Call for case studies for Chronic Pain & OT Practice Network meeting

We are pleased to announce an upcoming CAOT-BC Chronic Pain & OT Practice Network meeting. 

In preparation for this meeting, submit your case studies to Kat Dikeakos (vancouverot@gmail.com) as soon as possible.

Date: May 26, 2020
Time: 12:00pm-1:00pm PT
Location: Webinar

Topic: Interdisciplinary Round Table on Complex Pain & Mental Health

Description: The current COVID-19 crisis has substantial implications for people living with chronic pain including a lack of access to hands on treatments, increased stress and anxiety levels as well as disrupted daily routines.

Join naturopathic doctor Dr. Brittany Schamerhorn, registered clinical counsellor Ernest Chen, and occupational therapist and Practice Network chair Kat Dikeakos for an interdisciplinary discussion and case study review to address mental health concerns in the context of complex and persistent pain. 

Registration
#OT365

Upcoming CAOT-BC Practice Network Meeting: Chronic Pain & OT

We are pleased to announce an upcoming CAOT-BC Practice Network meeting. Meetings are run via webinar and registration is required to participate. 

Cost is free for CAOT-BC members and $20 for non-members. 

Chronic Pain & OT

Resilience in the Workplace 
Date: November 20, 2018

Time: 12:00 - 1:00pm Pacific Time

Location: Webinar

Registration 

Presenter: John Cazander has been in the healthcare industry as a caregiver, life coach, mentor, consultant, home care & day program provider. He witnessed clients as well as colleagues experiencing high-stress levels, or burned out due to compassion or work fatigue. His own fight with complex 
compassion fatigue, PTSD and burnout cycle, John reached a stage where he contemplated taking his own life. This life experience, as an observer, a mentor and as a survivor, gave John a unique insight into the burnout process and how it can affect a person’s life. Since 2015 he has been helping healthcare professionals, organizations how to lower stress levels, build 
resilience in the workplace, and find effective self-care strategies, or implement strategies to improve best practices programs and systems. 

Description: Learn about the risk factors to burnout, compassion fatigue, and workplace stress, and how to build resilience as a busy healthcare professional.

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Pre-register for free Pain Foundations course

Pain Foundations is an interdisciplinary online course designed to address the challenges health care professionals face when assessing and treating people living with chronic pain.

This course will enable health care professionals to:

• Identify and recognize the underlying symptoms of acute and chronic pain from a biopsychosocial and trauma-informed perspective.
• Use tools to monitor the biopsychosocial impact on the patient and to reassess their pain management plan.
• Implement non-pharmacological strategies to create a holistic treatment plan for people living with pain.
• Learn to guide the patient and place them in the driver's seat when pain management becomes a lengthy process.

The Pain Foundations course is free when you pre-register by December 31, 2018. 

Course launch date: January 7, 2019

Register now

#OT365

Upcoming CAOT-BC Practice Network Meetings: Pediatric and Chronic Pain & OT

We are pleased to announce two upcoming CAOT-BC Practice Network meetings. Registration is required to participate. 

Cost is free for CAOT-BC members and $20 for non-members. 

Pediatric Practice Network

Handwriting Intervention for School-Aged Children using Printing Like a Pro! - Research Findings, Application and Updates 

Date: October 24, 2018
Time: 6:00pm-7:30pm
Presenter: Ivonne Montgomery, BSc.OT, MRSc.
Location: Webinar and in person (Vancouver, BC)
Register by October 23

Chronic Pain & OT Practice Network Meeting

Concussion Management: Case Study Review

Date: October 24, 2018
Time: 12:00-1:00pm
Location: Webinar
Presenters: Tara Trethewey and Jill Olson
Register by October 23.

#OT365

Upcoming CAOT-BC Practice Network Meeting: Driving & Chronic Pain & OT

We are pleased to announce two upcoming CAOT-BC Practice Network meetings. Meetings are run via webinar and registration is required to participate. 

Cost is free for CAOT-BC members and $20 for non-members. 

