GO Tigers!

By Jessica Bahny
Activities Team
NeuroCare Center

It was perfect weather for the game. We set off Wednesday afternoon to watch the Detroit Tigers play the Kansas City Royals for a 1:05 pitch. Nothing like an afternoon game to enjoy one of the last days of summer.

We had AWESOME seats, and the Comerica Park ushers treated our clients like kings. When the sun was too hot, they let us sit where normally people aren’t allowed so that the clients could be out of the sun and still see the action. The game went for 10 innings!

Nicole from Activities, Jason from Respiratory Therapy and I were thrilled to be the staff along to assist Richard K., Jasper M., and Greg B. A cool thing was that Richard’s son met us there, and that really made the afternoon special for Rich.

Unfortunately, we did lose the game, but the clients had a great time. Sometimes something as simple as people watching and eating a ballpark hot dog have the most profound effect. It makes me so grateful to do my job!

New Concussion Protocols for High School Athletes

By Kit Pohl, PT, CBIS
Physical Therapist
Troy Neuro Skills Center

Beginning with the 2010-2011 school year, there will be a new concussion protocol for all high school athletes who are governed by the Michigan High School Athletic Association. Under the new rules, any athlete “who exhibits signs, symptoms or behaviors consistent with a concussion (such as loss of consciousness, headache, dizziness, confusion or balance problems) shall be immediately removed from the contest and shall not return to play until cleared by an appropriate health care professional.”

Game officials or coaches will no longer have a role in determining if an athlete has sustained a concussion. An apparently injured athlete must be examined by a health care professional to determine the extent of the injury. If the school’s designated health care professional determines that the student did not sustain a concussion, the athlete may reenter the competition. If a concussion is confirmed, the athlete may not return to competition that day. The return-to-play protocol requires: 1) only an MD or DO may clear the individual to return to competition 2) the clearance must be in writing 3) the clearance may not be on the same date on which the athlete was removed from play.

The MHSAA has also approved sanctions for non-compliance with the concussion management policy. With a first offense, the competition is forfeited and the school is placed on probation in that sport through the end of the following year. A second offense in that sport will result in an extension of the probation for an additional year and the school will be prohibited from participating in the MHSAA post-season tournament.

This ruling reflects the change in attitude that a concussion is more than a bump on the head. New studies are finding that repeated concussions can cause permanent brain damage that eventually shows up a depression, chronic headaches, early-onset dementia and/or adult-onset attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

The MHSAA is working with the Brain Injury Association of Michigan to promote public awareness of concussions in youth sports and the new MHSAA concussion protocol.

Finding Inspiration

By Dawn Vezzetti, CBIS
Residential Program Manager
Trevino Residence

After being a Residential Program Manager for 7 years now, I am amazed at the inspiration that comes my way each day I come to work. This inspiration comes from many different sources. The clients; how can you not be inspired by someone who has had their whole life turned upside down yet finds the will to move forward in their recovery – they make me laugh, they make me cry and they remind me how precious life truly is since at any moment unbeknownst to me, I could be them. My staff; they are an extension of my leadership and they have made me proud to say I work at Trevino. My colleagues throughout the company, what can I say they’re the best. Each of them brings a unique talent to the table. My leader; he gives me the latitude to get my job done effectively and expects the best from me. He also keeps us thinking of new ways to improve our clients' quality of life each and every day. Special Tree as a company; they keep things moving forward by looking to new innovations in helping people with TBI and focusing intensely on world class service and results. And I can’t forget the Richert family since we are ultimately a family business at the end of the day. Their story alone inspires me to give my very best to them and our clients. I’m proud to say I work at Special Tree.

September 15 is National School Backpack Awareness Day

By Carrie Parks, MA, OTR/L, CBIS
Occupational Therapist
Special Tree Rehabilitation System


September 15th is National School Backpack Awareness Day.

Aching backs and shoulders? Tingling arms? Weakened muscles? Stooped posture? Does your child have these symptoms after wearing a heavy school backpack? Carrying too much weight in a pack or wearing it the wrong way can lead to pain and strain. Parents can take steps to help children load and wear backpacks the correct way to avoid health problems.

Here are a couple of links that are tip sheets for parents and how to choose an appropriate backpack.

Are You and Your Kids Getting Enough Exercise?

Part of a series of informative articles from Special Tree's Physical Therapists to get you moving in 2010!

By Kit Pohl, PT, CBIS
Physical Therapist
Troy Neuro Skills Center

How much physical activity do adults and kids need to stay healthy?

Guidelines for physical activity were updated by the US Department of Health and Human Services in December 2009. The Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans outline the health benefits of regular exercise and offer the following recommendations for children, adolescents, adults and older adults.

