2019 Kessler Institute Stroke Conference

Thursday, October 3, 2019 - Friday, November 15, 2019
Friday, October 4, 2019 - Friday, November 15, 2019
Friday, November 15, 2019

Program Summary 
Stroke rehabilitation carefully addresses each patient’s challenges and enlists new treatments and strategies to help optimize individual recovery.  Participants in Kessler’s full-day stroke conference will gain an understanding of the multi-disciplinary approach to rehabilitation that enables stroke survivors and their families/caregivers to rebuild their lives.  Discussion will focus on communication, motivation, spatial neglect, sleep issues, bowel and bladder management and community integration. 

Objectives

• Define stroke as a chronic condition and the importance of prevention of secondary events 
• Identify barriers to home discharge and access to care needs for stroke survivors
• Describe the Transtheoretical Model of Change in a rehabilitation setting to optimize outcomes
• Describe the importance of cardiovascular exercise prescription for individuals post-stroke 
• Apply interprofessional strategies to address disparities due to communication and/or hearing impairments
• List common problems with bowel and bladder function after stroke
• Describe strategies for self-management of bowel and bladder incontinence within the home setting
• Summarize how stroke care professionals can help prepare families/caregivers to assist patients with spatial neglect
• Panel Objective:  Analyze potential discharge barriers for stroke survivors from different interprofessional perspectives

Faculty
Uri Adler, MD, is the medical director for Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation, Saddle Brook campus, the director of stroke rehabilitation services for Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation and an assistant professor, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School.  Dr. Adler specializes in stroke rehabilitation and has expertise in the areas of spasticity management with botulinum toxin injections, nerve blocks, oral medications, and intrathecal baclofen; swallowing disorders; treatment of musculoskeletal disorders; pain management; hyperhidrosis, cervical dystonias; and electrodiagnositic medicine.

Brian A. Benoff, MD, FCCP, FAASM, is a full time faculty member at Holy Name Medical Center, Department of Internal Medicine.  Dr. Benoff is board certified in internal medicine and pulmonary medicine.  He is an awardee of an American College of Chest Physicians Millennium Society Grant, Fellow of the American College of Chest Physicians and a Fellow of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. 

Peii Chen, PhD, is a senior research scientist and intellectual property liaison for Kessler Foundation, research associate professor for the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers University and a health science specialist for the Department of Veterans Affairs New Jersey Health Care System.  Dr. Chen’s current research publications are on the “Impact of eliminating visual input on sitting posture and head position in a patient with spatial neglect following cerebral hemorrhage” and “Online and offline awareness deficits: anosognosia for spatial neglect.”

Lizette Hocbo-Balin, BSN, CRRN, is a nurse manager at Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation and specializes in stroke, orthopedic and general rehabilitation.   Mrs. Hocbo-Balin is an active member of the Association of Rehabilitation Nurses – Northern NJ Chapter and is on the executive board for the Philippine Nurses’ Association of New Jersey – Essex Subchapter.

Gretchen March, OTR, is an advanced clinical specialist at Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation with close to 30 years of experience in neurorehabilitation.  In addition to her clinical work, which includes cognitive skills training for individuals with brain injury in Kessler’s Cognitive Rehabilitation Program, Ms. March has pursued clinical research on medication management, EuroQol and REO for upper extremity motor control. 

Arielle Resnick, PT, DPT, is an advanced clinical specialist at Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation, program director of the Neurologic Physical Therapy Residency Program at Kessler and an adjunct instructor at both Rutgers University, School of Health Professions and Seton Hall University, Interprofessional Health Sciences Campus.   Dr. Resnick is an active member of the American Physical Therapy Association – New Jersey Chapter and Academy of Neurologic Physical Therapy.   Dr. Resnick’s current research interests are “Optimizing hand rehabilitation post-stroke using interactive virtual environments” and “Validation of the VSTEP Examination Suite and heart rate tracking.” 

Pamela Tamulevicius, MSR, CCC-SLP, is a director of business development at Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation.  Ms. Tamulevicius specializes in cognitive communication impairments, behavior management, aphasia, dysphagia, and the use of technology in the acute rehabilitation setting.  She is also an adjunct instructor at William Paterson University in the Communication and Sciences Disorders graduate program.

