PT Blogs

My NDT Course Wasn’t What I Expected

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 05:02:00 -0800

Last weekend I finally got the chance to attend an NDT course. Even though some of the material was basic, it pulled things together for me. For the first time I feel like I might have a chance at passing the NCS exam in a year or two. Listening to the...(read more)

The Pretty, Young Therapist

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 05:10:00 -0800

Last week something was said during rounds that I'm still angry about. We were discussing a new admission. Since my case load was low, I asked if I needed to see the patient. In response, I was told the patient had been given to the young, pretty therapist...(read more)

Preferred Patient Types

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 06:19:00 -0800

This morning while doing the schedule board, we started talking about what type of patients each of us prefers to treat. It started when one of the PTAs asked to change one of her patients. She explained the patient in question was a back patient and...(read more)

I Don’t Do Enough Exercise With My Patients

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 05:21:00 -0700

While was doing research for a recent assignment I came across a statement that made me stop and think. In essence it said you can't get functional improvement without strengthening. My first reaction was "Doh! Everyone knows that." That's one of the...(read more)

October is PT Month

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 05:30:00 -0700

Tomorrow morning my department is going to have a breakfast for all the PTs to celebrate PT month. The food will be provided by the OTs, STs and supervisors. Sometime next week the rehab unit is supposed to do something similar. I'll be surprised if that...(read more)

My Patient Doesn’t Want to Work With Me

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 07:32:00 -0700

Last week I inherited an interesting patient from a therapist who went on vacation. The patient is an 87-year-old Chinese female admitted with a diagnosis of right MCA infarct. She has a history of undiagnosed dementia. She lives with her husband and...(read more)

The Annual APTA Questionnaire

Wed, 07 Oct 2009 06:26:00 -0700

Last weekend I finally got around to completing the annual questionnaire sent out to members by the APTA. It's probably about 50 questions, excluding demographics, about the practice of physical therapy. There were the expected "how would you rate the...(read more)

Therapists Can Have Input Into the Technology We Use

Wed, 30 Sep 2009 05:34:00 -0700

Last week I wrote about Dr. Craik's comments that many PTs aren't ready for Vision 2020. Those comments were only one portion of a longer talk on physical therapy. She also spoke about the future of physical therapy and her vision of what is possible...(read more)

MANY CLINICIANS AREN’T READY FOR VISION 2020

Tue, 22 Sep 2009 13:56:00 -0700

Last week I had the pleasure of hearing Rebecca Craik, PT, PhD speak. She gave her perspective on the past and future of physical therapy. As she is the editor of the Physical Therapy Journal she is in a position to talk realistically about what's ahead...(read more)

Physical Impairment Doesn’t Equal Impaired Cognition

Wed, 16 Sep 2009 08:48:00 -0700

Last Saturday, one of my patients complained to me about the nurses. He was frustrated that he was being spoken to like a child. His words to me were "I'm not stupid." The man isn't stupid, but on initial presentation he could give that appearance. He...(read more)

Knowing Drug Side Effects is Important

Wed, 09 Sep 2009 08:36:00 -0700

My pharmacology class has barely started and I've already realized something. PTs don't pay enough attention to the medications our patients are taking. Because I practice in a hospital, I've always had the luxury of having physicians, nurses and pharmacists...(read more)

Deciding When to Move On

Wed, 02 Sep 2009 09:59:00 -0700

How do you know when it's time to start looking for another job, or in my case, another assignment? For the last two weeks I've been asking myself that question. I've experienced some things over the last few weeks that have made me start to wonder if...(read more)

Workaholic or Hard Worker?

