tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84732272024-03-05T09:22:49.821-08:00The Physical Therapy Etcetera BlogA Blog covering varied aspects of Physical Therapy, Health Policy, Science, Politics and Any Other Topic of InterestUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger74125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8473227.post-73783111156196094642009-03-23T07:13:00.001-07:002009-03-23T07:13:08.116-07:00Moving Day!<p>It has been fun while it lasted but thanks to an invitation from my physical therapist colleague Dr. Eric Robertson, I will now be doing my Physical Therapy related blog authoring at <a href="http://www.npathinktank.com">www.npathinktank.com</a> (soon to be ptthinktank.com).  We will also be joined by fellow colleague and blogger Roderick Henderson, PT for what should be topically varied content relevant to our profession from various perspectives.</p> <p>I hope you will follow and join us at this new virtual water cooler as fellow community members and stakeholders in our future as physical therapists.  I’m looking very forward to what should be an informative, enlightening and occasionally even entertaining venture with my fellow bloggers and colleagues.</p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8473227.post-22692623417488486712009-02-08T17:42:00.001-08:002009-02-08T17:42:03.846-08:00The “Socialized” Practice – Part II<p>With the advent of the various Internet social networking mediums on the world wide web such as <a href="http://facebook.com" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, <a href="http://myspace.com" target="_blank">MySpace</a>, <a href="http://orkut.com" target="_blank">Orkut</a>, and a host of others combined with other communication tools such as blogs, <a href="http://twitter.com" target="_blank">Twitter</a>, <a href="http://friendfeed.com" target="_blank">Friendfeed</a> and others, the challenge for any professional or in this case physical therapists is to find a way to effectively use these tools to promote their practice and communicate with their patients and/or clients.</p> <p>Scott Shreeve, who founded Medsphere Systems, coined the term “<a href="http://blog.crossoverhealth.com/2008/04/23/millenial-patients-care-delivery-for-the-next-generation-of-patients/" target="_blank">Millenial Patients</a>” and described them as “defined by their behavior rather than their  age, sex, or demographic.  He goes on to describe how they utilize the Internet for almost every aspect of their daily lives to “meet their personal, social and professional needs.”</p> <p>This group of people, the so called millenial patients, are not interested in an authoritarian, top down relationship from a professional such as a physical therapist or physician.  They are far more interested in finding a trusted partner with whom they have an ongoing relationship “based on trust, mutual respect and open communication” according to Shreeve.</p> <p>My experience leads to me to strongly agree with this paradigm and therefore makes me wonder how I can best serve these patients.  I believe that the answer lies within the integration of the various communication tools available through the Internet including email, social network sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Skype, and website based discussion forums into our practices.  The challenge will be determining best practices in the integration and utilization of these amazing tools and I think perhaps the best tool currently at my disposal might just be TxXchange.  (A disclaimer: I do not have any financial involvement with TxXchange other than as a customer.)</p> <p>In the third party of this series I will look at how I am envisioning the use of the aforementioned tools and particularly TxXchange in tackling some of the challenges of modern practice.</p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8473227.post-83688439485383880102009-02-06T11:08:00.001-08:002009-02-06T11:08:28.335-08:00The Socialized Practice - Part I<p>With the advent and evolution of “the web” that part of the Internet that most people see as “The Internet”, the previously held notion that all information was proprietary and commoditized has been supplanted by the notion that information should be free and open and the normal socioeconomic barriers that determine who knew what have been shattered in the phenomenon frequently referred to the democratizing effects of information on the Internet.  </p> <p>Professionals who previously held tight control on information within their domain, whether it was lawyers, physicians, physical therapists or any other profession, need to recognize that their closely held treasure trove of information is no longer their proprietary commodity to be doled out at a price they solely determine.  </p> <p>Citizens can now look up medical conditions, treatments, drug trials, laws, regulations, court filings, contracts, rehabilitation regimens or practically any other information that is able to be printed or disseminated in some form of media as it all eventually ends up freely available on the web somewhere.</p> <p>If we stipulate that information is not the proprietary commodity it once was and is likely never to be again, what value do professionals bring to the table that consumers will be willing to pay for?  Simply it is Expertise.  <a href="http://www.psy.fsu.edu/faculty/ericsson/ericsson.exp.perf.html" target="_blank">Expertise</a> is not easily or quickly acquired.  It is an accumulation of skill, knowledge and experience.</p> <p>The question then becomes how does one market expertise versus knowledge.  In my next post we will examine some tools and potential tools to address this issue.</p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8473227.post-86913432510903087852009-02-06T06:39:00.001-08:002009-02-06T06:39:48.402-08:00New Blog Category: Cases!<p>After reading a Twitter post from a physician twitterer who commented that he has posted far more cases to his blog than he would have ever have considered submitting for publication in a more mainstream journal I had an idea.</p> <p>What the heck, why not do it myself when one of those very interesting cases comes along?  So the next time one of those cases comes along, I’ll share.  Who knows?  It might just help someone else in the process.</p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8473227.post-19690310243386527462009-01-23T13:41:00.001-08:002009-01-23T13:41:38.774-08:00Just When You Thought You Were Safe From Outsourcing Because You Are in Healthcare…<p>Apparently the safety of the notion that healthcare providers are practically immune from outsourcing overseas is being challenged if not crushed.  Note this article from medpagetoday.com have long clung to <a href="http://www.medpagetoday.com/PublicHealthPolicy/HealthPolicy/12564" target="_blank">International Medical Trade Turns Big Business</a>.</p> <p>According to the article in India alone revenue from so called “Medical Tourism” rose from $264 million in 2000 to $4.07 billion (yes that is BILLION with a B) in 2005.</p> <p>This will be a trend worth watching.</p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8473227.post-29647184572787750882009-01-22T11:04:00.001-08:002009-01-22T11:04:27.955-08:00Physiopedia – A Challenge<p>I have had many conversations recently with those noting a dearth of openly available information directly related to Physical Therapy particularly when looking for information in the Physical Therapist’s voice.  Like many issues in our profession, many complain but nobody does anything.  To my relief <a href="http://physio-pedia.com" target="_blank">Physiopedia</a> is finally looking to do something about it and looks to resolve that issue.</p> <p>While there is no shortage of information regarding conditions commonly treated such as <a href="http://www.google.com/search?q=ACL+injury&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a" target="_blank">ACL injury</a> or <a href="http://www.google.com/search?q=Lower+Back+Pain&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a" target="_blank">Lower Back Pain</a> there is a serious lack of information written in the Physical Therapists voice or that adequately demonstrates the wealth of information that comprises the unique knowledge base of Physical Therapy.  What information that is available is shielded by a legacy and in my opinion outmoded and outdated system of "by subscription only” scholarly journals.</p> <p>I would urge our colleagues, particularly those who possess a unique and credible expertise in particular Physical Therapy subject matter to start or at least contribute to entries in the Physiopedia Wiki such as this entry on <a href="http://www.physio-pedia.com/index.php5?title=The_Glenohumeral_Joint" target="_blank">The Glenohumeral Joint</a> started by Tyler Shultz, PT.</p> <p>By building this open and freely available compendium of information we will demonstrate the uniqueness, credibility and value to the world, and perhaps raising the visibility of our profession just a notch higher.