Hello. I am Dan Bradley, P.T., President of NovaCare Rehabilitation. Thanks for taking a moment to check out the June issue of NovaCare E-News.

This is an exciting time at Select Medical and NovaCare. As many of you may know, the HealthSouth outpatient business joined Select Medical Corporation (our parent company) on May 1, 2007. Already a large organization, we have joining us another physical rehabilitation powerhouse. Today, we are no longer competitors, but one team committed to one common goal…to be the “provider of choice” to our patients, customers and local markets.

Change on any level can sometimes be unsettling – the “unknown” can be difficult. However, what I realized through this transition is we have joined two similar cultures and we now have the opportunity to work with other talented and hard-working people who all want to provide high-quality clinical care and customer service.

In this special June issue, we introduce you to our new workers’ compensation leader who is gearing up to make our WorkStrategies Program bigger and better. Also, this issue celebrates a special group in the outpatient rehabilitation business – our Certified Hand Therapists. You will hear from several CHTs sharing clinical success stories and from former patients that benefited from their care. 

Enjoy the start of summer.

WorkStrategies …Keeping America on the Job!
Corale Jenkins, R.N.
Vice President, Industrial Services

NovaCare WorkStrategies has a solid reputation for providing an innovative and cost-effective approach to the treatment and prevention of work-related injuries. With the recent acquisition of HealthSouth outpatient rehabilitation centers, we want to maximize the branding of WorkStrategies.

WorkStrategies will be used to identify the industrial products offered by both the NovaCare and Select facilities across the country. The WorkStrategies’ goal is to establish a consistent, core industrial platform across the nation and identify and document local best demonstrated practices that can be replicated in other markets. 

As the new leader for WorkSrategies, I want to make a brief introduction. I am a registered nurse with over 20 years of industrial experience. I began in workers’ compensation as a Registered Nursing Consultant with the Florida Division of Workers’ Compensation, Bureau of Medical and Rehabilitative Services. I was involved in regulatory oversight, rulemaking, fee schedule production, case management, utilization management and consultative services with small and medium employers. 

Most recently, I was the VP of Industrial Services with HealthSouth, Outpatient Division, where our team developed the industrial services platform and structure. I am excited to join the Select Medical team and continue the commitment to the growth and integrity of the WorkStrategies Program. 

WorkStrategies is truly a team effort. In upcoming issues E-News, we will highlight WorkStrategies products and introduce different team members in different parts of the country. 

Please feel free to contact me at (205) 995-5765 or via email at corale.jenkins@selectmedical.corp.com with suggestions or comments.

Hand Therapy Awareness and Injury Prevention Week – June 11-15, 2007
At NovaCare, Certified Hand Therapists (CHT) are an important part of the clinical team. A CHT is an occupational therapist or physical therapist who has a minimum of five years of clinical experience, including 2,000 hours or more in direct practice in hand therapy. In addition, the CHT must pass a comprehensive test of advanced clinical skills and theory in upper extremity rehabilitation.

In honor of this specialized clinical group, we asked NovaCare CHTs about a positive/memorable experience and we will all hear from some of their former patients who have positive outcomes due to the care they received. Here is what they had to say…

Karen Pettengill, MS, OTR/L, CHT, Clinical Coordinator, 
Hand Therapy & Upper Extremity Rehabilitation, Springfield, MA
“After 25 years as a hand therapist, I can’t pick just one most memorable or best success story, because virtually even single patient achieves some kind of victory in rehabilitation. I drive enormous pleasure from breaking through and establishing rapport with a fearful patient, or from making a patient’s life a little better by teaching a different way to move and to use the hand and arm. Therapy is not easy, but it can be fun as patient and therapist get to know each other, and it is always rewarding.”

Former patient: “Erik”…
“I came to NovaCare with a hand injury. I was working on a metal shed and fell into it, cutting my hand on a sharp raw edge. I severed the tendons, nerves and an artery. It took 10 hours of surgery to repair the damage, then a second surgery…then onto hand therapy.

The whole experience from my injury has changed my life, including therapy. My therapist helped me get back to almost normal function and I would not be able to do the job I’m doing now if it was not for them.”

Patricia Priest, COTA/L
Hand Therapy & Upper Extremity Rehabilitation, Springfield, MA…
“Any time a person leaves our center feeling better and able to function ‘normally’ is a success. When a person comes to see us after an industrial accident with multiple injuries, we know a challenge is ahead.

Treating the whole person is an important part of being a therapist. All aspects of life are affected by an involved hand injury including daily tasks, work skills, interpersonal relationships and self-esteem. For me, watching a person walk out the door with a smile on their face and feeling better…I know I did my job!”