Wed, 26 Aug 2009 14:40:00 -0700

Anyone in the profession of physical therapy knows there are several areas of contention surrounding the move to the DPT. Some I think are valid points. Others, I don't see the problem. One irks me to no end. I don't understand why a new grad DPT is able...(read more)

A Matter of Perspective

Wed, 19 Aug 2009 13:31:00 -0700

I went to a CEU course last week about motor control. One of the key points of the presentation was the influence of perception on movement. For example, a patient will move in response to the perceived environment. Therefore, if the patient perceives...(read more)

How to Handle Incorrect Information

Wed, 12 Aug 2009 08:23:00 -0700

I found myself in an awkward situation a few days ago. I had just finished an evaluation in the stroke unit. The OT was preparing to work with the patient, so I gave her a summary of what I had already done so she could be more efficient. I mentioned...(read more)

Solitude

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 07:04:00 -0800

This week I learned that solitude and silence can be very relaxing. Two tests, three papers due within the next one to two weeks, taking my NATABOC, meetings, work, massage-a-thon, family issues, my purse being lost/stolen along with keys, vital medications,...(read more)

Fulfilling My Potential

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 05:14:00 -0800

So many times we hear people discussing whether someone is reaching their full potential. It not only applies in rehabilitation, but in life in general. But what does it truly mean? Is a person's full potential measured based on how others perceive them,...(read more)

Career Fair

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 07:30:00 -0800

Our career fair is coming up tomorrow and I cannot wait. The day is sure to be a very exciting and stressful one. So far I have completed my resume and had professors as well as the career services center at Marquette look over it. Well that was the first...(read more)

Laugh, Play, Smile

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 10:39:00 -0700

Senior Farewell and Massage-A-Thon are well on their way, and I can't wait! I am especially excited for Senior Farewell. It is the one opportunity that we get to make fun of all of our previous professors. This year however, our professors are apparently...(read more)

The Benefits of Journal Clubs

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 04:56:00 -0700

In one of our classes we frequently discuss the benefits of having journal clubs. Often times while in practice, people can fall behind in staying up to date with evidence-based practice (EBP). With such a progressive profession like physical therapy,...(read more)

Work, Work, Work!

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 05:24:00 -0700

This semester is becoming jam packed with A LOT of work. I don't think that I have had this many projects and papers due since taking English, History, Philosophy, and Theology all in the same semester. It's almost overwhelming at times. Nonetheless,...(read more)

The Resume

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 11:45:00 -0700

Now comes the time again where there is just A LOT going on. Besides the loads of projects, papers and tests, we have a lot of events coming up. We have Massage-A-Thon coming around the corner, which was extremely successful last semester. Then we have...(read more)

Why Such Little Recognition?

Thu, 01 Oct 2009 06:36:00 -0700

I've been thinking a lot lately about physical therapy in general. I feel as though there is not enough credit given to the profession. There is so much we do that other professionals only receive baseline or no knowledge about, yet it seems as though...(read more)

Interacting with PTAs

Wed, 23 Sep 2009 07:45:00 -0700

This week I was discussing the roles between PT's, PT students, and PTA's with my professor. I mentioned that, though I have had interactions with PTA's during my last two clinicals, it has been relatively limited in me directly supervising them. While...(read more)

Outpatient Physical Therapy and Psychiatric Help

Thu, 10 Sep 2009 06:28:00 -0700

OK, so I just want to start by saying I LOVE MARQUETTE PT AND ALL MY TEACHERS. Just as a clarification. While I was working in an outpatient practice I realized that it was not easy to handle situations where patients needed possible psychology/psychiatric...(read more)

Back To School

Thu, 03 Sep 2009 06:42:00 -0700

Wow--school has started this week! Someone in my class summed up the first few days excellently in her Facebook status: It's only been a few days, but it feels like half a semester. (Sorry if I butchered it!) I am convinced that our classes are even longer...(read more)

PT vs. ATC. Is There a Difference?