Driving Practice Network Functional Driving Evaluation - Clinic Based Screening

Date: September 20, 2018

Time: 12:00 - 1:00pm Pacific Time

Location: Webinar

Registration

Presenter: Kiley Kwak is currently an Occupational Therapist with Community Therapists. Since graduating from University of British Columbia in 2013 she has provided home health and return to work rehabilitation programs; Functional Driving Evaluations with implementation of Driving Rehabilitation Programs; driver retraining and vehicle modification, Functional Capacity Evaluations and Occupational Performance Evaluations to determine future care.  Health populations served include concussion/MTBI, soft-tissue/orthopedic injury, persistent and chronic pain; complex medical limitations, and clients presenting with various physical, cognitive and psychological limitations. 

Description: This presentation will provide an overview of core component skills required for driving. Discussion will also include assessment battery options for screening these skills in clinic to identify any red flags for a client's driving readiness as well as to determine appropriate timing referral for a Functional Driving Evaluation. 

Chronic Pain & OT Practice Network
CHANGEpain: 5 years of innovative evidence-informed integrative pain care

Date: October 3, 2018
Time: 12:00-1:00pm
Location: Webinar
Registration

Presenters: Dr. Brenda Lau is a Pain Specialist/Anesthesiologist practicing in Vancouver and Surrey, BC and a Fellow of the Faculty of Pain Medicine of the Australia & New Zealand College of Anaesthetists after completing a two-year Pain Medicine fellowship and Master of Medicine degree in Sydney, Australia. In 2013, she co-founded a community based pain clinic called CHANGEpain to improve earlier access to effective multidimensional pain care and enable pain research in QI, and practice based evidence. 

Dr. Lindsay Rite is the Director of Integrative Health at CHANGEpain Clinic (CPC). She also acts as the Lead Advisor for the Centre’s Research Team. Simultaneously she maintains a Chiropractic practice, assists with Physician-led Shared Care pain consultations, and leads the management of the CHANGEpain active rehabilitation program. She has advanced training in movement and exercise therapy, and is a CSEP Certified Exercise Physiologist and Personal Trainer.

Description: Learn about who we are, what we do, why we do what we do and how we maximize patient access to services

#OT365

Upcoming CAOT-BC Practice Network Meetings

We are pleased to announce two upcoming CAOT-BC Practice Network meetings. Meetings are run via webinar and registration is required to participate. 

Cost is free for CAOT-BC members and $20 for non-members. 

Please note: Our registration process has changed. Instead of a CAOT-BC confirmation email, you will instead receive a confirmation email from GoToWebinar at least one week prior to the webinar date. This email will include webinar details and instructions for accessing the webinar. 

Chronic Pain & Occupational Therapy 

Topic: Work Wellness and Disability Prevention: What types of resources are you seeking?

Date: May 23, 2018

Time: 12:00pm - 1:30pm Pacific Time

Location: Webinar

Registration
Registration Deadline: May 22 | 12:00pm

Description: The Work Wellness and Disability Prevention Institute’s mandate is to create and sustain work wellness, prevent disability, eliminate impairment-related job loss, and worklessness for those with, or at risk of, chronic and episodic health-related challenges. In this interactive presentation Dr. White will provide an overview of programs, activities and free educational resources relevant to occupational therapists and patients. He is seeking input on high priority information needs of occupational therapists interested in work wellness, stay at work and return to work.  The charity is also involved in several research and educational projects and welcomes the participation of occupational therapists in their activities.

Presenter: Marc White PhD is co-founder and CEO/President of the Work Wellness and Disability Prevention Institute, formerly called the Canadian Institute for the Relief of Pain and Disability. He is a Clinical Assistant Professor with the Department of Family Practice at the University of British Columbia. Dr. White was a principal investigator affiliated with AUTO21, Networks of Centres of Excellence (2009-2015). He held an appointment as Research Fellow in Medicine, Harvard Medical School and at the Division of Rheumatology, Immunology & Allergy, Brigham and Women’s Hospital (2005 – 2008) and was a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Arthritis Research Centre of Canada (2003-2005).

#OT365

Upcoming CAOT-BC Practice Network Meetings

We are pleased to announce two upcoming CAOT-BC Practice Network meetings. Meetings are run via webinar and registration is required to participate. 

