September 2011 Newsletter
September 2011
Clinical Café Newsletter
By: Ronda Polansky M.S. CCC-SLP
Monthly Motivator:
One of the best uses of your time
is to increase your competence in your key result areas.
Upcoming Holiday – DiagnosTEX will be closed on Labor Day, Monday September 5, 2011. Please consider this when scheduling your studies. Enjoy the holiday!
History of Labor Day – Labor Day is a national legal holiday that is over 100 years old. Over the years, it has evolved from a purely labor union celebration into a general “last fling of summer” festival. It has come to be recognized in the U.S. not only as a celebration of the working class, but even more so as the unofficial end of the summer season. In March 1887, the first state law to declare the day a legal holiday was passed in Colorado, followed by New York, Massachusetts, and New Jersey. In 1894 the U.S. Congress made the day a legal holiday. Labor Day is the celebration of the value and dignity of work and its role in the American way of life.
Address Change/New office location – DiagnosTEX has moved offices effective September 1st. Please note our new address: 500 Grapevine Hwy #106, Hurst, TX 76054. Our phone number and fax number will remain the same.
CEU opportunities:
Support Parkinson’s SPEAK OUT – Texas Voice Project for Parkinson’s Disease will be hosting a special annual event. “SPEAK OUT”: Speaking Out for Parkinson’s” will be held on Saturday, September 10th 2011. The event location will be the Eisemann Center for Performing Arts in Richardson, which seats 1500. The purpose of this “SPEAK OUT” event is two-fold. It will begin with a musical performance by Parkinson’s patients who have received treatment and are now able to ‘SPEAK OUT’ using their new and improved voices. A reception will follow for all patrons and performers. The event will conclude with a panel discussion led by distinguished Parkinson’s physicians and specialists who will address those issues most concerning to the Parkinson’s population. Former Dallas Cowboy Randy White will be a guest speaker. For more information or to register, please contact Texas Voice Project at 972-744-4650. Tickets are $30.00 per person. Visit www.eisemanncenter.com. ALSO… SLP’s can obtain 3 CEUs from SPEAK OUT at the cost of $40.00. For more information call 469-375-6500!
E-Stim course with AMPCARE
Hosted by Pinnacle Home Health – September 17, 2011 in Flower Mound, TX. See insert for more information. LIMITED SEATING!! Do not delay!
Upcoming trach course presented by Ronda Polansky and Pam Ragland – hosted by Rehab Synergies, coming in October. Watch for more details in the October newsletter!
Reminder – History/Consult Forms – PLEASE READ CAREFULLY!!!
THERE ARE 2 HISTORY/CONSULT FORMS for DiagnosTEX:
1 FOR HOME HEALTH ONLY
AND 1 FOR ALL OTHER LOCATIONS REQUESTING SERVICE.
PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU USE THE CORRECT FORM!
Also please notify your HH company; they must have a service contract with DiagnosTEX.
Dates to remember in September
National Grandparent’s Day www.grandparents-day.com
National Women’s Health and Fitness Day www.fitnessday.com
National Assisted Living Week – www.nalw.org
National Rehabilitation Awareness Week – www.nraf-rehabnet.org
Healthy Aging Month – www.healthyaging.net
Alzheimer’s Memory Walk (September-November) – www.alz.org
In honor of Jerry’s Kids and Labor Day weekend Telethon
Dysphagia Tidbit – OPMD
The OCULO-Pharyngeal Muscular Dystrophy (OPMD) is a late onset hereditary muscle disease which is characterized by the selective affection of the pharyngeal muscles resulting in swallowing disorders, and by a ptosis from the dysfunction of the levator palpebrae superioris muscles. Swallowing disorders are determinant in the prognosis of the disease, specifically potentially life-threatening deglutition (aspiration and denutrition). Degenerative dystrophy of the pharyngeal muscles causes difficulties propelling the food bolus in the pharynx. The decreased relaxation of the cricopharyngeal muscle induced by the disease leads to blockage of food in the upper esophageal sphincter. The most common treatment for the dysphagia in OPMD is a myotomy of the upper esophageal sphincter muscles. Although this will relax the constriction of the upper esophageal sphincter muscles and improve bolus transit with swallowing, it of course can not prevent the progressive degradation of the pharyngeal muscles. This progressive loss of contractility will eventually result in severe difficulty in swallowing, increasing risk of aspiration pneumonia and severe weight loss which are the most common causes of mortality in OPMD patients.