Thu, 27 Aug 2009 11:59:00 -0700

OK, so today I have a question sparked by a discussion that my roommate, who is currently a third year athletic training student, and I had the other night. Basically, she is battling over whether she wants to go to graduate school (DPT, masters in AT,...(read more)

Saying Goodbye

Thu, 20 Aug 2009 12:45:00 -0700

As the start of the school year approaches, I have become more excited and worried all at once. This will be my last semester of classes and while part of me is excited, a large part of me will miss being at Marquette. My mom thought it was actually quite...(read more)

The Pressures of Graduating

Thu, 13 Aug 2009 08:39:00 -0700

For some reason, I am having the hardest time choosing my last two clinicals. I know that one has to be an acute care rotation, and at some point one must focus on wound care, but if I choose my wound care and acute care rotation as the same clinical...(read more)

Ignoring Proper Hygiene

Mon, 10 Aug 2009 13:12:00 -0700

So I have come to realize that although everyone talks about it often, something that is really important but not practiced often is good hygiene. It's something that I have noticed in the past, but it was brought to my attention more recently after having...(read more)

Magazine Content – We Need your Input

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 09:33:00 -0800

As most of our readers know by now, our monthly magazine ADVANCE for Directors in Rehabilitation has ceased publication, and has been merged with the newly rebranded ADVANCE for Physical Therapy & Rehab Medicine. The new magazine, still distributed...(read more)

Don’t Miss Out!

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 05:08:00 -0800

The deadline to be featured in our 2010 print Buyers' Guide is fast approaching. Visit our home page, click on "Annual Buyers' Guide" and sign up for your FREE listing by this Friday, November 20th . The annual Buyers' Guide, which appears online and...(read more)

Will the Senate Follow Suit?

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 14:29:00 -0800

The health care reform legislation that was approved by the House of Representatives on Saturday has attached high hopes to a very large price tag-the bill would cost $1.1 trillion over 10 years and reduce the federal deficit by $104 billion. Senator...(read more)

New and Improved

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 08:48:00 -0800

Arguably, the best changes are ones that are subtle but make a big impact. To that end I would like to welcome our readers to ADVANCE for Physical Therapy and Rehab Medicine , a new and improved version of the national physical therapy newsmagazine that...(read more)

Senate Blocks Proposed Medicare Bill

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 10:14:00 -0700

On Oct. 21, the Senate voted against a motion that would have brought S. 1776, the Medicare Physicians Fairness Act of 2009, to the floor for debate. According to the Oct. 23 PT Bulletin from APTA , the motion failed by a vote of 47 to 53, which stopped...(read more)

Wii for the World Record

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 06:17:00 -0700

The top story on CNNhealth.com today reads, "Seniors Wii bowl for world record and for health." According to the Guinness World Records, a world record was recently set in Houston, TX--for the world's largest senior citizen Wii bowling tournament! The...(read more)

Deciding Where to Live and Work

Mon, 12 Oct 2009 06:37:00 -0700

How much does the outlook on physical therapy jobs affect where you live and work? This month, AfterCollege.com researched the top metro areas across the country to for people looking for jobs in physical therapy. ( See the full story here .) They looked...(read more)

APTA Submits Statement on Act to Improve PT Services for Veterans

Mon, 05 Oct 2009 09:44:00 -0700

On Oct. 1, the APTA submitted a Statement for the Record to the Committee on Veteran Affairs, noted Volume 10, Issue 39 of PT Bulletin Online . This committee held a hearing on HR 1036, the Veterans Physical Therapy Services Improvement Act, introduced...(read more)

Fashion and Compassion

Thu, 01 Oct 2009 05:35:00 -0700

Beth Israel Medical Center (BIMC) in New York City has been named the beneficiary of an initiative set in motion by world renowned designer, Donna Karan. When her husband, Stephan Weiss, lost his battle with cancer just over eight years ago, Karan was...(read more)

New Medical Staff Might Be Bad For Your Health

Mon, 28 Sep 2009 06:04:00 -0700

Starting a new job in emergency medicine? You may want to be extra careful on your first day. Research from Imperial College London states that the death rate is higher among patients admitted to English hospitals on the first Wednesday in August--the...(read more)

Breaking New Ground

Tue, 15 Sep 2009 11:14:00 -0700

On the day before the 8th anniversary of 9/11, I witnessed the groundbreaking for a new Elizabeth Seton Pediatric Center campus in what proved to be an inspirational and patriotic ceremony. Stephanie, a former resident at the Pediatric Center, led the...(read more)

