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, the PT or PTA was expected to give supporting documentation about this condition. I guess this ...

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 be used as PT extenders. These extenders are to provide care as directed by the physical ...

As PTs and PTAs, we went through enough testing in school and yet we had to pass one more test to get that magical piece of paper from the licensing board. The problem is that to get that license to practice, we did not have to show any skills to the state board demonstrating that we knew what we were doing. Maybe the licensing board trusts the ...

''Spinal manipulation is not designated as being under the exclusive domain of any one specific profession or group of practitioners.'' So says the APTA; however, the position they take with the PT assistants is that we should not be allowed to perform joint mobilization (any grades). So effectively, the APTA is saying the PTA is not a group of ...

Let me vent about this whole system of seeing patients for a designated time in relation to reimbursements in a SNF setting. It does not work. If a patient comes in and is set at 720 minutes but we only see him for 700 minutes in the assessment reference date period, we get reimbursed at the lower rate of 500 minutes. We do not get reimbursed ...

We all have that ''Priority List'' that includes the daily necessities, from ''feed and clothe the kids'' (#1) to alphabetize the DVD collection (#289). As I close into completing my first year as a PTA, I've found that the required 40 hours of continuing education requirement (completed over a two-year period) has slowly started to inch up the ...

Suddenly, without warning, therapy has been elevated in the SNF community. With facilities trying to recoup potential monetary loses from the brilliant move by CMS, we now rank above activities and even the hair salon. And, I might add, therapy seems to be on par with ''The Price is Right'' as far as importance in a daily routine. Before I go ...

If I assist nursing with a transfer and the patient has not been evaluated by the PT, am I practicing outside of the practice act? What if I only use the hand crank on the lift device and do not touch the patient? Or what if I prevent a fall from occurring and actually touch the patient, who has not been seen by a PT? Should I turn a blind eye to ...

I enjoy studying, reading and learning about events outside of the therapy world. Because of this, I am better able to communicate and understand a great deal more about my patients. Sadly, state boards do not recognize this study in their CEU requirements. That is unfortunate. There are patients who are art dealers, photographers, actors, etc. ...

Dubbed the 2010 PT Fundraising Drive, donations are being collected throughout Rhode Island to benefit the local chapter of Make-A-Wish Foundation. With a long history of individual charitable pursuits, Kevin Silvia, PTA, CSCS, of Performance Physical Therapy in Rhode Island, set out to do something bigger and better this year. With an outpouring ...