Let's Help Each Other
Physical therapy is changing rapidly. As a PT with more than thirty years of experience, the changes observed in the last ten years triple those of the first twenty years. The pace of change is not slowing down. The Medigraph Blog will serve as a forum that will enable us to exchange ideas and assist each other. This blog will be used to share billing, documentation, and any other ideas to improve any aspects of our profession. If we share what we have learned, we can develop a resource that enables our collective understanding to advance our careers.
As profit margins grow smaller and expenses grow larger, we need to assist each other to survive and prosper. If we share our experiences we can help each other to grow professionally, administratively, and financially. Our professional lives, our livelihood, and our personal lives are intertwined. Our resources individually are limited. Together we can accomplish more than we can individually. Let's help each other
Regards,
Tom Kane, PT
MediGraph Software
The use of pre-established functional measurements and
outcome questionnaires satisfy the objective-evidence based criteria that RACs employ to
determine medically necessary. Another important
component of writing a RAC audit proof note is to include ADL functional
goals.
Goal Statement Examples:
- Increase
patient’s independent stair ambulation to 12 steps, enabling the patient
to access the second floor of his home by increasing lower extremity strength
and ambulation training.
- Increase
functional range of motion of the involved shoulder to enable the patient
to independently engage a seat belt while driving.
- Increase the patient’s lower extremity
strength to enable the patient to transfer from sitting to standing safely
to avoid a reoccurrence of falling during this process.
Methodology:
- Measure
diagnosis related impairments: objectively
measure strength (hand held
dynamometer), ROM (bubble
inclinometer), sensory deficits (Moberg, Semmes Weinstein). etc.
- Employ
peer reviewed diagnosis related outcome questionnaires (Oswestry, Knee Outcome
Survey, Shoulder Disability Scale, etc.) and functional tests (Six Minute
Walk, TUG, Box and Block. Etc.)
that have pre-established norms against which the patient’s performance
will be measured.
- Employ
specific goal statements that relate to these impairment measurements,
questionnaires, and functional measurements as illustrated above under
Goal Statement Examples.
As always, please call to discuss this or any other matter.
Regards,
Tom Kane, PT