Healthy Wealthy & Smart

Latest Episodes:

179: CRPS: The Patient Perspective w/ Joey Aquilino Nov 02, 2015

Show notes

The month of November is National CRPS (Chronic Regional Pain Syndrome) Awareness month. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke defines CRPS as “a chronic pain condition most often affecting one of the limbs (arms, legs, hands, or feet), usually after an injury or trauma to that limb. CRPS is believed to be caused by damage to, or malfunction of, the peripheral and central nervous systems. The central nervous system is composed of the brain and spinal cord, and the peripheral nervous system involves nerve signaling from the brain and spinal cord to the rest of the body. CRPS is characterized by prolonged or excessive pain and mild or dramatic changes in skin color, temperature, and/or swelling in the affected area."

In honor of this awareness month I was thrilled to interview Joey Aquilino. He is living with CRPS and has become an outspoken advocate for those living with CRPS. It was so refreshing to hear an honest and very real account of what it is like to navigate the healthcare system when you have "something" wrong and you are in pain.

In this episode we talk about:

* Joey's journey from initial injury to diagnosis of CRPS (it took a long time!).

* How CRPS affected him emotionally as well as physically.

* The steps and techniques he used to reduce depression and get moving.

* Why he became an advocate for those living with CRPS

* How his ordeal resulted in him finding himself and his passion.

* The #JGF family and his Blogtalkradio shows

* Plus much, much more!

I loved this episode because I think it is so important to get the patient perspective, especially with complex diagnoses like CRPS. A diagnosis like this goes so far beyond the time we spend with the patient during our sessions. Joey gives such an open and honest account of what he has gone through over the past several years and it is a great reminder for all healthcare providers who work with people in pain that you need to take the time to listen to the whole story!

A big thank you to Joey for sharing and to you for listening!

Have a great week and stay healthy, wealthy and smart!

Karen

178: Physical Therapy & Pageants w/ Dr. Desiree Williams, Miss Virginia USA Oct 26, 2015

Show notes

When was the last time you stepped out of your comfort zone and took a chance on something new? If it has been a while I highly suggest you do something, even if it is small, at least once a week that challenges you and makes you just a bit uncomfortable. That is exactly what my guest on the podcast has done for years and as a result she is a Doctor of Physical Therapy, an assistant professor in the physical therapy department at Hampton University and the most recent Miss Virginia USA. Dr. Desiree Williams has accomplished so much in her life already because she takes those chances, works hard, is super organized, and is proactive about her life and her goals. This was such an inspiring conversation and my huge takeaway is to have more confidence in myself and believe in my values and my decisions.

In this episode we talk about:

* Why she decided to become a PT.

* How she got started in the pageant world and how she has been so successful.

* Her top tips for managing your time efficiently (I thought I was organized but this girl puts me to shame).

* Her platform as Miss Virginia USA and how she incorporates her education and passion for health and wellness into that platform.

* How she is able to keep the negativity that can be associated with the pageant world out of her head.

* Her best advice for students thinking of going into the world of academia

* And much, much more!

Dr. Williams' confidence and positive attitude is clear and she gives so many nuggets of advice in this interview on how to stay positive, grounded and most importantly yourself.

Enjoy this wonderful talk and stay Healthy Wealthy & Smart!

Karen

177: Living Well w/ Chronic Pain Part 2 w/ Dr. Bronnie Thompson Oct 19, 2015

Show notes

This is the continuation of the interview with Dr. Bronnie Thompson from last week about living well with chronic pain. In this episode we answer listener questions!

In this episode we go through the following questions:

* What she would say to give confidence to someone who is afraid that no matter what they do, they will always hurt?

* Is there value in a pain diary?

* Any tips on instituting an exercise program in widespread pain syndromes such as fibromyalgia?

* Any helpful strategies to get a reluctant patient on board with exercise?

* How does Dr. Thompson's research in pain apply to the manual therapy profession?

* And much much more!

I want to send lots of love and thank yous to Dr. Bronnie Thompson for an amazing interview experience and sticking around for this very important part two of our conversation.

Thank you for all of the positive comments and kind words from last week's interview and I know you will find the same value in this episode!

