Welcome to Health Care POV | sign in | join

BROWSE BY TAGS

Toni Talks about PT Today

Volunteering Update
by Toni Patt
In past posts, I've expressed frustration at volunteering for various opportunities within the APTA and the Neurology Section. A few months ago, I was nominated for a position on the nominating committee for the stroke special interest group. The results Read More...
1 comments »     
My Fear of Maintenance Therapy
by Toni Patt
Last week in his post, fellow ADVANCE blogger Dean Metz shared some good news . CMS has ruled the need for skilled intervention, not functional improvement, makes therapy reimbursable. This means, as he pointed out, patients with chronic conditions can Read More...
1 comments »     
It's All About the Money
by Toni Patt
If I had any doubt that patient-focused healthcare was a thing of the past, I don't anymore. Last weekend, a situation arose that showed me charging for services was more important than patient care. I work full-time at one facility and help out at another. Read More...
7 comments »     
'I Am a Troublemaker'
by Toni Patt
Last week I described being warned not to make trouble by reporting the nurses watching the baby camera while at work. I've been thinking about that. Why would I be the troublemaker for reporting someone else doing something wrong? Shouldn't it be the Read More...
2 comments »     
My Horse is a Therapy Animal
by Toni Patt
The positive influence of animals on healing is well known. Caring Critters now make regular visits to various facilities within the Houston area. Dogs can be certified as therapy animals. Horses are used for hippotherapy with great results. Now I'm going Read More...
0 comments »     
Finally Something I Enjoy
by Toni Patt
Anyone who reads my blog with regularity knows the last year has been a struggle for me. I lost my beloved job. I was fired for being ethical. I encountered more than my share of unethical and self-serving people. During all of that, I hung on and kept Read More...
3 comments »     
Not All Patients Work on the Weekend
by Toni Patt
This morning while I was walking a patient, I overheard another patient walking behind us. She was telling the CNA taking her to the dining room that she recognized me from the weekend. She was upset with me because I came to take her to therapy and she Read More...
1 comments »     
Maybe it's a Question of Time
by Toni Patt
Last week I questioned what the definition of skilled therapy was . I had worked with several patients the previous weekend whose only deficit was the need for supervision. I've realized I wasn't clear in describing those patients. All of them had been Read More...
0 comments »     
What Is the Definition of Skilled Therapy?
by Toni Patt
I've been noticing a disturbing trend lately. More and more facilities are considering the need for supervision as a need for skilled therapy. Back in the day, patients referred to SNFs and outpatient had an obvious need. They had trouble walking. They Read More...
10 comments »     
Time and Money
by Toni Patt
Now that I'm home from CSM, I've had an opportunity to process all of the information. Most of the presentations were excellent. Those that weren't purely theoretical had a common theme. We have to maximize what we do because we're spending less and less Read More...
2 comments »     
Something is Wrong With This Scenario
by Toni Patt
Yesterday I heard something that's still bothering me. I was evaluating a woman. Her husband told me the following. He couldn't tell me when the problem started, just that for the past few weeks she couldn't sit up without leaning on something. He had Read More...
0 comments »     
The Squeaky Patient Gets the Attention
by Toni Patt
There's an old saying the squeaky wheel gets the oil. In healthcare that translates to the patient who complains the loudest, is the most uncooperative or makes the most unreasonable demands, also gets all the attention. Often this means other patients Read More...
1 comments »     
Secret Santa Drama
by Toni Patt
I don't know about anyone else but I can't wait for Christmas to come and go. Things need to get back to normal, or what passes for normal. I'm not a holiday person. I don't go out of my way to celebrate them. Holidays are actually my favorite days to Read More...
1 comments »     
Take-Your-Horse-to-Work Day
by Toni Patt
Last week one of my horses, Expsychment, made his debut as a therapy animal. It was a win-win situation. The residents love him and I got to spend the day with him and still get paid. Dogs, and sometimes cats, are frequent visitors to rehab facilities. Read More...
1 comments »     
What Is a Physical Therapist Extender?
by Toni Patt
Reading Jason Marketti's blog last week reminded me of a discussion we're having here in Texas. It's called RC-3 and is an amendment to the Texas Physical Therapy Practice Act. It proposes unlicensed individuals such as athletic trainers and massage therapists Read More...
4 comments »     

Search

About this Blog

Keep Me Updated