Ot Potential Podcast

In talking to therapy start-ups this year, I've heard a common stumbling block: Credentialing.And, honestly, I was shocked when I dug into the space. It feels like the seemingly boring task of getting credentialed with insurance has turned into what honestly feels like a world of sharks. It seems like there are 3 trends at play:This is truly a bureaucratic headache: You do need to buckle up for some super confusing portals to get credentialed.Credentialing services are all too happy to take your money: They take your personal information because of this barrier-but because the process itself is murky, they often over-promise and under-deliver, without clarity into what is happening.Big companies like Grow Therapy want to present this task as too difficult for an average therapist, so you join their platform (where they do the credentialing for you, but own your contract).In today's episode, we want you to feel empowered to understand credentialing and billing with insurance. We'll help you unde

In the United States, approximately 49,000 people die by suicide each year. And, unfortunately, the rate of suicide has increased substantially since 2000, up about 30%. Suicide remains among the 10 leading causes of death among persons aged 10-64 years and is the second leading cause of death among those aged 10-14 and 25-34.While these trends are multifactorial, they are particularly distressing because evidence-based approaches to screening and intervention are better established than ever. Yet confidence and training in these approaches remain too low — even among behavioral health workers. OTs, PTs, and SLPs are uniquely positioned to recognize warning signs through repeated, relationship-based care, but most receive little formal training in suicide prevention.This course seeks to address that gap. We'll cover the basics of: What to watch forEvidence based ScreeningEvidence based intervention And, the role of the team. We'll anchor our discussion in one of the most comprehensive evidence-based

Fixing healthcare is simple: More people need preventative, conservative care earlier.But getting to this fix is a massively complex web of structural policy choices. The reality is that our modern healthcare system often misaligns incentives, rewarding the management of chronic sickness over the investment in wellness. We've seen a shift toward market consolidation, where vertically integrated monopolies-both in insurance and hospital systems-drive up prices while limiting choice.It's this playbook-which includes a lack of site-neutrality, high specialist payments, and insufficient transparency-that has allowed consolidated systems to post record revenues, even as:Medicaid is cutInsurance premiums are upRural hospitals closeFrontline workers experience burnout and higher suicide rates.The US pays the most in the world for healthcare, without the leading outcomes to show for it.As therapy providers, we have watched as our common-sense bills collect dust. Our care is denied, our expenses are skyrocke

SEO has long been the absolute best way to maintain a consistent therapy client caseload for outpatient therapists. But, for therapists in all settings really, understanding and optimizing your digital real estate is often a secret sauce for career growth.In today's course, we want to help you:Recognize how important your digital real estate is to your practice.Optimize your presence with the right keywords.Understand the technical details needed for effective local SEO.Get the leads or contacts you actually want!This task has gone from important to urgent with the onslaught of vertical integration happening in therapy in 2026. Platforms like GrowTherapy, Amazon, Headway, and Talkspace want to own your digital real estate and make you reliant on them. We want to teach you how to own your own professional identity-and give yourself professional flexibility whether you temporarily use a service like this or not.Joining us is Saroosh Kahn, CTO of Allia. I met Saroosh over a shared sense of helping keep ther

For years, "Occupational Therapy in Primary Care" has felt like a professional aspiration-a "gold standard" we discussed in classrooms but rarely saw in job postings. Today, that reality is shifting. Following the 2020 statutory mandates in Norway and Sweden that solidified OT as a required primary care service, the global tide is turning.In the United States, we are moving past the era of mere "co-location" toward true interprofessional integration. Driven by the rise of Alternative Payment Models (APMs) and the 2026 Medicare updates to Advanced Primary Care Management, the door is finally opening for OTs to lead in chronic disease management, mental health, and aging-in-place.On today's episode, we sit down with Dr. Ashley Halle, a leading voice in this movement and co-author of the foundational AJOT research on the topic, to discuss how clinicians can finally step out of the "hypothetical" and onto the primary care team.See full course details here:https://otpot

