Recognizing Significance

Parkinson's Patients Benefit From Physical Therapy

(http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/251159.php)

I read a news story reporting the significance of physical therapy for those with Parkinson's Disease. Usually, drug therapy is used for those with this disease, which includes problems with movement, cognition, neurobehavior, as well as sensory difficulties. The physical therapy methods that are used to treat patients included dance, treadmill training, and other exercises. There was a study showing the clear improvement in patients. The most positive outcomes from physical therapy treatmeant were shown in three different areas-- Gait Speed, Berg balance scale (developed to measure balance among elderly people with balance function impairment by assessing the performance of functional tasks), and a clinician-rated disability scale. Improvements in these areas have proven to be meaningful for Parkinson's patients. 
Physical therapy can be helpful for people in many different cases. Physically, with exercises, as well as mentally, to get people in the right mind for improvement and get them along through tough treatments. Physical therapists play an important role in the healing process for those with physical impairments, those who got in a freak accident, and many more. There is a very diverse range of patients and cases, which is cool because physical therapists learn and experience a lot through their career and have to expect almost anything. 

Evaluating Sources

The article I have chosen to read and evaluate is called "Experiences and Perspectives of Physical Therapists Managing Patients Covered by Workers' Compensation in Queensland, Australia". It was written in the journal of the American Physical Therapy Association. The article discusses the difference in our country's role of a Physical Therapist compared to Australia in relation to RTW (return to work). In America, a Physical Therapist has an active role in the rehabilitation of injured workers. But the regulations in Australia do not allow physical therapists to make decisions in when an injured person can return to work. So, they did a study aimed on investigating physical therapists experiences and perspectives on their role in determining readiness for RTW and work capacity for patients receiving workers comp in Australia.
The results that the author got out of the study was that physical therapists in Australia believe they do play an important role in determining when injured workers can go back, and that physical therapists use a variety of methods to determine work capacity, so they would be able to take on the role of decision making for RTW. However, it was prevalent that physical therapists have a lack of role clarity.

I would say that this is correct. The doctors in the study were well situated in finding and interpreting the information necessary for those being assessed for RTW. Therapists made recommendations for RTW using clinical judgment informed by subjective and objective information gathered from the injured worker. They clearly know what they're doing. Even though the physical therapists standards are not specific, there is an expectation for their knowledge of the details of the treatment. They spend so much time with the patient, and their job is to evaluate their progress. So they understand how much time they still need to heal. Physical therapists had the knowledge (of anatomy, physiology, and biomechanics), awareness of the barriers to RTW, and time to establish trust, providing them with a thorough understanding of the patient's function at any point in time. It is their goal to get the patient back to normal so that they are able to continue on with their every day lives (which includes work). So it only makes sense. All the information that the author includes in this journal is very relevant to the aim of the study and I agree with the conclusion that even in Australia, Physical Therapists play a very important role in their patients lives, which should give them the privilege of helping make the decision of when the patient can get back to work.

http://ptjournal.apta.org/content/92/10/1306.full

Reason Why

Everyone has a reason behind the dream job they're chosen. I'd just like to talk about what mine is for this week's blog. 

So, my dream job is to be a physical therapist. The obvious reasons are because I love working with people, helping them specifically. The pay is also good, so that's a plus. And I should always have a job available somewhere since it's in the medical field.

These are reasons that anyone would pick being a physical therapist as their career. However, for me, there's a little more to it. This past year, my mom got in an awful car accident. She hit a tree, and broke the right half of her body. (Luckily, she's left handed). Anywho, when I found out she was in the hospital, I left work and drove to the hospital. When I got there, she looked awful! Her hair, her face, her arm, she had cuts all over, and a metal rod from her hip to her foot. It was tough seeing her like that, but all I wanted to do was help her.

As time went on, she started attending physical therapy to learn to walk again. I went to some of these appointments to see what it was like, and to help her out. It was amazing. It's a slow process, but you do start to see more and more progress each time. Eventually, my mom got to get out of her wheelchair, and use crutches. After a while on crutches, those were taken away too. She walked with quite a limp for a long time, but that even went away after more practice. It was so cool to see the change in her. And she absolutely loved her PT, Susan. She counted on her, for help and motivation, and that's what she got. Susan kept her going, even on the rough days where she didn't even want to move. She pushed her, and got her to where she's at now. There's no way my mom would be where she is now without Susan. They still talk even now, without the regular visits. It's the coolest thing.

This personal experience of watching my mom get back on her feet (literally), was life changing. It showed me how important and rewarding this job is. Every time I get a new patient, I will think of my mom and everything she went through. I know I can motivate these people, because I've seen the potential in people. I'm so excited to see the patients get through their struggles, and prosper. Just like my mom did. All you need is some support and encouragement. So rewarding. I can't wait to become a physical therapist.

Defining Ethics: Physical Therapy

Physical therapists shall be trustworthy and compassionate in addressing the rights and needs of patients/clients. 

