Privatera stresses how despite an increase in co-pays paid by patients, insurance companies are still paying physical therapists the same rate, and in some cases less. In essence, insurance companies are putting the financial burden of care on the patients. Physical therapists used to see patients 7-9 times and are now just seeing patients 2-4 times because of cost.

To address the financial constraints faced by many of his patients, Privatera finds himself spending more time educating patients and helping them learn techniques they can do at home to speed their recovery. They’ve also incorporated a fitness center into their practice that runs on a cash-pay basis where patients can get additional support.  To learn more about the efforts underway to combat ever-increasing co-payments listen to the full podcast now.

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 (ACOs).  ACOs credentials are currently underway with a few organizations.  Even if the political climate changes Fowler doesn’t believe it will impact the movement toward ACOs.

Other continuing health care trends include mergers among health care providers. She sees this as one of the first stepping stones for building ACOs as providers look to contain costs and expand their service offerings.  Fowler also advises physical therapists to pay attention to the physician fee schedule and to plan for bundled payments.

To learn more about other changes that could impact your clinic in 2012, listen to the full podcast now.

Bennett follows an evidence-based approach and works to meet the needs of each individual patient with a focus on providing outstanding customer experiences. Learn some of the secrets behind his clinic’s  success by listening to full podcast now. You can also learn more about Texas Physical Therapy Specialists by following Dr. Bennet on Twitter (@Bennettab)  or by visiting his website.

California physical therapists were victorious in defeating AB 783 which would have changed the current law and made profit for referral a reality. Had the bill passed physical therapists could work for a doctor-owned office. Although victorious, the victory was bittersweet. The law states it is illegal for a physical therapist to work for a medical corporation in California. Yet, last minute changes to the bill prevent the law from being enforced. Learn more about ongoing legislative efforts fighting for independent physical therapists by listening to the full podcast now.

Physical therapists put a great deal of time and energy into learning new treatment techniques. But today’s expert believes the best physical therapy begins with a great evaluation. Author of Movement: Functional Movement Systems, Gray Cook, MSPT, OCS, CSCS, RKC, physical therapist at Mountain  River Physical Therapy (MRPT) and founder of Functional Movement Systems shares the importance of becoming an expert at diagnosing the real issues behind a patient’s pain.

Cook’s methods and ideas are at the cutting edge of rehabilitation, fitness, and injury prevention. He encourages physical therapists to learn to evaluate better and determine the movement issue causing the problem. And believes a thorough screening prior to physical exertion can help determine a person’s risk of injury. To learn more about the techniques you can use to help achieve the best possible outcomes for your patients and new referral resources to tap into, listen to the full podcast now.

Novasic recommends physical therapists keep in mind that there’s a lot more to running your own practice than taking great care of your patients. In order to run your own practice you need to be willing to knock on doors to generate business.  You’ll also need to secure Medicare
credentials and gain a greater understanding of insurance contracts.

Novasic also notes as more patients seek physical therapy on their own, the need for a clinic to be in a convenient location is gaining in importance. Clear and visible signage is important too.  More and more patients are stopping in at physical therapy clinics just because they saw the sign. Find a few more things to think about before starting your own clinic by listening to the full podcast now.

Novasic  believes it’s a good time to own a private physical therapy practice. As long  as physical therapists work to educate patients on the benefits physical  therapy provides, he sees the demand for physical therapists growing.  With direct access, he has had more patients  seeking physical therapists out on their own without a doctor’s referral.

Before starting a private physical therapy  practice, Novasic stresses the importance of having the right mindset. Having an entrepreneurial spirit and a solid understanding of the reasons why you want  to own your own private practice is critical to your success. Once you  determine why you want to start a private practice, make sure you determine what  your overall vision is for the practice.

Other factors to consider before starting your  own physical therapy practice are your competition, location options, referral  market and market size. He also stresses the importance of marketing. You have  to be willing to knock on doors to generate business. To learn more factors to  consider before opening your own practice, listen to the full podcast.

The P.R.E.P. Program starts off with a pre-screening by a physical therapist and a phone call to the  surgeon to discuss the surgery. Patients then participate in supervised  exercise with each and every visit. At the end of the program a physical  therapist completes a final screening. For patients that require physical  therapy following a surgery, Babb has access to data that shows where the  patient was before surgery and can compare the patient’s current status to that data.

To learn more about implementing a pre-hab program at your clinic, listen to the full podcast now.

The first visit to Besselink’s clinic starts much like a traditional physical therapy appointment with a patient evaluation. But before he begins treating the issue that brought a patient to his clinic, he consults with them to determine the root cause of the issue. Is it improper training or poor technique?

His approach is evidence-based, exercise-oriented and empowering. And since his services are fee-based he aims to provide his patients with results in fewer visits.   He believes it’s critical that patients understand the relationship between their activity and their symptoms and learn  how to modify their behavior to recover from injuries and prevent the injuries in the first place.

His book, Run Smart, addresses running mechanics, proper training and running injuries.  Learn more about his book and his Smart Life Project, by listening to the full podcast now.

The Wurn Technique is a manual, non-surgical treatment for decreasing adhesions and their negative  effects on the body. The technique was initially created to help Belinda decrease  pain and improve function after surgery and radiation therapy. Over the years,  they’ve discovered this technique serves as a natural solution for a variety of  issues including infertility, endometriosis, bowel obstruction, and chronic  pain.

The Wurn Technique is evidence based and the Wurns are committed to building evidence to support the  technique.   To learn more about the Wurn Technique and how it can benefit your patients , listen to the full podcast  now.

