Hand Therapy Week is an integrated national program established by ASHT. Throughout the week, ASHT members sponsor and organize events in their communities in an effort to raise awareness among various audiences, celebrate the benefits of hand therapy and educate the public. Hand Therapy Week is held each year during the first full week of June.
This year, ASHT gives members even more ways to get involved in Hand Therapy Week, providing new hand therapy resources, bringing back the popular ASHT Photo Contest and launching a NEW contest aimed at recognizing those working to promote hand therapy in their communities.
The Practice Standards Committee is proud to announce the release of four more Patient Education Resources. Released in time for Hand Therapy Week 2015, these handouts can also be used to promote both your practice and the specialty of hand therapy.
The four new topics are cubital tunnel syndrome, distal radius fractures, boutonniere injuries and flexor tendon repairs. These popular informational handouts have been used by therapists everywhere to enhance patient care and education. These resources, along with eight others in the series, are located on the Patients section of the ASHT website. To access the resources from the homepage, just click the green “Patients” tab in the right-hand corner.
In these days of tighter restrictions and budgets on medical care expenses, hand therapists need to promote our profession as the best source for management of hand and upper quadrant conditions. Each resource specifically addresses what a hand therapist can offer to treat each injury or diagnosis. Print some out and place them in your reception area in a prominent location. I have done this, and found my patients appreciate knowing a little about their condition prior to their initial evaluation. They are often highly interested in learning about conditions other than their own as well. They have told me, “I have a neighbor who should read this.”
Further, ASHT has released updated versions of our popular hand therapy flyers to use in your clinic as educational resources or distribute to your referral sources. The flyers for surgeons and primary care physicians provide space where you can add contact information for your practice via label, sticker, stamp, etc.
Get involved with Hand Therapy Week via social media by visiting the ASHT Facebook page, and be sure to use #HTW2015 and @HandTherapyASHT to share your Hand Therapy Week celebrations on Twitter.
New to Hand Therapy Week? Here are a few easy ways to get started.
ASHT thanks our 2015 Hand Therapy Week sponsors!