For MDI Medical's PT, OT, SLP, PTA and COTA travelers on assignment, eating healthy during the Holiday season is sometimes about tough choices. Whether you order carry-out, buy ready-to-serve food at the grocery store, or dine in a restaurant, making good food choices is still important. Healthy and delicious food is available, if you look for it.

Fast Food Joints
Of course our Allied Health Travelers are going to eat fast food.  Let's face it, it's just easier. But, even fast food restaurants offer some good (or at least better) food choices. Start by carefully looking at the whole menu. Are there other choices than a cheeseburger and French fries? Remember, there is no such thing as a low-fat cheeseburger. Hamburger is high in fat and so is cheese. If you must order a burger, order a small one and hold the cheese and mayonnaise.

Instead of ordering French fries, order a side salad, baked potato or corn- on-the-cob. Instead of a breaded chicken breast sandwich, order the grilled chicken sandwich. Order a variety of foods. For example: Instead of a triple cheeseburger and large order of fries, order a regular hamburger, a side salad, a cup of soup and skim milk.

Absolutely avoid creamy foods. Cream of broccoli soup has very little broccoli and lots of fat and cream. Order soups with a broth base instead. Ask for fat-free salad dressings and always ask for the dressing "on the side."

Eating in a Restaurant
Remember you are the customer and you are in charge. Ask your waiter or waitress how the food is prepared before you order. Is it fried, is it baked, can you have it without butter or without salt? Ask about words in a foreign language, especially in an ethnic restaurant. Know what you are getting . . .

If you must wait at the bar for your table, order something light. Even nonalcoholic beverages can be loaded with sugar and fat. For example: Irish coffee is made with cream. Order water with a slice of lemon or a fruit "juice spritzer." If you are on a special diet, let the waitress know right away. Sometimes she can be helpful. Do not overeat. Try ordering an appetizer and a small salad as your meal. Share a high fat food or a large order with someone. Order one dessert and ask for two, three or four spoons for sharing. You will save money and calories. Avoid overeating by eating half your order and taking the rest home. Make it a habit to ask for a "doggie bag." Refrigerate leftovers within two hours. Avoid fried meats and ground meats like sausage and meatballs. Look for low fat meats that are grilled, broiled and baked. Order whole grain breads or plain rolls. Biscuits and croissants are always high in fat.Drink coffee black or with skim milk and a sugar substitute. Ask for Cafe Mocha or hot chocolate made with skim milk and no whipped cream.

Always order water. Drinking water along with a meal is filling.

Enjoy eating away from home. It can be relaxing and fun. Get into the habit of making good food choices no matter where you eat. Healthy eating is the first step in reducing your risk of heart disease, obesity and some forms of cancer. Healthy and happy is the way we want all of our PT, OT and SLP travelers.

Have a GREAT Holiday Season!

With Warm Regards,

Scott Ferguson
MDI Recruiter

Attention all traveling physical therapist, occupational therapist, and speech language pathologist!!!

Now is the time to start thinking about your next travel assignment. If you are currently on assignment, or looking to start traveling, Cirrus Allied Staffing is the place you need to be.  We have great travel jobs for January 2009 available now.  Don’t wait or it might be too late. Don’t let the next traveling therapist take the assignment that was meant for you. We have a top notch travel program, and we offer great pay and benefits.   Contact me, Quincey Adger, at 866-518-1750 ext. 2309, for a great travel experience in a great location.   Remember, don’t wait, or it might be too late!

Physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, what are you doing this thanksgiving?  With the holidays approaching I thought I would dedicate a blog to my traveling therapists out there to share your holiday traditions, your plans for this thanksgiving, and what your doing for Christmas. Are you currently on a travel assignment now? Do you have to work for during the holidays? Are you waiting to take your next travel assignment until after the holidays? Is your family big into traditions? If so, what traditions does your family keep? I’m excited to hear your responses to this blog, maybe even some of us will find a new tradition that we’ll use with our families from what you share.

Blog Away Therapists!!!

Ashley Iero
Account Manager
MDI Medical/ Cirrus Allied Staffing

I've been talking with a Physical Therapist for the past few weeks. She's considering MDI Medical's rehab jobs for traveling Physical Therapists in Texas. She's never traveled before, and Quincey (an MDI Medical recruiter) and I have been talking with her about beginning a career with traveling PT jobs.  

This PT says that two competitors' recruiters are offering her premium upgraded housing and $10/hour higher than our best pay rate. That's an average of $15/hour higher than our already-high-traveler-pay-rates!

Now, I've been around the block a few times. Other travelers tell me they've been in this same spot before. There are some not-so-scrupulous competitors who will tell you anything you want to hear to pull you in the door, and then later, they'll tell you that you "misunderstood." 

So, how can I communicate that? How do I say that the other recruiters are selling her something they don't really have, without scaring her away from honest recruiters and a lucrative career in travel? How do I compare our realistic compensation package with "phantom" pie-in-the-sky promises? If you were in her shoes, what would you want me to say?

In my family, the day after Thanksgiving is not designated for shopping...we need the full day to put up our Christmas tree!  This has been a tradition in my family since before I can remember, and now that I have moved out of my parents' house, I am preparing my roommates for the annual Christmas decorating.  I live in an apartment like most of you on Travel Therapy Jobs and need to find the perfect Christmas tree for my space.  I found these tips on howtodothings.com about picking the perfect pine....

