Tx:Team Company Culture

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Tx:Team prides itself on the culture displayed at every level of the company’s infrastructure. Culture has been and will continue to be the driving force behind creating an environment that allows for success over the course of four decades. “From my standpoint, it’s about creating collegiality,” said Scott Benedict, CEO of Tx:Team. “It’s about creating an environment where people truly enjoy doing what they’re doing.” 

In a recent release of Work Wellbeing data from Indeed, Tx:Team scored 84/100. one of the higher rankings among the top therapy providers. Data was driven by surveys on key topics such as Work/Life Balance, Compensation/Benefits, Job Security/Advancement, Management, and Culture. 

“My first job was in a very large corporate environment, and it was somewhat cutthroat,” said Benedict. “It was competitive. And it was very ‘me centric me first.’ You just didn’t have that feeling that we were all pushing or pulling in the same direction and trying to accomplish a shared vision and a shared goal.” 

While culture is emphasized in a variety of businesses, it’s naturally more tangible in the health care sector.  “We’re in the people business,” said Carroll Nelligan, COO of Tx:Team. “Culture is everything. It’s the foundation of what we believe in and it’s those beliefs in action. It’s something that’s embodied every day by all of our people and how we deliver the best therapy product possible.” 

Tx:Team’s core values include integrity, camaraderie, vision, responsiveness, resilience, teamwork, flexibility, and continuous learning. These values are consistently referred to as the guiding principals behind day-to-day decisions. “You have to be able to look at our values, which are up on the wall, and say, ‘yes, I can see those being lived out every day,’” said Benedict. 

“All of our values are really important, but I believe that teamwork is our most important and it’s in our name,” said Nelligan. “I came from a background that looked at people’s unique perspectives as disciplines, OT, PT and speech, and how we could work together to have our own unique perspective on how patients achieve their goals. Teamwork is everything to our company.” 

Understanding the impact of company culture is paramount to the success of the company, the well-being of our employees, and a key component of Tx:Team that won’t change. 

Sam Benedict is a Tx:Team Intern from Wabash College. Going into his junior year, he holds executive positions in his fraternity, is the Editor in-Chief of the college newspaper, The Bachelor, and is both a Class Representative within the student senate and the chairman of the campus Student Events Committee. After college, Sam plans to either pursue law school or a career in business. 

Tennis Elbow? Golfer’s Elbow? I Don’t Play Sports!

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My doctor diagnosed me with tennis elbow and/or golfer’s elbow, but I don’t play those sports. How is that possible? 

Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis) and golfer’s elbow (medial epicondylitis) are two common injuries associated with the elbow. They are both caused by playing sports or doing repetitive motions (gripping, pulling, grasping, and lifting) with the affected arm. Some common functional activities that could cause these injuries include tennis, golfing, painting, throwing a ball, and heavy lifting.

Over time, these repetitive motions will cause wear and tear of the tendons at the elbow and place strain on the muscles.

What are symptoms that someone may experience that would trigger the problem being tennis elbow? 

With both lateral and medial epicondylitis, the primary symptom is pain at either the lateral or medial elbow. Other common symptoms can include tenderness with palpation to either the forearm extensor or flexor muscle units, aching elbow in the evening, and elbow stiffness in the morning. Sensation deficits are not associated with either of these injuries and is an entirely different injury.

How are these injuries treated?  

A majority of these injuries are treated conservatively. Doctors can prescribe an anti-inflammatory medication along with a steroid injection to the painful area(s). Doctors can also refer a patient to see an occupational or physical therapist to have symptoms addressed.

An occupational therapist or a physical therapist will work with each patient to develop a personalized treatment plan that includes:

  • stretching
  • manual therapy techniques
  • education
  • home exercises
  • activity modification
  • strength training
  • custom orthosis

Are there risk factors for one person to get more than another?

Yes, there are certain activities that can exacerbate symptoms. Those activities include anything that leads to overuse of the forearm extensor and flexors (heavy repetition, poor posture, forceful grasp, etc.).

The incidence for lateral and medial epicondylitis is greatest between 35-55 years old (men and women are affected equally). If an individual is younger than 35 and experiencing symptoms, a screen should be completed for additional causes.

Can you prevent tennis elbow or golfer’s elbow?

There is no way to prevent lateral or medial epicondylitis, but there are ways to decrease your chances of having this injury. Those ways include having proper posture, avoiding repetitive motions, avoiding forceful grasping.

If you suspect Tennis Elbow, Golfer’s Elbow or any problem with your arm, find a Physical or Occupational Therapist in your area to start the program you need to get back to the activities you enjoy.

