Amazing what can happen in one week. In a major healthcare system of a large metropolitan area surrounded by water, we've successfully accomplished separating pediatric from adult rehabilitation in preparation for our growth as the Rehabilitation Institute of South Florida. Every day of this mission has started at 5 a.m. with communication with ...

Since I've spent a lot of time in the past 18 months making changes in my own career and developing the content of the training and orientation program for new employees at my clinic, the concept of mentors has always been on my mind. Even when I graduated PT school (which seems like an era ago), the common words of wisdom from my professors were, ...

A short break between semesters has proven to come at the best time for me. Today brings with it a major change in my facility, where one department is becoming two. Employees have been preparing for months for this change, with hopes that everything goes smoothly. In a large department where things don't always go smoothly on a regular day, we ...

Are you looking for an opportune time to volunteer overseas? Judging from the number of reports I receive from ADVANCE readers, and from organizations who are continually looking for therapists to join their travel groups, the demand-and desire-for lending a PT hand in parts unknown is growing. Some recent reports: Michael Tabasko, PT, MSPT, ...

Over the weekend I was reading the article for our staff journal club this week, a recent research paper investigating the effects of thoracic thrust manipulation (with non-thrust cervical mobilization) for the treatment of neck pain. As you may recall, participating in our regular journal club was one of the professional goals I wrote about ...

The American Physical Therapy Association, Alexandria, VA, put out a press release yesterday detailing the role that therapy professionals and students played in helping victims of the tragic bombing at the Boston Marathon. The release stated: ''A team of 70 members of APTA's Massachusetts Chapter, stationed at the Boston Marathon finish line on ...

As we move toward the formation of a major rehabilitation provider in the region, meetings, conference calls and webinars fill my schedule. My new role is quickly becoming a challenge, in that therapists are being designated as working for the adult hospital, while others for the children's hospital. Still yet, there are those who work for both ...

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 be there to provide care for the blind and disabled; a reduction in reimbursements will always ...

Last year I spent a lot of time preparing material to present at the Wisconsin PT spring conference and was disappointed when I learned the class was canceled the week prior due to low enrollment numbers. I worked with three other therapists for months going over the course objectives, course content and supporting research. Well, a few months ...

A piece of research came out in the British Medical Journal at the end of last month regarding tele-physio. I've been a vocal critic of this practice ''development'' in this blog and to anyone who will listen. This is an important piece of research. If American PTs are inclined to brush it off as some silly NHS protocol, they'd be wise to ...