As I conclude 4 decades of practice, I see some major changes on the horizon.

When I was in PT school in the late 60’s, I was taught to treat low back pain with moist hot packs, massage and Williams’ flexion exercises.  If the patient didn’t improve, and that was frequent, I’d review their exercises to be sure they were doing them right. Often I told them to do more reps too.

While treatment of musculoskeletal pain has come a long way in the nearly half century since I began, we’re still stuck on old models of how to treat.  Many of the popular forms of treatment are based on manual therapies, which date back decades.  While these are often successful, they may take weeks or even months at the rate of 3 times a week treatment.

Problem is, the future of health care won’t allow for that model. We’re on the cusp of change in the way health care will be delivered.  As our President Obama takes office, health care reform is one of his big agendas. In order of provide for the nearly 50 million people who don’t currently have any health care insurance coverage, significant changes will need to be made. There will likely be a reduction in both reimbursement and the number of visits allowed for therapy.

What will this mean to you as a health care provider? Possibly the biggest change you’ve faced in your entire career. How to prepare yourself becomes a critical priority in your future success.

Here’s where to start…

Imagine for a moment that you now only see patients on a “fee for service” or cash basis. That means no one has insurance. What would that mean to your practice income? Most of you are ill prepared to shift to that model and I can understand why. It’s because you’ve never been given the skills and tools necessary to rapidly assess and treat most patient. Virtually all treatment approaches are based on the luxury of seeing the patient for at least 6-12 sessions in order to achieve the desired result. The model I see for the future will be once a week for 3-4 weeks with the patient being given a stronger emphasis on what they need to know and do at home and work. This model is not for post-surgical rehab or other situations where rehab must be on a more frequent basis.

The advantage to the model I’m proposing is that the “cream will rise to the top” or the finest practitioners will be recognized for their skills of rapid assessment and resolution of pain. This will allow these same practitioners to compete for cash patients if they so chose.

How does one begin to prepare for the inevitable changes on the horizon?

Identify approaches to treatment that are the most dynamic in their results and integrate them into your treatment regime NOW.

In order to meet the coming shift of delivery of your services head-on, you would be well advised to consider adding approaches which move you in the direction of how you could succeed even if you had a “cash only” practice. Survival of the finest will be a wonderful opportunity for all who are open minded enough to integrate the best approaches to achieving lasting results in the least number of visits.

Primal Reflex Release Technique™ is one such approach.

Why?

No other therapy has the potential to effect positive change in a patient as quickly and safely as PRRT. No other therapy I’m aware of promises that there must be noticeable and lasting improvement in a couple sessions or PRRT is not that patients’ answer and it is discontinued.

Will you survive and become known as one of the finest?