Children and adolescents should do one hour or more of physical activity each day. Activities for children should consist of aerobic activity of moderate intensity five days per week and vigorous-intensity activity three days per week, muscle strengthening at least three days per week and bone strengthening at least three days per week. Encourage kids and teens to participate in age-appropriate activities which are enjoyable and offer variety. Check out this website. It lists 100 activities for children and teens including Nintendo Wii and in-line skating. Aerobic activities can include running as part of game play or bike riding. Muscle strengthening, including core strengthening, should be part of the 60 minute session. Bone strengthening activities can include jumping rope.

Adults need 2 hours and 30 minutes of moderate intensity aerobic activity every week and muscle strengthening activities two or more days a week. Alternatively, one-hour and 15 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic activity every week and muscle strengthening activities two or more days a week that works all major muscle groups.

People who are 65 years of age or older and have no limiting health condition can follow the same guidelines.

Any activity which increases your heart rate and breathing rate can be aerobic. Examples of a moderate intensity work-out include brisk walking of the dog or push-mowing the lawn. Running or swimming laps would require vigorous effort. Strength training can be done at home or in the gym. Try lifting weights, doing exercise that uses your body weight for resistance, or yoga.

To help meet exercise goals, spread activity throughout the week. On a daily basis, aerobic activity should be done for at least 10 minutes at a time. Going for a 10- minute brisk walk 3 times a day, 5 times a week will add up to 150 minutes of moderate intensity activity.

Special Tree is on a Roll...an Honor Roll!

Michigan Quality Council Recognizes Special Tree for Outstanding Quality

Special Tree is especially proud of the recent 2009 Leadership Honor Roll recognition from the Michigan Quality Council. The prestigious honor is reserved not only for a company that has made significant progress in improving quality, but for one that the MQC feels is poised to earn their top award – the Quality Leadership Award. CEO Joe Richert attended the awards ceremony on March 22, 2010 where he proudly received a certificate signed by Governor Granholm and also showed off a custom bumper sticker he had made for all Special Tree staff to declare their Honor Roll pride. "Thanks for everyone at Special Tree. This recognition demonstrates that we’re headed in the right direction," he said.

Special Tree began its "Quest for Excellence" in 2007, when it embraced the National Malcolm Baldrige Criteria for Performance Excellence. Congress established the program in 1987 to recognize U.S. organizations for their achievements in quality and performance and to raise awareness about the importance of quality and performance excellence as a competitive edge. "Aligning our practices with the criteria helps us identify strengths and improvement areas, employ best practices, and focus on professional development and exemplary performance," said Chief Quality Officer Lynn Slevin. As part of the process, Special Tree conducts ongoing quality audits as well as an intense yearly review of all of our services and practices.

Special Tree submits applications each year to a Board of Examiners at the Michigan Quality Council and the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Program in Washington D.C., to solicit feedback on our progress. This rigorous process helps ensure we are doing all we can to provide exemplary customer service and creates a successful rehabilitation environment for clients and staff

Special Tree Awards Scholarships to Eleven Outstanding College-Bound Seniors

Since 1995, Special Tree has awarded 150 scholarships totaling over $100,000 to outstanding local students to pursue careers in healthcare and rehabilitation

For the fifteenth consecutive year, Special Tree has awarded scholarships to college-bound seniors from high schools located near Special Tree’s inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation facilities located in Oakland, Wayne, Macomb, Midland and Saginaw counties. This year, 11 exceptional students received a cash scholarship of $1000 to use towards their college expenses. To help with the rising costs of higher education, Special Tree increased the scholarship award from $750 to $1000 in 2009.

Special Tree’s Healthcare and Rehabilitation Scholarship was created in 1995 to encourage college-bound students to pursue healthcare careers and to increase awareness of traumatic brain injury. The competitive scholarship is based on a student’s academic achievement, community involvement, school activities, references, and an interest in a healthcare or rehabilitation career. With this year’s awards, Special Tree has contributed over $100,000 in scholarships to 150 deserving students since the program’s inception.


This year’s winner are:

Jumoke Cadmus, Birmingham Groves HS
Kaitlyn Polonis, Chippewa Valley HS, Clinton Twp.
Angie Souva, Flat Rock HS
Autumn DeGroat, Freeland HS
Shelb y Otter, New Boston Huron HS
Jessica Surcek, Riverview HS, Riverview
Daijah Street, Romulus HS
Kristina Phelan, Royal Oak HS
Alyssa McCullough, Southgate HS
Shiv Annamalai, Troy Athens HS
Jessica Knoblauch, Warren Mott HS

"We strongly believe in encouraging young people to consider careers in healthcare," said Special Tree CEO Joseph Richert. "With the dire need for more healthcare professionals and the increasing costs of higher education, Special Tree is happy to assist our scholarship winners in achieving their educational goals."

In addition to providing financial support for students’ college educations, Special Tree hosts both high school and college students for clinical internships and job shadowing programs in a wide range of disciplines including OT, Speech, PT, Case Management, Nursing, Respiratory Therapy, Social Work, Psychology, and Recreational Therapy.