</p> <p>My thanks to all involved with the Physiopedia project.  It is a project deserving of our time and contributions.</p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8473227.post-14334778086279906522009-01-06T08:24:00.001-08:002009-01-06T08:24:05.271-08:00WSJ Story Pulls Back the Veil of Woo Surrounding Complementary Alternative Medicine (CAM)<p>Steve Salerno does an excellent job in his Wall Street Journal (WSJ) article <a href="http://s.wsj.net/article/SB123024234651134037.html" target="_blank">The Touch That Doesn’t Heal</a>.  In this article he points out some of the myths surrounding treatments that are not grounded in science and exposes them to the skeptical treatment they so deserve.</p> <p>He also exposes how these pseudoscientific treatments are then passed on to insurers using rather dubious and self serving interpretations of the Current Procedural Terminology codes used to bill third parties for medical services.</p> <p>This is an article well worth reading and should serve as a wake up call to the third party payer community who should be far more concerned with reducing true fraud and abuse rather than arbitrarily reducing reimbursement to all providers across the spectrum.</p> <p>Well done Mr. Salerno and let’s hope that policy makers now endeavoring to clean up the mess that our healthcare system has become take notice.</p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8473227.post-35272369395981791882009-01-04T17:31:00.001-08:002009-01-04T17:31:50.687-08:00New Kid/Journal on the Block<p>Friday January 2nd, 2008 I received what has turned out to be a pleasant surprise in the mail in the form of a free copy of a newly published journal <a href="http://www.sagepub.com/journalsProdDesc.nav?prodId=Journal201905" target="_blank">Sports Health</a>.  They must have known my birthday was coming up the following day.</p> <p>This particular journal is published with an emphasis on “A Multidisciplinary Approach” and is a collaborative publication of the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine, North American Society for Sports Medicine, National Athletic Trainer’s Association and the Sports Physical Therapy Section of the American Physical Therapy Association.</p> <p>The Table of Contents is divided up based up the discipline.  The Sports Physical Therapy articles were solidly written and similar in quality and content as what is typically found in the Journal of Orthopedic and Sports Physical Therapy.  The focus on this particular discipline content was on ACL treatment including the article I found most interesting by Hurd, Axe, Snyder-Mackler describing Management of the Athlete with Acute Anterior Cruciate Ligament Deficiency (ACL-D).  This article goes into excellent detail in the use of a treatment algorithm developed at the University of Delaware.  </p> <p>I find this publication interesting in the multidisciplinary approach and frankly I think that this will further enhance the collaborative and collegial relationship that should exist between physicians and physical therapists.  Perhaps it will help to shine a light on the significant contribution of physical therapists to the body of knowledge in the management of orthopedic conditions for physicians.</p> <p>So thank you the thoughtful person who sent me this early birthday gift and I think it will even be worth the dues to join the Sports Physical Therapy Section of APTA.</p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8473227.post-35043807427481892552008-12-30T17:42:00.001-08:002008-12-30T17:51:45.305-08:00Health Care Policy and the Next US AdministrationVery interesting lecture from the <a href="http://mitworld.mit.edu/">MIT World Distributed Intelligence</a> program from Jonathan Gruber. His perspectives are interesting and based on much of the experience with the Massachusetts mandated health insurance program.<br /><br /><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=9,0,0,0" id="Main" align="middle" width="481" height="361"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><param name="movie" value="http://mitworld.mit.edu/flash/player/Main.swf?host=cp58255.edgefcs.net&flv=mitw-01062-cis-starr-health-care-gruber-22oct2008&preview=http://mitworld.mit.edu//uploads/mitwstill01062cisstarrhealthcaregruber22oct2008.jpg"><param name="quality" value="high"><param name="bgcolor" value="#000000"><embed