PTA Blog Talk : Rehabilitation

The Dungeon

Jason Marketti — Thu, 16 May 2013 17:15:00 GMT

Years ago, I began working at a large nursing facility that also had an assistive living complex attached to it. The place was immaculate in every detail (except one), had a large library and two fancy dining rooms. There were multiple levels with stairs...(read more)

Patient Understanding

Jason Marketti — Wed, 08 May 2013 13:37:00 GMT

I've spoken to patients from many countries and places around the globe. Sometimes it's like watching the movie Billy Elliot or trying to understand the lyrics of South African rap-rave crew Die Antwoord. I'm aghast, did they just curse? I wouldn't know...(read more)

Gait Distance

Jason Marketti — Wed, 01 May 2013 20:20:00 GMT

Where is the objective data regarding gait distances in hospitals, rehab centers and SNFs? What I mean is, when we write down a patient used a FWW and walked 100 feet, where is the data to prove the distance was exactly 100 feet? Did someone measure the...(read more)

Post-Operative Care

Jason Marketti — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 15:57:00 GMT

We often see patients three to five days post-operatively in a SNF. The ortho docs, who send the patients to the facility, expect certain outcomes while the insurance companies have outcomes and agendas of their own. This creates some difficulty in managing...(read more)

Nursing Can't Do That

Jason Marketti — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 21:30:00 GMT

The patient I was supposed to see was in a RUG level that paid very well. He had some complications that prevented him from participating to get the full minutes for several days. On the patient's assessment day, I spoke to the nurse in charge of his...(read more)

Reuse of Equipment

Jason Marketti — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 19:29:00 GMT

I worked in a clinic that reused TENS pads. Cross-contamination anyone? I understood the financial aspect of it; the pads were expensive. But to jeopardize patients and expose them unnecessarily to a potential infection didn't seem worth it. Didn't a...(read more)

Future Care

Jason Marketti — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 16:50:00 GMT

I've read about social security running out of money, reduced reimbursement rates, a decrease in the number of qualified providers, quicker discharges and supposedly better recovery after surgery. Where does this leave everyone? Social security has to...(read more)

Let the Patient Decide

Jason Marketti — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 14:38:00 GMT

We're all aware of the patient's bill of rights regarding treatment in a healthcare setting. They have the absolute right to refuse treatment and I think we should encourage them to invoke that right but with some consequences attached. First, we should...(read more)

My New Revenue Source

Jason Marketti — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 20:08:00 GMT

According to Medicare, I'm able to work under the direction of an MD. Imagine what that could do to the outpatient market in some areas. As a PTA, I could set up a clinic, hire an MD and begin to provide care based on the MD's plan of treatment. Of course...(read more)

Off the Record

Jason Marketti — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 18:21:00 GMT

We were treating a patient for several weeks and making some progress toward her discharge. There was a family conference and it was decided, with the patient's input, that she'd go back to her apartment. For the next couple of days, she seemed not to...(read more)

License or Certificate?

Jason Marketti — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 18:38:00 GMT

As I was perusing the various state board websites, I noticed several states offered licenses to PTs but required the PTA to have a certificate to practice and provide therapy care. I've been awarded certificates in achievement, performance and even have...(read more)

Rankle Fracture

Jason Marketti — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 20:40:00 GMT

I was reading the eval and came across a patient with a "Rankle fracture" to her lower extremity. I was thinking this is serious and went on a quest to look it up. I couldn't find what exactly a Rankle fracture was on the leg or the severity of it. When...(read more)

Conditions for Licensing

Jason Marketti — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 21:40:00 GMT

Once again, I was searching the state board websites and came across some applications that asked whether the prospective licensee had a disease or condition that interfered with the ability to perform the essential functions of the profession. If so,...(read more)

Discriminatory Care: Part Two

Jason Marketti — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 18:47:00 GMT

Because I'm male and have the same color hue as the patient, he probably thought I found his jokes about women and minorities funny. I didn't. I despised this patient and couldn't wait until he discharged. I spoke with supervisors about his remarks but...(read more)

Discriminatory Care: Part One

Jason Marketti — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 21:12:00 GMT

Being my cheerful self, I walked into the patient's room, introduced myself and immediately felt the frozen gazes of several family members. The one family member who could speak a little English told me it wasn't a good time to see his grandmother. I...(read more)