 

Joshua Eppinger, MOT, OTR/L received his Bachelor of Arts in Human Performance & Health and his Master of Occupational Therapy from West Virginia University.  Joshua’s professional interests are Orthopedics and Hand Therapy. He has experience and training in the evaluation and treatment of post-surgical and non-surgical diagnoses. Josh’s experience includes a variety of conditions pertaining to the hand and upper extremities including  fractures, dislocations, sprains, torn ligaments, Tennis Elbow, Golfer’s Elbow, as well as multiple other diagnoses of the hand, wrist, arm, and shoulder.

Physical Therapy & Wound Care

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Wounds affect more than one million people every year. A wound or skin injury can occur due to an accident, injury, surgery, a burn, circulation problems, diabetes, or spending too much time in one position (not moving enough). Physical Therapists can help people not only prevent wounds, but they can also help heal wounds by providing advanced wound-care treatments and prescribing specific exercises and activities. Physical Therapists and Physical Therapist Assistants are movement experts who improve quality of life through hands-on care, patient education, and prescribed movement.

What is a wound?

According to the Oxford Dictionary, a wound is defined as an injury to living tissue caused by a cut, blow, or other impact, typically one in which the skin is cut or broken. It is advised that people should address any wound as soon as possible to lessen the potential for infection.

How can a Physical Therapist help?

A physical therapist will conduct a full evaluation which includes measuring the wound area and inspecting the surrounding skin. A patient’s range of motion, mobility, and strength also will be assessed, as these can contribute to the wound problem, and may assist in the healing process. Your physical therapist may also perform specific testing related to circulation and sensation. Your therapist will then design an individualized care plan based on your needs.

Common treatment approaches can include:

  • Measurement and documentation of the wound characteristics
  • Cleaning of the wound
  • Debridement (removal) of any dead tissue
  • Selection and application of wound dressing
  • Application of compression if necessary
  • Education of the patient, caregivers and/or family members regarding wound care and dressing changes

Who would benefit from physical therapy wound care?

Physical therapy wound care is for patients who have open wounds as a result of pressure, vascular insufficiency, trauma, surgery, and/or diabetes. The most common wounds that are treated by wound care physical therapist are:

  • Necrotic wounds
  • Stage III, IV or unstageable pressure ulcers
  • Diabetic wounds
  • Chronic wounds
  • Venous and/or arterial wounds
  • Extremity wounds with edema
  • Non-healing surgical wounds

How long will physical therapy wound care take?

All wounds heal at different rates and the duration of therapy will be based on the patient’s individual needs. Depending on the type of wound and amount of care needed, the patient may be seen as often as one-three times a week by a physical therapist. The duration of treatment can vary from one-several months. The wound care physical therapist will make adaptations as treatment progresses to maximize wound recovery.

National Senior Health & Fitness Day

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Today is the 30th National Senior Health & Fitness Day®. National Senior Health & Fitness Day® is an annual health and wellness event for older adults. More than 100,000 older adults will participate in local health events across the country to promote the importance of regular physical activity, and to improve the health of older adults in their communities.

As we age, managing the everyday activities of daily living can become challenging. Some seniors may start the day off slow with stiff joints in the morning. Your range of motion, flexibility, or joint pain may limit you from reaching to grab the day’s clothes from the closet. The muscles in our legs can grow weak from sitting in a chair or resting majority of the day. A great way to keep our bodies functioning, reduce the risk of diseases, and prevent accidental falls is by moving and staying active.

Fitness and physical therapy work closely at times to help individuals pursue the highest quality of life possible.  Both can consist of exercises for strengthening and stretching as well as activities to improve function and safety.

While the pair work well together, their goals and purpose differ a bit. Fitness is a lifestyle to be pursued and enjoyed. It is a long term and generalized strategy for the life of the individual. Therapy is a short term, specially designed plan to address specific limitations or deficits. Everyone has the need for fitness and wellness. Not all may need the specialized services of a skilled therapist, but it is important to know how fitness and rehab services work together.

Fitness and exercise play an important role in achieving wellness, which can be defined as the state or condition of being in good health. Fitness can assist with your physical wellness by strengthening our bones, muscles, and joints to maintain mobility and range of motion as well as the strength to participate in your favorite activities. Exercise can be performed individually and/or in group settings. Many seniors opt to participate in classes to not only enjoy the health benefits but also to enjoy the social aspects of participation with their peers. It also helps that motivation! Studies have shown that thirty minutes to an hour of exercise a day will help manage weight, improve mental health, boost thinking skills, and prevent the risk of future heart failure.