Thumb osteoarthritis is a common condition in older adults. By age 50, the prevalence is about 8% in men and 25% in women-and it increases with age, with meta-analysis data suggesting that by age 80, approximately 39% of women have radiographic signs of thumb base OA.Conservative treatment is widely acknowledged as first-line care for thumb CMC OA, including occupational and physical therapy, particularly to help initiate splinting and exercise programs.With conservative treatment roughly 4 out of 5 cases can be managed successfully without surgery.Given the relatively high prevalence and importance of conservative intervention, it is critical that even generalist OTs be aware of its presentation and the basics of assessment and treatment.This course intends to do just that: equip the generalist therapist to watch for, assess, and treat thumb OA-and perhaps most importantly, know when to refer on. We'll be joined by hand therapist Preston Lockwood.See full course details here:https://otpotential.com/ceu-

The landscape of healthcare has been changed forever with the introduction of AI.Already, 1 in 3 adults are turning to chatbots to ask health related questions. For younger adults under age 30, the shift is even faster-nearly 30% now use AI specifically for mental health and emotional support.Amid these broad changes is a specific question for us as therapists: What happens when the chatbot starts to play the role of therapist?This service is already being offered by tools - like Abby - "Your AI Therapist."This raises so many questions for us-and at the heart of the questions is a moral and ethical one of turning our trust from individual humans to LLMs. Today, we'll walk through the broad ethical considerations with Megan Cornish is a licensed clinical social worker turned strategist who builds and scales ethical mental health brands.We'll discuss the ethics of this shift-and what our ethical duty is to respond, particularly in our day to day sessions with clients, who are likely beginnin

The landscape of private practice changed forever this year. With Amazon officially adding physical therapy to its marketplace, accessing rehabilitation services is now as easy as ordering a pair of shoes. This shift signifies a massive rise in public awareness of therapy services-but it also brings a new set of challenges for the independent practitioner.How do you compete with a global giant? How do you meet the "one-click" expectations of modern clients?In our 2026 "Starting an OT Practice" course, we dive into the complexities of launching and sustaining a practice in this high-tech, high-convenience era. We'll discuss why easy onboarding is no longer optional, how to leverage the latest AI tools to provide world-class care while run a lean and professional business, and how to position your clinical expertise as a high-value alternative to corporate healthcare.We are joined by Christopher Gaskins PhD, OTR/L, CSRS, who recently made the leap from "side-hustle" to full-ti

Travel therapy offers some of the highest compensation in rehab, yet it remains one of the most logistically challenging practice areas. Succeeding on the road requires a distinct mindset shift, balancing clinical flexibility with savvy career management.Whether you are eyeing your first contract or looking to refine your travel strategy, this course walks you through the essential day-to-day considerations of a nomadic career. We will dive into three overarching questions:Logistics: How do you strategically decide where to go next?Clinical Readiness: How do you prepare for the “sink or swim” demands of hopping between facilities?Empowerment: How do you ensure you are being paid fairly in a competitive industry?You’ll leave this session more confident in navigating the travel market and delivering high-quality care in any setting. Joining us is Laura Latimer, OTR/L, founder of Nomadicare. After discovering a massive pay gap in her own contracts, Laura transitioned from traveler to industry advocate. She is a

Most parents start their OT journey with a frantic Google search: “Does my child need OT?” Unfortunately, the answers they find are often buried in vague recommendations about “missing milestones.”In this one-hour course, former AOTA President and pediatric practice owner Alyson Stover, MOT, JD, OTR/L, BCP explores how we can move beyond ambiguity. We’ll dive into actionable strategies for improving clarity and access, ensuring that therapists can empower parents and providers to connect children with the right services at the most critical times.See full course details here:https://otpotential.com/ceu-podcast-courses/deciding-if-a-child-needs-otSee all OT CEU courses here:https://otpotential.com/ceu-podcast-coursesCheck our our live webinar schedule here:https://otpotential.com/live-ot-ceu-webinarsSupport the show by using the OTPOTENTIAL Medbridge Code:https://otpotential.com/blog/promo-code-for-medbridgeTry 2 free OT Potential courses here:https://otpotential.com/free-ot-ceusSupport the show