Cost is free for CAOT-BC members and $20 for non-members. 

Please note: Our registration process has changed. Instead of a CAOT-BC confirmation email, you will instead receive a confirmation email from GoToWebinar at least one week prior to the webinar date. This email will include webinar details and instructions for accessing the webinar. 

Chronic Pain & Occupational Therapy 

Topic: The People in Pain Network

Presenter: Heather Divine, CEO, People in Pain Network (PIPN)


Description: The format for the People in Pain Network PSMES (Pain Self-Management Education and Support) group meetings is designed to ensure a balance between education and support. Learn about how the language used as peer leaders and the education provided help people living with pain to make a shift from being defeated to start building their "new normal".

Date: April 19, 2018

Time: 12:00pm - 1:00pm Pacific Time

Location: Webinar

Registration
Registration Deadline: April 18, 2018 | 12:00pm

Pediatric Practice Network

Topic: Compassion Fatigue

 
Presenter: Jan Spilman, MEd, RCC, Compassion Fatigue & Chronic Sorrow Specialist 
Known as “an outstanding adult educator … who presents with heart and energy”, Compassion Fatigue Specialist, Jan Spilman, helps people-who-help-people to live well with the stress of their personal and professional care-giving. 
Thirty years as a helper – first as a coronary care nurse and CVT surgical nurse-manager, then as a mental health nurse, then as a trauma and loss therapist and adult educator in private practice, then as family caregiver for her husband and finally as a Compassion Fatigue and Chronic Sorrow Specialist – give Jan’s presentations authenticity and a depth of understanding. She offers creative, evidence-based and anecdotal strategies for building resilience to the serious “costs of caring”. 

Description: While we can only scratch the surface in an hour, this presentation will provide a brief introduction to Compassion Fatigue (CF), the natural trauma-exposure response experienced by many helpers who hear about others’ trauma, loss and suffering in the course of their work. CF can be defined as “fatigued compassion”, symptoms of posttraumatic stress culminating in a loss of capacity for empathy and emotional withdrawal from the very people we are trying to help. 

We will look at a simple model of CF, learn the difference between burnout and CF, track the 5 phases of CF development, use an informal tool to explore our current CF risk and briefly discuss some protective tools for living with others’ trauma stories. For those interested, Jan will be offering a full day CF workshop at the Granville Island Hotel Monday, May 7th from 9-4. Registration brochures are available at caregiverwellness@shaw.ca. (The registration deadline is April 22). 

Date: April 25, 2018

Time: 6:00pm - 7:30pm Pacific Time

Location: Webinar and in person

Registration

Registration Deadline: April 24, 2018 | 6:00pm

#OT365

Provide Feedback on Non-Pharmacological Treatment for Chronic Pain

CADTH is undertaking an Environmental Scan titled Access to and Availability of Non-Pharmacological Treatment for Chronic Non-Cancer Pain in Canada. 

This report will aim to provide an overview of the current availability, accessibility and funding status of non-pharmacological treatments for chronic non-cancer pain in Canadian jurisdictions. In addition, it will discuss barriers and facilitators that may impact the use of these interventions.

CADTH is seeking input from organizations, service providers, clinical experts, health care providers, and other stakeholders involved in the issue of pain management.

Your contribution to this report can be made by filling out the Environmental Scan survey, which can be accessed at the following link:

SURVEY http://cadth.hostedincanadasurveys.ca/index.php/376786?lang=en

It will take about 20-30 minutes to complete. If you need to pause during completion, you can do so by clicking Resume later on the top menu bar. Please ensure that you press Submit on the final page to complete your response. 

Please submit your response by end of day April 3rd, 2018. 

The draft report will be posted for public stakeholder feedback. After the report is finalized, it will be made freely available online.

If you have questions about the survey or the Environmental Scan, please contact Bert Dolcine, Program Development Officer at CADTH.

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CAOT-BC Chronic Pain & OT Practice Network Meeting: March 21, 2018

This meeting will take place by webinar. Registration is required to participate.

