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Quit Complaining
by Toni Patt

Over the last few weeks my department has been undergoing some changes. After reviewing our numbers over the last few months, our manager realized we haven't been complaint with the three-hour rule. For those who don't work in a rehab setting, the three-hour Read More...

46 views     0 comments »     

The Pretty, Young Therapist
by Toni Patt

Last week something was said during rounds that I'm still angry about. We were discussing a new admission. Since my case load was low, I asked if I needed to see the patient. In response, I was told the patient had been given to the young, pretty therapist Read More...

179 views     3 comments »     

My Patient Doesn’t Want to Work With Me
by Toni Patt

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 Read More...

322 views     3 comments »     

Informed Consent
by Toni Patt

While I was researching an assignment for my latest class, I ran across an article about informed consent and physical therapy. The article stated that in a patient centered environment, consent must be granted for any procedure or activity that is outside Read More...

210 views     1 comments »     

We Should Always Be Professional
by Toni Patt

This week my assignment is a smaller hospital in the suburbs of Houston. I've been there before on weekends and some holidays. I was looking forward to being there. Now I'm looking forward to leaving. The lack of professionalism I've experienced there Read More...

219 views     1 comments »     

Don’t Tell Me to Ignore the Practice Act
by Toni Patt

I heard something today I just couldn't believe. I was talking to the department manager about who is responsible for putting patients back to bed. My point was in order for physical therapy to be physical therapy, a skilled intervention must be involved. Read More...

495 views     3 comments »     

Patient Abandonment
by Toni Patt

The hot topic at lunch this week was the definition of patient abandonment. We all agreed that it involved leaving a patient who needs therapy without it. What we can't agree on is at what point does the abandonment occur? Taken to an extreme it could Read More...

1125 views     2 comments »     

We Need to Limit Our Use of Modalities
by Toni Patt

In the most recent print issue of Advance for Physical Therapists and PT Assistants (vol 19, # 18, p. 138) the Rehab Roundtable section poses an interesting question. Should physical modalities be removed from physical therapy practice? This is a legitimate Read More...

351 views     0 comments »     

The Right to Decide
by Toni Patt

In the May 2008 issue of GeriNotes , William H. Staples PT, DPT, GCS tackles the topic of informed consent and cognitively impaired individuals. Mr. Staples talks about the importance of determining if a patient is capable of giving informed consent. Read More...

314 views     0 comments »     

My Cat Died
by Toni Patt

My cat died last night. He was old. He lived a full kitty life. He died last night in my lap and I gently petted him. I could have taken him to the vet but all that would have happened is he would have been put to sleep. I couldn't do that to him. He Read More...

646 views     1 comments »     

Who is Responsible?
by Toni Patt

Like most therapists, I'm a veteran of interdisciplinary turf battles. Usually the problem is PT and nursing going around over getting a patient out of bed. Sometimes it's about whether out of bed to chair is a PT or a nursing order. This time was a little Read More...

549 views     1 comments »