Providers from multiple PTRS clinics gather for an innovative Work Injury Program Initiative summit recently.

It has been shown that physical therapists can help employers reduce workers' compensation costs by up to 75 percent in companies where on-site services are available. 

 

Thanks to our innovative industrial rehab solutions, our therapists are helping employees avoid injury and returning them to meaningful employment in a timely manner. As part of our Work Injury Prevention Initiative (WIPI), our physical therapists continue to visit employers to provide basic screenings, evaluate injuries, complete assessments and offer ways to prevent injuries.

 

To enhance the impact that we can have on employers and employees, a number of providers across our network recently attended an innovative summit that educated on the key concepts of implementing the clinical component of a WIPI program. 

 

Emily Monson, PT, Clinic Owner & Director of Clear Lake PTRS, shared the key success factors that she has found to work in her clinic. For example, Emily suggested not just cold calling companies, but using the visit of one patient from a particular company to make an introduction and get a foot in the door.

 

Our providers also shared real-world experience of how to approach companies and get more workers' compensation patients, as well as how to set up job site visits to review job demands. Perhaps most importantly, the summit shared strategies that therapists can use to help companies understand the importance of having a work injury prevention program. 

 

Additionally, the summit shared tips and tricks that therapists can use to make physicians' lives easier when managing injured workers, such as collaborating with them to set functional goals based on the demands of the employee's job.

 

For more information on building your own clinic's WIPI program, contact Larry at rms-lb@tds.net.

 

 

Members of the Spooner community gather at Spooner PTRS's recent Open House.

Holding an Open House at your clinic is a great way to showcase your beautiful facility for the community and connect with past, current and future patients. It's also beneficial to stay active and engaged in the local community you support. October's national Physical Therapy Month celebration offered a great way for clinics to express gratitude to patients for making us their destination of choice.

 

Multiple clinics in our family of talent took advantage of the opportunity to host Open Houses to recognize patient appreciation and also to celebrate an anniversary in their community. Physical Therapy & Rehab Specialists-Hinsdale, in our suburban Chicago market, reported an excellent turnout at its Open House. And Back-n-Action Physical Therapy, in our northwest Wisconsin market, celebrated its 5-year anniversary in Park Falls.

 

One clinic in particular saw a truly impressive turnout. Spooner Physical Therapy & Rehab Specialists took a collaborative approach to planning its Open House and involved numerous community representatives - including the local high school and Chamber of Commerce - and saw a turnout of more than 500 people at its Open House. 

Clinic Director Amy Greenfield, PT advertised the event with newspaper ads, articles, postcard mailers and radio ads. In addition, the clinic added to its database of patient email addresses by giving away Green Bay Packers tickets, and collecting addresses as people signed up.

 

BrandsFormation Learning Concept: Being First

Jeanette De Witt, PT, MPT, LAT, ATC screens a patient at the Sturtevant Skeleton Skamper.

Therapists have a unique opportunity to meet today's healthcare consumer on their own terms by maintaining an active, visible presence in their community. This can lead to increased referrals, greater brand recognition and can help generate a word of mouth buzz around town. Thanks to a variety of ways - from sending email and text message appointment reminders, to offering flexible appointment times - therapists can make it easy for patients to do business with them.

 

Creating a more visible presence in a community can be accomplished by reaching out to park districts and offering free educational seminars, partnering with local organizations to coordinate blood drives or flu shots, and also networking with groups like the Kiwanis Club, chamber of commerce or local library.

 

Another way to meet a consumer on their turf is to stay active in the community by hosting or sponsoring local community events. Clinics in our southeastern Wisconsin market successfully accomplished this recently by attending a local half marathon and 5K road race. Physical Therapy & Rehab Specialists of Sturtevant and Muskego reported a great turnout and.

 

Team members from the clinic - including Sturtevant Clinic Director Jeanette De Witt, MPT, LAT, ATC - were on hand to triage any race injuries and educate participants on how physical therapy can help their running aches and pains. As a result, the mind share of our clinics was increased and numerous patients came in to the clinics for free screens.

 

BrandsFormation Learning Concept: Increase mind share

COO Connie Ziccarelli and Billing Director Jodi Woodward attend a recent web event to get smart on the 3700 manual medical review.

