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Hi, Odilia -

Thank you for bringing up this cogent issue! Your address doesn't show

which state you are in, so I'd ask " Are you required to have a

'prescription' to perform a wheelchair evaluation in your state? " You have

a patient who requests your professional service, and you are competent to

perform the evaluation. If you are in a state which permits PT evaluation

without referral, just make arrangements for payment and do it.

Dick Hillyer, DPT

Dr. Hillyer

Hillyer Consulting

Cape Coral, FL 33914

DickHillyer.com

_____

From: PTManager [mailto:PTManager ] On Behalf

Of odiliahome

Sent: Friday, January 06, 2012 5:23 PM

To: PTManager

Subject: referral issue

Hi group,

I had an issue come up today that I need some advice on. I had a patient

call me stating they were working with a DME company on getting a

wheelchair. The DME company requested that a PT perform a wheelchair

evaluation. I do these on a regular basis, and the patient called me to

request that I get a prescription from the MD to perform this.

I send the request to the physician. They called me today and stated they

will not refer out their own hospital system. I called the patient and asked

him to call the doctor and discuss free choice of providers and that he

really wanted me to do the eval. He called the physician, but the physician

is adamant that she will not refer outside her own hospital system for PT,

and that she will be glad to give him a prescription for PT within the

system.

The patient is wanting to pursue reporting this illegal behavior. How does

he go about doing this. Anything I should be doing about this. I have always

known about physicians doing this, just never heard of anybody doing this

when the patient is requesting a specific PT and never heard a doctors

office just coming out and blatantly stating that they are doing this.

Thank you for your advice.

Odilia Egbers, PT

Rehab Enterprises

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Hi Dick,

I am in missouri and our practice act requires we get a prescription.

Odilia

> Hi Dick,

>

> I am in missouri and we do need a prescription.

>

> Odilia

>

>

>> **

>>

>>

>> Hi, Odilia -

>>

>> Thank you for bringing up this cogent issue! Your address doesn't show

>> which state you are in, so I'd ask " Are you required to have a

>> 'prescription' to perform a wheelchair evaluation in your state? " You have

>> a patient who requests your professional service, and you are competent to

>> perform the evaluation. If you are in a state which permits PT evaluation

>> without referral, just make arrangements for payment and do it.

>>

>> Dick Hillyer, DPT

>>

>> Dr. Hillyer

>> Hillyer Consulting

>> Cape Coral, FL 33914

>> DickHillyer.com

>>

>>

>> _____

>>

>> From: PTManager [mailto:PTManager ] On

>> Behalf

>> Of odiliahome

>> Sent: Friday, January 06, 2012 5:23 PM

>> To: PTManager

>> Subject: referral issue

>>

>> Hi group,

>>

>> I had an issue come up today that I need some advice on. I had a patient

>> call me stating they were working with a DME company on getting a

>> wheelchair. The DME company requested that a PT perform a wheelchair

>> evaluation. I do these on a regular basis, and the patient called me to

>> request that I get a prescription from the MD to perform this.

>>

>> I send the request to the physician. They called me today and stated they

>> will not refer out their own hospital system. I called the patient and

>> asked

>> him to call the doctor and discuss free choice of providers and that he

>> really wanted me to do the eval. He called the physician, but the

>> physician

>> is adamant that she will not refer outside her own hospital system for PT,

>> and that she will be glad to give him a prescription for PT within the

>> system.

>>

>> The patient is wanting to pursue reporting this illegal behavior. How does

>> he go about doing this. Anything I should be doing about this. I have

>> always

>> known about physicians doing this, just never heard of anybody doing this

>> when the patient is requesting a specific PT and never heard a doctors

>> office just coming out and blatantly stating that they are doing this.

>>

>> Thank you for your advice.

>>

>> Odilia Egbers, PT

>> Rehab Enterprises

>>

>>

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Hi,

I guess I would ask then why wouldn't you refer the patient to another

physician, one that would refer to you? Is there a reason why you couldn't

do this? This physician doesn't sound like one that would refer to your

clinic anyway so there shouldn't be a concern about losing a referral

source. Unless the patient's insurance is dictating the physician, the best

way to send a message is for the patient to fire the physician, establish

with a better physician, then tell all her friends and family to follow her

there. This is just business and there is nothing unethical to you

recommending this to the patient as long. First, though, we need to know is

there is a reason that the patient could not do this.

M.Howell, P.T., M.P.T.