APTA Comments on Fee Schedule and Outpatient Rules

Tue, 08 Sep 2009 07:14:00 -0700

According to the APTA's Sept. 4 PT Bulletin Online ( http://www.apta.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Current_Issue#article63798 ), the organization recently submitted comments to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on the proposed 2010 Medicare...(read more)

The Return of the H1N1 Flu

Wed, 02 Sep 2009 10:21:00 -0700

Worried about the H1N1 flu? You're not alone. According to a recent national poll, the number of worried Americans has more than doubled since May. "Back in May, concerns about the flu were ebbing because flu season in the U.S. was nearing its end," CNN...(read more)

SpongeBob Goes to Therapy

Fri, 28 Aug 2009 14:34:00 -0700

During a roundtable discussion at Weisman Children's Rehabilitation Hospital in Marlton, NJ, I learned that the therapists who work there are wise indeed. The pediatric rehab facility's physical, occupational and speech therapists feel passionate about...(read more)

Now for Something Completely Different

Mon, 24 Aug 2009 10:30:00 -0700

ADVANCE is already receiving some nice feedback about our Aug. 10, 2009, cover story on therapists who entered the profession later in life, many after following established careers in other fields for years. The story, "Late Bloomers," tracked several...(read more)

Down the Rabbit Hole and Through the Looking Glass

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 04:50:00 -0800

What a week it has been! I started working with my new employer, the National Health Service of Great Britain on Monday. On day one it was a pleasant enough general "Hello there" meet-and-greet sort of thing. The staff was fascinated to meet a physio...(read more)

Our Professional Identity

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 07:46:00 -0800

I've been out of work now for 2 months. I've accepted an offer of employment nearly 7 weeks ago, but the necessary bureaucratic steps needed to be taken so that I could work here in the UK. The good news is that all the papers are in order and I have...(read more)

Socialized Health Care; The British Complain

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 06:28:00 -0800

The London Times published an article today about the hopeful next Prime Minister, David Cameron, and his plan to overhaul the National Health Service. There has been outcry at mismanagement in the system and frustration by the public at the apparent...(read more)

Nyquil, Nyquil, My Kingdom for Nyquil!

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 05:39:00 -0700

One aspect of moving to the UK, which I didn't think about, was all the differences in the prescribed and over-the-counter drugs. I'm currently battling a nasty cold. I would normally take Tylenol and Claritin for daytime relief and Nyquil for getting...(read more)

British Health Care as a Consumer

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 04:51:00 -0700

I was curious as to how I would be insured once I actually moved to the UK. I still don't have a national insurance number so I'm not necessarily covered under the NHS yet. My policy from my previous employer doesn't cover overseas treatments. In hindsight...(read more)

Motability

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 05:53:00 -0700

When I was working in home care in New York and Florida, one of the most common requests I received was for a powered wheelchair or scooter. Medicare has progressively made acquiring a PMD (powered mobility device) more and more difficult. This is largely...(read more)

Bureaucracy

Wed, 07 Oct 2009 06:11:00 -0700

I hate that word and I hate having to deal with it. However I find myself needing to chant the serenity prayer over and over again this week because of it. On Friday I went to the National Health Service in Sunderland, my new employer's office, to submit...(read more)

My Left-Sided Neglect

Wed, 30 Sep 2009 06:07:00 -0700

I have a new appreciation for anyone suffering from neurological impairment. Without knowing it, for the past 30 years I have had left-sided neglect. My LUE and LLE sat idle by my side when I drove, not doing anything, not providing any feedback except...(read more)

An Interview like no other…

Wed, 23 Sep 2009 06:39:00 -0700

I arrived in England early on Monday the 14th, rather jet-lagged. I then drove 5 hours north to Newcastle and collapsed. The next day I had a scheduled interview with the Sunderland Care Trust for a position in their intermediate care program. Intermediate...(read more)