This is one of the principles in the Code of Ethics of the APTA (American Physical Therapy Assiociation). I find this to relate to my own beliefs because I like to be loyal to anyone I meet and I do have true, sincere feelings for those that are in need, which would make me compassionate I'd say. As for adressing people of things, I am honest and sensitive about telling people things they need to know. This principle definitely fits into my ethics of life.

3 Things I'm doing in College that will help me prepare for work in Physical Therapy:
      One) Taking chemistry! I need to take this course for my field so that helps.
      Two) This blog! I'm learning a lot about my field from research on this blog. I now know the steps I          need to take to become a Physical Therapist.
       Three) Coming to this new environment at MSU prepares me a lot because I have learned how to make new friends and communicate with people and I plan on moving out of state when I become a PT so this gives me the chance to experience the same thing that will happen in a couple years. So it prepares me for being open to new people in my life.

5 Steps

This week I read more about how to become a physical therapist. I was looking more at the big picture before, but I found out more about specific steps.
1)Evaluate Skills
        -Here, the site just wants you to self assess and see if this is the right field. Like, how you deal with others in pain, and how to motivate. Oh, and also to think how good you are in subjects like biology, physics, biology, act. (This is a step I already knew).

2)Gather Information
        -Decide what branch of physical therapy you want to study. Each has its own duties and challenges.
Geriatric Physical Therapy, Sports Related Physical Therapy, Pediatric Physical Therapy, Orthopedic Physical Therapy, Neurological Physical Therapy, Degenerative Diseases, Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Physical Therapy.
I will have to look more into these branches because I don't know quite yet what the differences are between these branches.

3) Choose your Undergraduate PT School
        -I did this already, since I'm at MSU, but I will have to make sure I do well in all of the courses in order to get into a good graduate program from here. I've got to get ahead of the competition.

4) Acquire your Graduate Degree

      -A good Graduate program in physical therapy will teach you about cardiopulmonary physical therapy, neurological physical therapy, generalized physical therapy and psychosocial issues. It will also cover musculoskeletal disorders and the kinds of physical therapy related research that will be of use to you once you start practicing. This degree will also help you prepare for the Nation PT Exam and state licensing. So, this prepares you for a lot in this field.

5) Get a State License

         -So, after the degree, you have to pass two state license board exams, as well as the National PT Exam(which qualifies you for the board exams). Depending on the state I end up living, there are certain requirements besides this. But I don't have that figured out yet. You also have to renew your license every two years, and it is recommended you continue with schooling to stay ahead of the game.

This is everything I found out from the site "Becoming a Physical Therapist" at http://www.becomingphysicaltherapist.com/how-to-become-a-physical-therapist-5-steps-to-your-dream-2/ and I think it helped clear up a lot.

PPTA Interview Questions

I will soon be interviewing Brandon Decker, the head of the Pre-Physical Therapy Association. I emailed him the other day, and I'm sure he will be getting ahold of me soon. This association provides the opportunities and information about how to become a successful program applicant. Some things I will be asking him:
What is a meeting for this association like?
What is your favorite part of the meeting?
Do you learn a lot?
Is is a fun group?
What are some things you usually discuss?
What is the environment like?

This is what I have so far, and I'm sure more questions will come up throughout the interview. I'll post those when I actually do the interview. I'm really excited to learn about this group and potentially join! I'm sure it's really helpful with learning about physical therapy.

Starting a Physical Therapy Practice

If I actually get into physical therapy, I will want to start my own business. I don't like taking orders, and I think it would just be better for me to do my own thing. I also don't really want to work in a hospital. All those scrubs are so ugly. I realize this is a lot of work, but I know it's what I want to do eventually. I like to be in charge so, yeah, that's my plan.
I read about the process of starting your own practice. I already know the top states to live to start my practice from a previous post, but I want to know what my plan would be from there. This is what I learned from the site Nitin 360 (http://www.nitin360.com/starting-a-physical-therapy-practice.html).
The first thing the site tells you is to make sure it's what you want because you have to love helping people for it to all work out in the end. Or else you'd be stuck in something you hate for a while. Anyway though. 
I need to prepare a financial statement in order to find out how much I can put to raise funds for the private project. I've got to have a good business plan, and identify where my business will be situated because it has to be accessible to my clients. 
Competition is important. I have to make sure I know who they are and where they are. This makes sense. So don't put my business around some big, known practice or else I won't have any patients.
Another hint they give is to make sure I know what to do when certain situations arise so that I can avoid embarrassment from fellow colleagues.
I have to plan a lot. That's for sure. Don't want anything to go wrong. And prepare for criticism, what can you do to avoid that though.
I won't make all my money back going right into it, so I have to pull through even when the times are tough at the beginning. It will eventually profit.
I might need a business consultant, but they're expensive, so I'm going to try to stay away from that.
ADVERTISE. Tell everyone. Use all my connections from family, friends, and coworkers in order to get word out.
Staff is really important. I have to make sure they all are up to par by having weekly review meetings. I will fully check the workers out to ensure they love helping people as much as me. Oh, and be good to them, but still a leader. Makes sense.
Lastly, feedback from clients is a big thing, I've got to be clear with them, be friendly and caring, and really show them how to get better. 
I can definitely do this.