1- First things first..where are you putting the tree? Make sure you pick a place where the tree will not be in the way. Once you have the perfect spot picked out, measure the height and width of the space.

2- Buy a stand for the tree.  Be sure you buy one that is stable enough to weigh down the tree, and get one that can adjust to any trunk size. 

3- Buy the tree! All tree farms have different sizes to choose from. 

4- Set up the tree.  Before you begin decorating, allow the tree to sit in the stand with water for a few hours so the branches can loosen up.  This will make the tree look fuller!

5- Have fun admiring your tree when you are home from your Speech Therapy, Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy Jobs!

Brittany Walden
Receptionist

With the economy in the shape that it is in right now, many retailers will be cutting prices on everything from clothing to electronics on Black Friday. Black Friday is knows as one of the busiest shopping days of the year, and they project that many more consumers will be out shopping so they can save on Christmas gifts. MDI Medical just wanted to remind everyone to get out there and get your shopping done while prices are being cut. With some big retailers closing their stores in a lot of cities, they will be having big sales to get everything out of their stores. Some of the stores closing before the beginning of  the new year are Circuit City and Linen's-n-Things. Also some smaller specialty retailers are closing a large number of stores around the U.S. because of the dooming economy. Some of the retailers closing stores in some areas are Gap, Home Depot, Talbot's, Cache, Footlocker, The Disney Store, etc. This is something you want to keep in mind when you are shopping for Christmas because you are not going to want to invest money in a gift card for stores that will soon be going out of business. MDI Medical also wants to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving and drive safely as you are traveling to visit your families all across the U.S.

Late November to the end of December is a time of heavy leisure travel as families and friends join together for the holidays. For the Physical Therapist, Occupational Therapist and Speech Language Pathologist Traveler, it can get just as hectic getting home for the Holidays. Travel during this time of year has its own special concerns, extra security and unexpected changes have become the norm.   When traveling, consider the following:

Confirm Your Trip
Because of the rapid changes in security and operating procedures, as well as changes in the availability of flights, you should contact the airline at least a day in advance to confirm your flight. Depending on the cause, you may be compensated for changes in schedules or for overbooked flights. 

Review Security Issues and Requirements
Before you head to the airport, you should take the time to review TSA and airline policies to find out whether you can take an item on the aircraft. While some items are completely banned, some can be carried only in checked baggage, and other items you can take in your carry-on baggage. Most of this has become common sense--no firearms, no flammable liquids, no cutting instruments, but a few other things can lead to issues, such as no wrapped presents are allow to be brought on board and stowed in the overhead or under your seat.  Either check it or leave it unwrapped until you get to your destination.

Arrive Early
Since September 11, going through the passenger screening checkpoint has become much slower. During busy times, the wait at many major airports can be more than an hour, so arriving at least two hours early is a good idea. And keep Your Identification and Ticket Within Easy Reach.  You may be asked to show your ticket and photo identification several times, so keep them with you at all times.

By following this simple advice you can make your Travel experience during the Holidays more enjoyable.  And get you back to your Travel Therapy job safe and on time.

And by all means, call your recruiter and wish him or her a Happy Holiday Season.  We love to hear from you. 

To All of MDI Medical's PT, OT, SLP, PTA and COTA Travelers, have a happy and healthy Holiday Season!

Warmest Regards,

Scott Ferguson
MDI Recruiter

Thanksgiving is only a few days away and one of the best parts is the turkey! Prepare the perfect turkey by following this recipe I found on ehow.com:

-When shopping for a turkey and thinking about size, estimate 1 pound per person. That's more than enough and will make guessing easier.

-After you've chosen your turkey, and it's close to Thanksgiving, you will need to thaw it (if it's frozen not fresh). Thaw it in the refrigerator. For every 5 pounds of turkey, it will take approximately one full day (24 hours) to thaw. So for example a 20 lb turkey will take 5 days to thaw.

-To prepare the turkey, remove the giblets that are usually in a small bag from inside the turkey. If you're are stuffing the bird, right before roasting begin to loosely spoon the stuffing mixture inside the turkey. Don't over pack it, because it needs to reach a safe temperature for eating by the time the turkey is cooked.

-To tie the turkey, take a long needle and sew the opening shut with kitchen string. Then, tuck the drumsticks under skin near the tail and tie it around the "ankles". Put the wingtips under the back of the turkey. Place the turkey in a roasting pan breast side up.

- Seasoining- Take a bowl and add some olive oil and a couple of packets of Goya Sazon. Then add a couple of shakes of Goya Adobo. Then spread this with your hands all over the bird. The turkey will come out a beautiful golden color and the skin will be very tasty!

-6Preheat the oven to 325 degrees and place turkey in the oven. For a small turkey (8-14 lbs) cook it for 3-4 hours. Medium sized (14-20 lbs) it will take 4-5 hours.

So, no matter if you're spending Thanksgiving away from home on your Travel Therapy Jobs or if you're taking time off of your Speech Therapy, Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy Jobs to travel, you can enjoy the perfect turkey!

Happy Thanksgiving,
Brittany Walden
Receptionist
MDI Medical