src="http://mitworld.mit.edu/flash/player/Main.swf?host=cp58255.edgefcs.net&flv=mitw-01062-cis-starr-health-care-gruber-22oct2008&preview=http://mitworld.mit.edu//uploads/mitwstill01062cisstarrhealthcaregruber22oct2008.jpg" quality="high" bgcolor="#000000" name="Main" allowscriptaccess="always" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" align="middle" width="481" height="361"></embed></object>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8473227.post-53358717043189116302008-12-19T13:42:00.001-08:002008-12-19T13:42:45.945-08:00Treatment Exchange Part I, The “Unboxing” and First Impressions<p> </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidlwiVcZ_nkbp5rutxSdBhfXVmL3XdD8hkmlTJ5MBy8AjylQKKRddMMkVdslkMlu_6n5Nfg9X-0t5D9n3z4eOcGYJQGoZZhA6b2wNQghY_-lc_ZRzTKDRv9goXryvi9pytLG8/s1600-h/txxchange_home_page%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="txxchange_home_page" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" height="170" alt="txxchange_home_page" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjADSnA1-f59YmkMVvzsA3MkZq9hAcM5_ZY_CY5mrZjg8E0fdVznWor2ZhgToynFsZw7Oxf4-QQXcAwwEzFLMFtTiYL8bnehB8x1CbJlhT5lYWpxh_hwciS036eTUBAg3eO3qY/?imgmax=800" width="244" border="0" /></a> </p> <p>Being the quintessential “early adopter” that I am I couldn’t resist the temptation to give Treatment Exchange a whirl particularly after a fairly impressive initial online demo.  </p> <p><a href="http://txxchange.com" target="_blank">Treatment Exchange</a> is a new online Application Service Provider (ASP) which provides an interactive home program management solution for Physical Therapists and Occupational Therapists.  We are all aware of the various home program systems available that consist of essentially basic line drawings or stick figures or the simply hand drawn pictures that therapists provide to patients.  We are also all aware that compliance with this system is extremely poor.</p> <p>Treatment Exchange seeks to solve many of the inherent problems of Home Program Management.  First, instead of simple static line drawings, it uses color pictures, usually available as animated slide presentations or video, with accompanying instructions.  Second, all materials are fully customizable by the clinician.  Third and probably most important this system is fully an interactive experience between therapist and patient.  Integrated into Treatment Exchange is a two way messaging system that helps to insure compliance.  It also provides for ongoing contact which one can only imagine will not only improve compliance but also improve patient retention both over the short term and the long term.</p> <p> </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw3yplyQ_TLrrtBXzNUny5YZwgOxTWi3oW9uNJa5sSR7PCLb2zP2RaR9bxIAgR-1IRaI4s4l18CahdOSyNvrtfl9IwHyYJ9n8ApqQ0SEDEy_JdlOtRtnAfYyKZMOPSvK_BPTc/s1600-h/clip_image002%5B6%5D%5B4%5D.jpg"><img title="clip_image002[6]" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" height="315" alt="clip_image002[6]" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIE56YU0M9Hvd5J1_x6i2MsR6LqWgi2lCn11_-7yke7dZ-0uYo7gM6nB4J2ahDsrTeqPI1SMoHiKDLeEtLz_uD9FWNCZ7PAFm41fyhokMjdsp7WPBe5_okFLwSY6ixy0V1kc8/?imgmax=800" width="388" border="0" /></a></p> <p>Screenshot of the Therapist Home Page showing Message Log for all messages between Therapist and Patient.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGJmfsc_YRiMwVGbCbZYWJkXuolhnxuL1DFWyHhyphenhyphen9VQcSCfAKEkU16VUSJbGChz2DjCrJSIUrEWxBwXUphQ_sggS-6vIBnvuC20nTlNHjc0Xt6sGIy2_WlgfQpdARcwRFO4AM/s1600-h/clip_image002%5B5%5D.jpg"><img title="clip_image002" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" height="214" alt="clip_image002" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNJ2PSlo_nVZ16XFUqVYBx1fnGd-y6SLkRb9BhJ_iTbjKJG1hNIPSXNebzFgWjSgOMk7YpLe7iySmAm9h4wd13gO0jbjIzdpYgNIken6D41T1cz5nLo3Qxtf0OgYmUHIiM3H8/?imgmax=800" width="320" border="0" /></a></p> <p>Screenshot of Patient Database Listing</p> <p>While we have only just “gone live” with this system, it has already been well received by my patients, the operation is fairly intuitive after a 90 minute initial online tutorial and the screens are easy to navigate.</p> <p>I will continue with a further review of this product, but suffice it to say I am very impressed with the product and customer service.  Part II of this series will focus a bit more on the specifics of the product.</p> <p>With dwindling reimbursement and looking for ways to make health care dollars go further this could be “The Next Big Thing”.</p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8473227.post-56217466411735228422008-12-18T07:27:00.001-08:002008-12-18T07:27:00.342-08:00Physiopedia is Looking for Help<p>An ambitious project has been launched to create a Wikipedia style compendium of Physical Therapy articles and information at <a href="http://www.physio-pedia.com/index.php5?title=Main_Page">Physiopedia</a>.  