Data Analysis With Smartphone Video
Reviewed by Katharine M. Schmitt
This month, we are asking you to think about data-driven decisions.
Up Doc Media
Content you need to know, delivered with clinical precision.
By Ann Wendel, PT, ATC, CMTPT
The past few years have seen exponential growth in opportunities for physical therapists to connect and learn from one another via social media. At any time of the day or night, you can log onto Twitter or Facebook and find a relevant conversation about anything from clinical practice to research. You can find information about any course you might want to take, book reviews, and on-the-go learning opportunities such as podcasts.
I often hear from other therapists that they are overwhelmed by all of the information floating around on the internet, and they say that they do not know where to start. I have heard folks say that Twitter is a flow of information like water coming out of a firehose, and many beginners feel like they just cannot keep up.
Timetrade
Online appointment scheduling automation for your practice.
By Nitin Chhoda, PT, DPT
The ability to schedule appointments quickly and effortlessly is a convenience for patients. When this can be done online, it can be done anytime and from anywhere. A web-based calendar can essentially interact with patients at their convenience and demonstrate a real-time appointment. This capability is an added benefit for your practice, since it puts the patient in control of the first step in the care process. It can make the practice more modern and streamlined.
When the appointment scheduling experience is personalized and online, it can reduce the workload on the front desk staff. There is no need to keep patients on hold and no need for patient callbacks to schedule or confirm appointments. The appointment scheduling experience can be customized based on the needs and the availability of the patient.
Dan’s Plan
A dashboard for a healthy lifestyle.
By Ann Wendel, PT, ATC, CMTPT
Private practice physical therapists are often a patient’s first contact with the health care system. When a patient initiates physical therapy through direct access, they may not have seen another health care provider in previous years. We need to take our role in direct access seriously, taking an extensive history, recording the patient’s vital signs, and discussing their general health, nutrition, and lifestyle as it relates to what we know about healing.
Keep Calm and Carry On
Heal the body through mindfulness and relaxation.
By Deb Gulbrandson, PT, DPT
As physical therapists, we see the benefits that mindfulness brings to the rehabilitation process. Increased mental or emotional stress leads to increased physical stress, which leads to muscle tension and pain. Neuroscientists are discovering how mindfulness affects the brain, medical researchers are analyzing its health benefits, and social scientists are showing how it can change our lives and our society. Time magazine ran a cover story last February on the “Mindful Revolution.”
When going through relaxation exercises with patients, many ask if I will make a tape recording so that they can listen to it. Although I have never found the time, I have directed them to the vast array of resources available for purchase, but they usually do not follow through.
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