FIG Education

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FUN FRIDAY! Pediatric Assistive Technology By: Kristin Clarkson DNP, CPNP-AC, CRRN, CNLCP Excerpt AANLCP Winter 2024 Mobility Aids Mobility aids enhance a patient’s ability to navigate their environment. Devices may include gait aids, seating systems, transfer aids, and recreational devices. Gaid aids, such as walkers, canes, and crutches, can ensure safety for ambulatory children with gait deviations. For children with balance impairments and lower extremity weakness, posterior walkers are commonly utilized as this improves the center of gravity. Forearm crutches are also common for children who require less stability in the stance phase of gait. Standers are utilized to facilitate standing activities for children who are not able to stand independently. Standing can positively affect range of motion, bone mineral density, spasticity, and hip stability (Paleg et al., 2013). Stander options include supine, prone, multi-position, sit-to-stand, or mobile stander. Standers should be selected based on the level of support required. For children who can advance their lower extremities, gait trainers and walkers should be explored. Gait trainers can provide additional support at the trunk and upper body. #NURSE #OT #PT #DOCTOR

TRIVIA THURSDAY! Who is the AAPLCP? ANSWER: American Academy of Physician Life Care Planners is an organization with an interest in life care planning and a focus on physiatrist specializing in life care planning. The home office is in San Antonio, TX. Check out their website – aaplcp.org.

WISDOM WEDNESDAY! Calling All Life Care Planners: We’re seeking your feedback regarding LCP Research in your Life Care Plans! Participate in our Life Care Planning Survey Series and Make Your Voice Heard! AANLCPs Research Committee is looking to find out what the majority of life care planners are doing in various areas of life care planning. Survey Link, click now: https://lnkd.in/e8yY9VQJ The survey closes on March 25th, 2025, at midnight (PST) Why Participate? Your expertise is invaluable. We're excited to announce a series of short online surveys, each taking less than ten minutes of your valuable time. Win Exciting Prizes! We appreciate your dedication! For each completed survey, you can enter into a random drawing for a chance to win one of four Amazon $25 gift cards. The more surveys you complete, the greater your chances of winning. Plus, once you complete surveys one through ten, you're entered to win one basic AANLCP conference registration if you opt for the Amazon gift card opportunity! Stay In the Loop! We value your contributions, and the AANLCP monthly newsletter will keep you informed about winners and upcoming surveys. You could see your name in the lights as we announce the lucky winners! Monthly Release: A new survey will be released on the first Tuesday of each month. Each survey is open for 45 days. How to Get Started: To view current, past, and future surveys, please visit https://lnkd.in/e4wtu3m8 Share Your Wisdom: Complete each survey in under ten minutes. Together, we can enhance the practice of life care planning and ensure a brighter future for patients and caregivers alike. Be part of the change you want to see! Reminder: The Inadvertent Mistakes and Pearls of Wisdom survey will remain open until February 25th, 2025 at midnight (PST). Survey link: https://lnkd.in/e9seMW3k For more details and to participate, visit AANLCP.org/survey or contact us. Thank you, AANLCPs Research Committee Your Expertise. Your Impact. Your Profession.

WISDOM WEDNESDAY! AVOIDING HICCUPS

TIDBIT TUESDAY! Pediatric Assistive Technology By: Kristin Clarkson DNP, CPNP-AC, CRRN, CNLCP Excerpt AANLCP Winter 2024 Assistive Technology Evaluations A child should be evaluated in a multidisciplinary clinic encompassing a prescribing provider, an assistive technology professional, a skilled therapist (physical therapy, occupational therapy, or speech-language pathologist), and a durable medical equipment vendor. Depending on the service area, some clinics may have various treating providers. Clinics may require a prescription for an equipment clinic evaluation, skilled therapy evaluation, or dedicated prescription for the equipment. Clinicians will typically use AMA’s Current Procedural Terminology during evaluation and training with assistive technology. CPT code 97542 represents “wheelchair management and should be used for assessment, fitting, training” per each 15 minutes (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 2023). Training can include education on pressure relief, repositioning, wheelchair navigation, and safe transfers. CPT code 97755 represents “assistive technology assessment and should be used for the assessment of the patient’s need for assistive technology (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 2023). Assistive technology can include power mobility, functional electrical stimulation, prosthetic limb control, and exoskeleton” (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 2023). CPT Code 97755 should be used to capture time spent evaluating a patient’s function and ability to engage with devices. For time spent training a patient on assistive technology, CPT code 97535 represents self-care/ home management training, and 97537 represents community/ work reintegration training per each 15 minutes (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 2023). #NURSE #OT #PT #DOCTOR

MORE MONDAY! AANLCP ANNOUNCES For the unsung heroes in our community, the American Association of Nurse Life Care Planners established an Awards and Recognition Program. Every year during the annual conference, the recipients of The Ambassador Award and the Distinguished Service Award will be announced. The American Association of Nurse Life Care Planners (AANLCP) Awards and Recognition Program is supported by these values: • Promoting professional excellence in the practice of nurse life care planning through participation with the association. • Striving to promote education, collegiality, collaboration, research, and standards as they relate to the practice of nurse life care planning. • Expanding the recognition of nurse life care planning through association members, partners, exhibitors, and others. We would love for you to submit a nomination by clicking on the following button: AANLCP Awards All submissions must be received by March 1st, 2025. Thank you for your participation! Kind regards, Executive Board

GOOD SUNDAY MORNING!

FUN FRIDAY! Understanding Dementia and Medical-Legal Implications By Sanjay Adhia, MD, MRO Excerpt Spring 2024 AANLCP Legal Implications • Documenting a diagnosis of Dementia. A visit to the doctor is the first line of defense in a medical diagnosis. Older Americans understandably have more doctor visits as they develop age -related diseases. This means more opportunities for a healthcare provider to note Dementia symptoms. If the population overall is any indication, we can expect Dementia diagnoses in larger numbers than has been the case in many years. This does not mean we should assume impairment or diminished cognition just because of a person’s age. There is no substitute for a close review of medical records and the observations of an evaluee’s doctors. • Impact of Treatment. Better treatment for cognitive decline may change the face of competency despite a Dementia diagnosis. Measuring cognition is a matter for the experts who are likely neuropsychologists and specialists in brain function including in the performance of Activities of Daily Living (ADLs)-see below. • Documenting for the Trier of Fact. A Forensic Psychiatrist or Psychologist views a diagnosis in the context of the legal challenges. This medicolegal perspective is not the mandate of a clinical psychiatrist who is treating and alleviating symptoms. Medical records review has unique meaning for a forensically-trained expert witness. #NURSE #OT #PT #DOCTOR

TRIVIA THURSDAY! What is the full name, website, and location of the Life Care Planning association? ANSWER: International Academy of Life Care Planners (IALCP) / International Association of Rehabilitation Professionals (IARP). IALCP is a ‘Section’ of IARP. The home office is in St. Paul, MN. Check out their website – rehabpro.org.