Why I’m Excited to be Working in the NHS of Britain

Wed, 16 Sep 2009 08:40:00 -0700

My time here in the US is winding down. I'm actually in Florida now visiting my mother before heading off to the UK on the 13 th of September. I've been getting lots and lots of concerned looks and questions about why on earth I would want to work in...(read more)

The Job Hunt Begins

Wed, 09 Sep 2009 08:55:00 -0700

As I've mentioned earlier, I have no contacts in the United Kingdom to assist me with my start as a physio there. If the NHS is the largest employer, then I figured that would be a good place to begin. They have a section for job postings on the NHS site...(read more)

The Best Place I've Worked

Wed, 02 Sep 2009 07:36:00 -0700

“This is the best place I’ve worked in my entire adult life.” I've been working in staff training for the past year and a half. This was my opening when I introduced myself and the company I work for, the same company that I must now leave in order to...(read more)

Visa; everywhere but where it’s supposed to be

Wed, 26 Aug 2009 14:43:00 -0700

We're getting close to departure now. I submitted my application for a spousal visa online on the day of my wedding. It was then a 3 week wait to have my bio-metric measurements taken which included electronic fingerprinting and high resolution photographing....(read more)

The Fourth Largest Employer in the World

Wed, 19 Aug 2009 13:33:00 -0700

It has been determined that I am fit to practice in the United Kingdom by the HPC. Now the question is: How does one go about finding work? Of course I went back to the internet. Google and Bing send me holiday cards thanking me for their support now....(read more)

Let The Research Begin...

Wed, 12 Aug 2009 08:36:00 -0700

It was not an easy choice to pick up and move to another country at my current age (let's just call me a "geezer" and leave it at that) nor when I'm in a position that I particularly like in a company that I really believe in. I first had to find out...(read more)

Background in Physical Therapy

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 04:22:00 -0800

A friend of mine is an MD, and he often does other work using his MD education as a basis for other jobs. He serves as an "expert opinion" in some court trials, does consultation work for medicine companies, and teaches lectures occasionally. Although...(read more)

Packers Games and Patients

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 05:17:00 -0800

Last Sunday was my first experience of working during a Packers game. The other times I have worked on Sundays, the Packers have played at 3:00 p.m. By 3:00, I'm nearly done with my schedule and only have one or two patients left to see. With a noon game,...(read more)

H1N1 Virus

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 07:19:00 -0800

Well, I hate to jump on the media wagon with more commentary about the H1N1 flu virus, but I'm wondering how other health care systems are tackling this nation-wide problem. I got the H1N1 flu shot today at work, but many of my coworkers are declining...(read more)

Clinical Judgment and Lab Values

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 04:52:00 -0700

Many times before a treatment session I will speak with the RN and discuss if the patient is appropriate for skilled therapy. Literally 99 percent of the time, the RN will say "Oh yes, please go get the patient out of bed." Occasionally a nurse will ask...(read more)

Learning Experience

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 05:26:00 -0700

A few nights ago I picked up an extra evaluation at the end of the day. It was a very active 88-year old woman admitted for a GI bleed. She volunteers weekly and is completely independent at home. No device used. Upon introducing myself and my purpose...(read more)

Mandatory Lunch Meetings

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 09:57:00 -0700

At our hospital, the baseline for productivity is 75 percent. In acute care this is attainable on most days, but on some days can be difficult. Other tests/procedures, medical hold due to unstable lab values, dialysis, and simple patient refusals often...(read more)

Is Detox the Same as Skilled Therapy?

