Physical therapy is a rewarding profession that helps people who are injured or in a vulnerable state. However, it also comes with potential risks and responsibilities. Marshall explains how OmniSure repeatedly sees a shortage of therapists in every setting, leading to patient care being shortened and allegations of fraud by the payer. Edema, or swelling, is another common side effect of treatment that can cause pain and functional restrictions.
To minimize risks and prevent injuries, employers should hire physical therapists who are trained in occupational health and safety. Certified physical therapists must also practice certain protocols to ensure they don't leave the patient unattended. In addition, physical therapists must focus on open and honest communication with their patients to build trust and promote healing. Physical agents such as heat, cold, electricity, radiation, sound waves, mechanical devices, education, prostheses, orthoses and others are used in physical therapy. Unfortunately, this is a common practice in physical therapy centers and leads to incorrect time reporting.
The greatest risk in physical therapy is inadequately treating a patient. To avoid this, physical therapists should be trained to carefully evaluate a workstation and provide a detailed plan on how to fix it for each person. This includes measuring the body (height of standing and sitting, length of arms and legs), table and chair. The physical therapist will then study and review this information so that they can develop an appropriate plan and give recommendations.