Have a great week and stay Healthy Wealthy & Smart!

Karen

176: Living Well w/ Chronic Pain w/ Dr. Bronnie Thompson Oct 11, 2015

Show notes

I know what you are thinking...living well with chronic pain?!? Some thoughts that went through my head were:

"Are you kidding me...that sounds impossible"

"Sounds like an oxymoron to me."

"Does that mean take lots of pain meds to feel better?"

And I am sure you can think of lots of other things to say! But after you listen to this incredible interview with Dr. Bronnie Thompson, your thoughts will be challenged! You will start to see that yes...you can live well with chronic pain. You can find value and fun in your life doing the things you love despite pain.

In this episode we talk about:

Values based pain management
Dr. Thompson gives some amazing examples of motivational interviewing (I am talking really great so be ready to take notes!).
The process your patients can follow to reoccupy their self-concept in the face of chronic pain.
How to be a real human with all of your patient interactions.
Making the patient the center of your practice.
And so much more!

This is the first part of a two-part interview with Dr. Thompson. The second part will air next week!

Thanks for listening and if you like what you are hearing please share it and leave a rating here! Have a great week and stay Healthy Wealthy & Smart!

Karen

***PS....You will also listen to what made me totally break down and cry for the first time on air! Get the tissues ready!

175: Making Sense of ICD 10 w/ Rick Gawenda, PT Oct 08, 2015

Show notes

In this podcast I am joined by Rick Gawenda, PT and he answers your burning questions about ICD 10.

Some of the topics we covered in this podcast are: * The 7th character...what is it and when do you have to use it? * How many ICD 10 codes need to be on a claim form? Can you ever have too many? * What are the documentation requirements in the patient's medical records? * Are the diagnosis codes the same as the treatment codes? * What are external cause codes for injuries? * Rick takes us through a few tutorials on how to code based on some diagnoses. This was a super informative episode! Rick literally knows most of this stuff off the top of his head (which I was very impressed with) and he shares with us a very comprehensive look at the major aspects of the ICD 10 coding system. Thank you all for listening and please feel free to share with friends and family! And if you like what you are hearing I would be ever so grateful for a review on iTunes! Have a great week and stay healthy wealthy and smart! Karen

174: Medicare & Cash PT w/ Dr Jarod Carter Oct 05, 2015

Show notes

As any medical professional will tell you, navigating the Medicare system is challenging. Add to that a cash physical therapy business and things can get really confusing! To help get us through this sea of confusion that is Medicare, Dr. Jarod Carter has written a fabulous book entitled Medicare and Cash Pay Physical Therapy. It is a comprehensive guide based on all he has learned from over five years of owning a cash-based clinic and many hours of working with different attorneys and authorities on this subject. Dr. Carter has also been teaching about the private pay business model for a number of years and often consults for in-network practices participating with Medicare. So this book is not only focused solely on the rules as they apply to cash-based practices. It is written for any practice owner wondering how she/he can accept private payment for the variety of services a PT business may provide to beneficiaries.

In this episode we talk about:

* Why Jarod decided to become a physical therapist

* Why and how he started his cash-based PT practice

* What is the difference between participating, non-participating, and no relationship w/ Medicare

* Can a PT opt out of Medicare

* What is an ABN and when is it necessary to use it vs. a private contract with your patients.

* Is there a "loophole" to see Medicare patients in a cash PT model

* And much more!

One thing to remember...if you have any questions about your practice and how it fits in to the Medicare system always contact a healthcare lawyer to help with your specific situation.

Enjoy the podcast and thanks for listening!

Karen

173: From #DPTstudent to #CashPT Biz Owner w/ Dr Kevin Prue Sep 28, 2015

Show notes

Are you a DPT student or new graduate thinking about opening your own cash based PT clinic one day? if the answer to that questions is yes, then this is the episode for you! In this episode I sit down with Dr. Kevin Prue, the president and director of Prue Physical Therapy and Sports Performance in Cary, NC. While I am not a huge fan of new graduates opening their own clinic straight out of college Dr. Prue may have caused my thinking to take some baby steps in that direction.

In this episode Dr. Prue and I discuss:

* His process of creating his business and when he started that process (hint it was not after he graduated!).

