Program Updates

Craig Hospital continues leadership and innovation: Ventilator and weaning programs

Spinal cord and traumatic brain injuries often result in insult or injury to the cardiopulmonary system. As a consequence, a host of respiratory problems and/or diseases can ensue. At Craig Hospital, respiratory care is an integral part of the interdisciplinary team dedicated to providing excellence in patient care. When patients experience a high, cervical spinal cord injury, often they are dependent on a ventilator. Craig’s ventilator and weaning program continues as one of the largest specialty programs of its kind in the U.S. Our program has an excellent reputation for weaning patients off ventilators. “Our success in weaning spinal cord injured patients from mechanical ventilation is the result of teamwork between the respiratory staff and the patient,” says James Fenton, MD, pulmonary medical director for Craig. “It highlights the spirit of compassionate quality care at Craig Hospital.” Additional goals of the program include medical stabilization, plus training the patient and family in home care and health management in anticipation of the patient returning home. In fact, 95.2 percent of Craig’s patients on ventilators are discharged to home as opposed to subacute facilities or nursing homes. Craig actively recruits top respiratory care professionals from around the country. Currently, the staff consists of 26 highly skilled therapists, collectively averaging over seven years of service. Many have more than 20 years of service at Craig, and 70 percent have their advanced registry practitioner designation. Each therapist must complete a rigorous orientation process upon hire, and pass annual exams and competencies to maintain employment. Every therapist is certified in Advanced Cardiac Life Support.

Key clinical practices that contribute to Craig’s successes

• Craig’s pre-admission process includes on-site consultation assessment of the patient, as well as preliminary recommendations about pulmonary goals, home discharge plans, equipment for mobility, transportation, ventilation, and tentative timelines and costs.
• Since 1974, Craig Hospital has been recognized as a Model SCI System by the U.S. Department of Education and the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research. The Model System consists of long-established ventilator and weaning protocols that are continually refined with advances in technology.
• Our physician- and respiratory therapist-led ventilator program development committee consists of specialists from National Jewish Health, named the No. 1 respiratory hospital in the U.S. for 11 consecutive years by U.S. News & World Report.
• SCI and TBI clinical research at Craig Hospital is un-precedented. We are on the edge of a new era in research, and we appreciate the support of administration, physicians, and surgeons for our diverse research agendas.
• We use aggressive and comprehensive airway clearance techniques to improve lung mechanics and gas exchange, and to prevent atelectasis (lung collapse) and infection.
• We use non-invasive carbon dioxide monitoring technology (carbon dioxide is a metabolic byproduct) to access a patient’s ventilatory and oxygenation status. This reduces the need for repeated invasive procedures, such as the drawing of arterial blood gas samples.
• Our hospital-wide alarm system provides constant monitoring of a patient’s condition including ventilator performance and key vital signs.
• Our comprehensive sleep program evaluates and treats patients with sleep apnea so they are adequately rested, ready for therapy, and able to heal.
• Our pulmonary team conducts daily patient rounds to discuss patient progress and treatment and to provide consistent care.
• An interdisciplinary program development forum meets quarterly with goals of investigating and improving ongoing practices, reviewing programs, and developing or enhancing policy and procedural standards.
• Additional monthly patient/family conferences are conducted for each patient with and among physicians, nurses, respiratory therapists, dietary technicians, pharmacists, speech therapists, OTs, PTs, recreation therapists, psychologists, and patient and family counselors.
• We emphasize patient and family training in preparation for home, one-to-one training, group training, video tapes, and manuals.
• Our outpatient clinic allows a continuum of care after discharge and provides a wide range of services. For information, see www.craighospital.org/SCI/reEvaluation.asp.
• We emphasize therapeutic community outings and community reintegration activities. See www.craighospital.org/InfoResources/craigsTRecPrograms.asp.
• Our flight team accompanies many of our patients on a ventilator and their family members home. The respiratory therapist and RN remain with the patient and family at home for several days following discharge.

For more information about Craig’s ventilator program, contact Lonnie Martinez, director of respiratory care, at lmartinez@craighospital.org. Patient referrals to the program should be made to Maggie Rose, RN, admissions director, at 303-789-8344 or admissions@craighospital.org.