Thu, 01 Oct 2009 06:26:00 -0700

The hospital I work at is in urban Milwaukee. It is located a little south-west of actual downtown Milwaukee, but it is by no means a "suburban"-type establishment. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel published an article in today's paper citing Milwaukee...(read more)

Code 4

Thu, 24 Sep 2009 11:47:00 -0700

Several weeks ago I was at our daily OFT (Outcome Facilitation Team) meeting when we heard over the speaker system, "Code 4. 5 th floor. Room 12." A Spanish-speaking patient had passed out and became unresponsive, and a code was called for the Stat team...(read more)

Perks of Being a New Hire

Thu, 17 Sep 2009 05:30:00 -0700

Last week I wrote a depressing blog about how awful the world is when you are a new hire, or a new grad. This week, I'd like to focus on all the reasons why it's so great to be a new hire. 1. I have lots of fresh ideas. Having recently graduated, I had...(read more)

Low Man on the Totem Pole

Thu, 10 Sep 2009 06:33:00 -0700

I'm a new hire, and a new grad on top of it. I try not to cross any lines at work. There are situations and policies I disagree with (strongly), but I bite my tongue and convince myself there will be a better time to voice my opinion. The people I work...(read more)

Frequent Flyer

Thu, 03 Sep 2009 04:33:00 -0700

A patient came into our Emergency Department last week with chest pain, shortness of breath and a generally malaise-type feeling. The patient couldn't point to any specific cause, and had a significant family history of heart disease. The patient was...(read more)

A Big Problem

Thu, 27 Aug 2009 11:51:00 -0700

I had a patient on my schedule today who weighed, no exaggeration, 450 pounds. This woman had been bed-ridden for some time and was admitted to acute care for treatment of cellulitis. During a co-treatment with OT, we were able to mobilize this patient...(read more)

PT = Exercise

Thu, 20 Aug 2009 12:58:00 -0700

As physical therapists, we teach our patients every day the importance of remaining active, of increasing our endurance, the never-ending benefits of exercise. But, do we practice what we preach? On average, I ascend between 17-25 flights of stairs every...(read more)

Isolation

Thu, 13 Aug 2009 08:48:00 -0700

In the acute-care hospital setting, words like MRSA, VRE and C-diff run wild. Many patients are in isolation, and many require specific sanitizations prior to and following patient interaction. Droplet isolation is, for the sake of argument, fairly easy...(read more)

Patient Inconsistency

Thu, 06 Aug 2009 04:41:00 -0700

On acute care, every day is different. There are days when my schedule works perfectly; other days, every patient is at a test or procedure, or refusing therapy. Likewise, there are days when my patient requires total assistance for mobility and the next...(read more)

My Baby Wants to be Adopted

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 04:47:00 -0800

Be careful what you wish for. It is so easy to see greener grass on the other side. Often we don't take time to think through the ramifications of our decisions. My seven-year old, Abigail, announced, "I wish our family only had five people." We currently...(read more)

Your Life is an Occasion – Rise to It!

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 07:39:00 -0800

Your Life is an Occasion – Rise to It! --Dustin Hoffman as Mr. Edward Magorium in Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium If you haven't seen "Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium," you are missing a gem. I love this movie. In so many ways, it embodies what this blog...(read more)

NUTS!

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 06:30:00 -0800

Are you trying to perform tasks but find you consistently come up short? Maybe you are working outside of your skill set. As I watch a squirrel, his tiny cheeks chock full of nuts, I marvel at how easily he can crack open the shells. This feat is made...(read more)

When to Let it Die

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 05:41:00 -0700

We lived in West Palm Beach, Florida. You'd think we would have been in heaven. The sun, the sand, the glitz. But our experience was far from heavenly. While I finished out the remaining six weeks of a contract assignment, my husband moved down to get...(read more)

Sun Spot Sightings

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 04:56:00 -0700

Yesterday was a bad day. That's how I went to bed remembering it, anyway. Mulling over its badness, I realized yesterday was really only bad in spots. Because those "spots" had come toward the end of the day, they eclipsed all the good that came before...(read more)

Saying your Peace or Holding Your Tongue?

