Toni Talks about PT Today : Geriatrics

It's All About the Money

Toni Patt — Wed, 22 May 2013 19:56:00 GMT

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)

'I Am a Troublemaker'

Toni Patt — Tue, 14 May 2013 13:05:00 GMT

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)

My Horse is a Therapy Animal

Toni Patt — Wed, 01 May 2013 13:59:00 GMT

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)

Return to Manual Therapy... Not

Toni Patt — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 13:33:00 GMT

This week a patient was referred to therapy because of neck pain. I quickly determined she had a mechanical derangement of her cervical spine. Something was locked in the upper cervical region that prevented her from rotating. Her complaints were inability...(read more)

Finally Something I Enjoy

Toni Patt — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 18:31:00 GMT

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)

Not All Patients Work on the Weekend

Toni Patt — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 20:03:00 GMT

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)

Maybe it's a Question of Time

Toni Patt — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 18:08:00 GMT

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)

What Is the Definition of Skilled Therapy?

Toni Patt — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 18:28:00 GMT

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)

Time and Money

Toni Patt — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 18:55:00 GMT

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)

Ready for CSM

Toni Patt — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 16:02:00 GMT

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)

Something is Wrong With This Scenario

Toni Patt — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 22:15:00 GMT

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)

I Got to Meet a Soap Opera Star

Toni Patt — Mon, 31 Dec 2012 20:54:00 GMT

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)

The Squeaky Patient Gets the Attention

Toni Patt — Wed, 26 Dec 2012 17:50:00 GMT

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)

A Disappointing Outcome

Toni Patt — Tue, 18 Dec 2012 17:15:00 GMT

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)

Secret Santa Drama

Toni Patt — Tue, 11 Dec 2012 20:20:00 GMT

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)