There are two ways to participate in this live stream event (BOTH count as LIVE CE):

1. in the LIVE STUDIO audience in Gulf Breeze, Florida - Studio audience seats are limited - so register today!
2. via LIVE STREAM around the world - Live stream participants will login to access the event from their computer and interact with the instructor.

Course begins: 8:00 AM Central (9:00 AM Eastern; 7:00 AM Mountain; 6:00 AM Pacific)
Please contact our office if you have any questions. 850-916-8886.


Current research will be reviewed to explore how the NMES parameters such as frequency, phase duration and duty cycle can be changed to maximize impact. Participants will learn about the benefit of using up to 4 channels of stimulation and will learn how to sequence the stimulation between channels to mimic a normal swallowing sequence. In addition, two new modalities will be reviewed and practiced: sEMG Biofeedback and sEMG triggered electrical stimulation.

Disclosure: This course offering will only cover information that pertains to the effective and safe use of VitalStim Plus.


NOTE: Participant must be a VitalStim Provider to attend this advanced level course.

Disciplines

• Occupational Therapist
• Speech Language Pathologist

An ICE Accredited Assessment Based Certificate Program
The VitalStim Certificate Program was introduced to the professional dysphagia community in 2003 as the competency course for the only FDA-cleared NMES device for dysphagia treatment. The program, then known as the VitalStim Certification Program, revolutionized dysphagia therapy!

The popular course has gone through multiple revisions since its inception, incorporating the latest findings from the research and clinical communities. This new course update is the most significant to date. It is the result of several converging trends in the field of NMES for dysphagia treatment. The new content reflects significant growth of scientific research, an increase in available treatment protocols and an expansion of available equipment options.

VitalStim® Therapy and Beyond includes the online course, MBS: The Clear Picture (12hrs) and the two day hands-on "VitalStim® Therapy and Beyond: DINES Specialty Certificate Program" (16hrs) for a total of 28 hours of continuing education credit.

Course Pricing
$775 (Individual)
$350 (Renewal at Live Course - earn 16 hrs. of continuing education credit)

Disciplines

• Occupational Therapist
• Speech Language Pathologist

• MBS: The Clear Picture
• MBS Course Instructions
• VitalStim Therapy Specialty Program Policies

Receive your Specialty Certificate in VitalStim Therapy!

The VitalStim® Therapy Specialty Program includes the online course, MBS: The Clear Picture-Pediatric (12 hrs.) and the two day hands-on "VitalStim® Therapy Course" (16 hrs.) for a total of 28 hrs.

Course Pricing
$775
$350 (Renewal at Live Course - earn 16 hrs. of continuing education credit)

The VitalStim Therapy Course Manual will be issued at the live course.

Disciplines

• Occupational Therapist
• Speech Language Pathologist

• MBS: The Clear Picture - Pediatric
• MBS Course Instructions
• VitalStim Certification Policies
• VitalStim Auditor-Refresher Policies

There are two ways to participate in this live stream event (BOTH count as LIVE CE):

1. in the LIVE STUDIO audience in Gulf Breeze, Florida - Studio audience seats are limited - so register today!
2. via LIVE STREAM around the world - Live stream participants will login to access the event from their computer and interact with the instructor.

Course begins: 8:00 AM Central (9:00 AM Eastern; 7:00 AM Mountain; 6:00 AM Pacific)
Please contact our office if you have any questions. 850-916-8886.

"I have a great idea for a new therapy product? - Now what?" Therapists are natural entrepreneurs but navigating the steps to bring ideas to life can be challenging. This instructor has created and sold over 30,000 products designed for adults, children, and pets that were sold from distributors to retail, and online. Ms. Tompson will share the steps to take ideas from concept to reality. At the completion of this course participants will have the answers to bringing their ideas to life. Participants will gain an understanding of funding, prototypes, concept protection, manufacturing, shipping, packaging, warehousing, sales and marketing. This course will offer an insight to challenges and how to solve them as you develop your new therapy product. After this event, therapy entrepreneurs will feel inspired, excited, and encouraged about the possibility of stepping out and bringing their therapy product to life to improve the lives of others while discovering their own creative side!

Disciplines

• Physical Therapist
• Certified Occupational Therapy Asst
• Occupational Therapist
• Physical Therapy Asst
• Speech Language Pathologist

Dysphagia is increasingly becoming a focal point in medical malpractice cases.

This rise in litigation is driven by advancements in research, diagnosis, and treatment. To protect both patients and providers, CMS has implemented specific regulations regarding the care and documentation required for services reimbursed by Medicare. ASHA's code of ethics and scope of practice further set the bar for clinician competence in dysphagia management.

