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ADVANCE for Physical Therapists and PT Assistants is thrilled to welcome you to PT Talk: Blog Community from ADVANCE! Our blog community offers interactive blogs written by PT professionals and our editorial staff. We look forward to hearing more about the rehabilitation field from your point of view. Blogs will discuss issues related to the field, current events and other fun & candid observations. We have provided a comment section so you can voice your opinions and submit feedback. Happy blogging!
LATEST POSTS FROM EACH BLOG
Career Fair
November 5, 2009 10:30 AM by Veronica Haywood of A Day in the Life of a PT Student

Our career fair is coming up tomorrow and I cannot wait. The day is sure to be a very exciting and stressful one. So far I have completed my resume and had professors as well as the career services center at Marquette look over it. Well that was the first step...after going to buy a business suit!

The hard part came along when I was trying to narrow down the employers that I intend to visit. There are over 60 representatives ...


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H1N1 Virus
November 5, 2009 10:19 AM by Lisa West of Life with a New PT Grad

Well, I hate to jump on the media wagon with more commentary about the H1N1 flu virus, but I'm wondering how other health care systems are tackling this nation-wide problem. 

I got the H1N1 flu shot today at work, but many of my coworkers are declining to have a flu shot.  Mostly, they haven't gotten the flu in previous seasons and don't feel any increased risk with the H1N1.  Some are afraid of needles.  ...


 
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Controversial Pain Therapies
November 4, 2009 9:39 AM by Jason Marketti of PTA Blog Talk

The debate continues for America on whether to legalize this.  Pros and cons have been heard on both sides and still it is unsolved for the majority of us.

Let's take a look at other "controversial" pain therapies.  

Craniosacral Therapy (CST). Some have said has little scientific support, yet physical therapists continue to use this treatment. It has also been listed as an alternative ...


 
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NUTS!
November 4, 2009 9:30 AM by JANEY GOUDE of The Busy PT's Guide to Finding Balance

 

Are you trying to perform tasks but find you consistently come up short? Maybe you are working outside of your skill set. 

As I watch a squirrel, his tiny cheeks chock full of nuts, I marvel at how easily he can crack open the shells.  This feat is made all the more impressive because of his diminutive size. My relative giant-like stature and comparatively inferior nut-cracking ...


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Socialized Health Care; The British Complain
November 4, 2009 9:28 AM by Dean Metz of A New York PT in Queen Elizabeth’s Court

The London Times published an article today about the hopeful next Prime Minister, David Cameron, and his plan to overhaul the National Health Service. There has been outcry at mismanagement in the system and frustration by the public at the apparent lack of attention to timely and quality care. As I mentioned ...

 
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Preferred Patient Types
November 4, 2009 9:19 AM by Toni Patt of Toni Talks about PT Today

This morning while doing the schedule board, we started talking about what type of patients each of us prefers to treat.  It started when one of the PTAs asked to change one of her patients. She explained the patient in question was a back patient and she couldn't work with that type of patient.  I had a similar request for a patient I had evaluated over the weekend.  I asked she be given to a different ...

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New and Improved
November 2, 2009 11:48 AM by Lisa Lombardo of ADVANCE Perspective: Physical Therapy

Arguably, the best changes are ones that are subtle but make a big impact. To that end I would like to welcome our readers to ADVANCE for Physical Therapy and Rehab Medicine, a new and improved version of the national physical therapy newsmagazine that serves your profession.

We're expanding our focus in ADVANCE to include more coverage of practice management, sports medicine, modalities, equipment ...


 
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Feeling Incompetent
October 29, 2009 1:47 PM by Lisa West of Life with a New PT Grad

There are a lot of times during treatments or looking at patient charts when I feel like I need to get a second opinion.  Should this patient be put on hold?  Will I need new orders for this patient?  Is this lab value inappropriate?  I usually know what the answer to these questions are, but with such complicated medical issues I feel some relief knowing another therapist is in agreement with me.  ...

 
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Laugh, Play, Smile
October 29, 2009 1:39 PM by Veronica Haywood of A Day in the Life of a PT Student

Senior Farewell and Massage-A-Thon are well on their way, and I can't wait! I am especially excited for Senior Farewell. It is the one opportunity that we get to make fun of all of our previous professors. This year however, our professors are apparently aiming to fight back with a rebuttal...This should be interesting.

