Toni Talks about PT Today : Patient Care

'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)

The Baby Cam is Not Skilled Therapy

Toni Patt — Tue, 07 May 2013 16:42:00 GMT

There has always been some conflict between therapy and nursing. Each complains about what the other does or doesn't do. Last week I saw something that floored me. I went into the nursing office looking for a chart. I didn't find the chart. I did find...(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)

Old School and New School

Toni Patt — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 17:19:00 GMT

No matter where I am, I hear the old school/new school discussion. In simplest terms, it's a comparison of how we did something years ago compared with how we do it now. In more unkind terms, it can become a condemnation of those who went to school back...(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)

How Many Minutes Are Enough?

Toni Patt — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 15:57:00 GMT

This morning I was involved in a discussion about getting the most minutes from each patient. This can be taken two ways. Financially more minutes translates into better reimbursement. Therapeutically it results from the belief that every patient should...(read more)

Continuing Education Should Be Evidence-Based

Toni Patt — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 20:53:00 GMT

I'm a peer reviewer for the Texas continuing education program. I review submissions for neuro, geriatric, acute and general so I get to see a lot what is being proposed for continuing education. Texas has a specific form that must be completed for each...(read more)

‘I Can't Help, My Back Hurts'

Toni Patt — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 15:03:00 GMT

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)

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)

What Do I Include in CEUs?

Toni Patt — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 15:22:00 GMT

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)

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)

It's Legal but Is It Ethical?

Toni Patt — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 15:58:00 GMT

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)

Patient Empowerment

Toni Patt — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 16:46:00 GMT

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)