Introducing the Chapel Channel

Thanks to the new Chapel Channel, Craig will be better able to meet the spiritual needs of our patients and families. Those who are unable to leave their beds for medical reasons can now experience worship in the chapel from the TV in their rooms. In addition to alleviating recent space issues due to markedly increased attendance, the channel will enhance communication, as it can be used to broadcast announcements of special services, ways to contact the chaplain, and the schedule of Sunday services. Spirituality is very important to many of our patients; it continues to be a central part of their lives while they are at Craig.

Introducing the Craig Hospital Paralympic Sports Program

U.S. Paralympics, a division of the U.S. Olympic Committee, and Craig Hospital have partnered to create the Craig Hospital Paralympic Sports Program and be recognized as an official Paralympic Sport Club. This new community-based sports club will complement Craig’s already extensive therapeutic recreation program and will involve youth and adults with physical disabilities in team sports and physical activity, regardless of skill level. Programs and activities will be based in Englewood and run by Craig. “U.S. Paralympics is dedicated to creating opportunities for individuals with physical and visual disabilities to be physically active in their own communities. Participation in physical activity enhances not only self-esteem and peer relationships, but also results in greater achievement, better overall health, and higher quality of life,” says Mike Mushett, U.S. Paralympics director of community programs. Craig Hospital has been an international leader in recreation and sports programs for decades, including leadership in some of the first competitive wheelchair games in the U.S. and the world back in the 1960s and 1970s. “Craig Hospital is honored and excited to be part of the Paralympics family,” says Mike Fordyce, Craig’s president and CEO. “Last year we had eight Craig-affiliated athletes who competed in Beijing, and we could not be more proud.” U.S. Paralympics is committed to working with community organizations across the country to create 250 Paralympic Sport Clubs by 2012. For more information about the Craig Hospital Paralympic Sports Program, contact Corey Fairbanks, 303-523-8160 or fairbanksc@craighospital.org.

Craig implements diaphragm pacing

In an effort to expand its ability to serve patients on ventilators, Craig Hospital’s respiratory therapy (RT) department has become the first program in the region to implement diaphragmatic pacing. The NeuRx™ Diaphragm Pacer System (DPS) is unique technology engineered by Synapse Biomedical Inc. of Oberlin, Ohio. The DPS offers people dependent on ventilators the potential to become ventilator free. Desired results of this new program are less time on a ventilator, increased independence, and reduced risk of respiratory complications. With thorough guidance and education from Synapse Biomedical, Craig’s RT department and physician teams have successfully performed this procedure for seven individuals since November 2008. Craig has also accelerated its independence from Synapse Biomedical over the last few months. As a result, the Craig team performed the last two procedures independently — the only center in the U.S. thus far to do so. The presurgical clearance process requires patients to have a radiologic exam to determine function of the phrenic nerve. Once this test is complete the patient can be assessed for potential implementation. Placement of a diaphragmatic pacer is performed as a laparoscopic procedure in an operating room. Once placed, the pacer uses gentle electrical stimulation of the diaphragm, causing it to contract, creating a more natural form of breathing. The surgery lasts approximately two hours. Following the recovery period, patients are brought directly back to Craig. The weaning process begins within hours of the surgery. The process is strategically focused on increasing the individual’s independence from the ventilator. He or she is admitted to Craig for three to five days to learn how to use the pacer and transition to ventilator-free breathing. If successful, the DPS can potentially replace his or her mechanical ventilator, battery, cables, and tubing. The items are replaced with a diaphragm pacer box that is 6 inches tall, 3 inches wide, and 1.5 inches deep. “I am very enthusiastic about it,” says Kathy Mulledy, RRT, tenured Craig respiratory care practitioner. “Seeing patients whose lives are so compromised, you feel like you have done everything you can for them but they are still on a mechanical ventilator.” She continues, “The first patient I saw with a DPS was a long-time patient at Craig. She initially left Craig on a ventilator but came back with a pacer. When I saw her smiling and breathing on her own, the other respiratory therapist and I were very emotional. We couldn’t believe our eyes. The progress of each person is different, but what I have seen with the DPS is that it makes a huge difference in their lives.” Further testimony of the diaphragm pacer comes from Ned Church, ’09, Burlington, Vt., who recently received the pacer. “As a high-level quadriplegic, I have adapted to life with a ventilator for the past 17 years,” he says. “But for nearly three months now, after having DPS implanted in early June, I am breathing free of the respirator and would describe my experience as life transforming.” Craig’s respiratory therapy department hopes to improve the lives of each patient who is mechanically ventilated by offering this new technology. If you have questions about diaphragm pacing, please contact Lonnie Martinez, director of respiratory care services, at lmartinez@craighospital.org.

