Mark Smith, PT of Rice Lake PTRS discusses ways physical therapists can become more involved with industrial employers.

Productivity loss for companies due to worker injuries can zap millions of dollars annually from revenue. Along with the high cost of a workers' compensation claim to an employer, the cost to the employee is equally as great, considering lost productivity, deterioration of skills and an increased likelihood of not returning to work at all. The longer an employee is away from work, the less likely they will return.

Fortunately for employers, our forward-thinking physical therapists have embraced an initiative to become experts in work injury prevention, learning how to prevent injuries and also return injured workers back to their job faster. This commitment to excellence was recently demonstrated when numerous PTs and Clinic Directors gathered for multiple Work Injury Prevention Initiative Summits - first in Hinsdale, Ill. in October, then in Kewanee, Ill. in February and most recently in Rice Lake, Wis. in March.

The summits included coursework and education to help our physical therapists stay current and advance their skillset in treating an injured worker and successfully manage a workers' compensation claim from beginning to end. The summits continue to be well received by the therapists that have attended them, and the training they receive has helped them tap into new opportunities to treat injured workers in their community. 

We will continue to offer this training throughout the country as 2013 progresses. The next WIPI summit will take place in St. Joseph, Mo. in April. For more information about how to advance your skillset in treating the injured worker, contact Larry Briand, MS, PT, ATC at lbriand@rehabmgtsolutions.com.

Rehabilitation professionals have an opportunity every day of the year to educate consumers on how their skilled training can help return them to function. But a few special months of the year offer an especially great way for us to connect with patients on a deeper level. March is National Athletic Training Month (NATM), and is a great opportunity to reach out, connect and educate on the importance and value of athletic trainers to athletes, patients, clients and the public.

These grassroots activities help improve the awareness and position of the profession. Especially during this time of heightened awareness of the risks of concussions and head injuries, this is a good time to remind patients of the expertise of an athletic trainer in taking care of all kinds of injuries and all kinds of active people.

One clinic in our northern Wisconsin market is staying especially active reaching out to patients during NATM. Clear Lake & Turtle Lake PTRS has launched a Facebook quiz to help promote its clinics. If a patient has liked the clinics' page, they are shown a 15-question quiz that Athletic Trainer Melissa Waytashek, LAT developed. The top 3 winners who get the most questions correct will win prizes at the end of the month. Melissa is also posting a daily athletic training tidbit on the clinics' Facebook page for viewers to read. 

Lastly, Melissa decorated the local high school with education on the 6 domains of athletic training to help students and staff understand what an athletic trainer is. To see the clinic's Facebook page in action, click here. For a checklist of ideas from The National Athletic Trainers' Association, click here.

Construction is almost complete on the new Physical Therapy & Rehab Specialists - Kenosha.

Multiple clinic locations have recently expanded or are in the process of opening in new communities, helping us continue to grow our network and serve patients better than ever before. Galva Physical Therapy & Rehab Specialists in Galva, Ill. recently doubled the size of its clinic by acquiring the space formerly held by a business next door. That added about 1,200 square feet, and the clinic moved its fitness equipment into the new space and changed its patient-exam rooms from one private room and two semi-private rooms to three private rooms.

"It allows more privacy and confidentiality with our patients, and better serves our fitness members," said April Taylor, PT. "It helps accommodate both areas." The clinic celebrated the expansion with an open house at the end of January.

Spine & Sport Physical Therapy & Aquatics, in St. Joseph, Mo., is almost finished with a series of renovations that also improve the patient experience. The clinic's front desk was moved, and a wall was opened up to expand the available gym space. Still yet, the PTRS brand continues to expand into new markets and communities. 

Physical Therapy & Rehab Specialists in Midland, Mich. recently completed several renovations, and construction is almost finished on the brand new Physical Therapy & Rehab Specialists of Kenosha, in Kenosha, Wis. When that clinic opens, it will be the only one of its kind to service a growing and vibrant area of the city.

From Left to Right: Connie Ziccarelli, Principal & COO; Jennifer Dresen, Medical Billing Specialist; Jodi Woodward, Director of Medical Billing & Reimbursement; Sarah Pollitt, Director of Credentialing/Provider Relations & Front Desk Systems; Emily Monson, PT, Owner & Director of Clear Lake/Turtle Lake PTRS

At RMS, we are dedicated to continuous improvement and education in order to stay one step ahead of the changes in HealthCare. The RMS leadership team was excited to enhance their skills and knowledge at the APTA Payment Policy and Compliance Conference in Chicago, IL on March 15-16, marking the 18th consecutive year our team has attended the APTA Coding & Compliance Conferences.

We gained further knowledge and greater understanding on multiple topics including functional documentation, CPT Coding 2013, the emerging issues related to the health care reform, PQRS, and Medicare compliance in outpatient PT and OT clinics. It was also great to see our friends from the APTA and network with other practice owners and administrators from the Midwest & surrounding areas. The RMS leadership team stands poised to take on 2013 with confidence in our ability to educate these topics to our family of clinics, as well to the payer community.

