Patient Recognition of Value: How do we get patients to recognize the value in PT?

February 14, 2011

I just got back from APTA's Combined Sections Meeting - It was a wonderful

meeting in New Orleans.

One of the key topics I heard in the many people I spoke to privately and in

a couple of meetings was the need for patients [specifically patients] to

understand that the therapy we are delivering is valuable and worthwhile.

The genesis of this thread of discussions is - I think - the increased

financial responsibility that patients are now having with much larger

deductibles and co-pays - including out of pocket cash payment for therapy.

My question to this group is:

What are you doing to help patients understand the value of your therapy?

What are you doing in each visit?

What systems have you put in place to help highlight the value that is

derived from therapy?

I can't wait to see your answers.

Thanks

Kovacek, PT, DPT, MSA

PKovacek@...

Cell (313) 492-4293

Personal Fax

www.PTManager.com

February 15, 2011

,

Great to see you again at CSM. I am going to take up the conversation and

challenge that you pose in this thread - to explain how we are communicating the

value of therapy to patients. Here goes.

1) Stay on time, value their time. They will be more likely to come on time to

an appointment if they know that you will be ready for them.

2) Take measurements and hold yourselves (you and the patient) accountable to

improving from an identified baseline

3) Communicate the plan of care. The HOW of what I learned about you in the

examination and HOW we (again patient and therapist together) are going to get

you better.

4) Intensity. Communicate the importance of working hard in therapy as you are

serious about their improvements and amount of time it takes to get there.

5) Start each session asking for feedback - symptom trend, home ex.

questions/compliance and improvements. While this is often stated and common

sense it is what happens NEXT that matters - - - Listen to what they said and

incorporate this feedback immediately into that very session.

I wrote about this and more in a recent article:

http://physical-therapy.advanceweb.com/Archives/Article-Archives/Maximizing-Effi\

ciency.aspx

Okay, I put myself out there with some ideas...

Mike Studer

Northwest Rehabilitation Associates

Salem, Oregon

Mike Studer,PT,MHS,NCS

President, Northwest Rehabilitation Associates Inc.

Serving You With Specialist Care and a Personal Touch

Phone:

Fax:

mike@...

www.northwestrehab.com