Physical, Occupational, and Speech Therapy are medically indicated to address deficits that would occur in day to day living.  Therapy is typically ordered by a patient’s physician. A therapist will perform a thorough evaluation which may include strength testing, range of motion measurements, and posture analysis for example. These findings will then be weighed alongside the medical history of the patient to establish a treatment plan to meet the patient’s goals and reduce the deficits found in the evaluation. The plan will often include exercises to be performed at home to add to the treatments in the clinic to further the progress of the patient. During treatment from a licensed therapist, the patient will be closely monitored to ensure safety and effectiveness during treatments.

It is important to stay physically active throughout our lifetime. Fitness is beneficial to everyone at any age. Attending regular fitness classes is one way to stay in shape and have that camaraderie with your friends. And have no fear, rehab services are there if you have an injury, aches or pains, or having trouble completing activities in your daily life to help you get back to those activities that you enjoy.

Johnny Bass, PT, DPT, and KaShaun Jenkins, Fitness Specialist, work together in Senior Living assisting residents in their daily lives.  Both have extensive experience working in the geriatric setting with the senior population.  KaShaun keeps residents in their community  fit and active and Johnny is available for any physical therapy needs they may have along the way.

Meet Carroll Nelligan

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Tx:Team turns 40 in 2023!

Founded in 1983, Tx:Team will celebrate a big anniversary in May, 40 years in business. Because it is such a major milestone, we felt we should celebrate this achievement throughout the year.

Thank you to all Tx:Team associates throughout the decades for his or her part in our success.

Meet Carroll Nelligan, President and Chief Operating Officer, and hear her story of her time with Tx:Team:

 

Ask an Expert: My Speech is Fine, Why Do I Need to See a Speech-Language Pathologist?

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My speech is fine, why do I need to see a Speech-Language Pathologist?

A Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) works with individuals from birth to end of life while focusing on swallowing, voice, communication, and cognitive disorders as well as enhancing speech skills.

An individual may be referred to a SLP because:

  • Their voice is not as strong as it used to be and they are unable to communicate with loved ones at a family gathering.
  • They may begin to experience difficulty while chewing their favorite food and/or coughing while drinking a glass of water.
  • They may have difficulty recalling the birthdays of their family members.
  • They are unable to express their thoughts to participate in a meaningful conversation.

A Speech-Language Pathologist aims to enhance an individual’s quality of life to participate in daily activities that require more than just their speech.

 

Johanna Ebbs, MS, CCC-SLP, LOUD® Certified

Speech-Language Pathology…Because Communication is Important

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May is National Better Hearing and Speech Month, which is an opportunity to raise awareness about not only communication disorders, but also the treatments available.

Millions suffer with brain fog, difficulty eating and drinking, and general speech and language problems – and these issues were only amplified in the years following COVID.  These problems can affect a person’s quality of life. Speech Language Pathologists treat a wide range of disorders in both adults and children. With early identification and intervention, clinicians can help to improve communication, increase confidence, and help patients return to the activities and daily life they enjoy.

Many people aren’t aware of how a speech-language pathologist can help.

Speech-Language Pathology, or what is commonly known as Speech Therapy, assesses and treats speech disorders and communication problems. It helps people develop skills like comprehension, clarity, voice, fluency, and sound production. Speech Language Pathologists, or Speech Therapists, can treat childhood speech disorders or adult speech impairments caused by stroke, brain injury or other conditions. Speech-Language Pathologists work with their patients to identify areas for improvement and work to develop each patient’s individual goals.

Speech therapy offers skilled treatment designed to assist and restore speech and language problems caused by illness or injury that may affect:

  • Cognition, comprehension, memory
  • Swallowing and other oral motor problems
  • Communication and hearing
  • Expression

Does Speech Therapy make a difference?

Adult patients can improve the quality of life with speech therapy after a stroke or traumatic injury as well as those patients diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease or Alzheimer’s. For children, speech therapy is most successful when started early and practiced at home with a parent or caregiver.

Some of the speech improvements that patients experience are a louder and clearer voice, better speech intelligence, a more natural rate of speech, and more robust facial expressions.

If you or someone you know could benefit from Speech Therapy, find a Speech Language Pathologist in your area.  Why?  Because communication is important.

April is Parkinson’s Awareness Month – #Take6forPD

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According to the Parkinson’s Foundation, every six minutes someone is diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease in the United States.

