ADVANCE Perspective: Physical Therapy & Rehab Medicine

That Makes 50!

2013-05-14T19:18:00Z

The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), Alexandria, VA, announced in an April 30 press release that Indiana Gov. Mike Pence has signed HB 1034, granting Hoosiers direct access to evaluation and treatment by a physical therapist without a physician referral. Ensuring a patient's choice of which healthcare professional to see and when has been a longtime goal of the APTA and its state chapters. Passage of this bill signifies a landmark moment for the profession in that all 50 states and the...(read more)

The Volunteer Spirit

2013-05-01T14:15:00Z

Are you looking for an opportune time to volunteer overseas? Judging from the number of reports I receive from ADVANCE readers, and from organizations who are continually looking for therapists to join their travel groups, the demand-and desire-for lending a PT hand in parts unknown is growing. Some recent reports: Michael Tabasko, PT, MSPT, OCS, has been active with HVO since 2006 and has volunteered in Vietnam, Peru and Bhutan. He is currently practicing at Capitol Orthopaedics & Rehabilitation...(read more)

Care Amid Chaos

2013-04-18T15:13:00Z

The American Physical Therapy Association, Alexandria, VA, put out a press release yesterday detailing the role that therapy professionals and students played in helping victims of the tragic bombing at the Boston Marathon. The release stated: "A team of 70 members of APTA's Massachusetts Chapter, stationed at the Boston Marathon finish line on April 15 when tragedy struck, stepped in despite a chaotic scene to help injured people. These volunteers, led by Dave Nolan, PT, DPT, OSC, consisted of physical...(read more)

Knee Injury--The PT Alternative

2013-03-19T17:00:00Z

Last month, my mom, who is 67, had surgery on a torn meniscus in her right knee. She's not even sure how she tore her meniscus, and it was a very light tear; could have been something as simple as planting her foot wrong or her foot coming lose from her shoe, causing the twist. I wouldn't consider her particularly "active;" she has a full-time desk job but does walk for about 20 minutes a day at lunch when weather permits. Before her surgery, I did some investigating on whether surgery was necessary,...(read more)

Therapy Team

2013-03-01T20:57:00Z

Last month saw a unique occurrence for ADVANCE . In an effort to highlight interdisciplinary collaboration, we scheduled a staff-written article to be the cover story of two different publications , ADVANCE for Occupational Therapy Practitioners (Feb. 4) and ADVANCE for Physical Therapy & Rehab Medicine (Feb. 18). That article focused on JAG Pediatric Therapy in West Orange, NJ, which just opened last fall and treats children with a variety of conditions such as cerebral palsy, developmental...(read more)

CSM 2013: PT Autonomy: What the Future Holds Under Health Care Reform

2013-01-28T16:26:00Z

SAN DIEGO--There's a popular saying that goes in this vein: There really is no such thing as luck; it is what you do with the situations you are confronted with that determines your own fate. PTs who are in private practice or who are contemplating such a venture would be wise to adopt this strategy for the foreseeable future, according to the therapists who spoke at CSM June 23 on "Health Care Reform and Professional Autonomy: The Good, the Bad and the Opportunities." Making the most of navigating...(read more)

New Technology is a Pipe Dream for Small Clinics

2013-01-25T21:27:00Z

The following post was written by ADVANCE guest blogger Brian Knutsen, OTR/L, CHT, president of Buzzards Bay Hand Therapy LLC, located in Marion and Lexington, MA. SAN DIEGO -- In the CSM session, "Emerging Technologies for Enhancing Post-Stroke Arm Rehabilitation," speakers Mindy Levin, PT, PhD, and Michelle Harris-Love PT, PhD, discussed two specific examples of emerging technologies for the treatment of UE deficits post-stroke: virtual reality (VR)/robotics and transcranial magnetic stimulation...(read more)

Third-Party Payers and You

2013-01-25T21:00:00Z

The following post was written by ADVANCE guest blogger Brian Knutsen, OTR/L, CHT, president of Buzzards Bay Hand Therapy LLC, located in Marion and Lexington, MA. SAN DIEGO -- In the CSM session, "Practice, Coding, Documentation and Reimbursement," Nancy Beckley, MS, MBA, CHC, shared a quick Medicare update to start. The audience then launched into a brief discussion about how confusing and downright inconsistent Medicare billing standards have become in the practice of hand therapy. It was comforting...(read more)

