How to Plan a Great OT Session: OT CEU Course with Rachel Egan

Stop surviving your schedule and start designing it—discover the "report card" of a therapy session and the 10-minute block template that transforms 60 minutes of chaos into a clinically transformative arc. 🕒✨ 👍 Earn 1 hour of AOTA-approved occupational therapy continuing education after watching this course: https://otpotential.com/ceu-podcast-c... Episode Description: Planning a 60-minute session that keeps a client engaged, satisfies complex billing requirements, and delivers results is the core skill of a therapy professional—yet it is rarely taught in school. In this episode, we sit down with Rachel Egan, OTR/L, MS, CHT, COMT, a master clinician and rehab manager, to bridge the gap between high-level evidence and the daily reality of billing codes. Rachel shares her "Soapbox" on why CPT codes (Current Procedural Terminology) are how we value what we do and how understanding their definitions captures our expertise in an ethical way. We break down her signature 60-minute session template—structured into intentional 10-minute blocks—that ensures you hit every aspect of your scope of practice, from manual therapy and neuro re-education to functional goal-related tasks. 🎧 Topics Covered: • The Clinical Reasoning Shift: Moving from memorization and protocols to individualized, meaningful patient care. • Billing as a "Report Card": Why units per visit reflect the value and grade of your session. • The 10-Minute Block Template: A step-by-step breakdown of a 60-minute arc. • Diversity of Billing: How a holistic variety of interventions yields superior outcomes and faster recovery. • Evidence-Based Intent: Billing based on why you had the patient perform an intervention rather than just what they did. • Managing "Flares": How to pivot your template for high-pain days using psychosocial support and pain education. • Point of Service Documentation: How documenting in front of the patient improves accuracy and protects your work-life balance. • The Power of Confidence: Using phrases like "I can help you" and "Did I meet your expectations?" to build trust and rapport. 🎙 Guest: • Rachel Egan, OTR/L, MS, CHT, COMT-UE – NYU graduate, Certified Hand Therapist, Rehab Manager, and Clinical Leader at NovaCare. • Sarah Lyon, OTR/L – Host and Founder of OT Potential. Episode No. 128 | Release Date: February 13, 2026 🎉 Earn CEU Credit Join the OT Potential Club to take a quiz and earn 1 hour of AOTA-approved occupational therapy continuing education: https://otpotential.com/ceu-podcast-c... Website & Social: • Episode page: https://otpotential.com/ceu-podcast-c... • Podcast page: https://otpotential.com/ceu-podcast-c... • See all live webinars: https://otpotential.com/live-ot-ceu-w... • Support the show by using the "OTPotential" Medbridge Code: https://otpotential.com/blog/promo-co... • Try 2 free OT Potential courses here: https://otpotential.com/free-ot-ceus Timestamps: 00:00 – Designing vs. surviving your schedule 04:14 – Rachel’s turning point: From protocols to clinical reasoning 07:37 – Why CPT codes are how we value our work 10:54 – Billing for intent rather than just tasks 15:14 – How insurance companies incentivize session intensity 17:52 – Research on high-performing therapists and units per visit 20:26 – OT’s unique role in addressing psychosocial stressors and pain 23:56 – The 60-Minute Session Template: 10-minute blocks 27:17 – Using therapeutic touch and manual therapy to build rapport 33:22 – Modifying the plan for high-pain days and flares 35:02 – Reducing pain by 50% through education alone 39:26 – Key phrases: "I can help you" and roadmapping the session 41:45 – Tips for Point of Service Documentation 44:36 – Leveraging technology and AI in clinical documentation 48:35 – Modifying the template for 30-minute sessions and pediatrics 53:14 – Final takeaways and CEU instructions #occupationaltherapy #therapybilling #cptcodes #otpotential #rehabmanagement #clinicalreasoning #otcontinuingeducation #evidencedbasedpractice