I think that it is very important for people to laugh.  More importantly, it is important ...


 
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Therapy Menu
October 28, 2009 8:48 AM by Jason Marketti of PTA Blog Talk

Like buying fine foods by number we should offer a therapy menu for those who are undecided what will take care of their aches and pains. It would look something like this:

JASON'S THERAPY

#1  Massage...........................$XX.00 (For first 15 minutes. $X.00 for each additional minute.)

#2 T.E.N.S............................$XX.00

#3 ...


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When to Let it Die
October 28, 2009 8:41 AM by JANEY GOUDE of The Busy PT's Guide to Finding Balance

We lived in West Palm Beach, Florida. You'd think we would have been in heaven.  The sun, the sand, the glitz. But our experience was far from heavenly.  While I finished out the remaining six weeks of a contract assignment, my husband moved down to get us settled. He says if he'd have known then what he knows now, he would have packed his car and headed back to Ohio time he got there.  Go figure, ...

3 comments  
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Nyquil, Nyquil, My Kingdom for Nyquil!
October 28, 2009 8:39 AM by Dean Metz of A New York PT in Queen Elizabeth’s Court

One aspect of moving to the UK, which I didn't think about, was all the differences in the prescribed and over-the-counter drugs. I'm currently battling a nasty cold. I would normally take Tylenol and Claritin for daytime relief and Nyquil for getting a good night's sleep in New York.

Those products don't exist here.

I have an anaphylactic reaction to anything containing aspirin so I have to read labels ...


 
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I Don’t Do Enough Exercise With My Patients
October 28, 2009 8:21 AM by Toni Patt of Toni Talks about PT Today

While was doing research for a recent assignment I came across a statement that made me stop and think. In essence it said you can't get functional improvement without strengthening.  My first reaction was "Doh! Everyone knows that." That's one of the first things I learned in PT school. Then I read a little more. The article talked about the necessity of strengthening exercises in treatment. I had to stop and think. ...

 
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Senate Blocks Proposed Medicare Bill
October 26, 2009 1:14 PM by Brian Ferrie of ADVANCE Perspective: Physical Therapy

On Oct. 21, the Senate voted against a motion that would have brought S. 1776, the Medicare Physicians Fairness Act of 2009, to the floor for debate. According to the Oct. 23 PT Bulletin from APTA, the motion failed by a vote of 47 to 53, which stopped further consideration of the bill.

The opposing ...


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The Benefits of Journal Clubs
October 22, 2009 7:56 AM by Veronica Haywood of A Day in the Life of a PT Student

In one of our classes we frequently discuss the benefits of having journal clubs. Often times while in practice, people can fall behind in staying up to date with evidence-based practice (EBP).

With such a progressive profession like physical therapy, it is important to stay aware of what is going on within the profession. It is also very vital for reimbursement purposes. There are both new and old biophysical technologies ...


 
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Clinical Judgment and Lab Values
October 22, 2009 7:52 AM by Lisa West of Life with a New PT Grad

Many times before a treatment session I will speak with the RN and discuss if the patient is appropriate for skilled therapy.  Literally 99 percent of the time, the RN will say "Oh yes, please go get the patient out of bed."  Occasionally a nurse will ask to hold the pt due to uncontrolled pain, fatigue, or unstable vital signs.

The problem occurs when I look at the chart and see a glucose of 345, or a ...


 
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October is PT Month
October 21, 2009 8:30 AM by Toni Patt of Toni Talks about PT Today

Tomorrow morning my department is going to have a breakfast for all the PTs to celebrate PT month.  The food will be provided by the OTs, STs and supervisors.  Sometime next week the rehab unit is supposed to do something similar.  I'll be surprised if that happens because no one seems to want to take on the responsibility of making it happen. Personally I would be happy if someone just brought decent ...

 
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The Legacies Project
October 21, 2009 8:28 AM by Jason Marketti of PTA Blog Talk

When I worked in Palm Springs I held a tape recorder for a gentleman during the therapy session who was recounting his time in the war and in great detail his time in Burma.  It was fascinating to hear this man's history.  He was doing it so his family will have a better understanding of him and a record of what he accomplished. 

Not too long ago I read about The Legacies Project--which is doing ...