Aerts started using MET 20 years ago and became familiar with it through training in Europe. The  principles of medical exercise therapy are used in most European countries and  are slowly gaining acceptance here. The MET system uses pulley systems and  weight equipment that work with smaller increments than traditional equipment.  The weights can be increased in increments as small as a  ¼ pound or in grams.  These super sensitive machines allows patients to increase weight in small increments to provide the right resistance to aid in the healing process

Kloosterman feels a true therapeutic exercise component is missing from the physical therapy programs  offered in the United States. He believes MET addresses both exercise and  function and works as the perfect adjunct to modalities and manual therapy.  He  would like to see MET as a part of the techniques embraced by physical therapists throughout the country.  To learn more about Medical Exercise Therapy, listen to the full podcast now.

Obesity has dramatically increased in the United States over the past 20 years. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately one third of the adults in the United States are obese. Today’s expert sees obesity as one of the next great public health challenges and believes physical therapists can help reverse this disturbing trend. Ira Gorman, PT, MSPH was awarded the APTA 2010 Federal Legislative Award and is an Assistant Professor at Regis University School of Physical Therapy. His research was featured in a paper originally published in 2008 and highlighted in his 2010 APTA presentations entitled “How Physical Therapists Address Obesity in Clinical Practice.” He joins us today to discuss obesity and the role of physical therapists.

When dealing with obese patients, Gorman encourages physical therapists to take into consideration the environment in which patients live and to understand how their environment can impact their weight. An individual working a sedentary job and with a hectic schedule outside of work may have little time or energy left at the end of a busy day to exercise. Gorman stresses that physical therapists can help patients recognize that simple behavior changes like taking the stairs instead of the elevator or parking further away from the grocery store can make a difference. Discover the reasons why Gorman is working to get physical therapists out of the clinic and into the community to address obesity by listening to the full podcast now.

The inspiration behind FORCE Therapeutics was Spira’s frustration with the way physical therapists deliver exercise instruction to patients. Instead of handing a paper with written instructions on ways to do a specific exercise, she turned to technology to provide patients with videos that provide clear visual and verbal instructions to patients. The collection of videos and patient management tools are combined together in a subscription based online application, FORCE TherEx. This intuitive online solution allows physical therapists to provide professional home exercise video programs to their patients from their own website. The videos are easily accessed online from any computer or mobile device.

After years of testing, FORCE TherEx is slated to launch on September 12, 2011. Physical therapists can give the program a try for free by signing up for their free 14-day trial. To learn more about the costs and benefits of FORCE TherEx, listen to the full podcast now.

One of the reasons Yury pursued physical therapy after working for years as neurologist is physical therapy in Russia is more financially rewarding than working as a doctor. He believes the physical point of view is more valuable to the people of Russia. Russians want to learn how to move right and stay active. They recognize that medication and receiving a perfect diagnosis is not everything in life.

Discover the techniques he uses to help his patients and the type of equipment he relies on by listening to the full podcast now.

Recent medical advancements have modified the progression of rheumatoid arthritis. These advancements may account for the decrease of physical therapists receiving referrals for RA patients. Yet, despite the decline, Dr. Iversen sees plenty of opportunity for physical therapists interested in working with RA patients.  She states a growing number of studies demonstrate the importance of RA patients staying physically active and believes physical therapists are uniquely qualified to teach RA patients how to maintain physical activity and prevent deleterious effects of the disease.  To learn more about making a difference in the lives of individuals with RA, listen to the full podcast now.

ApexNetwork Physical Therapy clinics set themselves apart from others by delivering exceptional care in a welcoming, soothing environment. You won’t find white tile floors and walls at any of their franchises. Instead patients are welcomed by warm earth tones, fireplaces and televisions at all facilities. As an ApexNetwork franchise owner, physical therapists have access to skills and services that are critical to success. Franchisees receive support including billing systems, information sharing, marketing, demographic analyses, tech support, insurance enrollment and credentialing.  

Learn more about the benefits and investment requirements for becoming a franchisee of ApexNetwork Physical Therapy by listening to the full podcast now.

His clinic is a one-man operation with a simple set-up including a small waiting room and a private room with treatment table. Currently, he offers manual therapy and uses no modalities or exercise equipment. Carter spends a full hour one-on-one with each patient and relies on hands-on techniques to help patients get better faster. To learn more running a cash-based physical therapy clinic and his future e-book, listen to the full podcast now.

The clinic uses performance-based physical therapy that combines strength and conditioning rehabilitation with manual therapy to help people achieve optimal athletic performance and enhanced function. Much of the equipment you’d expect to find in his physical therapy arsenal does not exist. Starrett doesn’t use ultrasound, electric stim, cold laser therapy or TENS. He instead focuses on proven manual therapy techniques to facilitate movement and improve mobilization.

The gym is cash-based and offers a number of programs to keep clients well and injury free. He’s also committed to providing videos showcasing basic preventative maintenance anyone can do to help prevent injury on his Mobilitywod blog. Starrett believes physical therapists are the most prepared to facilitate the wellness model. Learn more about this exciting approach to helping people reach their full potential by listening to the podcast now.

Possibly the largest revelation Ness has discovered in her research is childhood brain tumor cancer survivors in their 20s have physical fitness measures closer to individuals in their 60s and 70s. The cause of this is largely due to the sedentary lifestyle most children experience while undergoing cancer treatment. The inactivity puts childhood cancer survivors at a greater risk for heart disease, obesity and diabetes later in life.

To combat this, Ness believes physical therapists play a role in the treatment of children with cancer especially since 80% of the children diagnosed with cancer survive to become adults. Cancer treatment often impacts their physical function and physical therapists are just the experts to help individuals overcome mobility, function and other issues that arise during cancer treatment. Learn more about the role of physical therapy in pediatric oncology by listening to the full podcast now.