Toni Talks about PT Today : Student Issues and News

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)

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)

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)

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)

I Tried to Volunteer

Toni Patt — Thu, 01 Nov 2012 16:54:00 GMT

As a member of the neurological section, I receive a monthly electronic newsletter. A few months ago, it included a request for volunteers to work on developing an acute stroke care course. Obviously that caught my attention. I completed the application...(read more)

What Is a Physical Therapist Extender?

Toni Patt — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 17:47:00 GMT

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)

Biting Off More Than I Can Chew

Toni Patt — Tue, 02 Oct 2012 20:17:00 GMT

Last week, I wrote about my experiences teaching my first CEU course. I mentioned how much work it was but didn't go into details. It took me nearly four months to finish, including two months of working at least an hour or two every night. Now I'm going...(read more)

My First Attempt at Teaching

Toni Patt — Tue, 25 Sep 2012 21:49:00 GMT

Last week I tried something completely different. I taught CEU courses. Naturally the topic was stroke care. Previously I've done presentations of an hour or two. Once I did a four-hour presentation on gait and hemiparetic gait. In every case, I've had...(read more)

Caring for the Severely Impaired Patient

Toni Patt — Tue, 08 May 2012 20:54:00 GMT

There is new evidence in the physical therapy world that creates a paradox. The patients who benefit the most are the patients who receive the least therapy. Everything I read demonstrated that the more impaired patients made the greatest improvement...(read more)

The Future of Physical Therapy

Toni Patt — Thu, 03 May 2012 15:49:00 GMT

This morning I had a conversation with an OT who has as much experience or more than I do. I mentioned my frustration with employers desiring low pay over experienced therapists. I don't think my tDPT and geriatric specialization have made me more attractive...(read more)

PT and PTA Reimbursements Are the Same

Toni Patt — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 17:13:00 GMT

Jason Marketti made an excellent point last week when he responded to my post . He pointed out that in all but one state, reimbursement is the same for treatments provided by a PT or a PTA. On the surface, that makes sense. Our charges are treatment-based....(read more)

Specialization and Skill or Low Salary?

Toni Patt — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 16:49:00 GMT

Recently I've found myself looking at the available positions in Houston. I never thought I would be doing this again but here I am. Things have changed since I last looked. There are more jobs posted than previously. Salaries are higher. No one seems...(read more)

Legality Doesn't Make It Right

Toni Patt — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 19:28:00 GMT

Last week I ran across something I'd never seen or heard of before -- a therapist who doesn't write notes. I had 12 of his patients. All 12 were lacking daily notes. The papers were there where the notes would have been written. Times in and out were...(read more)