Former patient: “Barbara”…
“I fell in a parking lot and broke my right wrist. After surgery and a month of recovery time I started hand therapy at NovaCare. I needed five months of therapy to return my hand wrist to near normal. Because of the excellent staff, I actually looked forward to my therapy sessions. The therapy I received enabled me to return to the life I lived before my fall. I am especially grateful to be able to cook and bake again!”

Cornelia von Lersner Benson, OTR, CHT
Area Hand Therapy Director, New Jersey
"If you ask me for my most memorable or meaningful patient since starting as an OT 25 years ago I would be flooded by images of daily victories in the lives of people whose injuries or diseases have caused a disruption to their life. Those victories are humbling to be part of- its an honor to be a catalyst for that change. However, among that flood of images, there is one moment that stands out among the rest! I had a single father who lost the lower half of his arm in an industrial accident. On his first visit I asked him, as I always do, " What would you like to be able to do again, that you can not do now?" He said that he wished that he could put his 5 year old daughter's hair into a ponytail. Obviously, you just can't do this with one hand. Well once he was fitted with at prosthetic limb and we trained him extensively in using it, we finally addressed the hair band and ponytail issue. I am delighted to tell you that on his last visit, after 10 weeks of therapy, the human spirit, and every creative cell that I could solicit, merged into a successful ponytail on his daughter's head! The whole clinic; patients, therapist, secretaries; all were crying with joy! It was quite a moment, and an important reminder that we really CAN make a positive difference every day, when we persevere!"

Feeling Fishy about Eating Fish?
Jeanie Subach, MA, RD, CSSD, LDN
NovaCare Rehabilitation

Nutrition information can be confusing, due to the amount of research that is constantly underway. The problem is correctly deciphering the research. The topics of fish benefits and safety are high on the list right now. It has been recommended for years to include fish into your diet 2-3 times per week as a part of a heart-healthy diet. The concept was that fish contains omega-3 fatty acids, which have protective heart health properties. However, a recent study published in the May 2007 issue of The American Journal of Cardiology concluded that it may not be the omega-3s in the fish that contribute to heart health; rather, it’s the healthier dietary habits of those who eat fish. 

People are now questioning the benefits of incorporating fish into their diet. Fish offers high-quality protein, is low in saturated fats and contain omega-3 fatty acids – this combination definitely promotes a heart healthy lifestyle. But remember, there are certain precautions that should be taken when eating, buying, storing, and cooking fish, as well as during the act of fishing itself.
A major concern centers on the overfishing and contamination of bodies of water. Be a conscientious consumer and buy only fish that is caught or farmed sustainably. The Monteray Bay Aquarium’s website (www.mbayaq.org) is an excellent resource on fish safety and fishing practices. They have a downloadable pocket guide on seafood safety for different regions of the country.

Mercury Levels in Fish 

Most fish contain some mercury levels – some more than others. Larger, older, predator fish will have more mercury than other species. The average person can safely consume up to 12 ounces of fish each week. Pregnant individuals and those who may become pregnant should avoid eating the following species due to their higher mercury levels:

Shark
Swordfish
King Mackerel
Tilefish

Enjoy the taste and omega-3 benefits of lower mercury-containing species such as:

Shrimp
Salmon
Light canned Tuna (limit albacore “white” tuna to 6 ounces per week)
Pollack
Catfish

As always, check with your physician for recommendations.

Shopping for Fish

• Choose a clean, reputable market

• Fish should have a mild smell, not fishy, sour or with an ammonia odor

• The eyes should be clear

• The flesh should be firm and shiny

• Avoid dark or dry edges

Self-Caught Fishing Tips and Storage Safety

• Check the safety of the waters being fished

• Fish should be put directly on ice after being caught – make sure the cooler is properly cleaned between uses.

• Refrigerate fish that will not be used within 2 days – if not wrapped tightly, label and freeze.

• Trim fish of the fat/skin to remove possible PCB contamination.

Fun FactS - Summer Solstice:   

  The word “solstice” is actually derived from two words: “sol” meaning “sun,” and “sistere,” meaning “to stand still.” As Summer Solstice approaches, the sun rises higher and higher in the sky. On June 21st it reaches its highest point and in this sense, "stands still." This first day of summer has more daylight hours than any other day during the year.

     Which place on earth receives the longest period of daylight on June 21? The North Pole. On June 21 (and for several weeks before and after), the North Pole is bathed in light. The sun doesn't set.

phone: 1-800-770-NOVA website: www.novacare.com