IPTA Payment Specialist

Meridian, Idaho

thowell@...

This email and any files transmitted with it may contain PRIVILEGED or

CONFIDENTIAL information and may be read or used only by the intended

recipient. If you are not the intended recipient of the email or any of its

attachments, please be advised that you have received this email in error

and that any use, dissemination, distribution, forwarding, printing or

copying of this email or any attached files is strictly prohibited. If you

have received this email in error, please immediately purge it and all

attachments and notify the sender by reply email.

From: PTManager [mailto:PTManager ] On Behalf

Of Odilia Egbers

Sent: Friday, January 06, 2012 4:35 PM

To: PTManager

Subject: RE: referral issue

Hi Dick,

I am in missouri and our practice act requires we get a prescription.

Odilia

On Jan 6, 2012 5:32 PM, " Odilia Egbers " <odilia1973@...

<mailto:odilia1973%40gmail.com> > wrote:

> Hi Dick,

>

> I am in missouri and we do need a prescription.

>

> Odilia

> On Jan 6, 2012 5:31 PM, " Dick Hillyer " <RHillyer@...

<mailto:RHillyer%40comcast.net> > wrote:

>

>> **

>>

>>

>> Hi, Odilia -

>>

>> Thank you for bringing up this cogent issue! Your address doesn't show

>> which state you are in, so I'd ask " Are you required to have a

>> 'prescription' to perform a wheelchair evaluation in your state? " You

have

>> a patient who requests your professional service, and you are competent

to

>> perform the evaluation. If you are in a state which permits PT evaluation

>> without referral, just make arrangements for payment and do it.

>>

>> Dick Hillyer, DPT

>>

>> Dr. Hillyer

>> Hillyer Consulting

>> Cape Coral, FL 33914

>> DickHillyer.com

>>

>>

>> _____

>>

>> From: PTManager <mailto:PTManager%40yahoogroups.com>

[mailto:PTManager <mailto:PTManager%40yahoogroups.com> ] On

>> Behalf

>> Of odiliahome

>> Sent: Friday, January 06, 2012 5:23 PM

>> To: PTManager <mailto:PTManager%40yahoogroups.com>

>> Subject: referral issue

>>

>> Hi group,

>>

>> I had an issue come up today that I need some advice on. I had a patient

>> call me stating they were working with a DME company on getting a

>> wheelchair. The DME company requested that a PT perform a wheelchair

>> evaluation. I do these on a regular basis, and the patient called me to

>> request that I get a prescription from the MD to perform this.

>>

>> I send the request to the physician. They called me today and stated they

>> will not refer out their own hospital system. I called the patient and

>> asked

>> him to call the doctor and discuss free choice of providers and that he

>> really wanted me to do the eval. He called the physician, but the

>> physician

>> is adamant that she will not refer outside her own hospital system for

PT,

>> and that she will be glad to give him a prescription for PT within the

>> system.

>>

>> The patient is wanting to pursue reporting this illegal behavior. How

does

>> he go about doing this. Anything I should be doing about this. I have

>> always

>> known about physicians doing this, just never heard of anybody doing this

>> when the patient is requesting a specific PT and never heard a doctors

>> office just coming out and blatantly stating that they are doing this.

>>

>> Thank you for your advice.

>>

>> Odilia Egbers, PT

>> Rehab Enterprises

>>

>>

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Hi,

I guess I would ask then why wouldn't you refer the patient to another

physician, one that would refer to you? Is there a reason why you couldn't

do this? This physician doesn't sound like one that would refer to your

clinic anyway so there shouldn't be a concern about losing a referral

source. Unless the patient's insurance is dictating the physician, the best

way to send a message is for the patient to fire the physician, establish

with a better physician, then tell all her friends and family to follow her

there. This is just business and there is nothing unethical to you

recommending this to the patient as long. First, though, we need to know is

there is a reason that the patient could not do this.

M.Howell, P.T., M.P.T.

IPTA Payment Specialist

Meridian, Idaho

thowell@...

This email and any files transmitted with it may contain PRIVILEGED or

CONFIDENTIAL information and may be read or used only by the intended

recipient. If you are not the intended recipient of the email or any of its

attachments, please be advised that you have received this email in error

and that any use, dissemination, distribution, forwarding, printing or

copying of this email or any attached files is strictly prohibited. If you

have received this email in error, please immediately purge it and all

attachments and notify the sender by reply email.