My colleague Rachel Lowe, PT is looking for ways to get our colleagues to contribute.  First step is to spread the word and take it viral and this is my contribution.</p> <p>If you would like to help create a credible source of Physical Therapy information that will increase the visibility of our profession and our unique knowledge base the Physiopedia is the place to start.  Join them and help to spread the word.</p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8473227.post-83612729448840378232008-12-11T17:06:00.001-08:002008-12-11T17:06:01.379-08:00Deja Vu All Over Again – Where Have all the …Gone?<p>As I was reading <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/12/health/11doctors.html?_r=1&partner=rss">this article from the NY Times today</a> and put it on Twitter earlier today I had a strange sense of Déjà Vu.  Probably because it reminded me of <a href="http://mfschwall.blogspot.com/2008/03/where-have-all-flowers-gone-new-verse.html">this earlier post on my blog</a>.</p> <p>I have an sense of impending crisis in healthcare that will be reminiscent of the recent bailout of the financial institutions and the possible bailout of the automotive industry.  The only question will be who will bailout medical providers?  Sadly this is a crisis that if not solved soon will require a much more lengthy period of recovery as the education and training of medical providers takes years so the recovery curve is likely to be extraordinarily lengthy. </p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8473227.post-3985147326874231312008-12-06T08:12:00.001-08:002008-12-06T08:12:14.269-08:00Saying “Thanks!” a Little Differently this Holiday Season<p>My Partners and I have decided that instead of doing the typical holiday routine of delivering fruit baskets and treats to express our gratitude to our many referral sources, this year we will be making a cash donation to the local food bank or Toys for Tots in their name.  The choice of charity will be theirs.  </p> <p>To our many referrers, thank you for the opportunity and privilege of serving our mutual patients in 2008.</p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8473227.post-75720911071545112502008-12-04T11:47:00.001-08:002008-12-04T11:47:58.764-08:00Insurers Propose Universal, Centralized Healthcare<p>According to <a href="http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-healthcare4-2008dec04,0,2692910.story">this story from the LA Times</a> America’s Health Insurance Plans, a trade group representing the insurance industry has made a significant proposal regarding Universal Insurance.  As this debate ensues everybody is going to have to make sure that what inevitably arises doesn’t provide Universal Insurance accompanied by Universal Non-Coverage.  </p> <p>Consumers should be assured that their benefits provide reasonable payment to providers so that providers will participate in the plans, that coverage determination will be based on necessary and appropriate provision of services without arbitrary and capricious caps or limitations based solely on the profit motivations of the private insurance carriers.</p> <p>While there is tremendous even dire need for reform in Healthcare it needs to be accomplished by thoughtful, deliberate and circumspect means.  A rush to a final proposal will only complicate the already complicated and failing system currently in place.</p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8473227.post-53049034347433424052008-11-18T08:03:00.001-08:002008-11-18T08:03:22.029-08:00Half of <Insert Your Medical Profession Here> Would Leave <Insert Your Medical Profession Here>???<p><a href="http://www.cnn.com/2008/HEALTH/11/17/primary.care.doctors.study/index.html?eref=rss_topstories">This article from CNN</a> reports on a recent survey revealing that half of all primary care physicians surveyed would leave their profession if they had an alternative.  While this statistic may be shocking to those outside of the medical community it probably comes as much less a surprise to those within the community.  As we continue to witness the death spiral of declining third party reimbursement from insurers while all costs of practice are rising it has become increasingly difficult for medical providers to maintain a sustainable practice.