The health care system is the source of one of the greatest legalized monopolies in the history of this country. The worst part is, you didn’t even realize it was happening.
The current health care system utilizes a couple of different types of “gatekeeper model”. One is aimed at cost control, in which a gatekeeper is in place to help regulate referrals to specialists and other investigative or testing procedures. The second is aimed at the level of clinical practice, in which a gatekeeper is required to provide referrals in order for another health care provider to practice to the extent of their training and scope of practice.
The latter issue is a critical one in our health care system today. Why? It promotes a legalized monopoly, one that ultimately prevents patients from their right to choose a provider, while actively removing a number of professions from a truly free marketplace.
Lance Armstrong has become, once again, the focus of a doping investigation. A two year-old federal Justice Department investigation, which concluded in February, could not find a reason to file charges against Armstrong. Now, lo and behold, we are told that the USADA has filed charges against Armstrong and he has been immediately barred from triathlon competition.
Interesting timing, I’d say. Ironman France – Armstrong’s first Ironman - is just 11 days away. Coincidence?
Yes, doping in sport should be addressed aggressively. But let’s start moving forward, shall we? This is all starting to become a little old and stale.
This is the 18th in a series of RunSmart videos. The series is on-going, with a new video released on a biweekly basis. These videos complement the material presented in the book “RunSmart: A Comprehensive Approach To Injury-Free Running”. The full series of videos can be found here. A compilation of the first 10 videos will be available on Vimeo as well.
For those of you that are interested in a more interactive learning environment, consider attending a Level One (half day), Level Two (one day), or Level Three (two day) RunSmart program. The Level One program is 4 hours and focuses on basic training principles, running mechanics, and injury prevention. The Level Two program is 8.5 hours and focuses on performance optimization and training program development. The Level Three program is a two day, 15 hour program that includes a comprehensive approach to running injuries. The next Level One program will be offered in Austin on June 30, 2012. The next Level Three program will be offered in Austin, Texas on August 17 - 18, 2012.
In this video, I discuss one of the most important principles for new runners and experienced runners – Keep It Simple. Start short, start with some simple goals, gain some success and let that drive your progression!
[Note: This post is not in any way affiliated with ABC nor any of its associated television programs.]
The physical therapy profession is standing at a crossroads.
There is no doubt in my mind that physical therapists are the international experts in therapeutic exercise prescription. Physical therapists are the international leaders in non-surgical care for musculoskeletal conditions. There is now plenty of data to support that evidence-based physical therapy saves money while optimizing function.
But I would suggest that physical therapy in the United States is in need of an Extreme Makeover. And as soon as possible. Why?
It all starts with how we view ourselves.
Today is National Running Day, a day to declare one’s “passion for running”. At first glance, I thought that it must be yet another Hallmark Day. There seems to be a day for everything now.
But then I started to think about it. You could pull 10 people off the Town Lake Trail, and you would probably get quite a number of different responses. I am sure you would hear people speak of fitness, weight loss, and perhaps even stress relief. Those all sound like pretty admirable reasons to run, right? Those are all good reasons to have a passion for running, yes?
So I asked myself the same question: “why do I run?”. In a moment of Zen, I found my answer.
“Because I can”.
The American Physical Therapy Association’s Annual Conference is this week. The House of Delegates has a number of hot topics on its agenda today and tomorrow, most notably discussion regarding “Physical Therapist Responsibility and Accountability for the Delivery of Care”. In many other circles, this would be shortened to “professional autonomy”, but it wouldn’t be governance without a long-winded title now would it?
Fortunately, this upcoming discussion has fueled its share of blog posts (great sample here, with some added history lessons here), along with a number of enlightening Twitter discussions (transcripts here and here).
It has been a week since I posted “Vision Now: A Physical Therapist Manifesto”. In the meantime, I continue to be bewildered by some of these discussions. Are physical therapists really ready to own their profession? Or are they spending too much time pondering the meaning of life while health care reform rolls on?
Ladies and gentleman, please be seated. Let the emotional debate begin anew.
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force has provided us with new recommendations regarding PSA-based screening for prostate cancer. Based on the evidence reviewed, they no longer support screening for prostate cancer as “many men are harmed as a result of prostate cancer screening and few, if any, benefit”. In 2009, they had similar thoughts regarding breast cancer, noting that the USPSTF “recommends against routine screening mammography in women aged 40 to 49 years”.
I am sure all of this will have men and women alike up in arms. We should expect more cries of “rationing of care” and the like coming shortly.
Science-based medicine provides us with sound clinical guidelines upon which to build a foundation for care. That assumes, of course, that the science-based medicine in question isn’t simply going to be ignored. But as it stands right now, “although about half of primary care doctors agreed with the guidelines, less than 2% said they planned to actually follow them and completely stop using the PSA.”
Surely you jest. Really?
Allan Besselink, PT, DPT, Ph.D., Dip.MDT has a unique voice in the world of sports, education, and health care. Read more about Allan here.