Agenda

7:30 a.m.	Registration and Breakfast
8:15 a.m.	There’s No Place Like Home Uri Adler, MD
8:45 a.m.	Ready for Rehab?  Using Transtheoretical Model Concepts to Optimize Outcomes  Gretchen March, OTR
9:25 a.m.	The Heart of the Matter:  Cardiovascular Fitness and Health Behavior Change for Individuals Post-Stroke Arielle Resnick, PT, DPT, NCS
10:00-10:15 a.m.	Break
10:15 a.m.	Working SMARTAAR to Achieve Functional Outcomes:  Using ICF Framework for Goal Writing and Treatment Planning Gretchen March, OTR
11:00 a.m.	Panel Discussion Uri Adler, MD, Gretchen March, OTR, and Arielle Resnick, PT, DPT, NCS
11:30-12:15 p.m.	Lunch
12:15 p.m.	Disability Disparities:  The Impact of Communication and Hearing Impairments Pamela Tamulevicius, MSR, CCC-SLP
1:00 p.m.	Caregiver Guide to Bowel and Bladder Function After a Stroke Lizette Hocbo-Balin, BSN, CRRN
1:30 p.m.	Impact of Spatial Neglect on Family Caregivers of Stroke Survivors Peii Chen, PhD
2:15-2:30 p.m.	Break
2:30 p.m.	Sleep Apnea and Stroke  Brian Benoff, MD, FCCP, FAASM
3:00 p.m.	Panel Discussion Brian Benoff, MD, FCCP, FAASM, Peii Chen, PhD, Lizette Hocbo-Balin, BSN, CRRN, and  Pamela Tamulevicius, MSR, CCC-SLP
3:30 p.m.	Patient Profile and Video Yearbook Uri Adler, MD
4:00 p.m.	Evaluations and Adjournment

Program Information
Physical Therapy:  An application has been submitted to the New Jersey State Board of Physical Therapy Examiners for 6.0 continuing education credits.  
Speech-Language Pathologists:  Speech-Language Pathologists will receive .60 ASHA CEUs or 6.0 contact hours.  Partial credit will NOT be awarded to SLPs.
ANCC:  The Inpatient Rehabilitation Division is accredited as a provider of continuing nursing education by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation. Accredited status does not imply endorsement by Kessler, the Inpatient Rehabilitation Division or ANCC of any commercial products or services. 
RNs will be awarded 6.0 nursing contact hours

Certificates will be awarded to the participants who attend the conference, submit completed evaluation forms and sign daily attendance rosters to verify attendance.  The number of credits for continuing education (CEs) awarded will be based upon the number of conference hours attended and the requirements of the specific accreditation body.
Certificates:  Certificates will be distributed at the conclusion of the program, provided all information is completed during registration; otherwise, certificates will be emailed out to the participants.

Disclosure:  It is the policy of Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation to ensure balance, independence, objectivity and scientific rigor in all its programs.  All faculty participating in this program have declared that they have nothing to disclose.  There is no commercial support for this program.
Uri Adler, MD – Financial - receives a salary from Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation, but is not receiving a honorarium for speaking at this conference.  Non-financial - no relevant non-financial relationship exists.
Brian Benoff, MD, FCCP, FAASM – Financial - receives a salary from Holy Name Medical Center, but is not receiving a honorarium for speaking at this conference.  
Non-financial -  no relevant non-financial relationship exists. 
Peii Chen, PhD – Financial - receives a salary from Kessler Foundation, but is not receiving a honorarium for speaking at this conference.  Dr. Chen receives funding from the New Jersey Commission on Brain Injury Research and the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living and Rehabilitation Research.  Non-financial- Dr. Chen is the inventor on the US pending patent (No. 14/278,776) related key components of the KF-PAT portable kit. 
Lizette Hocbo-Balin, BSN, CRRN – Financial - receives a salary from Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation, but is not receiving a honorarium for speaking at this conference.  Non-financial - no relevant non-financial relationship exists.
Gretchen March, OTR – Financial - receives a salary from Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation, but is not receiving a honorarium for speaking at this conference.  
Non-financial -  no relevant non-financial relationship exists. 
Arielle Resnick, PT, DPT, NCS – Financial - receives a salary from Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation, but is not receiving a honorarium for speaking at this conference.  
Non-financial - no relevant non-financial relationship exists.
Pamela Tamulevicius, MSR, CCC-SLP – Financial - receives a salary from Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation, but is not receiving a honorarium for speaking at this conference.  Non-financial - no relevant non-financial relationship exists.

This course is offered for .60 ASHA CEUs (Intermediate level, Related area).

Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation is an approved provider (#4965) for the American Occupational Therapy Association to offer continuing education in occupational therapy. This program awards occupational therapists 0.60 CEUs or 6.0 contact hours.  The assignment of AOTA CEUs does not imply endorsement of specific course content, products, or clinical procedures by AOTA.  (Intermediate level/Domain of OT: Client Factors, Domain of OT: Activity Demands, OT Process: Intervention)

Cancellations will be accepted via phone (973.324.3620) or e-mail (lmcintyre@kessler-rehab.com), and must be received by the cancellation deadline of October 1, 2019.
Please note:  In the event of course cancellation by Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation, all participants will be notified within 72 hours prior to the conference.

Special Needs Requests:  In compliance with the Americans with Disability Act of 1990, we will make all reasonable efforts to accommodate persons with disabilities. Please call 973.324.3620 with your requests.

Grievances:  If you have any questions or comments regarding this program, please contact 973.324.3620.  We will respond to you within 72 hours.