</p> <p>At what degree of Crisis will we recognize that the current model of third party payment is failing and that it has to be corrected soon or we will once again reap the punishment of failing to recognize impending failure of a national system?</p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8473227.post-8907794138864156662008-11-13T10:29:00.001-08:002008-11-13T10:29:52.114-08:00CMS Testing Multiple PHR’s<p>An interesting post on zdnet discusses some of the goings on with regard to CMS and online PHR systems.  You can read the post here at <a href="http://healthcare.zdnet.com/?p=1514">Medicare Tests Multiple PHRs including Google</a>.</p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8473227.post-9606428506719328752008-11-12T08:55:00.000-08:002008-11-12T09:11:13.647-08:00Understanding and OwnershipThose that know me well and follow my various blog postings know that I am an adamant advocate that ownership of Physical Therapy services should solely be held by Physical Therapist licensees. When one considers the myriad of problems and recent scandals impacting our profession including aberrant billing patterns and some that are outright fraudulent and the depth of ignorance regarding almost all practice related compliance it should be a shocking experience. <br />
<br />
I think the explanation of this situation and perhaps the single best defense of my position is summed up best when over one hundred years ago Upton Sinclair wrote "<i>It is difficult to get a man to understand something when his salary depends upon his not understanding it</i>." Those who operate services as non-licensees are outside the reach of licensing boards and are thusly unable to be held accountable, it creates an environment whereby those licensees who work for them are at greater risk of exploitation.<br />
<br />
Our development as a profession is fully contingent on attaining sole ownership. Abdicating ownership means abdicating control and without control we will never be fully recognized as a fully developed profession. Other professions such as physicians and lawyers have recognized this long ago and until we have embraced this concept we will continue to yearn for a recognition we don't yet deserve.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8473227.post-20397159673738417512008-08-13T05:50:00.000-07:002008-08-13T05:54:11.971-07:00Physical Therapy and Direct AccessDr. Eric Robertson of the NPA Think Tank Blog has been writing a series of articles on Direct Access and he invited me to provide a guest commentary on the legislative efforts currently underway in New Jersey to restore some sense and reason to third party reimbursement and coverage for Physical Therapy services including direct access by consumers. You can view the series including my contribution <a href="http://www.npathinktank.com/">here</a>.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8473227.post-35420016515530173382008-06-30T11:19:00.001-07:002008-06-30T11:20:03.583-07:00NASA Should be Just Giddy with Pride Over Recent SuccessesWith the unmitigated and unprecedented success of the <a href="http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/mer/" linkindex="13">Mars Rover (Spirit and Opportunity) Program</a>, the recent success of the <a href="http://phoenix.lpl.arizona.edu/news.php" linkindex="14">Mars Phoenix</a> probe and its discovery and confirmation of the presence of water on the Red Planet and now the successful completion of the <a href="http://www.universetoday.com/2008/06/27/cassini-primary-mission-complete-ready-to-tackle-new-assignments/" linkindex="15">Cassini Primary Mission</a>, NASA should be absolutely giddy with delight over their successes. My hat is off to you NASA!Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8473227.post-36426100565903024152008-06-26T10:36:00.001-07:002008-06-26T10:36:24.383-07:00Leveling the Playing Field<p>On June 23, 2008 the New Jersey General Assembly took the first step in restoring some sense and reason to the practice environment for Physical Therapists and healthcare consumers in the State of New Jersey by overwhelmingly passing <a href="http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2008/Bills/A2500/2123_R1.PDF" target="_blank">Assembly Bill 2123</a> (A-2123).  This landmark piece of legislation seeks to establish standards of coverage and reimbursement that are commensurate with the standards of practice by which Physical Therapists in New Jersey are bound to abide.</p> <p>A-2123 assures consumers that the coverage that they and their employers pay so handsome a price for will indeed provide services without arbitrary caps on payment for services rendered or visits for medically necessary services.  