Attention, re-eval patients: Know your meds

Craig Hospital’s outpatient nursing staff, in conjunction with Craig’s pharmacy staff, is participating in a national educational campaign intended to help people understand and use their medications more efficiently. Our goal is to help you protect yourself, by teaching you how to be an active partner in your medication program. You cannot depend on all health care providers being well acquainted with your history and health conditions. Some drugs used by SCI and TBI patients have different uses than are commonly seen by most providers, and you must be able to explain why you are using these medications. Most importantly, always have your personal information and medicine list with you. Keep it on your person, or in your wallet or purse, and update it every time you visit the hospital, doctor’s office, dentist, or pharmacy.

Your list should include:

• Over-the-counter drugs (including vitamins, cold medications, etc.).
• Herbal medications.
• Prescriptions.

For each medication on your list, know:

• What the drug is for.
• What the dosage is.
• What time it needs to be taken.
• What special instructions you have with the medication (needs to be taken with food, before meals, etc.).

In addition to medications, also record on your list:

• Health conditions.
• Allergies.
• Medical providers and their phone numbers.
• Pharmacy address and phone number.
• Emergency contact and your health insurance information.

You will receive a medication list in the mail or at your next visit. Complete this form and bring it with you each and every time you are seen at Craig. Stay informed, stay safe.

Nurses complete capstone projects

Eleven nursing leaders participated in Leadership Development Training in 2008-2009. As part of the training, the nurses completed “capstone” projects to develop their leadership skills. This program was offered by the Colorado Center for Nursing Excellence and supported through a HRSA grant. The program was a huge success. Below is a brief synopsis of the projects completed. Autonomic Dysreflexia (AD) Craig patients have reported serious negative outcomes as a result of AD episodes that went untreated because their providers did not recognize it. Outpatients were surveyed about their confidence in their PCP to recognize and treat AD. Programs targeted teaching in various healthcare communities. —Mary Vidmar, outpatient nurse manager Magnet™ Education Craig was recognized in August 2005 as a Magnet™ hospital and re-applied this year to maintain the designation. Magnet™ status is given for excellence in patient care and nursing services. As we continue on the Magnet™ journey, staff education was needed. We developed fun, interactive education for the nursing staff. —Cindy Claren and Janet Rife, 2-East RNs, weekend charge nurses Night Shift Forum In an effort to keep night shift connected to the rest of the hospital, the Night Shift Forum was created. Staff from each unit meets once a month to discuss issues of the night shift, solutions to problems, educational needs, and opportunities. —Ann King and Suzanne Retzer, night shift clinical nurse coordinators Self-care and Stress Management Stress management and self-care are vital com-ponents in increasing job satisfaction and preventing compassion fatigue. This project attempts to tackle some of the issues through education about compassion fatigue, nutrition, exercise, and general self care. Join the Craig Hospital Health and Fitness website at http://craigfitness.ning.com/. —Brigette Bayles, 2-East clinical nurse coordinator Teamwork and Communication Through a survey, staff identified a need to increase communication and improve teamwork among staff. Creative ideas are being implemented to accomplish the goal of making 3-West THE place to work! —Lisa McGraw, 3-West clinical nurse coordinator; and Bevin Peterson, 3-West RN, weekend charge nurse Tech Retention Project For a variety of reasons, Craig’s turnover among nursing techs has been high which has detrimental effects on patient care, staff morale, and staff recruitment and training costs. This project helped us tackled tech turnover and decrease the rate dramatically, from 58% to 15%. —Jennifer Biggs, 2-West clinical nurse coordinator; Jane Emanuelson, director of nursing; and Nicole Maas, 3-East clinical nurse coordinator

We’ve known it for decades: Craig is one of the best, and people love working here

No surprise, but Craig is one of the Top 10 rehabilitation hospitals in the country, as ranked by U.S. News & World Report in its 2009 survey. This marks the 20th consecutive year in the Top 10 for Craig, every year since the rankings began — thus, the “20 in 10” slogan. It’s also no surprise people love working at Craig. There are lots of reasons, of course. Contact with patients and their families, opportunities to make big differences in people’s lives, stellar special events, an emphasis on health and wellness, and a pervasive sense of “can do” all rank right up there — as do the general feelings that supervisors care, that people have opportunities for personal development and growth, and that people who work here have a voice. The results of our most recent employee satisfaction survey show that Craig ranks significantly higher than the healthcare/hospital workplace norms on such survey items as “Courtesy and customer service come first when dealing with patients, families, and staff,” “Craig Hospital places a high priority on staff and patient safety,” “I would recommend Craig to a friend as a good place to work,” and “I have confidence that Craig will continue to be successful in the coming years.” Generally, organizations are fortunate to have 50 to 60 percent of their staff participate in an employee survey process. At Craig, that number was closer to 80 percent, clearly demonstrating our staff’s commitment and compassion about who we are and what we do as an organization. The feeling is mutual: Craig loves its people.

