PHYSICAL MEDICINE AND REHABILITATION
Continuing Education Courses

See also Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Homepage Continuing Education Courses

Totally Treatment: An Innovative Approach to Pediatric Aquatic Therapy
November 7 – 8, 2008

Course Description
This course is designed by an OT & PT for therapists working in pediatric aquatics. You will learn dramatic and effective techniques from trained OT/PT aquatic therapists. This fast-paced course includes classroom style discussions and video tapes of actual therapy sessions coupled with getting into the water and practicing techniques you will learn on children appearing in the videos. A wide variety of diagnoses including all different levels of: physical impairment, sensory motor dysfunction, and PDD will be addressed. This dynamic progression of therapy moves way beyond traditional individual treatment.

Course Objectives
Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:

1. Access knowledge of how to perform pediatric aquatic evaluation and develop an individual treatment plan

2. Utilize increased repertoire of pediatric aquatic treatment ideas and handling techniques for individual therapy as well
   as small groups

3. Use and apply aquatic equipment with the pediatric population

4. Develop effective aquatic treatments to compliment current land based programs

About the Instructors
Ailene Tisser, MA PT is a pediatric physical therapist with 15 years of experience treating a variety of diagnoses, both in and out of the water. She has worked in New York, Southern California and currently practices in Connecticut. Ailene owns and operates her own Aquatic practice called Therafins, LLC. She also works in a school setting and in early Intervention. Ailene is NDT trained in pediatrics.

Cindy Freedman, MOTR, CTRS is a pediatric occupational therapist and recreational therapist with 15 years of rehabilitation experience treating a variety of diagnoses. After receiving a Master’s in OT, she worked in Kansas City exclusively in aquatics. For the
past five years, Cindy has been in Connecticut running "Kids A Float" and aquatic therapy and Swim-lesson Company.

Course Schedule
Day One
8:00 AM Introduction/Overview of the course
8:45 AM Properties of the water
9:30 AM Handling Techniques
10:15 AM Break
10:30 AM Part #1 of Handling video
11:15 AM Handling Lab/Meet at Pool
12:15 PM Lunch (on your own)
1:15 PM Treatment Video
2:00 PM Patient Treatment Lab
3:45 PM Discussion of Treatment
4:00 PM Introduction of Angelfish community program
Angelfish vides, example of handouts #1 & #2
4:45 PM Questions/Pictures
5:30 PM Adjourn

Day Two
8:00 AM Question & Answer; Group discussion of photos
9:00 AM Group Therapy/Equipment
9:30 AM Part #2 of handling video
10:00 AM Treatment Video
11:00 AM Patient Treatment Lab
12:45 PM Lunch (on your own)
1:45 PM Discussion of treatment
2:30 PM Evaluations (forms & examples of completed evals)
Insurance Letters (for several different situations& diagnoses)
Progress Notes
2:45 PM Break
3:00 PM Pool Space Negotiation, Company Insurance
4:00 PM Paperwork (evaluations, progress notes, insurance letters, etc.)
4:45 PM Q & A
5:30 PM Adjourn

Course Fee
Consortium $375.00
Association $425.00
Individual $475.00

Registration
Online registration

Location
Chancellor’s Family Center
6565 Dumfries
Houston, TX 77096

Hotel Accommodations
Holiday Inn
11160 Southwest Freeway
Houston, Texas 77031-3698
281-530-1400 Rates: $72-$99
Shuttle Services to and from course available

Airport Shuttle Information
Super Shuttle
713-523-8888
*Call for rates

For More Information
Mitzi Wiggin, MS, PT
832-826-6107
mmwiggin@texaschildrenshospital.org