FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 07/11/2024
Certified Occupational Therapist Wins Prestigious NBCOT Innovation Award
Gaithersburg, MD: The National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy, Inc. (NBCOT®) announces Lydia Nemirovsky, MS, OTR/L, a certified occupational therapist from Elkridge, MD, has won the 2024 NBCOT Innovation Award. This award recognizes certified occupational therapy (OT) practitioners who demonstrate the delivery of an evidence-based, effective, and innovative program or intervention that enhances the quality of life for a person or persons.
Lydia received the NBCOT Innovation Award for transforming interventions for chronic pain management. Throughout her career, Lydia witnessed how pain was a universal barrier to the rehabilitation process. Nearly 1 in 5 American adults suffer from chronic pain, but traditional methods for treating pain have often been inadequate to address a variety of pain conditions, relying heavily on medications, invasive procedures, and surgeries. To address this issue, Lydia started her own company, Specialty Pain Management Services (SPMS). SPMS is a home-based therapy practice that uses behavioral and lifestyle changes to address chronic pain for adults and older adults. Occupational therapists at SPMS are uniquely skilled to identify and manage the biological, psychological, social, and environmental factors that affect clients who have chronic pain and to provide personalized care directly in the clients' homes. All therapy and services at SPMS are rooted in evidence-based research and client-centered practice. SPMS has rapidly expanded since its inception, now offering multidisciplinary services including physical therapy and pain management coaching across several counties in Maryland. The practice's success is underscored by significant improvements in clients' pain self-efficacy scores and high client satisfaction rates. SPMS continues to break down barriers to care by offering telehealth services, working with various insurance providers, and educating the broader health care community about effective, nonpharmacological pain management strategies.
Lydia earned her national OT certification in 2013. She is the founder and CEO of Specialty Pain Management Services. She is also the host of the podcast The Pain Management Toolbox. Lydia has presented her research at training sessions and conferences where she has had the opportunity to educate clients and peers on alternatives to pharmaceutical treatments for pain. Additionally, Lydia is certified in Lifestyle Redesign® through the American Occupational Therapy Association.
For more information about the NBCOT Innovation Award, visit www.nbcot.org/awards.
About NBCOT
The National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy, Inc. (NBCOT®) is a national not-for-profit organization that provides certification to over 220,000 occupational therapy professionals. NBCOT develops, administers, and continually reviews its certification process based on current and valid standards that provide reliable indicators of competence of occupational therapy practice. Above all else, our mission is to serve the public interest. Initial certification from NBCOT is a requirement for licensure in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico. We also work with state regulators and employers to provide information on credentials, professional conduct, and regulatory issues. NBCOT's certification programs have received and maintained accreditation from the International Accreditation Service (IAS) and the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA).
Contact: Angela Macauley / am@nbcot.org / 301-944-2104
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