Topic: Concussion Management


Presenters: Tara Trethewey and Jill Olson are Occupational Therapists with Evergreen Rehab, a community-based rehab company specializing in complex case management and concussion recovery.

Description: Tara Trethewey and Jill Olson will be sharing their knowledge and experience working with clients who have sustained concussions and those who have persistent symptoms 
that require complex treatment planning. This webinar will cover the following: 

• The role of OT in concussion management
• Typical post-concussive symptoms
• OT approach to symptom management
• Case management of complex files
• Return to work considerations
• Client & OT practice resources

Date: March 21, 2018

Time: 12:00pm - 1:00pm Pacific Time

Location: Webinar

Registration: https://www.caot.ca/viewEvent.html?productId=9971
Cost:

Free for CAOT-BC members

$20 for non-members

Please note: Our registration process has changed. Instead of a CAOT-BC confirmation email, you will instead receive a confirmation email from GoToWebinar at least one week prior to the webinar date. This email will include webinar details and instructions for accessing the webinar. 

If you have any questions about registration please contact CAOT-BC: scharles@caot.ca.

If you have any questions about the Chronic Pain & OT Practice Network, please contact Kat Dikeakos

#OT365

CAOT-BC Chronic Pain & OT Practice Network Meeting: January 24, 2018

This meeting will take place by webinar. Registration is required to participate.

Topic: Arthritis and Community Resources


Presenter: The Arthritis Society   

Description: The session will discuss the general physiology of arthritis, lifestyle behaviours to promote overall well-being of people living with arthritis, useful tools for arthritic patients to reduce progression of arthritis, and community resources for arthritis patients to improve health outcomes. Arthritis pain and the management of chronic pain will also be discussed throughout the presentation, especially the role of occupational therapists in managing chronic arthritis pain.

Date: January 24, 2018

Time: 12:00pm - 1:00pm Pacific Time

Location: Webinar

Registration: https://www.caot.ca/viewEvent.html?productId=9855

Cost:

Free for CAOT-BC members

$20 for non-members

If you have any questions about registration please contact CAOT-BC.

#OT365

Pain BC: Best Practice Pain Management for Occupational Therapists

When: February 23-24, 2018

Where: St. Paul’s Hospital, 1081 Burrard St., Vancouver, BC

For occupational therapists interested in developing or enhancing sound clinical skills in the assessment and treatment of clients living with complex and chronic pain.

Early-bird CAOT-BC members rates before January 31, 2018
CAOT-BC member rates after this date

More information & registration

#OT365

Evidence for your Practice: Management of Neck and/or Back Pain

Intervention: Physiotherapy interventions
Population: Individuals with neck and/or back pain

Key Messages: 

• Evidence regarding the clinical effectiveness of physiotherapy for the management of neck and/or back pain was generally favourable or neutral, and no adverse effects were reported (limited moderate - low quality evidence) 
• No studies identified for:
• the clinical effectiveness of physiotherapy and opioids
• the cost-effectiveness of physiotherapy interventions for the management of acute or chronic neck and/or back pain 

Read the full CADTH report

Pain BC: Best Practice Pain Management for Occupational Therapists

When: February 23-24, 2018

Where: St. Paul’s Hospital, 1081 Burrard St., Vancouver, BC

For occupational therapists interested in developing or enhancing sound clinical skills in the assessment and treatment of clients living with complex and chronic pain.

Early-bird CAOT-BC members rates before January 31, 2018
CAOT-BC member rates after this date

More information & registration

Upcoming Course: Best Practice Pain Management for Occupational Therapists

When: October 20-21, 2017; 9:00am-5:00pm

Where: Royal Jubilee Hospital, Victoria, BC

This course is intended for occupational therapists interested in developing or enhancing sound clinical skills in the assessment and treatment of clients living with complex and chronic pain.

Early bird CAOT-BC member rates available before September 1, 2017

CAOT-BC member rates available after this date

More information and registration

#OT365

Pain BC Course: Best Practice Pain Management for Occupational Therapists

When: October 20-21, 2017; 9:00am-5:00pm

Where: Royal Jubilee Hospital, Victoria, BC

This course is intended for occupational therapists interested in developing or enhancing sound clinical skills in the assessment and treatment of clients living with complex and chronic pain.