From: PTManager [mailto:PTManager ] On Behalf

Of Odilia Egbers

Sent: Friday, January 06, 2012 4:35 PM

To: PTManager

Subject: RE: referral issue

Hi Dick,

I am in missouri and our practice act requires we get a prescription.

Odilia

On Jan 6, 2012 5:32 PM, " Odilia Egbers " <odilia1973@...

<mailto:odilia1973%40gmail.com> > wrote:

> Hi Dick,

>

> I am in missouri and we do need a prescription.

>

> Odilia

> On Jan 6, 2012 5:31 PM, " Dick Hillyer " <RHillyer@...

<mailto:RHillyer%40comcast.net> > wrote:

>

>> **

>>

>>

>> Hi, Odilia -

>>

>> Thank you for bringing up this cogent issue! Your address doesn't show

>> which state you are in, so I'd ask " Are you required to have a

>> 'prescription' to perform a wheelchair evaluation in your state? " You

have

>> a patient who requests your professional service, and you are competent

to

>> perform the evaluation. If you are in a state which permits PT evaluation

>> without referral, just make arrangements for payment and do it.

>>

>> Dick Hillyer, DPT

>>

>> Dr. Hillyer

>> Hillyer Consulting

>> Cape Coral, FL 33914

>> DickHillyer.com

>>

>>

>> _____

>>

>> From: PTManager <mailto:PTManager%40yahoogroups.com>

[mailto:PTManager <mailto:PTManager%40yahoogroups.com> ] On

>> Behalf

>> Of odiliahome

>> Sent: Friday, January 06, 2012 5:23 PM

>> To: PTManager <mailto:PTManager%40yahoogroups.com>

>> Subject: referral issue

>>

>> Hi group,

>>

>> I had an issue come up today that I need some advice on. I had a patient

>> call me stating they were working with a DME company on getting a

>> wheelchair. The DME company requested that a PT perform a wheelchair

>> evaluation. I do these on a regular basis, and the patient called me to

>> request that I get a prescription from the MD to perform this.

>>

>> I send the request to the physician. They called me today and stated they

>> will not refer out their own hospital system. I called the patient and

>> asked

>> him to call the doctor and discuss free choice of providers and that he

>> really wanted me to do the eval. He called the physician, but the

>> physician

>> is adamant that she will not refer outside her own hospital system for

PT,

>> and that she will be glad to give him a prescription for PT within the

>> system.

>>

>> The patient is wanting to pursue reporting this illegal behavior. How

does

>> he go about doing this. Anything I should be doing about this. I have

>> always

>> known about physicians doing this, just never heard of anybody doing this

>> when the patient is requesting a specific PT and never heard a doctors

>> office just coming out and blatantly stating that they are doing this.

>>

>> Thank you for your advice.

>>

>> Odilia Egbers, PT

>> Rehab Enterprises

>>

>>

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We've faced similar circumstances and have been seeing this more frequently in

the past year.

If the patient has a prescription, we accept it. It doesn't matter if another

provider is listed, it is still a prescription for PT.

On the rare occasion when the physicians office has refused to sign a plan of

care because the patient didn't go where the MD want, we advise them that this

is grounds for a state and federal ethics complaints and may also be against

medicare regulations. Each time the POC has been returned quickly.

We will also ask the patient if they are happy with the physician and if he/she

is really looking out for their best interest. We also advise them that we can

suggest a local MD with an excellent reputation and patient satisfaction. Quite

a few have been considering changing and have jumped at the opportunity. In this

case, everyone comes out better. The patient gets and MD that is looking out for

their best interest instead of the bottom line. The MD is happy to have another

patient and we don't need to deal with a difficult office. They may even learn a

lesson and provide better care in the future.

jeff overstreet

resorative therapies inc

boynton beach fl

Subject: referral issue

To: PTManager

Date: Friday, January 6, 2012, 5:22 PM

 

Hi group,

I had an issue come up today that I need some advice on. I had a patient call me

stating they were working with a DME company on getting a wheelchair. The DME

company requested that a PT perform a wheelchair evaluation. I do these on a

regular basis, and the patient called me to request that I get a prescription

from the MD to perform this.

I send the request to the physician. They called me today and stated they will

not refer out their own hospital system. I called the patient and asked him to

call the doctor and discuss free choice of providers and that he really wanted

me to do the eval. He called the physician, but the physician is adamant that

she will not refer outside her own hospital system for PT, and that she will be

glad to give him a prescription for PT within the system.