Go fish! “Fishing Doc” keeps four-year promise

Darwin “Doc” Blackmore and his wife, Cindy, from Moberly, Mo., graduated from Craig four years ago. At that time they promised to return to Craig someday with a new generation of sip-’n-puff and joy-stick fishing rod and reel. This summer they fulfilled that promise — they came back to Craig with two new fishing rigs that they donated to Craig. Joy to the fishes! Well, joy to fishermen and women. Thanks to Doc’s ingenuity and tenacity — and with the help of a team of individuals who make up “the Fishing Doc team,” including Dave Kinder of Kinder Machine who was instrumental in the technology; the support of Peter Paulwels, volunteer/fisherman/rafter/engineer extraordinaire at Craig; and the financial support of Orscheln Products, Inc, of Moberly, Mo., for whom Cindy works — the Blackmores have been part of creating what may be the newest technology in fishing for people with disabilities! The units that were donated to Craig were the first to actually be in the field along with a few others. So while these units are on the market for sale, it is notable that further development and design changes are pending as improvements are made as a result of incidents that occur in trial usage. Doc gave our therapeutic recreation staff, Peter, and other onlookers multiple demonstrations using the sip-’n-puff function. The portable rod, reel, and battery are highly mobile, and can cast and reel in by sip-’n-puff or by joy stick. The cast distance is approximately 15 yards, and Doc reports he has caught eight-pound catfish, along with multiple bass, bluegill, and trout, with it in Missouri. The unit is highly functional and durable, and it is quite attractive as well. For more information about the specs and sale of this new fishing technology, check out www.thefishingdoc.com. The site is brand new. If it doesn’t load, try again in a day or two. Thank you so much, Doc and Cindy, for your innovation and your generosity to Craig!

Need a nurse’s opinion? Call Craig’s SCI Nurse Advice Line

Staying healthy is work for anyone. For people living with a spinal cord injury (SCI), this task is much more complex. Physically, the body changes, requiring the person and caretakers to relearn the signs and routines of health. Practically, SCI is not a common condition, so many general healthcare providers need resources for educating themselves and delivering quality care.

Craig Hospital is nationally recognized as having one of the best healthcare programs for people with SCI. As a result, the hospital fields health-related phone calls daily from people living with the injury both in Colorado and around the country. Calls also come from family members trying to help and healthcare providers who need expert advice from Craig’s specialized staff.

To address these health-related calls, the outpatient clinic at Craig Hospital recently launched the Spinal Cord Injury Nurse Advice Line. This service provides a dedicated nurse to answer non-emergent calls Monday-Friday, 9 am to 4 pm. Nurses at Craig have the experience to help identify potential complications before they become serious health issues.

Common health concerns are neurogenic bowel and bladder problems and skin issues, all of which can cause major health problems for people living with SCI if not caught early. Callers also can obtain educational resources unique for healthy living with SCI.

Resources for more than 150 health issues have been compiled in a database from the experience of Craig’s nursing staff to answer questions from callers. This new service has been developed by Diedre Bricker, RN, a nurse who worked on 2-East prior to combining her nursing practice with her previous career as a project manager. Support for the initial year of the program has been provided through generous grants from the Caring for Colorado Foundation, the Craig H. Neilsen Foundation, and the William Randolph Hearst Foundation. The Craig Hospital Foundation is actively seeking continuing support for the program. If you would like to learn more about making a donation in support of the SCI Nurse Advice Line, please call 303-789-8651 or inquire using the enclosed reply envelope.

Call 303-789-8508 or 800-247-0257 when...

• a non-emergent medical question arises that does not warrant a trip to the doctor’s office, yet needs answered.
• experiencing changes in care and wondering whether it is “normal.”
• a new caregiver arrives and needs education materials to help in the transition.