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Sun Spot Sightings
October 21, 2009 7:56 AM by JANEY GOUDE of The Busy PT's Guide to Finding Balance

Yesterday was a bad day.  That's how I went to bed remembering it, anyway.  Mulling over its badness, I realized yesterday was really only bad in spots. Because those "spots" had come toward the end of the day, they eclipsed all the good that came before them. 

My next thought surprised and challenged me.  I was only able to experience those bad moments because I'm alive. The amazing ...


4 comments  
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British Health Care as a Consumer
October 21, 2009 7:51 AM by Dean Metz of A New York PT in Queen Elizabeth’s Court

I was curious as to how I would be insured once I actually moved to the UK. I still don't have a national insurance number so I'm not necessarily covered under the NHS yet. My policy from my previous employer doesn't cover overseas treatments. In hindsight I realize that I should've gotten a decent traveler's policy, but I didn't. Instead, I set out to find out about private insurance here in the UK.

Of course ...


2 comments  
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Wii for the World Record
October 20, 2009 9:17 AM by Elizabeth Puliti of ADVANCE Perspective: Physical Therapy

The top story on CNNhealth.com today reads, "Seniors Wii bowl for world record and for health." According to the Guinness World Records, a world record was recently set in Houston, TX--for the world's largest senior citizen Wii bowling tournament!

The Houston area's largest Medicare HMO--TexanPlus--put on the ...


 
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My Patient Doesn’t Want to Work With Me
October 15, 2009 10:32 AM by Toni Patt of Toni Talks about PT Today

Last week I inherited an interesting patient from a therapist who went on vacation. The patient is an 87-year-old Chinese female admitted with a diagnosis of right MCA infarct.  She has a history of undiagnosed dementia. She lives with her husband and two caregivers 24/7. Prior to admission she was ambulatory household distances with assist and a RW. Except for her adamant refusal to participate in therapy, she ...

3 comments  
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Learning Experience
October 15, 2009 8:26 AM by Lisa West of Life with a New PT Grad

A few nights ago I picked up an extra evaluation at the end of the day.  It was a very active 88-year old woman admitted for a GI bleed.  She volunteers weekly and is completely independent at home.  No device used.  Upon introducing myself and my purpose for visiting her, she stated she didn't need physical therapy but was agreeable to our evaluation.  She had a history of falling, both mechanical, ...

 
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Work, Work, Work!
October 15, 2009 8:24 AM by Veronica Haywood of A Day in the Life of a PT Student

This semester is becoming jam packed with A LOT of work. I don't think that I have had this many projects and papers due since taking English, History, Philosophy, and Theology all in the same semester. It's almost overwhelming at times. Nonetheless, I just keep thinking about the light at the end of the tunnel as I am almost there.

I find myself meditating and practicing my deep breathing techniques more often ...


 
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Motability
October 14, 2009 8:53 AM by Dean Metz of A New York PT in Queen Elizabeth’s Court

When I was working in home care in New York and Florida, one of the most common requests I received was for a powered wheelchair or scooter. Medicare has progressively made acquiring a PMD (powered mobility device) more and more difficult. This is largely due to the blatant abuse that has occurred in the system. I've had many patients who lived in 5-story walk up buildings with scooters sitting idle in their living rooms ...

 
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ABOUT OUR BLOGS

ADVANCE Perspective: Physical Therapy
The ADVANCE for Physical Therapists and PT Assistants editorial staff will discuss issues in the PT profession, current events in health care and offer their opinions and insights.

Toni Talks about PT Today
Toni will be talking about the PT world as she sees it with 20+ years of experience as well as a student new to the world of post-professional education. She welcomes comments and responses. Anything is fair game!

The Busy PT's Guide to Finding Balance
With a husband, four children and a dog, Janey Goude finds maintaining balance is as essential as it can be elusive. Join us as we share strategies that make life a better, balanced place.

PTA Blog Talk
With 12 years of PTA experience behind him, Jason Marketti is still learning and growing every day. He invites you to join him on his journey through the therapy profession and as a husband and father of three children.

A Day in the Life of a PT Student
I am a current Marquette University physical therapy student from Chicago, IL. I recently completed my coursework to receive a Bachelors of Science degree in Athletic Training along with completing my first year of coursework for a degree as a Doctor of Physical Therapy.

Life with a New PT Grad
I am a physical therapy student from Marquette University.

A New York PT in Queen Elizabeth’s Court
I am a staff development specialist for the Visiting Nurse Service of NY soon to be unemployed and looking for PT work in the United Kingdom.