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Pediatric VitalStim® II: Beyond Certification
Enhancing Decision Making
Registration Form
Private Course
 APPROPRIATE DISCIPLINES:
• Occupational Therapy
• Speech Language Pathology
Course Description
Learn the key components of an effective pediatric VitalStim treatment. This course is designed to take the certified VitalStim provider to the next level in their evaluation, clinical analysis, treatment planning, and intervention skills. The course will focus on building upon the theoretical basis of muscle physiology, kinesiology, swallowing mechanism changes across infancy through adulthood, concepts of electrical stimulation, electrode placement, dynamic systems theory, and more. Through the use of labs, videos, case studies, and group discussion, the participant will challenge and build their problem solving and analytical skills to efficiently and effectively identify and treat the pediatric VitalStim caseload. This interactive course will bring about new therapy ideas and increase self confidence to provide optimal patient care and success!
NOTE: Registrants must be Certified VitalStim Providers

Course Pricing
$185 - Individual
$180 - Small Group(10-24 pp)
$170 - Large Group(25-99 pp)
$160 - Super Group(100+ pp)
Instructor(s)
Jodie Corbett MS, SLP-CCC, Kathy Ramirez OTR/L, Karin Mitchell MA, SLP-CCC
Kathy Ramirez, OTR/L, is a certified VitalStim provider and certified VitalStim instructor who has been practicing in pediatrics and dysphagia since 1992. Kathy is the Occupational Therapy Specialist at Childrens Hospital of Orange County (CHOC). She works in the NICU and throughout the hospital. Kathy serves as the lead therapist for the Feeding Team. She has given numerous inservices and lectures in the community and serves on many NICU and physician driven committees. She has advanced practice certifications in Agent Modalities and Swallowing Assessment, Evaluation or Intervention to practice in the state of California. She is NOMAS certified, NDT trained and SI trained.
Karin Mitchell, M.A., CCC-SLP, is a certified VitalStim provider and certified VitalStim instructor who has 12 years experience specializing in pediatrics and dysphagia. She is the Speech Therapy Specialist at Childrens Hospital of Orange County (CHOC) in Orange, CA. She treats dysphagia throughout the hospital in the NICU and beyond. She consults for numerous therapists and families regarding dysphagia and treatment needs. She also lectures in the community and at local universities. She is NOMAS certified, NDT trained and SI trained.
Jodie Corbett, MS CCC-SLP,Jodie Corbett, MS, CCC-SLP is a certified VitalStim provider and certified VitalStim instructor with 14 years experience specializing in pediatrics and dysphagia, specifically focusing on the 3-18 year old population. Mrs. Corbett has received specialized training in oral motor/feeding therapy and has presented locally and nationally on various topics such as Best Practices, The Benefits of Oral Motor/Feeding Therapy on Articulation/Speech Clarity, amongst others. In addition to her VitalStim certification, she is certified in NOMAS. Currently, she works for Charlotte County Public Schools and consults with clinicians, physicians and families on dysphagic topics globally.

Financial Disclosure: Kathy Ramirez and Karin Mitchell receive honoraria from CIAO Seminars for presenting this course.
Non-financial Disclosure: All instructors for this coursel use VitalStim® in their clinical practice.
Course Objectives

At the completion of this course, participants will be able to::

  • Identify pediatric patients who are appropriate to receive VitalStim Therapy.
  • Discuss anatomical changes from birth to 5 and how it impacts evaluation, treatment planning, and electrode placement decisions.
  • Describe key clinical signs of swallowing difficulties to help complete evaluation and formulate treatment plan when a swallow study is not available.
  • State at least 2 strategies to prepare a child for VitalStim Therapy.
  • Analyze swallow dysfunctions, theoretical concepts of electrical stimulation, and muscle physiology to determine best electrode placements.
  • Enhance therapeutic decision making process and strategies for management through dissection of case studies and their clinical outcomes.
  • List 3 or more therapy techniques to use in addition to VitalStim to optimize therapeutic outcomes.
Agenda
Day 1
  07:30 - 08:00   Registration
  08:00 - 09:00   Review of anatomical changes of birth to adolescents, kinesiology, theoretical concepts of electrical stimulation
  09:00 - 10:00   Muscle physiology and analysis of electrode placements and options
  10:00 - 10:15   Identify appropriate pediatric patients for VitalStim therapy
  10:15 - 10:30   Break
  10:30 - 11:00   Key clinical signs of swallowing difficulties and analysis for treatment
  11:00 - 12:00   Lab-Prepping the patient for the treatment through dynamic systems theory and decreasing resistance
  12:00 - 01:00   Lunch
  01:00 - 02:45   Lab-Dissection of case studies
  02:45 - 03:00   Break
  03:00 - 04:00   Lab-Case Study analysis of outcomes
  04:00 - 05:00   Lab-Advanced Treatment planning
  05:00 - 05:30   Q & A

CEU's
 Contact hours pre-approved for:
  • CIAO is an AOTA Approved Provider #4119 (OTs)
  • 8.0 Hours (0.8 CEUs) SLPs and OTs
  • CIAO is an ASHA Approved CE Provider #AAWA (SLPs)
  • This conference meets PDU Requirements for NBCOT
  • CIAO is an IACET Approved CE Provider
  • This course is offered for 0.8 ASHA CEUs (Intermediate level, Professional area).
 
CIAO has been approved as an Authorized Provider by the International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET), 1760 Old Meadow Road, Suite 500 McLean, VA 22102. In obtaining this approval, CIAO has demonstrated that it complies with the ANSI/IACET Standards which are widely recognized as standards of good practice internationally. As a result of their Authorized Provider membership status, CIAO is authorized to offer IACET CEUs for its programs that qualify under the ANSI/IACET Standards."
CIAO is regognized on the NBCOT Provider Registry (meets PDU requirements for NBCOT)
The assignment of AOTA CEUs does not imply endorsement of specific course content, products, or clinical procedures by AOTA.
 
CIAO Seminars™ • 362 Gulf Breeze Parkway #193 • Gulf Breeze, FL 32561 • 888-909-CIAO • 850-916-8886 • 850-916-8885 (fax)