Despite dysphagia making up about 60% of a speech pathologist's caseload, many SLPs report having minimal academic training in this critical area, with some completing less than a semester of coursework or lacking hands-on experience in their graduate clinicals. This course will delve into the key issues of dysphagia litigation, provide strategies for supervision and clinician proficiency, and emphasize standard practices of care. We'll also cover red flags in documentation and work through real-world scenarios to sharpen your problem-solving skills.

Disciplines

• Certified Occupational Therapy Asst
• Occupational Therapist
• Speech Language Pathologist
• Speech Language Pathology Asst

In our role as Speech-language Pathologists we are to practice at the "top of our license", but often don't have the tools we need to get the job done. Most of us don't ask potential employers about the availability of therapy tools or a budget for therapy equipment. PRN staff often realize if they don't bring their equipment, there is nothing to work with. Budget constraints put us in a position of having to create or make our own tools. We can make some tools very inexpensively but there comes a time when purchasing specific equipment is necessary to document our outcomes. This seminar will look at tools we can create and utilize in our therapy room as well as those on the market to improve muscle function for an efficient safe swallow and provide documentation of our outcomes. Therapeutic interventions include swallowing and non-swallowing exercises but what are these and why do we use them? These exercises will be identified with literature discussing their efficacy, utilization and outcomes. In addition, new adaptive equipment for pediatrics and adults will be introduced that can assist with bolus control.

Disciplines

• Certified Occupational Therapy Asst
• Occupational Therapist
• Speech Language Pathologist

Literature over the last 2 decades has shown an obvious link between motor function and cognition. Emerging data suggest therapies designed to improve specific aspects of cognitive function, may also improve gait, increase use of compensatory strategies, and reduce fall risk. Falls and fall-related injuries are a huge concern and costly burden to individuals, society, and healthcare systems. Despite the costly and physical consequences of falls, common interventions and 'fall prevention programs' have been shown to be inadequate or ineffective. This evidence shines a new light on the SLPs ability to target functional safety goals through cognitive therapy to change the outcomes of patient safety. The evidence-based techniques reviewed in this course are applicable to patients with fall concerns who mobilize in any way and/or participate in ADLs, including patients with Dementia, Parkinson's Disease, stroke, traumatic brain injuries, and other neurological diagnoses. This course focuses heavily on evidence-based cognitive therapy techniques to improve patient safety; along with education essentials for training of staff/family as a part of your plan of care. Discussion will include how to target these skills without duplicating services with PT/OT. Course material will cover goal writing for best practice standards and avoiding insurance denials. Specific patient examples and documentation from referral to discharge will be covered. Steps to initiate and/or increase the success of a current fall prevention program will be described. Barriers and challenges will also be reviewed.

Disciplines

• Physical Therapist
• Certified Occupational Therapy Asst
• Occupational Therapist
• Physical Therapy Asst
• Speech Language Pathologist
• Speech Language Pathology Asst

This course instruction assumes a prior knowledge of dysphagia and anatomy/physiology of the head and neck. For an excellent review of the normal and abnormal swallow, we recommend bundling the ecourse "Anatomy of Swallowing". Please note that VitalStim Providers and past attendees of John Kelly's Myofascial Release and Other Manual Techniques in Dysphagia Management course may have already completed Anatomy of Swallowing (not sure, just ask CIAO).  We are offering the ecourse at a $20 discount when added as a bundle during registration (price reflects discount).

Elastic taping techniques have gained the attention of rehab providers offering support while allowing functional movement. This research-based modality has a variety of applications to address functional impairment. This course will focus on taping strategies relevant to dysphagia therapy. Therapeutic applications provide re-education of the neuromuscular system, influence lymphatic drainage, improve localized circulation and reduce pain. Diagnoses familiar to the dysphagia specialist benefit from its use. Taping strategies offer muscular inhibition as in craniomandibular hypertonus, muscular recruitment facilitating hyoid movement and minimize postural compensation related to sensory input. This course will educate the dysphagia clinician on the therapeutic benefit of taping to improve motor patterns and facilitate a client's functional independence. Though focused on the adult population, experienced pediatric clinicians can easily apply these techniques to the pediatric population.

Disciplines

• Physical Therapist
• Certified Occupational Therapy Asst
• Occupational Therapist
• Physical Therapy Asst
• Speech Language Pathologist
• Speech Language Pathology Asst

This interactive two-day workshop for rehabilitation teams will address evaluation and current treatment techniques appropriate for soft tissue and joint restrictions that contribute to an abnormal swallow.
Note: Registration for this course includes the pre-requisite online course "Anatomy of Swallowing" (you will receive an additional 4 hours for completion of this online course)
Click Here for a Preview

Disciplines

• Physical Therapist
• Certified Occupational Therapy Asst
• Occupational Therapist
• Physical Therapy Asst
• Speech Language Pathologist

This is a two day course combining Pediatric Feeding 1 and 2. Day 1 covers Motor, Sensory, and Behavioral causes of pediatric feeding disorders and Day 2 covers Medical Problems and Family Dynamics.

