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 ...

Really, I don't know that much. Politics to me is complicated and deceiving, and by not knowing which reports to trust or even believing any candidate will follow through with his promises, I find myself avoiding the issues more often than not. But as I've grown older and recognized how these elections will ultimately impact my life, profession, ...

During this summer ''break'' from school, I have come to realize how appreciative our patients are. I have the best days only because I am lucky enough to hear the praise of our patients about the staff at our facility. Even on the most difficult of days, where a patient calls to ask (again) why haven't I tried ultrasound and pelvic traction to ...

Lately I've had the opportunity to work with a wonderful ST. We bounce ideas off each other. We've even managed to co-treat a few times. In the course of working together, we've observed that improvement in one discipline carries over to improvement in the other. Although we're somewhat of a unique pairing, our combined efforts have had great ...

Another eventful week in outpatient rehabilitation. Seems as though we are seeing many ''repeat offenders,'' as some call them; however, for different diagnoses than before. Working in the same facility for 20 years, we have patients who started with us when the hospital opened. They are proud of the fact that they knew us ''back in the day,'' ...

Years ago, I was new to an area and began to secure employment as a per-diem PTA. One of the first places I worked was a hospital. After educating them on the per-diem pay scale, I was hired to work almost every weekend. I explained to HR that I needed full-time work since I had a family but no insurance to cover them and that I would be looking ...

While I was on holiday last week, I read an editorial by Paul Krugman in the New York Times about Ron Paul, a surgeon by profession, and the Republican presidential debates. It so disturbed me that I had to look up the clip he was referring to on YouTube to see for myself if a candidate for the office of president actually thought allowing ...

''This may not mean much to you,'' Brian* began, ''but it meant the world to me.'' Then Brian told the story of how a friend's small gesture spoke of his care for Brian. Brian and Larry* carpooled to a meeting. Upon returning to the drop-off spot, Larry opened the door to let Brian out of the car. Watchful, Larry remained outside of his car ...

Way back in one of the first few quarters of the PTA program, I and many of my fellow classmates would project about what field of physical therapy we could most see ourselves working in. Most of us were on the fence. The general sentiment was work for the experience and then be choosy. Outpatient orthopedic was tempting - performing myofascial ...

Having very nearly completed my journey as a SPTA (I just took my licensing exam this week), I've thought hard about the advice I would give to a new PTA student or person thinking about the field of physical therapist assisting. Initially, I would suggest that if someone was looking for an ''easy'' two-year degree that can yield a living wage and ...