APTA recently launched a Collaborative Care Models discussion forum in APTA Communities to allow members to discuss issues related to new collaborative care models under health reform, such as accountable care organizations (ACOs), patient-centered medical homes, and bundled payments. APTA is working to support members in their success within these models, and welcomes any questions for discussion within this community. In addition, the association wants to connect you with your peers who are working within similar models, allowing you to share both your opportunities and challenges.
Members who are participating in a health care model that incorporates a patient-centered medical home or ACO, or implements bundled payments are encouraged to share their experiences and best practices, including tools or processes that have led to their successful participation. Members who are not practicing in 1 of these models, but are interesting in doing so, can post any questions or discuss any barriers that they are experiencing. APTA also will provide answers to frequently asked questions in this forum.
To access the community, go to APTA Communities and click on the "Collaborative Care Models" link on the left-hand side. Don't forget to sign up to receive alerts when new postings become available. Additional information regarding these models of care can be found at www.apta.org/ACO. If you have further questions, contact advocacy@apta.org.
Authors of a recently published systematic review say it provides "good" evidence to support multidisciplinary rehabilitative intervention in adults with Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) and "satisfactory" evidence for physical therapy in these patients. Evidence for other unidisciplinary interventions is limited or inconclusive.
For this review, the authors searched Medline, EMBASE, CINAHL, AMED, PEDro, LILACS, and the Cochrane Library up to March 2012 for studies reporting outcomes of GBS patients following rehabilitation interventions that addressed functional restoration and participation. Two reviewers applied the inclusion criteria to select potential studies and independently extracted data and assessed the methodological quality. Included studies were critically appraised using the GRADE methodological quality approach. Formal levels of evidence of each intervention were assigned using a standard format defined by the National Health and Medical Research Council.
Fourteen papers (1 systematic review, 1 randomized controlled trial, 1 case-control study, 5 cohort studies, and 6 case series/reports) that described a range of rehabilitation interventions for people with GBS were evaluated for the "best" evidence to date. One high-quality randomized controlled trial demonstrated effectiveness of higher intensity multidisciplinary ambulatory rehabilitation in reducing disability in people with GBS in the later stages of recovery, compared with lesser intensity rehabilitation intervention for up to 12 months. Four observational studies further demonstrated some support for improved disability and quality of life following inpatient multidisciplinary rehabilitation up to 12 months. Evidence for unidisciplinary rehabilitation interventions is limited, with "satisfactory" evidence for physical therapy in reducing fatigue, improving function, and quality of life in people with GBS.
The gaps in existing research should not be interpreted as ineffectiveness of rehabilitation intervention in GBS, the authors say. Further research is needed with appropriate study designs, outcome measurement, type of modalities, and cost effectiveness of these interventions.
Editor's Note: According to the full text article, "multidisciplinary rehabilitation" may include physical therapy.
The National Library of Medicine (NLM) has released a new mobile app that is intended to make information broadly available and serve as the authoritative guide to NLM mobile resources. Users can find NLM mobile resources by type (website vs application), device (Android, Apple iOS, or Blackberry, or tag (descriptive tags assigned by NLM used to categorize the resource, such as "drugs" or "disasters").
Visit the NLM Mobile webpage to explore the app. Users can save the app to their home screen for those times when they have no wireless connection or cell signal. The index of NLM mobile resources is available for offline browsing. The app will be updated with the latest information once the device is reconnected to the Internet.
The inaugural class of 13 participants graduated from APTA's Education Leadership Institute (ELI) on July 19. The first cohort completed a yearlong higher education leadership program that consisted of 9 online modules provided by nonphysical therapy content expert faculty; 3, 2-day face-to-face interactive mentorship sessions with ongoing mentorship provided by experienced physical therapy program directors throughout the year; higher education mentorship provided administrators within participants’ institutions/organizations; implementation of a personal leadership development plan; and implementation of an institution-based leadership project. ELI graduates cultivated a shared learning community and network with opportunities to integrate curriculum content within their current and future education leadership roles and responsibilities.
The goal of ELI is to develop physical therapist and physical therapist assistant education program directors with the leadership skills to facilitate change and improvement in the academic environment of the 21st century, think strategically to creatively implement solutions in education to respond to changes in health care and society, and engage in public discourse that advances the physical therapy profession. The institute’s shared partners in the promotion, support, and implementation of ELI include the Academic Council, Education Section, and PTA Educators Special Interest Group. More information about ELI can be found on APTA's website.
ELI graduates are identified from the back row from left to right: Karen Abraham, PT, PhD (Shenandoah University, VA - Education, Orthopaedic, Women’s Health Sections); Amy Heath, PT, DPT, OCS (Temple University, PA - Education, Orthopaedic Sections); Kevin Brueilly, PT, PhD (Lynchburg College, VA & Wingate University, NC - Education Research, Acute Care Sections); Stephanie Kelly, PT, PhD (University of Indianapolis, IN - Education, Geriatrics, Health Policy & Administration, Neurology, Research Sections); Kevin Chui, PT, DPT, PhD, GCS, OCS (Sacred Heart University, CT - Education, Orthopaedic, Geriatrics Sections); Jill Horbacewicz, PT, PhD, OCS (Touro College, NY - Education Section); Mary Dockter, PT, PhD, MEd (University of Mary, ND - Education, Women’s Health Sections); Denise Bender, PT, JD, MED (University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, OK - Education, Geriatrics Sections); Diane Heislein, PT, DPT, MS, OCS (Boston University, MA - Education, Orthopaedic, Oncology Sections); Katherine Harris, PT, PhD (Quinnipiac University, CT - Education, Acute Care, Clinical Electro & Wound Management, Oncology Sections); Terri Dinsmore, PT, DPT (Clarke State Community College, OH - Education Section); Julia Chevan, PT, PhD, MPH, OCS (Springfield College, MA - Education, Research, Orthopaedic, Health Policy & Administration Sections); and Erin Conrad, PT, DPT, MS, OCS, MT, FAAOMPT (University of St Augustine for Health Sciences, FL - Education, Orthopaedic Sections)