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Toni Talks about PT Today

‘I Can't Help, My Back Hurts'
by Toni Patt
This morning there was a patient on the floor so the request went out for lifting help. Four people responded, including me, a PTA, a male CNA and the patient's nurse. The patient was a big man, weak and in a narrow space so it wasn't going to be easy. Read More...
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What Do I Include in CEUs?
by Toni Patt
Recently I took on another challenge, writing a CEU module. When I agreed to do it, I thought no problem. This is what I teach. I already have an outline and references. I can just fill in the words. After I started writing, I realized something. When Read More...
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Working from Home
by Toni Patt
My current job comes with a perk I've never experienced before -- working from home. No, the patients don't come to me. Our documentation is Internet-based so I have the luxury of being able to write notes from home. Some people might say that is a curse, Read More...
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How Much Help Is Too Much?
by Toni Patt
I've been using the Nintendo Wii with more of my patients. This has created a dilemma for me. I don't know how much help to give my patients. At first I didn't help them at all but that wasn't successful. Since then I have alternated between verbal cues Read More...
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My New Pet Peeve
by Toni Patt
We all have things that annoy us. I have a new one at work, the assisted ergometer. It can be used for the UEs or LEs and programmed to provide either resistance or assistance to whoever is working the pedals. To me it is a glorified restorator. What Read More...
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Don't Count These Patients Out
by Toni Patt
It's been a while since I've had more than a few geriatric patients on my caseload. Now that my caseload is all geriatric, I've had to readjust. It's a good thing I didn't forget the first rule of geriatric care. Elderly patients are people, too. They Read More...
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Plus-Size Therapy
by Toni Patt
Last weekend, the Houston newspaper ran a story about how local health care providers are struggling to cope with heavier patients. It praised them for investing in plus-size furniture, heavy-duty stretchers and toilets that can support extra weight. Read More...
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Very Acute Therapy
by Toni Patt
This week I found myself at an outpatient orthopedic clinic treating work-related injuries. The clinic was one of several in the area. They have agreements with many local industries to provide medical and therapy services to injured employees. The injured Read More...
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Brain or Brawn
by Toni Patt
Last week, I found myself following in the footsteps of a therapist who truly believed in hands-on therapy. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't replicate his treatments. His patients were walking with only therapist-assist. I could barely get them Read More...
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Four an Hour is Three Too Many
by Toni Patt
Last Friday a former student of mine called. She is doing an outpatient affiliation now and is stressing out. She is having trouble keeping up. She has four patients every hour and is staying late to complete her notes. I told her not to worry. She knows Read More...
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Don't Touch That Patient
by Toni Patt
I had an unusual conversation with a nurse last week. I was in the neuro ICU preparing to evaluate a patient. I always check with a patient's nurse prior to doing so to make sure the patient is medically stable. Normally the nurses are very helpful and Read More...
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Early Mobilization
by Toni Patt
In last week's issue of ADVANCE for Physical Therapy& Rehab Medicine , the cover story described a three-month clinical trial of early mobilization in the ICU. I wanted to cut it out and post it prominently at work. I think all medically stable ICU Read More...
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The Results of Getting Involved
by Toni Patt
It's been several months since I was elected as a board member to the Southeast District (SED) of the TPTA. Another meeting is coming up this week. I have nothing to report. That isn't particularly surprising since I only have two responsibilities; the Read More...
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Therapeutic Hypocrisy
by Toni Patt
The annual Houston Marathon was a hot topic at last week's district TPTA meeting. Our leadership came under fire for providing free massages to the runners after completing the course. This practice has been going for several years and I have never supported Read More...
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Supervised Exercise or Extended Therapy?
by Toni Patt
During our monthly staff meeting, one of our sister facilities presented an in-service describing recent changes in a post-therapy program for patients. The program had relocated to a new location and expanded services. Before the move, it was held after-hours Read More...
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