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) remains the leading cause of non-traumatic disability in adults aged 18–65. Because of its prevalence and the vital role of therapy in management, it is a clinical area we return to often at OT Potential.We previously explored this topic through the inspiring lens of Dr. Sarah Adam, OTD, OTR/L—a professor and Paralympic medalist living with MS. In this upcoming one-hour course, we continue the conversation by diving into the latest evidence-based research through the lens of an outpatient neurological specialist.Joining us is Makeda N. Jackson, OTD, OTR/L, MSCS, a Multiple Sclerosis Certified Specialist. Dr. Jackson will share her expert perspective on the clinical logistics of MS care, focusing on:Evidence-Based AssessmentTargeted InterventionPatient Education/ CoachingYou will walk away with practical, actionable knowledge. Plus, we are assembling a treatment guide for you to reference—synthesizing insights from this and our past conversations on MS—to help you provide the highest le

Why does therapy often feel undervalued by the systems we serve? To change the future of our professions, we must first understand the forces that shape today’s Medicare and private payer models—and ultimately, your reimbursement.In this session, we sit down with DPT and policy expert Dana Strauss to pull back the curtain on the reimbursement landscape. Together, we’ll explore why the current system prioritizes procedures over longitudinal care and, more importantly, identify the strategic levers we can pull to shift the needle.You’ll leave this course with a clear understanding of three concrete advocacy efforts we can rally around in 2026, and a practical roadmap for making them happen. Join us to turn frustration into informed action and help usher in a new era where the true value of therapy is recognized.Resources:Therapy Reimbursement Guide (https://otpotential.com/blog/therapy-reimbursement)Advocacy Playbook for OTs & PTs (https://otpotential.com/blog/therapy-advocacy-for-pt-and-ot)See full course

While the landscape of healthcare is shifting beneath our feet, the most tangible change in daily practice since the arrival of AI has been our documentation.Over the past two years, we have moved beyond the initial excitement of AI scribes and chat interfaces. As we look ahead to Therapy Documentation in 2026, the conversation is shifting from “how do we save time?” to “how can data and analytics help us in real-time?” We are entering an era where documentation is no longer a static record of the past, but a dynamic tool that augments our clinical reasoning and patient care.We are thrilled to welcome to the podcast Pedro Teixeira, MD, PhD. Dr. Teixeira is the co-founder of PredictionHealth (now part of Prompt Health) and a leading expert in using biomedical informatics to bring intelligent automation into the rehab workflow.In this episode, we’ll discuss:Industry-wide technology adoptionDocumentation KPIs and metricsEmerging clinical data dashboardsFuture-focused patient care visionSee full course details he

There is a foundational skillset essential to occupational therapy that often isn't covered in school: The ability to design a 60-minute session that is both clinically transformative and operationally sound.Bridging the gap between high-level evidence-like task-specific practice for stroke recovery-and the realities of billing codes and patient engagement is no small feat. It is this specific ability to structure "best practice" into a seamless, hour-long experience that separates the master clinician from the novice.In this 1 hour course, we sit down with Rachel Egan, OTR/L, CHT, COMT, a master clinician and rehab manager who understands this complexity firsthand. As an operational leader at NovaCare overseeing 13 clinics, Rachel balances the dual demands of high-quality patient care and administrative excellence.You'll leave this course ready to plan great OT sessions of your own.See full course details here:https://otpotential.com/ceu-podcast-courses/how-to-plan-a-great-ot-sessionSee a

Occupational therapy in the NICU is one of the most specialized and sensitive practice areas in our profession. The transition from traditional clinical settings to the high-stakes, high-tech environment of neonatal care requires a fundamental shift in how we approach both assessment and intervention.Whether you are an OT looking to move into the NICU or a pediatric therapist wanting to better understand the early medical history of the infants on your caseload, this course will walk you through essential neuroprotective strategies that optimize long-term outcomes.You’ll leave more confident in navigating the complexities of neonatal care—from performing specialized assessments to implementing interventions that protect the developing brain. Joining us for this course is neonatal therapist and lactation consultant, Nicole Bazinet, MS, OTR/L, IBCLC, CNT, NTMTC who will share hard-earned advice from her years in this setting.In this course, we will cover:OT assessmentCommon interventionsPartnering with parentsY