Early bird CAOT-BC member rates available before September 1, 2017

CAOT-BC member rates available after this date

More information and registration

Evidence for your Practice: Effects of Chair Yoga on Pain and Physical Function

Image credit: vincentgallegos via Foter.com / CC BY-NC

Article for Review: 
Park, J., McCaffrey, R., Newman, D., Liehr, P., & Ouslander, J. G. (2016). A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial of the Effects of Chair Yoga on Pain and Physical Function Among Community‐Dwelling Older Adults With Lower Extremity Osteoarthritis. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, doi:10.1111/jgs.14717

This randomized control trial evaluated the effects of Sit 'N' Fit Chair Yoga on pain and physical function in older adults with lower extremity osteoarthritis (OA) who where unable to participate in standing exercise. One hundred and thirty-one community-dwelling adults were randomly assigned to either chair yoga or a Health Education program, which both consisted of twice-weekly 45-minute sessions for 8 weeks.

Conclusion: The chair yoga program was associated with reduction in pain, pain interference, and fatigue, and improvement in gait speed. However, only the effects on pain interference were sustained 3 months post intervention. Chair yoga should be further explored as a nonpharmacologic intervention for older people with OA in the lower extremities.

Access the abstract here

CAOT-BC Chronic Pain & OT Practice Network Meeting: May 2, 2017

Topic: Presentation by Pain BC
This meeting will take place by webinar. Registration is required to participate.

Date: May 2, 2017

Time: 12:00pm – 1:00pm Pacific Time

Location: Webinar

Registration: http://www.caot.ca/viewEvent.html?no_header=true&productId=9633

Cost:

Free for CAOT-BC members

$15 for non-members

If you have any questions please contact Sarah Slocombe: sslocombe@caot.ca

CAOT-BC Chronic Pain & OT Practice Network Meeting: January 25, 2017

Topic: Resources for Assessment & Intervention in Chronic Pain

This meeting will take place by webinar. Registration is required to participate.

Date: January 25, 2017

Time: 4:30pm – 5:30pm Pacific Time

Location: Webinar

Registration: https://www.caot.ca/store/events/registration.aspx?event=SIG25JAN17

Cost:

Free for CAOT-BC members

$15 for non-members

Registration takes only a minute in a few easy steps:

1. Click on registration link
2. Log in to your profile
3. Click "Register"
4. Click "Add to Cart"
5. Click "My Cart"
6. Click "Pay Now"
7. Click "Place Order"

You will receive a confirmation letter immediately after completing your online registration. Please check your spam/junk box, as sometimes these letters can be filtered out of regular email. If you still do not receive a confirmation after completing all the steps, please email caotbc@caot.ca for additional support.

If you have any questions please contact Sarah Slocombe: sslocombe@caot.ca

OT in the News: Occupational Therapy for Pain Control

While addressing the opioid crisis, Canada’s chief public health officer named occupational therapy as an equally effective form of pain control.

Watch video

#livingwithpain: Lets Make Pain Visible

What’s it like to live with chronic pain?

It’s often hard for those living with pain to explain, and even harder for someone without pain to understand. As part of National Pain Awareness Week 2016, PainBC wants to shine a spotlight on chronic pain and raise awareness about this often invisible issue. So join in for the 2nd annual #livingwithpain experiment!

What's the #livingwithpain experiment all about?
From November 6 - 12, you can join the experiment:

Clip a clothespin to your ear for 1 hour (or as long as you last!)

Take a selfie with the clothespin on your ear

Post your photo on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram using #livingwithpain to describe your experience

How can you join in?
During National Pain Awareness Week 2016, try the #livingwithpain experiment, then post your message and picture on social media. Or skip the clothespin and just share your story about what it’s like to live with chronic pain. Don’t forget to use the hashtag #livingwithpain to tag your post. Most importantly, encourage your friends and family to show their support by trying the experiment.

Visit www.painbc.ca/livingwithpain or contact info@painbc.ca for more information.