April is Parkinson’s Disease (PD) Awareness Month and along with the PD Community, we are encouraging everyone to take six minutes in an effort to raise awareness, advance the research, and become knowledgeable of the available treatments for this disease. With someone being diagnosed every six minutes, that totals 90,00 people per year in the United States alone.  Let’s be advocates.

Beyond awareness comes treatment. At Tx:Team, we have Physical, Occupational, and Speech Therapists who are trained and certified in treating patients with PD. One treatment program which has been proven beneficial is the LSVT BIG® and LOUD® Program.

How do the LSVT programs benefit Parkinson’s patients?

Parkinson’s can impact function in everything a person does at home, at work, and in their community recreational pursuits. The LSVT programs help patients to maintain movement and voice for normal function in everyday life beyond medication and repetitive, non-direct task training exercises utilizing principles of neuroplasticity backed by years of research. It takes all 16 visits (four times per week for four weeks) to achieve carry over so that by the end of one month, patients know how to move BIGGER and be LOUDER all the time.   

A unique feature of LSVT BIG® and LOUD® is that it recognizes there is an internal cuing proprioceptive issue in individuals with Parkinson’s such as softer voice and smaller movements, in people that are unable to recognize their deficits the majority of the time.   

What is the focus of LSVT BIG®?

  • Faster speed  
  • Greater arm swing   
  • Longer steps  
  • Overcoming difficulty getting through the doorway  
  • Longer distance  
  • Faster clothing donning  
  • Grasping materials during meal preparation  
  • Legible handwriting  
  • Amplitude of movement when showering  

What is the focus of LSVT LOUD®?

  • Louder voice that is not hoarse  
  • Improved facial expression   
  • Reduction of monotone speech  
  • Improved emotion  
  • Using more words  

Who would benefit from BIG® and LOUD®?  

Patients who have a decline in the amplitude of their movement, voice, posture, and balance in addition to reduced speech intelligibility are motivated to participate in all required sessions.  

Why are these programs so important to this patient population?  

LSVT BIG® and LOUD® assists this patient population in maintaining, enhancing, and slowing progression of Parkinson’s Disease, which in return facilitates their ability to maintain a level of independence with the following skill sets essential for daily living:   

  • Changes in cognitive function. People with PD can still learn, but it might take longer and require more repetition of practice. As a patient progresses, the therapist will work on dual tasking so you can keep moving bigger and being louder while doing something else at the same time. For example, getting dressed and talking, walking while carrying something, or tapping your leg while reading.
  • Changes in movement amplitude. Commonly, people with PD have difficulty with activities they didn’t before. As a patient progresses, utilizing larger movements helps patients return to these activities without cues and assistance. 
  • Changes in communication. People who have PD have soft speech and feel that they are talking WNL while others “need a hearing aid.” However, people may begin to feel embarrassed with social isolation. As a patient progresses with continuous use of a loud voice, they are able to participate in conversations without feeling excluded while maintaining their dignity.
  • Changes in emotional regulation, pacing, attention, cardiovascular health, sleep, and confidence can also be seen!  

If you have any more questions about the LSVT program for BIG® or LOUD®, find a certified therapist in your area or visit this website.

 

Nidhi, Alita, and Johanna are all experienced therapists in the Outpatient Clinic setting in Frederick, MD.  They work collaboratively together to support and treat patients with a variety of neurological diagnoses. Nidhi, Alita, and Johanna enjoy the relationships they foster with their patients, and they love to help them achieve their functional goals.

Nidhi Talpade, PT, DPT, BIG® Certified
Alita Borkar, MA, OTRL, BIG® Certified
Johanna Ebbs, MS, CCC-SLP, LOUD® Certified.

“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

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 and 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.

How Does Occupational Therapy Work

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, self-correcting balance training strategies or cognition/thinking skills.

I address 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.

The Role of Home Health Occupational Therapy

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 35 years as an OT, Monica has worked in a variety of settings including subacute rehab, outpatient rehabilitation, acute care, and now home health. She is married, has 2 adult sons, and a 14 year old carnival goldfish. When she isn’t on the road seeing her patients, she enjoys crafting, traveling, and going out to dinner with friends. She does not enjoy gardening or yard work and avoids those activities as much as possible.

Meet Scott Benedict

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Tx:Team turns 40 in 2023!

Founded in 1983, Tx:Team will celebrate a big anniversary in May, 40 years in business. Because it is such a major milestone, we felt we should celebrate this achievement throughout the year.

Thank you to all Tx:Team associates throughout the decades for his or her part in our success.

Meet Scott Benedict, Chief Executive Officer, and hear his story of his time with Tx:Team: