Tips to Have a Successful Group Treatment Session:
- Plan Ahead
- Coordinate with CNAs to prepare patients for your group.
- Schedule a time with patients to ensure they are ready for your arrival.
- Collaborate with PT/SLP to inform them about the specific patients you will be collecting.
- Large PT/OT Groups
- Conduct a comprehensive PT/OT group session that incorporates both disciplines. Ensure there is ample time and a variety of activities so that each discipline can accurately bill for their services.
- Looking for inspiration? Try my beach ball group concept, which combines exercises with safety awareness, fall prevention, energy conservation, and adaptive equipment or durable medical equipment, all within a single session.
- Modify Activities
- Modify group activity as needed to ensure all group members are gaining benefits from the activity whether that's grading up or down for each individual. Come prepared with alternative modifications.
- Similar Skills and Needs of Participants
- When planning groups, plan for similar participants whether that be similar diagnoses, similar functional capabilities, and/or similar cognitive status.
- Icebreakers
- When fostering Group Dynamics take the time to introduce each group member and kick off with an icebreaker. This approach promotes social benefits and enhances the effectiveness of group activities. When individuals feel at ease, they are more inclined to engage, share their thoughts, and contribute their personal experiences. This openness allows group members to learn from one another, enriching the overall experience.
- Group Percentage
- Every therapy organization has unique expectations regarding the amount of group or concurrent therapy permitted during a patient's stay. It is essential to adhere to these guidelines and not focus only on group sessions, as this ensures that patients receive the maximum benefit from their time in treatment.
- Goals
- Ensure group activities are addressing the patient’s specific goals.
- Group ideas: ADL retraining, AE/DME education/training, exercise UB/LB, education on fall prevention/energy conservation, balance, activity tolerance, etc.
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