Disciplines

• Physical Therapist
• Certified Occupational Therapy Asst
• Occupational Therapist
• Physical Therapy Asst
• Speech Language Pathologist
• Speech Language Pathology Asst

Physical Agent Modalities (PAMs) for the Rehab Professional (Blue Track) is designed to educate occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants in the use of electro-physical agents in the areas of electrical stimulation (pulsed, alternating, and direct current), and superficial and deep thermal agents. This course is open to ATs, OT/COTAs and PT/PTAs.

Please bring lab attire that allows for access to the shoulder (e.g. loose fitting t-shirt, tank top etc.)

Disciplines

• Physical Therapist
• Certified Occupational Therapy Asst
• Occupational Therapist
• Physical Therapy Asst
• Athletic Trainer

Physical Agent Modalities (PAMs) is designed to educate occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants in the use of electrophysical agents in the areas of electrical stimulation (pulsed, alternating, and direct current), and superficial and deep thermal agents (ultrasound, shortwave diathermy and laser). This course is also open to PT/PTAs and Athletic Trainers.

This course meets OT Physical Agent Modalities didactic training requirements in: CA, FL, ID, IL, MA, MD, ND, NH, NJ, NM, NY, PA, SD, WI, WV

Please bring lab attire that allows for access to the shoulder (e.g. loose fitting t-shirt, tank top etc.)

Disciplines

• Physical Therapist
• Certified Occupational Therapy Asst
• Occupational Therapist
• Physical Therapy Asst
• Athletic Trainer

On average, 80% of children identified with developmental delay suffer from oral motor dysfunction. This two-day pediatric sensory point taping (SPT) course focuses on smaller taping applications on strategic points to impact oral motor function. The SPT techniques address the co-morbidities surrounding oral motor dysfunction, including arthrokinematics, respiration, motility, oral motor coordination, jaw alignment, head posture, edema, pain, fascial restrictions, and scar tissue while maintaining skin integrity and providing comfort. The participant will be introduced to assessment methods, including musculoskeletal data collection for pre/post assessment and skills specific for successful, safe application of elastic therapeutic tape.

Disciplines

• Physical Therapist
• Certified Occupational Therapy Asst
• Occupational Therapist
• Physical Therapy Asst
• Speech Language Pathologist
• Speech Language Pathology Asst

Have you ever felt 'stuck' delivering therapy to kids with differently wired brains? Oftentimes, children with neurodivergent challenges (autistic, ADHD, etc.) require us to adapt and rethink traditional therapy methods. What if we had a framework for understanding how their brains think and sense the world? This introductory course for all therapy professionals is designed to inform, explore and celebrate the diverse range of neurological differences in the pediatric population. This course aims to foster a deeper understanding of neurodiversity, promote inclusivity, and provide valuable insights into the experiences of individuals with neurodivergent traits. Together we will learn how to support therapists' interactions with clients and create space for a mindset shift within our therapy practices. That feeling like nothing is working to progress towards goals is very real and disappointing to even the most experienced clinician. Let's ditch that together. This course will assist you in providing a new lens in which to view these children that ultimately will empower you and your thinking on how to build connection and improve therapy sessions.

Disciplines

• Physical Therapist
• Certified Occupational Therapy Asst
• Occupational Therapist
• Physical Therapy Asst
• Speech Language Pathologist

There's a growing disconnect between evidence and action in cognitive therapy. Many current practices are outdated and no longer evidence-based, but now therapists have access to the 2023 Guidelines to help them plan and implement engaging, evidence-based cognitive therapy.

An expert panel of clinicians and researchers, known as INCOG, developed guidelines for treating TBI patients based on the latest research. This course dives into these updated guidelines, equipping therapists with the tools they need to deliver evidence-based cognitive therapy. A lot has changed in the last decade, and these guidelines provide essential help in planning more functional, effective therapy.

INCOG 2.0 outlines five key domains for cognitive therapy:

• Posttraumatic Amnesia
• Attention and Information Processing
• Executive Functions
• Cognitive-Communication and Social Cognition Disorders
• Memory

This course will explore specific evidence-based therapy interventions for each domain, as well as reviewing old therapy practices that have been proven ineffective. You'll also learn about medications that can assist physicians in decision-making, and audit tools to ensure the most critical interventions are being implemented in your practice.

This course is ideal for any healthcare provider targeting cognition in adults with neurological injuries.

Disciplines

• Physical Therapist
• Certified Occupational Therapy Asst
• Occupational Therapist
• Physical Therapy Asst
• Speech Language Pathologist
• Speech Language Pathology Asst

This conference attracts therapists from throughout the world with a variety of experiences.

Disciplines

• Occupational Therapist
• Optometrist