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Toni Talks about PT Today

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...
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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...
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It's Legal but Is It Ethical?
by Toni Patt
Someone was fired last week. The rumor is going around that she was fired because she didn't smile. I don't know if that's true or not but in Texas it is legal. Here an employer can fire an employee for any reason, even if they make it up. Nor do they Read More...
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Patient Empowerment
by Toni Patt
One of the presentations I attended at CSM discussed ways to increase motor learning by empowering the patient. They gave an example where one group of patients was asked to help decide which picture to hand in the waiting room prior to assessment. The Read More...
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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...
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Ready for CSM
by Toni Patt
SAN DIEGO -- Just like my fellow ADVANCE blogger Lauren , I'll be attending the APTA Combined Sections Meeting in San Diego. CSM happens this week so I'm already in my hotel. I've registered and picked up my materials. I attended my pre-conference workshop Read More...
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Learning from My Mistake
by Toni Patt
Because I ride horses competitively, I spend many hours taking lessons. Just like my patients, I'm trying to learn and master motor skills. Sometimes I get it right, sometimes not. This morning it hit me how similar my learning experiences are to those Read More...
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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...
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I Got to Meet a Soap Opera Star
by Toni Patt
One of our residents has a well-known grandson. For several years, he starred as one of the Chandlers on the soap opera, "All My Children." There are autographed pictures of him throughout the facility from his last visit. When I started working there, Read More...
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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...
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A Disappointing Outcome
by Toni Patt
When I started my current job, I was given a request. Help Jenny (not her real name) walk again. Jenny had a devastating stroke four months prior to that and was just beginning to wake up. At first they didn't think she'd live. Then they didn't think Read More...
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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...
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My Patient Died
by Toni Patt
One of my favorite patients died last weekend. It wasn't unexpected. She'd been gradually deteriorating for the last few weeks. It was obvious by looking at her that she wasn't feeling well. She'd begun talking about stopping dialysis because it made Read More...
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Physical Therapy and the News
by Toni Patt
I don't know about anyone else but I can't read medical news with an unbiased outlook. A few days ago "Yahoo!" posted an article about a man who'd awakened from a month-long coma. The first thought that entered my mind was concern about why he wasn't Read More...
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Having a Second Job
by Toni Patt
In a recent blog for ADVANCE , Jason Marketti talks about having several per diem jobs to help him afford large purchases. That reminded me of when I used to do the same thing. I can remember when most of my coworkers worked a few extra days. No one did Read More...
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