* The biggest successes he has had since opening the doors to his clinic.

* The biggest challenges in his business and the steps he has taken to overcome them.

* We go through a quick exercise to find his ideal client to help sharpen his marketing plan. This is something EVERYONE should do before they open a business.

* How he differentiates his clinic from the others in his area.

* His best advice for DPT students thinking about opening a PT business.

* And much, much more!

Dr. Prue's business is about to hit the one year mark and this interview is an honest look at what it takes to be a business owner with all of the highs and lows. Don't forget, it is hard work to own your own business, so if this is something you are thinking about doing at some point in your life be prepared to WORK!

I would love to hear your thoughts on the pros and cons of starting a #CashPT business right out of school. Please leave a comment or tell me about on twitter here.

172: Living Your Best Life w/ Kiel Eigen Sep 21, 2015

Show notes

"We are still the same people we just have more equipment." - Kiel Eigen

In honor of September being National Spinal Cord Injury Awareness month I was thrilled to interview Kiel Eigen. Kiel became paralyzed during a football game when he was in eighth grade, but like he says it does not stop him from living his life. I interviewed Kiel, along with his physical therapist Dr. Gina Tomassoni a few years ago after he completed a major milestone in his recovery.

In this episode Kiel and I talk about:

* His relationship with his physical and occupational therapists and how important that was for his recovery

* The major milestone he accomplished while still in high school

* How his life has changed since using a new wheelchair from Quantum Rehab

* How the new wheelchair differs from others on the market

* What Kiel does to keep in shape (you might be surprised)

* What his plans are for the future

As a physical therapist it is so important to know your client's point of view and life outside of their PT sessions. If you are not taking that into account I think you are definitely missing the boat and not doing your clients justice. The major takeaways from this podcast are to ask more questions, go beyond the traditional "goals" for your clients and understand their values. Once you know the values that mean the most to your client's only then can you make a comprehensive plan of care and make a major impact in their life.

171: Fostering Creativity in Rehab w/ Dr. Matthew Taylor Sep 14, 2015

Show notes

The American Physical Therapy Association's vision statement is: Transforming society by optimizing movement to improve the human experience. This is an ambitious vision statement and I for one am OK with ambitious. Now comes the question: How do we do it? In today's episode I speak with Dr. Matthew Taylor about fostering creativity in rehabilitation and how incorporating creativity and compassion into our practice will help to transform our profession. It is important to transform the profession of physical therapy to move towards the vision statement of transforming society.

In this episode we talk about:

* How yoga has transformed Matthew's PT career.

* What is yoga therapy and how does it differ from regular yoga.

* The concept of creativity and how it fits into the practice of PT and wellness.

* How can we transform society.

* The 6 exercises for priming compassion.

* And much more!

This is a great conversation and I feel Matthew gives some concrete steps to help to transform you, the profession and finally society as a whole. So, please enjoy this episode and have a great week!

Karen

170: Trial By Fire: a Movie About CRPS w/ Charles Mattocks Sep 10, 2015

Show notes

In this episode I am thrilled to interview celebrity chef, author and filmmaker Charles Mattocks. Also known as "The Poor Chef" he has been featured on The Today Show, Good Morning America, The Talk, CNN, Dr. Oz and Martha Stewart. He has also been recently featured at the TEDx conference in San Francisco. In this episode we talk about his newest project Trail By Fire, a movie about CRPS (chronic regional pain syndrome). CRPS is a very difficult diagnosis for the patient, family and caregivers and hopefully this film will bring more national/international attention to this diagnosis.

In this interview we talk about:

* His motivation behind making the movie.

* What he learned from interviewing people living with CRPS.

* His hope for Trial by Fire

* Why he is so passionate about helping people living with CRPS (and diabetes).

* What it is like to be a caregiver to someone living with CRPS.

Charles is so passionate about getting the word out about CRPS and Trial by Fire is a powerful film from the patient's point of view. Often times as healthcare professionals we see the patient for short snippets of time in their lives. As a result we sometimes don’t get the "whole picture" of our patient and that is what I think Charles is doing with this film. I look forward to seeing the finished product!

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