Are you fully using the critical window of opportunity after stroke to support neuro-recovery during your OT sessions—or are you unintentionally devoting valuable rehab time to compensation?In today’s episode, we’re joined by Henry Hoffman to explore why prioritizing recovery—when possible—matters, and how occupational therapy professionals can more intentionally drive neuroplastic change after stroke.Together, we break down core principles that support recovery-oriented practice, including:Motor learning over compensationHigh-repetition, task-specific practiceSensory-rich feedback to shape movementWe also unpack emerging neuroscience from the past few years that supports this approach—and translate it into real-world practice. You’ll hear practical examples of what these principles can look like across education, assessment, and intervention, helping you reflect on how recovery-focused your current stroke practice truly is.Whether you work in inpatient rehab, outpatient neuro, home health, or education, this

Mental health is one of occupational therapy’s smallest practice areas.Because relatively few OTs work in traditional mental health settings, it can feel like an enigma:What does mental health OT actually look like day to day?Where do we fit on interdisciplinary teams?And how does occupation truly show up in mental health care?At the same time, there may be no better home for occupational therapy’s core values than mental health practice.In this course, Intro to Mental Health OT, we zoom out to ground you in the big picture—while also getting practical about what mental health OT looks like in real clinical contexts.We’ll be joined by a practicing occupational therapist and champion of the profession, Michelle Burlyga, OTR/L.Together, we’ll walk through:Common assessments used in mental health OTCore treatment approaches and intervention strategiesKey considerations for mental health practice that differ from other OT settingsWhy mental health competencies are increasingly essential—no matter where you practi

Through OT Potential, we’ve released more than 124 podcast episodes exploring the research, ideas, and conversations shaping occupational therapy. Each year, we pause to step back and ask a foundational question:What is occupational therapy—and how is it evolving?In this special episode to kick off 2026, we expand the conversation beyond research alone to include advocacy, technology, and the forces shaping OT practice and public perception.Joining us for this milestone conversation are two of the profession’s most influential leaders:Katie Jordan, CEO of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA)Angela Macauley, PMP, CEO of the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT)Together, we explore:How occupational therapy practitioners can collaborate on advocacy efforts, particularly around reimbursement and sustainability of practiceHow the profession can more effectively communicate and market the value of OT to the public, referral partners, and policymakersHow emerging technologi

Research suggests that anywhere from 46% to 84% of autistic children experience selective eating. And the downstream risks are substantial: selective eating is linked with nutritional deficiencies, psychosocial impairment, and increased risk of developmental and psychiatric comorbidities, with severity tied to how persistent and restrictive the eating patterns become.In this OT Potential course, Britt St. John, PhD, MPH, OTR/L, joins us to break down what occupational therapy professionals need to understand—and do—when supporting autistic children with selective eating. We’ll begin with Britt’s story and key terminology (picky eating vs. selective eating vs. feeding disorders), then move into practical, evidence-based guidance for clinicians.Together, we’ll focus on three core areas:Assessment: How to identify the nature and severity of selective eating, including available OT assessments and red flags that should guide clinical decision making.Caregiver collaboration: How to partner with families in ways th

AI is going to reshape OT education—rapidly and profoundly. The real question is: How do we harness its strengths for good? How do we protect the parts of learning that are best done without it, while also leveraging AI in areas where our profession has historically struggled?One promising area is scenario-based learning, where AI can create realistic, dynamic situations that help learners practice clinical reasoning in a safe, supportive environment.In today’s one-hour webinar, we’re hosting a round-table conversation featuring:David Foster, PhD – learning theorist and AI learning-module creatorSarah Lyon, OTR/L – OT educator and continuing-education providerMelissa Kimmerling, EdD, OTR/L – OT program directorTogether, we’ll explore what’s possible in this new frontier, examine the concerns we must guard against, and—most importantly—answer your live questions about the future of AI in OT education.See full course details here:https://otpotential.com/ceu-podcast-courses/ai-in-educationSee all OT CEU courses