December 2, 2010 – 3:00 pm
Most of the documentation to date on robotic-assisted physical therapy has been done on adults recovering from strokes. Little research has been done in pediatrics. A new pediatric robotic center based in Indianapolis, Indiana aims to change this. Pauline Flesch, PT, MPS, Director of Clarian Health Rehabilitation Systems and Ryan Cardinal, DPT share details about a new Robotic Rehabilitation Center at the Riley Hospital for Children in this week’s podcast.
The Robotic Rehabilitation Center is a collaborative effort between Riley Hospitals, Clarian Health Rehabilitation Services and the Indiana University Department of Physical Therapy. The center opened in September 2010 and utilizes two robots to assist children with cerebral palsy with both lower and upper mobility. Funding from organizations like Robots to the Rescue helped make the center possible. Listen now to find out more about their preliminary research findings and how this state-of-the-art care center is making a difference in the lives of children with special needs.
November 23, 2010 – 5:16 pm
Health care visionary and expert, Fran Fowler is back for a second podcast exploring the market trends impacting physical therapy in 2011. Fowler predicts 2011 to be a bit of a roller coaster ride for the physical therapy industry.
One unfortunate physical therapy market trend that is likely to continue is lower reimbursement rates. Some insurance groups are even paying less if a patient is seen by a physical therapy assistant instead of a physical therapist. Only time will tell if this trend will be adopted on a broader scale. Fowler also states the Stark Law which governs physician self-referral for Medicare and Medicaid patients as an area that may be further examined which could also impact reimbursement rates for physician-owned physical therapy clinics.
As the cost for care shifts more to consumers, Fowler predicts patients may not always be able to afford all of the visits prescribed. To overcome this challenge, she recommends physical therapists invest in educating patients. She adds physical therapists need to help consumers understand that saving a few dollars on physical therapy now may end up costing more in the future. Or even worse, limited function over time.
On the positive side, Fowler sees demand for physical therapy continuing to grow. Another market trend that continues to show promise is the clinics that focus on prevention, health and wellness in addition to traditional physical therapy services. Sports injury prevention programs that focus on preventing common injuries like ACL will continue to offer additional income opportunities for physical therapy clinics.
Listen now for additional physical therapy market trends you can take advantage of in 2011. If you’re interested in contacting Fran Fowler for additional information, you can reach her at ffowler@fowler-consulting.com.
November 18, 2010 – 8:23 am
The health care reform legislation passed earlier this year has many wondering how it will impact the future of physical therapy. To help take some of the ambiguity out of health care reform and what trends you can expect in 2011, Fran Fowler, health care expert and President of Fowler Healthcare Affiliates, Inc., shares her health care predictions with PT Talker. In one of a two-part series, Fowler provides the steps you can take now to position your clinic to succeed in 2011 and beyond.
Fowler continues to see cost control as the number one issue facing physical therapy and the health care industry. In an effort to contain costs, she believes health care reform will rely upon accountable care organizations that operate similar to the managed care programs of today. Physical therapy services will become a part of a bundled pack of payments with a set dollar allocation instead of a pre-determined number of visits. Over time the in-network physical therapy providers will benefit from the increased demand created by new consumers with health care access.
She believes the physical therapy clinics selected as in-network preferred providers will have mastered documentation, provide improved outcomes, run efficiently and utilize technology for patient records. Listen now to discover the steps you need to take today to prepare for health care reform and the future of physical therapy.
November 9, 2010 – 7:16 am
Ice packs have been utilized in cryotherapy for years. But is ice always the best approach? When immediate relief is required, new research shows Biofreeze topical analgesic can decrease blood flow and provide pain relief faster than ice. The research was conducted by a team of researchers at the University of Louisville, led by Robert Topp, PhD, RN. Dr. Topp shares details about the study in today’s podcast.
The study found blood flow reduced in the area where the Biofreeze was applied within 5 minutes. The decrease in blood flow continued for 10-15 minutes. When ice was applied to the same area, it took 20 minutes to reduce blood flow. Biofreeze provides many of the benefits of ice without the potential side-effects like skin irritation or tissue damage when used for long periods of time.
The study will be featured in the Journal of Sport Rehabilitation and was published in the September 2010 issue of the Clinical Journal of Sports Medicine. Listen now to learn more about this essential physical therapy topical analgesic.