Our team leaders look forward to sharing our furthered knowledge with you through our live Coding and Documentation summits. If you have not yet signed up for a workshop at your clinic, contact cziccarelli@rehabmgtsolutions.com for more information. In addition, we will also be integrating several of the same topics into our upcoming webinar "Compliance in Medicare & the Functional Therapy Reporting System" on April 11, 2013 at 12:15pmCST which will discuss how to continue receiving healthy reimbursement by remaining compliant with the Medicare changes. We hope you will join us in these upcoming educational events.

Now that the New Year holidays are past us, it is great time to learn how the new changes in Medicare will affect outpatient therapy services. After all, it is the therapist's obligation to understand and recognize the rules and regulations regarding patient management skills, and how to correctly capture all the service time spent with patients.

Due to the American Tax Payer Relief of 2012, Medicare is requiring outpatient therapists to report on the severity and complexity of the functional status on all beneficiaries. A new claims-based data collection requirement will also require providers to report functional G-codes and severity/complexity modifiers on claims.

This system began on January 1, 2013, hosting a voluntary testing period until June 30, 2013. Beginning July 1, 2013, the system will become mandatory and Medicare will begin rejecting claims submitted without the required functional data reporting information for outpatient therapy services provided on and after July 1, 2013. Improper documentation will drastically harm cash flow.

Therefore, it is important that you are proactive in your knowledge and understanding of these new requirements. Prepare your practice now for any changes and don't get caught unaware! Join the RMS leaders on April 11, 2013 for an educational web event on the Functional Therapy Reporting System to ensure you do not see a drop in revenue.

Hi, ! This Issue's Theme is: Skilled Training

It's never too late to learn something new, and our talented teams in the Central Office and our clinics continue to embrace this fact. Whether it's undergoing new training to become a specialty workers' compensation clinic, giving out education to teach what an athletic trainer is, or learning about changes to CPT codes in 2013, our team stays on the cusp of knowledge.

Continuous learning not only improves us as professionals, it also makes sure our patients are receiving a gold standard of quality care that is rooted in the most cutting edge treatment philosophies. There are so many opportunities available for continuing education, from RMS web events, to sponsored courses from your national trade association. There's no excuse not to, so be sure to take advantage of some skilled training today.

Who Killed Change?

By Ken Blanchard, John Britt, Judd Hoekstra & Pat Zigarmi

Have an interesting tip or story you'd like to share with our family of talent? We want to feature you! Email us at
rms-justin@tds.net

Don't miss the following upcoming web events. Click the link to easily be taken to each web event's registration page.

Course Description: Beginning July 1, 2013, the Medicare Functional Therapy Reporting System will become mandatory. All claims will be returned unpaid if functional information is missing from the claim. Join our event to prepare for this change now and continue to receive healthy reimbursement.

» Thursday, May 16, 2013:  
"Stand Out from the Competition: Innovative Ways to Connect with Your Patients"

Course Description: Before a patient even steps through your doors, your clinic's branding has already made an impact. Find out how to stand apart from the competition, gaining new business, by implementing our proven marketing techniques prior to patient care, during treatment, and after graduation.

RMS is excited to continue offering our Practice Management Educational Web Event Series to therapists nation-wide. We realize how important it is for Physical Therapists and Physical Therapy Assistants to remain compliant with their licensures and therefore, the RMS team has undergone extensive training with the Federation of State Board of Physical Therapy (FSBPT) to expand our CEU offerings to multiple states.

The RMS team recently met with FSBPT leaders to learn how to properly develop a course that meets the Continuing Competence Activities standards. All of RMS' upcoming web events will offer attendees measurable and objective educational take-aways that can be implemented into a clinic immediately on topics such as compliance, coding & documentation, reimbursement, and marketing best practices. 

In addition, the RMS team is also now well-versed in the criterion requirements for CEU courses in several states, allowing us to offer CEU credit to a broader audience.

Working alongside of the FSBPT through their ProCert system, RMS will be submitting all upcoming educational web events for CEU approval in: AZ, DE, DC, IN, KY, MT, NC, OR, SC, TN, UT, and WI. In addition, RMS will work directly with the Illinois Physical Therapy Association to continue offering CE credit opportunities for IL PTs and PTAs.

We look forward to assisting therapists nation-wide in remaining current and compliant in their licensure requirements, while offering an educational experience that will take any practice to the next level. For a listing of our upcoming events, please visit rmseducation.com.

Emily Monson, PT

Our talented providers continue to be sought out for their expertise in the area of industrial medicine. Emily Monson, PT, Clinic Owner & Director of Clear Lake & Turtle Lake PTRS, has been asked to speak at the Wisconsin Athletic Training Association's spring conference, taking place April 12. 

Emily - who also is a co-presenter of our network's Work Injury Prevention Initiative - will talk about opportunities for the athletic trainer in industrial medicine.

The presentation will discuss a clinical model that includes functional testing, jobsite visits, job demands analyses, on-site assessments and evaluation for injury prevention. 

It also will talk about how to use athletic trainers in all parts of industrial medicine, and the many different opportunities that are available to integrate athletic trainers in the progression of injured workers through physical therapy. 

Emily will present the talk in conjunction with Melissa Waytashek, LAT. To continue the discussion with Emily on this topic, please feel free to reach her at Emily@therapy1.net.