Take time to recognize the work you do as hand therapists and join ASHT in celebrating Hand Therapy Week, June 5-11, 2023.
There are countless activities you can do to celebrate the work you love, and at the same time, bring awareness and appreciation to the field of hand and upper extremity therapy. Promote the specialty in your clinic and community using the ideas listed below. However you celebrate, be sure to share it with us on social media by tagging ASHT and using #HTW2023. Have a creative way to celebrate Hand Therapy Week? We'd love to hear about it!
Send kits with Hand Therapy Week promotional items, hand-shaped cookies and a brochure explaining the benefits of hand therapy to physician's offices and other referral sources.
Participate in ASHT's daily challenges. Get your whole clinic or your patients involved to have some fun, and show off your results on social media.
Visit a local college or university. Reach out to students interested in health sciences to share information about the hand and upper extremity therapy specialty.
Hold a clinic-wide kick-off party Monday (or take it virtual) and invite a respected colleague to talk about how important hand and upper extremity therapy is to the healthcare arena.
Record a Hand Therapy Week message on the clinic answering machine.
Ask your clinic or community Chamber of Commerce to take out an ad announcing Hand Therapy Week in your local newspaper.
Offer the services of your staff to speak to local groups, such as high school or college sports programs, health clubs, the YWCA or YMCA, the Chamber of Commerce and the Rotary and Lion's Clubs.
Organize a Hand Therapy Week celebration team — be certain to include a representative from as many areas as possible, like the receptionist -- and hold a brainstorming session. Some of the best ideas come from brainstorming.
Send a special thank-you letter or message to your patients and doctors you work with.
Conduct a clinic-wide letter-writing campaign to have the governor of your state, or mayor of your town, proclaim Hand Therapy Week. Invite your mayor to a special clinic event.
Hold a (virtual) open house at your clinic, and consider focusing on certain treatments or conditions (e.g. osteoarthritis). Consider also inviting a vendor to offset some of the costs.
Design fun baskets of hand cookies/candies to give to local schools, healthcare facilities or referring physicians. Include hand therapy statistics and benefits.
Recognize your hardworking hand therapists with a certificate of appreciation.
Send news releases on outstanding hand therapists to your local newspaper. Include comments from patients and managers with a photo of the hand therapist.
Invite your local Chamber of Commerce or other companies in the area to participate in Hand Therapy Week for a community-wide celebration. (If you are holding an open house, don't forget to invite them as your special guest.)
Hold a virtual appreciation dinner or happy hour for your staff.
Designate a "giveaway day" during the week and award a special gift to each new patient who comes for treatment that day.
Invite all employees to a [virtual] awards ceremony. Plaques can be given in recognition for areas of accomplishment through the past year.
Distribute a special Hand Therapy Week bulletin or newsletter. Feature photos and articles on your celebration ideas.
Sponsor a Hand Therapy Week poster contest and have employees' children and local schools participate. Not only will you get great designs you can display, you'll educate children at an early age on the value of hand therapy.
Be sure all therapists are aware of Hand Therapy Week. Encourage them to suggest ways to observe it.