The patient is wanting to pursue reporting this illegal behavior. How does he go

about doing this. Anything I should be doing about this. I have always known

about physicians doing this, just never heard of anybody doing this when the

patient is requesting a specific PT and never heard a doctors office just coming

out and blatantly stating that they are doing this.

Thank you for your advice.

Odilia Egbers, PT

Rehab Enterprises

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This is a great discussion

Here are my 2 cents

Traditionally, it was always that we were trained and we pushed hard to have the

physician be the decision maker and try to get favored status with key

physicians who would then send patients to us. We were somehow - less.

Traditionally, it was considered heresy to put your self as a therapist between

the patient and the physician.

I suggest that now is that now only NOT heresy, it is needed.

There are many times when we need to put ourselves between a patient and a

physician. At times, we need to be a wedge to separate the patient from their

" less than desirable " physician. It is not only not heresy, it is expected and

desirable- for both the patient and our practice.

The first few times, it can be very uncomfortable. Our training is to be

passive, step in line and comply. That is no longer the case.

As Tom Howell points out - there is nothing to lose with the physician - you've

already lost them. So they get mad and don't like you - they don't like you

now. Big deal.

We, as PTs, should have the skills and abilities to make decisions, to advise

patients, and sometimes that includes helping them find a new medical resource

or physician.

For our practice, for the past several years, in over 70% of our patients, the

patient comes to us directly and just happens to bring his or her physician

along. We are not in a direct consumer access state - it does not matter. The

patient can still have a choice - we just have to help them know that.

We have had to learn methods to forge new relationships.

Key targets for relationship-building have expanded to include adult children of

aging parents, owners and operators of senior housing facilities, home health

agencies, community-based senior advocates including elder law professionals and

private duty personal care companies.

These are all in addition to, not instead of, the traditional physician

relationships that we have always tried to develop.

In addition to communicating how we can help physicians help their patients as

we always have, we concurrently communicate to the non-physician community that

they should consider us to be the Physical Therapists for their family - much

like families have dentists and plumbers and physicians.

This has allowed us to encourage referrals from our current patients of their

friends, neighbors and families when they have issues that could benefit from

our services or counsel.

Repeat business and patient referrals are now driving our business - sometimes

in spite of efforts by physicians and hospital system employees to direct

patients away from us.

It has not been quick, but it has been successful. Otherwise, we would still be

somehow - less.

Kovacek, PT, DPT, MSA

Harper Woods, MI

> >

> > Hi group,

> >

> > I had an issue come up today that I need some advice on. I had a patient

call me stating they were working with a DME company on getting a wheelchair.

The DME company requested that a PT perform a wheelchair evaluation. I do these

on a regular basis, and the patient called me to request that I get a

prescription from the MD to perform this.

> >

> > I send the request to the physician. They called me today and stated they

will not refer out their own hospital system. I called the patient and asked him

to call the doctor and discuss free choice of providers and that he really

wanted me to do the eval. He called the physician, but the physician is adamant

that she will not refer outside her own hospital system for PT, and that she

will be glad to give him a prescription for PT within the system.

> >

> > The patient is wanting to pursue reporting this illegal behavior. How does

he go about doing this. Anything I should be doing about this. I have always

known about physicians doing this, just never heard of anybody doing this when

the patient is requesting a specific PT and never heard a doctors office just

coming out and blatantly stating that they are doing this.

> >

> > Thank you for your advice.

> >

> > Odilia Egbers, PT

> > Rehab Enterprises

> >

>

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As long as the MD/DO has prescriptive privileges in the State you

practice.

Ron Barbato PT

PRIVILEGED AND CONFIDENTIAL: This transmission may contain information

that is privileged subject to attorney-client privilege or attorney work

product, confidential and/or exempt from disclosure under applicable

law. If you are not the intended recipient, then please do not read it

and be aware that any disclosure, copying, distribution, or use of the

information contained herein (including any reliance thereon) is

STRICTLY PROHIBITED. If you received this transmission in error, please

immediately advise me, by reply e-mail, and delete this message and any

attachments without retaining a copy in any form. Thank you.

referral issue

>>

>> Hi group,

>>

>> I had an issue come up today that I need some advice on. I had a

patient

>> call me stating they were working with a DME company on getting a

>> wheelchair. The DME company requested that a PT perform a wheelchair

>> evaluation. I do these on a regular basis, and the patient called me

to

>> request that I get a prescription from the MD to perform this.