Our team of industry-leading experts continues to stay on top of the latest updates and training related to the therapy cap exceptions process. These proactive updates are helping to protect our provider licenses by ensuring compliance. RMS leaders attended multiple web events, open door forums and audio conferences recently to stay current on the topic and proactively prepare for the changes. Additionally, the Central Office hosted its own continuing education web events on the topic for our network of clinics.

 

All of these efforts are ensuring that the Central Office remains well informed on changing industry policies to protect our network of therapists and enhance their compliance. These preparations are helping to protect the revenue of our network and also to advocate for our patients by monitoring their progression to the $3,700 manual medical review. For service dates through Dec. 31, 2012, it will be crucial to have a working knowledge of the amount of services accrued by Medicare patients, so it is known when to submit for prior approval before exceeding the patient's $3,700 threshold.

 

As a result of staying informed of these changes, the Central Office is better prepared to effectively determine a patient's therapy utilization, prevent payment denials and protect revenue by proactively making therapists and patients aware of the new rules.

 

For more information on the changes, contact Connie or Jodi.

Hi, ! This Issue's Theme is: Caring & Sharing

 

In the spirit of the holiday season, we're sending out a positive message of gratitude and thanks for everything we have. Family, friends, health and a positive, can-do spirit are values that we continue to promote and embrace.

 

These are values that help us build strong relationships, and they're also values that motivate us everyday to go to work for our patients. Whether we're dealing with a physical disablement or a financial one, it never hurts to be thankful for great company and a great job. Let's all keep that in mind as we celebrate this holiday season.

What's the last great book you read that truly changed the way you think about things? For the RMS family, a revolutionary new paradigm shift is sweeping through our clinics and Central Office after reading BrandsFormation by Chuck Mefford. The book offers an entirely new way to look at the branding and marketing of a healthcare practice.

 

In the Central Office, our cast mates recently participated in an interactive quiz to enhance their comprehension of the book. Our providers, too, have taken its message to heart and are utilizing its concepts when marketing their practice to physicians, referral sources and patients. We hope you've found the book enjoyable and inspiring. 

 

Keep an eye out for evidence of the BrandsFormation concepts at work in some of this issue's news articles.

 

Don't miss the following web events:

 

» Thursday, January 24, 2013: "Best Practice Performance Metrics: Improve Your Practice with Reporting Tools"

 

 

I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude and appreciation to the many colleagues who have assisted me on the journey of outpatient, private practice Physical Therapy. Each and every day, I am honored to work alongside highly trained professionals who share my enthusiasm in growing our clinics and educating our patients. Having the opportunity to work alongside each of you has given me the utmost energy, passion, and true love for what I do.

 

Being part of the growth and development of our network and witnessing the success of each clinic, individual provider and our central office Patient Service Team have given me tremendous gratification. The education and information you have willingly shared through these many years has instilled a sense of confidence within me to represent other practice administrators through my new position as the Chairperson of the PPS Administrator's Council. I am grateful to be able to give back to our profession with this appointment.

 

It is with enthusiasm I look forward to representing our entire family of clinics. Each of you continues to ignite my passion for our industry, our clinics and our patients again and again. I am humbled by the trust and confidence you have placed in me - Thank you.

 

~ Connie Ziccarelli, Principal & COO

 

 

Things have gotten really hairy in our network of clinics over the last month! Our mustachioed male cast mates have been proud to stop shaving in support of men's health awareness. For the entire month of November, all of our male family and extended family members were invited to stop shaving their face. As you can see, the results have been bristly.

 

Steve Ziccarelli and Mark Nelson of the RMS Marketing Team, as well as Jon DeBord, PT, MS, ATC, SCS and Mike Gavin, BS of Kewanee Physical Therapy & Rehab Specialists all ditched their razors for the month.

 

The idea was started by a group that is striving to change the face of men's health by raising awareness and funds for men's health issues, especially for prostate cancer awareness and research. 

 

When others asked why they hadn't shaved their faces, it was a prime opportunity to educate them on men's health issues. The effort wasn't all for naught, though. 

 

RMS will donate to a men's health charity on behalf of our scruffy associates. Now go home and get a razor!