If there is one thing that is prominent in the Therapy world, it is long standing myths and “rules”.
Somehow it seems to get ingrained in us during school…
Let’s be honest, every one of us therapists got into this profession because we wanted to help people. We do our volunteer hours observing established therapists. We work hard through school to get our respective degrees. We put in our clinical hours. We eventually sit down and take a single test to allow us to be a licensed therapist. This is true for all of us regardless of if we are a Physical Therapist, a Physical Therapy Assistant, Occupational Therapist, Occupational Therapy Assistant, or Speech Language Pathologist.
We all put in tremendous time, effort, and money to get the ability to help someone better their life.
The first Job
So we get started in our first job and begin to do what we set out for. We get to help people get better, have less pain, have a better quality of life.
Slowly but surely we start to get bombarded by rumors and myths about “rules” we have to follow.
These myths seem to have run rampant for years and has even affected management in companies. We have allowed our ideas of being scared of doing the wrong thing that we forget to do the right thing.
Skills Of a therapist
For as long as I can remember we have been bombarded with the idea of “skills of a therapist”. We get the constant warning that our treatment must require the skills of a therapist. Well what actually is the skills of a therapist? In our minds it gets very cloudy. We are so used to using our skills that we just assume it is everyday knowledge. We forget the skills we have developed ARE the skills of a therapist. Most of the population has nowhere near the knowledge and skills that we have and develop. We take for granted all the judgement calls we make through each treatment session that utilize our skills. Most of the general population don’t know proper mechanics for our most basic exercises. Without our knowledge the people we treat have a significant increased risk of hurting themselves without guidance or waste time with the wrong exercises or an inappropriate amount of resistance.
Remember we need to teach and guide even the simplest of exercises in order to achieve our goals. Don’t diminish your skills by taking them for granted.
We can’t bill in 15 min increments
Somehow it has been circling that if we bill at 15 minutes increments too much then Medicare will audit us and deny our services. How is it that an educated professional can’t stop an activity at 15 or 30 mins. Do we really need to ” make it random”?
I can’t pick them up for therapy because they don’t have a chance to make progress
Skilled therapy services for Medicare beneficiaries does not hinge on the idea of making progress. Most recently there was a letter from CMS educating of the outcome of the case Jimmo v. Sebelius class action lawsuit of 2013. It reminds caregivers and auditors that progress is not a necessary aspect of skilled therapy services. It specifically spells out that significant progress is not needed for skilled care in nursing homes and home health.
The Myth of progress
Skilled therapy services for maintaining health status or decreasing the effects of expected declines is a covered service for residents in this setting. We have a duty and a right to achieve and maintain a quality of life for Medicare beneficiaries in these settings. Our skills are needed to help care for and give a good quality of life. There is no need to show or make “progress”.
Don’t believe the myths
Please remember that your residents have a right to your care. Do not believe the myths. You will not lose your license for not caring for someone. Don’t fall into the trap. Do what we originally set out to do; make a positive change in someone ‘s life.