Forearm Compartment Syndrome Can Kill

2013-01-25T20:29:00Z

The following post was written by ADVANCE guest blogger Brian Knutsen, OTR/L, CHT, president of Buzzards Bay Hand Therapy LLC, located in Marion and Lexington, MA. SAN DIEGO -- The CSM session "Athletic Injuries to the Forearm, Wrist and Hand," presented by Kevin J. Lawrence, PT, DHS, OCS, was well attended with standing room only. I was particularly pleased to see the large number of students in the audience and their interest in this topic. This talk was an excellent review for me. The most common...(read more)

Therapeutic Maestro Post-Stroke

2013-01-25T20:12:00Z

The following post was written by ADVANCE guest blogger Brian Knutsen, OTR/L, CHT, president of Buzzards Bay Hand Therapy LLC, located in Marion and Lexington, MA. SAN DIEGO -- In the "Assessment of Upper Extremity Impairment, Function, and Activity Following Stroke" session at CSM, Catherine E. Lang, PT, PhD, shared the foundations for clinical decision-making. Dr. Lang, an associate professor at the Washington University program for physical and occupational therapy in the department of neurology...(read more)

CSM 2013: APTA Steps Up Advocacy on Federal Affairs

2013-01-24T15:19:00Z

SAN DIEGO--In a two-part session to accommodate a wide range of topics on Medicare and federal health care law changes, APTA presented "Emerging Issues in Medicare and Federal Affairs: What Every PT Needs to Know" to a packed audience on Wednesday at CSM. The first point the speakers felt attendees needed to know was that its government affairs office was more than ready to increase its advocacy efforts on behalf of the profession given the impending changes to health care insurance law. Mandy Frohlich,...(read more)

Infant Brachial Plexopathy Treatment is not 'Cookie Cutter'

2013-01-24T01:16:00Z

The following post was written by ADVANCE guest blogger Brian Knutsen, OTR/L, CHT, president of Buzzards Bay Hand Therapy LLC, located in Marion and Lexington, MA. SAN DIEGO -- One of Tuesday's hand rehab sessions, "Infant Brachial Plexopathy: Nonsurgical and Surgical Management," presented by Susan V. Duff, PT, OTR/L, EdD, CHT, Gregory G Heuer, MD, PhD, and Jamie Berggren, OTR/L, discussed the mechanism and etiology of a brachial plexus injury. Brachial plexopathy is a unilateral traction injury...(read more)

APTA Stays Proactive on State Legislative Issues

2013-01-23T15:06:00Z

SAN DIEGO--APTA's Governmental Affairs office--recently renamed the Public Policy, Practicer and Professional Affairs Unit--is gathering steam to confront issues in state legislatures that have an impact on the profession. At the top of the priority list, without a doubt, are the impending changes to health care reform once the Affordable Health Care Act swings into the implementation stage this year and in 2014. Angela Chasteen, MPA, and Justin Elliott, director of legislative affairs for APTA,...(read more)

Sun, Sights and and a Presidential Perspective

2013-01-22T21:42:00Z

SAN DIEGO -- The ADVANCE staff managed to escape the frigid Northeast this week and touch down safely yesterday at San Diego International Airport for the 2013 APTA Combined Sections Meeting. In case you're wondering, yes, it really is 75 and sunny here in late January. And the Pacific Ocean is beautiful. Tough gig, I know, but somebody has to do it. A friend back at the office just texted me that it's 21 degrees in Philly. I feel bad for him. Kind of. But there's more to do here than just enjoy...(read more)

Turning Fear Into Profit

2013-01-22T21:00:00Z

The following post was written by ADVANCE Senior Regional Editor Rebecca Mayer Knutsen: SAN DIEGO -- Today, Tannus Quatre, PT, MBA, inspired a room full of people to overcome the fear of failure with his presentation, "Starting from Scratch: Making Your PT Vision a Reality!" Quatre believes that by being innovative, a physical therapist can help oneself and help the profession. "Don't get comfortable with status quo," he encouraged his audience. We all have great ideas -- which most typically reveal...(read more)