>>

>> I send the request to the physician. They called me today and stated

they

>> will not refer out their own hospital system. I called the patient

and

>> asked

>> him to call the doctor and discuss free choice of providers and that

he

>> really wanted me to do the eval. He called the physician, but the

>> physician

>> is adamant that she will not refer outside her own hospital system

for

PT,

>> and that she will be glad to give him a prescription for PT within

the

>> system.

>>

>> The patient is wanting to pursue reporting this illegal behavior. How

does

>> he go about doing this. Anything I should be doing about this. I have

>> always

>> known about physicians doing this, just never heard of anybody doing

this

>> when the patient is requesting a specific PT and never heard a

doctors

>> office just coming out and blatantly stating that they are doing

this.

>>

>> Thank you for your advice.

>>

>> Odilia Egbers, PT

>> Rehab Enterprises

>>

>>

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Share on other sites

As long as the MD/DO has prescriptive privileges in the State you

practice.

Ron Barbato PT

PRIVILEGED AND CONFIDENTIAL: This transmission may contain information

that is privileged subject to attorney-client privilege or attorney work

product, confidential and/or exempt from disclosure under applicable

law. If you are not the intended recipient, then please do not read it

and be aware that any disclosure, copying, distribution, or use of the

information contained herein (including any reliance thereon) is

STRICTLY PROHIBITED. If you received this transmission in error, please

immediately advise me, by reply e-mail, and delete this message and any

attachments without retaining a copy in any form. Thank you.

referral issue

>>

>> Hi group,

>>

>> I had an issue come up today that I need some advice on. I had a

patient

>> call me stating they were working with a DME company on getting a

>> wheelchair. The DME company requested that a PT perform a wheelchair

>> evaluation. I do these on a regular basis, and the patient called me

to

>> request that I get a prescription from the MD to perform this.

>>

>> I send the request to the physician. They called me today and stated

they

>> will not refer out their own hospital system. I called the patient

and

>> asked

>> him to call the doctor and discuss free choice of providers and that

he

>> really wanted me to do the eval. He called the physician, but the

>> physician

>> is adamant that she will not refer outside her own hospital system

for

PT,

>> and that she will be glad to give him a prescription for PT within

the

>> system.

>>

>> The patient is wanting to pursue reporting this illegal behavior. How

does

>> he go about doing this. Anything I should be doing about this. I have

>> always

>> known about physicians doing this, just never heard of anybody doing

this

>> when the patient is requesting a specific PT and never heard a

doctors

>> office just coming out and blatantly stating that they are doing

this.

>>

>> Thank you for your advice.

>>

>> Odilia Egbers, PT

>> Rehab Enterprises

>>

>>

Link to comment
Share on other sites

As long as the MD/DO has prescriptive privileges in the State you

practice.

Ron Barbato PT

PRIVILEGED AND CONFIDENTIAL: This transmission may contain information

that is privileged subject to attorney-client privilege or attorney work

product, confidential and/or exempt from disclosure under applicable

law. If you are not the intended recipient, then please do not read it

and be aware that any disclosure, copying, distribution, or use of the

information contained herein (including any reliance thereon) is

STRICTLY PROHIBITED. If you received this transmission in error, please

immediately advise me, by reply e-mail, and delete this message and any

attachments without retaining a copy in any form. Thank you.

referral issue

>>

>> Hi group,

>>

>> I had an issue come up today that I need some advice on. I had a

patient

>> call me stating they were working with a DME company on getting a

>> wheelchair. The DME company requested that a PT perform a wheelchair

>> evaluation. I do these on a regular basis, and the patient called me

to

>> request that I get a prescription from the MD to perform this.

>>

>> I send the request to the physician. They called me today and stated

they

>> will not refer out their own hospital system. I called the patient

and

>> asked

>> him to call the doctor and discuss free choice of providers and that

he

>> really wanted me to do the eval. He called the physician, but the

>> physician

>> is adamant that she will not refer outside her own hospital system

for

PT,

>> and that she will be glad to give him a prescription for PT within

the

>> system.

>>

>> The patient is wanting to pursue reporting this illegal behavior. How

does

>> he go about doing this. Anything I should be doing about this. I have

>> always

>> known about physicians doing this, just never heard of anybody doing

this

>> when the patient is requesting a specific PT and never heard a

doctors

>> office just coming out and blatantly stating that they are doing

this.

>>

>> Thank you for your advice.

>>

>> Odilia Egbers, PT

>> Rehab Enterprises

>>

>>

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