pain
  • Helping restore strength and endurance without overexertion
  • Reducing risks of complications like blood clots, pressure injuries, and pneumonia

PT ensures patients push forward without pushing too far—building confidence and preventing fall‑related injuries that can delay recovery.

 

🟩 Occupational Therapy: Safety in Daily Activities

Occupational therapists help patients safely return to meaningful everyday tasks—like bathing, dressing, grooming, toileting, cooking, or using their hands again after injury.

OT supports safety by:

  • Teaching safe techniques for daily activities
  • Recommending adaptive equipment to reduce strain or fall risk
  • Improving cognitive safety—attention, memory, problem‑solving
  • Assessing home safety for discharge planning
  • Ensuring patients can navigate their environment safely
  • Training patients on joint protection, energy conservation, and safe body mechanics

OT helps patients regain independence without risking injury or reinjury.

 

🟧 Speech‑Language Pathology: Safety in Swallowing, Communication & Cognition

Speech‑language pathologists don’t just work on speech—they also play a crucial role in medical safety, especially for patients with swallowing or communication difficulties.

SLP enhances safety by:

  • Evaluating swallowing to prevent aspiration and pneumonia
  • Recommending safe food and liquid textures
  • Teaching strategies to reduce choking risk
  • Strengthening cognitive skills like memory, reasoning, and attention
  • Improving communication so patients can express needs, pain, or concerns clearly
  • Supporting patients with voice or airway challenges

SLP ensures that eating, drinking, and communicating are safe and effective—all essential for healing and quality of life.

Safety Is a Team Effort: Therapists, Patients, and Families

Therapists work closely with nurses, physicians, dietitians, and caregivers to create a coordinated safety plan tailored to each patient.

 

Patients and families can help by:

  • Asking questions about mobility, swallowing, or equipment
  • Using call lights and assistive devices as instructed
  • Following recommendations for exercises, safety strategies, and daily activities
  • Notifying staff if something doesn’t feel right
  • Sharing concerns about pain, dizziness, or swallowing changes immediately

When patients feel comfortable speaking up, therapy becomes safer and more successful.

Putting Safety First, Every Day

During Patient Safety Awareness Week—and every day—Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, and Speech‑Language Pathology work together to ensure patients receive safe, high‑quality care.

From preventing falls to ensuring safe swallowing, from teaching safe movement to supporting cognitive function, rehab services are essential partners in creating a hospital environment where patients can heal with confidence.

Patient safety isn’t just a priority—it’s a shared mission. And in rehab, that mission guides every step, every activity, and every goal.