As we are all painfully aware, third party payment for Physical Therapy services has been in a downward death spiral.  A-2123 establishes a floor of reimbursement based on an already existing PIP fee schedule established by the State of New Jersey below which the insurers' liabilities may not fall.  It also provides for the elimination of capricious and arbitrary visit authorizations less than those proposed by the treating Physical Therapist's Plan of Care should authorization be sought.  This legislation also makes Direct Access an affordable option for consumers by eliminating all referral requirements for third party payment for Physical Therapy.  There are a host of other benefits of this legislation which are covered <a href="http://njsipt.com/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=64" target="_blank">here</a>.</p> <p>When all else has failed there are other avenues that are available to combat the deterioration of the practice environment and the legislative arena is the one most apropos when all other avenues have failed to produce satisfactory outcomes.  </p> <p>The Senate companion bill of A-2123 was introduced last week as well in the form of S-2072.  I for one am looking forward to the passage of this bill as well and the eventual enactment of this legislation by the stroke of the Governor's pen.</p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8473227.post-75996397387846764642008-06-20T17:05:00.001-07:002008-06-20T17:05:41.433-07:00Might we see a doctors’ strike?<p><a href="http://healthcare.zdnet.com/?p=1078" target="_blank">This article from ZDNet</a> is interestingly insightful in that it recognizes the stress currently afflicting nearly all the various medical professions.  If the current trends continue or even accelerate (which I believe entirely feasible) we will all be in for a rude awakening when there is nobody left to treat us or at the very least participate in our insurance plans.  Unless a reasonable methodology for compensation for medical professionals is developed Universal Health Care will be like throwing a party where nobody shows up. </p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8473227.post-34856941922175960292008-06-18T17:21:00.001-07:002008-06-18T17:21:18.382-07:00Excellent Blog Post on DDD and Back Pain<p>I won't reiterate the excellent post and commentary by Jason Harris, PT on this Blog Evidence Based Rehab.  Read it for yourself <a href="http://realpt.blogspot.com/2008/06/jospt-review-current-understanding-of.html" target="_blank">Here</a></p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8473227.post-3135133151249298232008-06-18T12:00:00.001-07:002008-06-18T12:00:17.014-07:00Physical Therapists have Bloodshot Eyes Too!<p>This article could very well have been written about Physical Therapists.  The current practice environment is like a cancer is and could be the demise of all of us.</p> <p><a title="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/17/health/views/17essa.html" href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/17/health/views/17essa.html">http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/17/health/views/17essa.html</a></p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8473227.post-30885093286391472742008-06-01T16:41:00.001-07:002008-06-01T16:41:22.513-07:00Putting Science in Our Lives<p>Brian Greene, eminent physicist and author of The Elegant Universe has written a wonderful Op-Ed piece in the New York Times titled "<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/01/opinion/01greene.html?pagewanted=1&_r=3" target="_blank">Put a Little Science in Your Life</a>."  It goes a  long way to demonstrating the critically important need for improved science education and showing the importance of its standing in our culture.</p> <p>Science is the method by which rational and reasoned people come to understand the universe in which we exist and our place in it.  </p> <p>Kudos to Dr. Greene for his elegant and eloquent commentary.</p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8473227.post-90527453852102331522008-05-29T17:54:00.001-07:002008-05-29T17:54:23.051-07:00$2 Million to Play with the Wii for Rehabilitation<p>Who says all that down time playing with video games doesn't pay off?</p> <p><a href="http://news.cnet.com/8301-10784_3-9955083-7.html" target="_blank">$2 million dollar grant for studying use of video games</a></p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com