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 05:44:00 -0700

I went for a routine radiological test - the dreaded annual mammogram. Because the procedure and the equipment are so specialized - and because "emergency" appointments are unusual - the wait is typically minimal, nothing like going to see your family...(read more)

It’s All I Know

Wed, 07 Oct 2009 06:17:00 -0700

Watching the movie Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium , I couldn't help but feel sorry for Mutant. He enters an environment where he is the outcast. In a world of imagination and creativity, he speaks a language of rules and regulations. When difficult times...(read more)

Gardasil Vaccine

Wed, 30 Sep 2009 05:07:00 -0700

Why is this "cervical cancer" vaccine not being advertised honestly? I watched a commercial with my teen daughter several weeks ago. When it was over I asked her, "Based on this commercial, should you receive the vaccine?" Her response was along the lines...(read more)

Balancing Hormones

Tue, 22 Sep 2009 13:53:00 -0700

It's a taboo topic. But the truth is if you are a woman, you deal with it. If you are a man who has ever lived with a woman, you know about it, you sense it coming, and - if you're smart - you get out of its way! I wish I could get out of its way, but...(read more)

They Don’t Make a Pill for That…I Asked!

Wed, 16 Sep 2009 08:14:00 -0700

Our five year old son received the diagnosis of mono. The doctor said other viruses could give false positives, but suggested we follow mono restrictions to be on the safe side. Our task was to keep him calm for a ten days: no riding anything that moved,...(read more)

Old Wives’ Tales

Wed, 09 Sep 2009 08:49:00 -0700

"Don't believe that. It's just an old wives' tale." Live long enough and you'll see those old wives weren't just spinning tales, some stories contain at least a scintilla of truth. Arthur Itis is an excellent meteorologist. I never used to believe this...(read more)

New Hires: Warm Bodies or Assets?

Wed, 02 Sep 2009 06:42:00 -0700

Winner of the most dreaded interview question: What are your strengths and weaknesses? Used properly, this question can screen potential applicants for a job opening. Every office has a current set of skills that needs to be complemented, not duplicated....(read more)

Employee Evaluations

Wed, 26 Aug 2009 14:35:00 -0700

Consider reinventing the employee evaluation. Typical assessments identify weaknesses and ask employees to improve on them. Is that really where you want your staff investing their time - trying to achieve mediocre results in areas of weakness? We all...(read more)

Bringing Balance to our Zzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Wed, 19 Aug 2009 13:23:00 -0700

I recently dreamt about someone close to me being in danger - danger too unspeakable to recount here. The danger had warning signs. Warning signs that - after having served in the medical field for over a decade - I should have picked up on. But my first...(read more)

Bringing Balance to our “YES!”

Wed, 12 Aug 2009 08:12:00 -0700

The best defense to avoiding overcommittment is to learn how to say, "Yes!" I know what you're thinking: But saying, "Yes!" is what gets us in to this mess! No. Saying, "Yes!" indiscriminately gets us into this mess. Here are some guidelines to bring...(read more)

Immigration and PT

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 04:45:00 -0800

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...(read more)

The Legacies Project- Part 2

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 07:36:00 -0800

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...(read more)

Controversial Pain Therapies

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 06:39:00 -0800

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...(read more)

Therapy Menu

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 05:48:00 -0700

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....(read more)

The Legacies Project

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 05:28:00 -0700

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...(read more)

Participation in an NIH Study

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 05:48:00 -0700

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...(read more)

Reining Me In - Part 2

Wed, 07 Oct 2009 06:37:00 -0700

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...(read more)

Reining Me In

Wed, 30 Sep 2009 05:10:00 -0700

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...(read more)

Get it in Writing

Tue, 22 Sep 2009 13:51:00 -0700

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...(read more)

Remembered As

Wed, 16 Sep 2009 08:30:00 -0700

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,...(read more)

Affe mit Schadel

Wed, 09 Sep 2009 08:42:00 -0700

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...(read more)

Gordian Knots and Such

Wed, 02 Sep 2009 07:16:00 -0700

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...(read more)

Not Assessed

Wed, 26 Aug 2009 14:32:00 -0700

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...(read more)

A Political

Wed, 19 Aug 2009 13:46:00 -0700

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...(read more)

Sisyphean Tasks

Wed, 12 Aug 2009 08:27:00 -0700

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...(read more)