Computers on Wheels - The day the COW's came home

April 7 was a day to remember at Craig Hospital — it was the day that the Adaptive Technology Lab implemented 12 new COWs. Thanks to a committee formed in 2005 and some generous grants, we now are able to meet the needs of patients with higher-level spinal cord injuries who have not been able to access a computer outside of therapy.

COWs are Computers On Wheels. They can moooove from room to room. A “herd” of 12 COWs with adapted equipment — adapted mice, voice recognition software, noise-canceling microphones — are available for use by those previously unable to access the computers at Craig. Now they can access the Internet, communicate via email, and practice using voice recognition software and other adapted equipment.

“We are very excited,” says Amanda Carr, OT, tech specialist, “to actually lend computers to patients for their rooms. We don’t know of any other SCI program in the U.S. that does this.”

The adaptive technology staff evaluate the patient’s computer access needs and trial adapted equipment. The patient then participates in training sessions and the COW is placed in his or her room for personal use. In the process, the patient and his or her treatment team work together to determine what equipment he or she is most comfortable with prior to discharge.

Craig patients have noticed the benefits. Levi Evans wrote a note of thanks to donors, saying, “I appreciate being able to use this system very much. The Dragon Naturally Speaking program (voice recognition software), SmartNav (alternative mouse), and the on-screen keyboard have especially helped. The COW has enabled me to look up various issues regarding my condition and to keep in touch with my family who aren’t able to come and see me (my sister is in Spain and my cousin is in Iraq).”

These new services were made possible with the help of four major donors. Grants from the Kettering Family Foundation, the Craig H. Neilsen Foundation, the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation, and the Harrah’s Foundation over the past year and a half have helped support the High Tetra Project, which aims to continually improve services for patients with the most severe injuries so they can have the highest quality life possible. The project is solely supported by community contributions. If you would like to make a donation or learn more, use the envelope at the center of this publication, donate online at www.craighospital.org/foundation, or call Jane Marsh at 303-789-8651.

Craig opens new Mike Utley Terrain Park

Future excellence at Craig Hospital will depend on donors. The Mike Utley Terrain Park is proof that our community is powerful enough to turn small dreams into grand realities. An innovation in physical therapy, this outdoor training park allows patients to face multiple outdoor barriers — curbs, ramps, stairs, cobblestones, speed bumps, gravel, and doorways — right outside the doors of the hospital. Hundreds of contributors came together on a brilliant summer morning in July to celebrate the teamwork and generosity that made it possible to construct this one-of-a-kind park for patients.

Terrain for all patients - When John Minden, ’76, staff member and Craig graduate, proposed an outdoor training center to coworkers in the physical therapy department, he had a simple vision. He wanted various-sized curbs, stairs, and ramps in one easy location for patients to practice outdoor skills. This simple vision was immediately popular with peers, Craig leadership, H+L Architecture, and hundreds of donors. As a result, a simple idea became a nationally significant therapeutic space that includes even more features to meet the needs of all patients. A grant from the Colorado Garden Show paid for plants and horticultural features that particularly benefit patients with traumatic brain injury. Spaces between concrete barriers are just wide enough to accommodate patients with higher level injury who need to maneuver larger power wheelchairs. Even patients in manual wheelchairs can find places to practice advanced skills, like the 8-inch curb named “Mt. Elbert” after Colorado’s highest mountain and dedicated to Dr. Dan Lammertse, retiring medical director.

Inspiration for all patients - Those using the space may find that not only body, but also spirit, is strengthened. Messages of hope, courage, and thanks are everywhere. A large plaque at the entrance tells how Mike Utley, ’92, former Detroit Lion and Craig grad, works every day to improve the lives of people living with spinal cord injury. After reading his inspiring story, patients can roll or walk across hundreds of bricks that speak to equally courageous lives, others who have been impacted by spinal cord or traumatic brain injury, staff who selflessly support healing and rehabilitation, and donors who believe that everyone deserves the best opportunity to rebuild life following a catastrophic event.

Continued opportunity to support all patients - With better facilities for practicing real life skills, patients can better prepare for the challenges and barriers after rehabilitation. The funds raised through the brick campaign will be used to maintain these facilities. Donors who missed the first brick campaign can still purchase bricks for $150 (4x8 size, up to 60 characters for inscription), $500 (8x8 size, up to 120 characters of inscription), or $1,000 (12x12 size, larger font with up to 120 characters of inscription or a corporate logo). A $5,000 bench is also available for dedication. For more information, call Craig Hospital Foundation at 303-789-8650.

