The PTJ Podcast

Editor-in-Chief Alan Jette asks Dr. Sahrmann to elaborate on her thought-provoking Point of View in a conversation that acknowledges some of the differences of opinion and controversies surrounding this vital topic. What are the relationships between diagnostic labels and the critical issues that face the profession as it begins its second century—issues such as variability in practice, documentation burden, defining effective treatment strategies, and, ultimately, the success of patient outcomes? Dr. Sahrmann is author of “Defining Our Diagnostic Labels Will Help Define Our Movement Expertise and Guide Our Next 100 Years.”

https://academic.oup.com/ptj/article/101/1/pzaa196/5943786

Editor-in-Chief Alan Jette spotlights a Point of View on the effect of student debt on the next generation of physical therapists, and Dr. Ambler provides insights and data. How big is the problem—and what steps might be taken at the system level to make sure that education is being delivered efficiently as well as supporting the future development of the profession? Dr. Ambler is coauthor of “Return on Investment in Physical Therapy: Professional Tension.”

Editor-in-Chief Alan Jette and Dr. Gustavson discuss the design and implications of an implementation study involving 2 nonrandomized independent groups (usual care and high intensity) staged within a single skilled nursing facility using the i-STRONGER (IntenSive Therapeutic Rehabilitation for Older Skilled NursinG HomE Residents) program. Dr. Gustavson is coauthor of “Application of High-Intensity Functional Resistance Training in a Skilled Nursing Facility: An Implementation Study.”

Editor-in-Chief Alan Jette and Dr. Johnson address topics including impact of value-based care and the variability among outcomes and costs, identifying the target populations that will benefit from inpatient rehabilitation, and the need for readers to understand some of the challenges and limitations of using large, complex data sets in research.  Dr. Johnson is coauthor of “Physical Function in the Hospital Is Associated With Patient-Centered Outcomes in an Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility.”

Editor-in-Chief Alan Jette and Dr. Magel highlight some impactful, and some surprising, associations found by this study—and what the next steps for researchers should be. Based on the findings, comments Dr. Jette, “if I was a payer, I’d want to figure out how to get people…to PT right away.” Dr. Magel is coauthor of “Time Between an Emergency Department Visit and Initiation of Physical Therapist Intervention: Health Care Utilization and Costs.”