RE: PTAs with indirect supervision and home health

[Guest guest]

We are in Illinois, and we utilize a 1:1 ratio of PT's to PTA's on HHC. It has

worked very well for us. We have a requirement that the PT has to see the

patient a minimum of once every 6th visit, and we try to have the PT see each

patient at least one time per week if possible. The PT and PTA see each other

every morning and afternoon to communicate if there are question. I think that

the system may work for you if you have the right PT/PTA combination and the

correct facility guidelines to ensure that the therapist sees each patient on a

regular basis. Good luck.

Lori Jarrett, PT

KSB Hospital

Dixon, Illinois

PTAs with indirect supervision and home health

Hello group,

In Pennsylvania on Oct 2, 2008 the PT practice act was revised to allow PTA's

the ability to apply for a license to provide treatment without direct

supervision. I am aware that this has been invoked in other states previously. I

currently am employed in the home health setting and am growing concerned that

this will negatively affect the profession as a whole and more specifically this

sector of physical therapy. Certified Occupational Therapy Assistants (COTA's)

have had the same ability in PA for some time and I have talked with other

OTR/L's that have had experience in home health and working with COTA's. From my

understanding, it makes the already difficult and time-consuming home health

sector a lot more difficult to handle. I am wondering if there are any PT's that

have experience in dealing with PTA's in the home health setting and what

additional challenges there may be. Just from talking with OTR/L's, it seems

that not only does one have to take care of one's own caseload, but also would

have to keep up with the PTA's caseload as well. In addition, it seems to me

that with any successful business model it would make more sense to have a PTA

treat as many patients as possible and have the PT perform only evals and

discharges (since the company can justify paying the PTA less per visit, their

profit margin would therefore be higher). I am wondering if I'm over-reacting

and reading too much into this, or my concerns are validated.

Any information or experiences shared would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you,

, DPT

[Guest guest]

Our profession is only as good as the care we provide. Inappopriate

delegation of care only serves to give away our profession. If we

are to be as strong as we can, we need to give the best care we can.

While there are times to delegate, anything that approaches PTs doing

a minority of the treatment will hurt patients and the profession of

Physical Therapy. I hope you fight to be able to provide the best

level of care you can provide. If that involves delegating some and

it does not hurt the patient, all is well. But I did not graduate PT

school being taught only how to do evals and discharges. I feel that

there is a drop-off of care if there is much delegation of treatment

and that is wrong.

Steve

PT

Baltimore

>

> Hello group,

>

> In Pennsylvania on Oct 2, 2008 the PT practice act was revised to

allow PTA's the ability to apply for a license to provide treatment

without direct supervision. I am aware that this has been invoked in

other states previously. I currently am employed in the home health

setting and am growing concerned that this will negatively affect the

profession as a whole and more specifically this sector of physical

therapy. Certified Occupational Therapy Assistants (COTA's) have had

the same ability in PA for some time and I have talked with other

OTR/L's that have had experience in home health and working with

COTA's. From my understanding, it makes the already difficult and

time-consuming home health sector a lot more difficult to handle. I

am wondering if there are any PT's that have experience in dealing

with PTA's in the home health setting and what additional challenges

there may be. Just from talking with OTR/L's, it seems that not only

does one have to take care of one's own caseload, but also would have

to keep up with the PTA's caseload as well. In addition, it seems to

me that with any successful business model it would make more sense

to have a PTA treat as many patients as possible and have the PT

perform only evals and discharges (since the company can justify

paying the PTA less per visit, their profit margin would therefore be

higher). I am wondering if I'm over-reacting and reading too much

into this, or my concerns are validated.

>

> Any information or experiences shared would be greatly appreciated.

>

> Thank you,

>

> , DPT

>

>