Visit MyCraig.org

This Web site exclusively for former Craig patients and families now has more than 1,200 members and is still growing. Sara Horning, ’03, Craig grad and webmaster, is sending out news and updates more regularly, and is always looking for news and stories to post. It’s free to be a member. Sign up today!

Craig teams up with others for Off Road Recovery Project

Craig Hospital sponsored its first-ever off-road handcycle race on May 24 in Conifer, Colo. Two off-road races — a three-mile hilly single-track and a three-quarter-mile downill “blast”— attracted 30 handcyclists from Colorado and several neighboring states to the Flying J Ranch. About half were serious competitors, the others were folks new to the sport who benefited from connecting with the experienced off-road cyclers.

Craig worked closely with the U.S. Handcycling Federation, the Paralyzed Veterans of America, Adaptive Adventures, and Crested Butte Adaptive Sports Center to make this event happen.

John Vcelka, ’05, Highlands Ranch, Colo., Craig grad and volunteer, gets big kudos for promoting the event and handling all the registration. Thanks to John and thanks to all who helped with this.

“It was a great day!” says Claire Cahow, Craig’s T-Rec organizer. “It was satisfying to help new-to-the-sport athletes benefit from learning from experienced veterans of off-road hand-cycling.”

There’s talk of a second annual in 2009. Stay tuned!

Mike Utley Terrain Park to Open this Summer

When former Detroit Lions football player and Craig grad Mike Utley heard about plans to build an outdoor terrain park at Craig Hospital, he loved the idea so much that he asked to be the lead donor. The idea behind this new park came from staff in Craig’s own physical therapy department. After plans were drawn, the Mike Utley Foundation gave a $110,000 grant.

Construction will begin this spring on the park located outside the west building gymnasium. The space will include two sets of stairs and ramps, five heights of curbs, a cobblestone path, a garden trellis with doorways, a speed-bump pathway, and more. These real-life, outdoor challenges will give patients the opportunity to build strength, practice skills, and face challenges that prepare them for returning to the most active lives possible. Gifts from the Colorado Garden Show community grants program and the Cloverleaf Foundation will also support the project.

Engraved commemorative bricks offer others in the Craig community — alumni, staff, donors, volunteers, board members, and many more — a chance to support this great new concept for rehabilitation. Three sizes are available. Each brick will be custom-engraved with an inscription from each donor.

• Individual Bricks (4"x8" paver) $150
• Family Bricks (8"x8" paver) $500
• Entryway Bricks (12"x12" paver) $1,000

In addition to bricks, donors interested in making a larger contribution can be recognized on granite plaques located on top five platforms that will simulate real-life curbs of increasing height and challenge. For more information about purchasing a brick or other unique naming opportunities, please contact the Craig Hospital Foundation at 303-789-8650, or send in the reply envelope inserted in this newsletter.

Craig grabs on to Saebo®

Craig is the first hospital in Colorado to offer the Saebo® Arm Training Program. This specialized approach is designed to maximize arm and hand function following a neurological injury such as a brain injury, spinal cord injury, or stroke. The SaeboFlex® orthosis enables individuals to do grasp-and-release, task-specific activities. The technology was created by licensed occupational and physical therapists who have worked to incorporate the latest neurological research into a practical treatment program.

Craigs SCUBA Program with A-1 Diving Nears Thirty Years

Each month Craig holds an Intro to SCUBA Diving course for current inpatients and takes patients over to Scott Taylor’s A-1 Diving pool for instruction. Each year Scott and the Craig staff take a group down to the Caribbean for a week of diving. Pictured here are Scott and a new diver on the first day of training. Scott was a physical therapist at Craig in the 1980s and he and his wife, Lynn, have been sharing their SCUBA world with Craig patients for nearly 30 years. See a1scuba.com.

Acupuncture Now Available for Outpatients

Acupuncture — which involves the use of small (about as thick as a human hair), sterile needles inserted shallowly into the skin at specific points on the body — can help to move, strengthen, or balance the body’s energy.

Craig Hospital now offers voluntary, self-pay acupuncture treatments for outpatients on 2-East on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4 to 6:30 p.m. Each treatment is tailored to the patient’s individual needs and is delivered in a group setting, the way it has been practiced in China for thousands of years. Patients can recline in their power tilt-back wheelchair or a recliner during the treatment. This setting allows several people to receive treatments at the same time.

Fees are based on a sliding scale. For more information or an appointment, please call 303-777-0320.