PTA Blog Talk

Immigration and PT

2009-11-18T12:45:00Z

I spoke with Emily Lopez Neumann, an an immigration attorney at Reddy & Neumann, P.C., Houston, TX, about the immigration process for PTs recently. What follows is a Q&A of our discussion. Question: Are you seeing a change in the way immigration handles the PTs since the Doctorate of PT is becoming the norm? Answer: I have actually found that the immigration service still thinks of PTs as requiring only a bachelor's degree. The immigration service usually relies on the Department of Labor's...(read more)

The Legacies Project- Part 2

2009-11-11T15:36:00Z

Based in Ann Arbor, MI, The Legacies Project archives self selected memories from the elderly population and categorizes it into videotaped histories. It began as Jimmy Rhoades recounts a personal experience. "My dad was diagnosed with cancer and we were told he had six months to a year to live. I was in my 20s and still hadn't formed a real adult relationship with my dad, so it was now or never. I actually started talking to him about his life, and his stories were incredible. He grew up in the...(read more)

Controversial Pain Therapies

2009-11-04T14:39:00Z

The debate continues for America on whether to legalize this. Pros and cons have been heard on both sides and still it is unsolved for the majority of us. Let's take a look at other "controversial" pain therapies. Craniosacral Therapy (CST). Some have said has little scientific support, yet physical therapists continue to use this treatment. It has also been listed as an alternative medicine therapy in some of the literature. Modalities. There are physical therapists and PTAs that fully support the...(read more)

Therapy Menu

2009-10-28T12:48:00Z

Like buying fine foods by number we should offer a therapy menu for those who are undecided what will take care of their aches and pains. It would look something like this: JASON'S THERAPY #1 Massage...........................$XX.00 (For first 15 minutes. $X.00 for each additional minute.) #2 T.E.N.S............................$XX.00 #3 Ultrasound........................$XX.00 #4 Heat Pad Back.........................$XX.00 Neck.........................$XX.00 Arm/Leg.....................$XX.00 #5...(read more)

The Legacies Project

2009-10-21T12:28:00Z

When I worked in Palm Springs I held a tape recorder for a gentleman during the therapy session who was recounting his time in the war and in great detail his time in Burma. It was fascinating to hear this man's history. He was doing it so his family will have a better understanding of him and a record of what he accomplished. Not too long ago I read about The Legacies Project--which is doing something similar, but on a larger scale. Jay Nelson and Jimmy Rhoades (www.nicework.tv/about.html) formally...(read more)

Participation in an NIH Study

2009-10-14T12:48:00Z

I was recently at the National Institute of Health. My family and I are involved in a study there. Since I had not flown in an airplane since pre-9/11 it was quite an experience for me. The police and armed guards were initially intimidating and security was everywhere. We did get a chance to travel off campus through the metro system (subway) and after a couple of confusing turns we ended up at the Smithsonian exit and did a lot of sightseeing in the nation's capitol. There were a lot of changes...(read more)

Reining Me In - Part 2

2009-10-07T13:37:00Z

When I was doing wound care I put together most of the protocols that we would use in the department as well as stocked the equipment that was necessary to treat almost any kind of wound. I met with the appropriate nursing staff so we would all be on the same page in the treatment of wounds. I took several courses in wound care education and then it happened. I was excited one day that a patient had a wound we could treat, and I suggested to the MD that he should let us. When the PT found out that...(read more)

Reining Me In

2009-09-30T12:10:00Z

The PTA reports to the PT who is responsible for the patient. I get it. I discussed my role with a PT friend of mine recently and asked her about how much leeway she gives the assistants who work with her. She told me even though she is friendly with them, she also likes to watch what they are doing to ensure patient safety and compliance to the plan of care. She also said she would make corrections immediately if they were doing something unsafe. So I asked her if she ever allows a PTA to make a...(read more)

Get it in Writing

2009-09-22T20:51:00Z

As a PTA I have to rely on the PT for accurate and up to date information in order for me to perform my duties. I have been to places where all the notes were up to date with the latest tests and accurate documentation and if one piece of information was missing the provider responsible for that patient got a talking to. I have been to other places where I had a hard time finding the evaluations in the charts and progress notes were scarce due to the high turn over rate in patients and staff. I have...(read more)

Remembered As

2009-09-16T15:30:00Z

What is it that we want to be known for? Torturers? Educators? Innovators? Advocators? All of the above? Or none at all? If we see a patient once, and once only, what is it that we want them to take away from the visit? Some of it will depend on diagnosis, but as a whole, we want the patient to recall what we did... Do we want to be remembered as the therapist that will provide a home exercise program, or maybe one who provides a great massage with heat and TENS, or even a therapist that will impress...(read more)

Affe mit Schadel

2009-09-09T15:42:00Z

Sometimes I feel like Rheinhold's monkey when it comes to figuring out problems or what to do next with patients. I will have all the tools necessary (books, measuring devices, adaptive equipment, etc.), but will be unable to figure out what I'm supposed to do with all the information I have on hand. It's not about information overload, it's more about unraveling and categorizing the information into something tangible I can work with and then actually doing it. There are times I am unsure as to...(read more)

Gordian Knots and Such

2009-09-02T14:16:00Z

Trying to get things done and developed programs in our department can be like a Chow-Lui Tree explaining the Bayesian Networks. (The geeks like me will understand this) I have attempted many times to do balance and stability programs and be consistent with the Berg or Tinetti but there is absolutely no carry over by the P.T. and since there is hardly ever a baseline to go from at eval and no goals to work towards that reflect a progression towards improvement I might give up trying to do this. I...(read more)

Not Assessed

2009-08-26T21:32:00Z

My scenario: A patient was evaled and goals were established for transfers and strengthening exercises. So I see the patient this last week and have her stand up with a FWW. She took a step. This was followed by several more steps on her own initiation and she eventually walked across the room. I have seen patients do a one time walk and not do it again for the whole time they are on therapy, but his patient walked everyday as soon as she stood up. Unfortunately the PT was on vacation last week and...(read more)

A Political

2009-08-19T20:46:00Z

I try to stay out of politics, but with all the talk of health care reform I need to speak. As a father of two children who have disabilities I have incurred a large debt even though I have health insurance. The system does not work for families like ours. I pay for health insurance through my employer, I pay a deductable when I see the health provider, I pay the pharmacy for medications the insurance doesn't want to pay for, we incur costs for travel to specialists that are recommended by our primary...(read more)

Sisyphean Tasks

2009-08-12T15:27:00Z

Sometimes I feel like my work is to no avail. The endless stream of "revolving door" patients and constant repetition of instructions can drive me insane. I get frustrated when I give a patient HEPs and theraband with detailed instructions on its use only to be told they did not do them the whole weekend and stayed in bed to "rest." Then the next week the patients will say they want to leave and wonder what I am not doing for them so they can achieve this goal. I turn this around and ask the patients...(read more)