cross utilization of OT/PT

July 30, 1999

Hi Group,

I would like to hear some feedback re: an OP/Industrial setting here (owned

by a PT) in MI which utilizes a PT to cover for OT patients while the OT is

off or on vacation. (while continuing to bill for OT services) I know my

feelings about this, but would be interested in hearing some discussion.

Sue Chapin, OTR

Chapinsm@...

July 30, 1999

Without specific orders for PT, that practice is illegal in Michigan (no

direct access for treatment) unless the PT is functioning as an OT

" Assistant " which is a very Very questionable practice. Turn them in and

get them out of my profession.

BTW, I am a PT in Michigan.

At 09:02 PM 7/30/99 , you wrote:

>Hi Group,

>

>I would like to hear some feedback re: an OP/Industrial setting here (owned

>by a PT) in MI which utilizes a PT to cover for OT patients while the OT is

>off or on vacation. (while continuing to bill for OT services) I know my

>feelings about this, but would be interested in hearing some discussion.

>

>Sue Chapin, OTR

>Chapinsm@...

>

>------------------------------------------------------------------------

>

>eGroups.com home: /group/ptmanager

> - Simplifying group communications

>

R. Kovacek, MSA, PT

Email Pkovacek@...

313 884-8920

Visit <www.PTManager.com>

TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE !

July 31, 1999

This is potentially both a violation of the PT and OT Practice Acts. The PT

looks to be practicing without PT orders, and billing fraud is another issue.

The individual(s) need to be reported to their respective

licensure/registration boards in Lansing at the DCIS, and the payor(s) might

like to hear about this practice as well.

Filing a compliant with the PT Licensure Board is simple, and more should do

it when they come across a situation like this. I can share my thoughts, and

contacts, with you off-list if you choose

, PT

Grosse Pointe Woods, Michigan

dperrypt@...

July 31, 1999

Regardless of the law and practice acts, the bottom line from the outside

view is greed. What a sad thing!

Lundy, MS, PT, PCS

July 31, 1999

I would add one more consideration to Dave's and 's comments. There is one

way only to do this legally. You need more than a PT referral or " orders " . The

PT also has to evaluate the patient and establish a plan of care. The PT can

not just " cover " for the OT by just continuing with the OT's Rx plan.

However, while what I just described may be legal I do have a big philosophical

problem with this concept. PT and OT are not interchangeable. The closest we

get is in hand therapy and despite what the ASHT says, and does, there are

differences btwn the two professions.

Chapinsm@... wrote:

> Hi Group,

>

> I would like to hear some feedback re: an OP/Industrial setting here (owned

> by a PT) in MI which utilizes a PT to cover for OT patients while the OT is

> off or on vacation. (while continuing to bill for OT services) I know my

> feelings about this, but would be interested in hearing some discussion.

>

> Sue Chapin, OTR

> Chapinsm@...

>

> ------------------------------------------------------------------------

>

> eGroups.com home: /group/ptmanager

> - Simplifying group communications

Attachment: vcard [not shown]

July 31, 1999

This situation brings up a good question of whether one " should report "

versus " must report " potential violators of practice acts? In

developing the Model Practice Act for physical therapy we felt this

area was generally one of significant weakness in most practice acts.

Therefore, the model language recommends language mandating reporting

of violations, or potential violations, of a practice act. Several

states have already adopted mandatory reporting clauses in their

practice acts. This means that someone with knowledge of a violation of

their practice act but fails to report it to their board would also

potentially have grounds for disciplinary action. There are also APTA

ethical standards that further support the concept of not ignoring

violations of law and reporting them in the interest of public

protection and professional integrity.

Blair J. Packard, PT

President, Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy

wrote:

original article:/group/ptmanager/?start=6684

> This is potentially both a violation of the PT and OT Practice Acts.

The PT

> looks to be practicing without PT orders, and billing fraud is

another issue.

> The individual(s) need to be reported to their respective

> licensure/registration boards in Lansing at the DCIS, and the

payor(s) might

> like to hear about this practice as well.

> Filing a compliant with the PT Licensure Board is simple, and more

should do

> it when they come across a situation like this. I can share my

thoughts, and

> contacts, with you off-list if you choose

> , PT

> Grosse Pointe Woods, Michigan

> dperrypt@...

>

July 31, 1999

Blair,

So right you are, that violations must be reported. Too many times those

aware look the other way, or don't want to get involved. The offender may be

removed from working in one setting, but moves on to another. I am still

awaiting the final conclusion of a case I reported 3 1/2 years ago. But the

hearing is coming up in 2 weeks, and hopefully the offender will be put out

of action...again.

, PT

dperrypt@...

August 1, 1999

Blair is exactly right in referring to the Code of Ethics:

Principle 7:

" Physical therapists accept the responsibility to protect the public and the

profession from unethical, incompetent, or illegal acts.

7.1: Consumer Protection

A. Physical therapists shall report any conduct that appears to be unethical,

incompetent, or illegal.

Quoted from the APTA Code of Ethics

Note the word " Shall. " There does not seem to be much choice in this word. As

I teach ethics and the law to our entry level students, they take these

responsibilities very seriously, and are appalled that in California, the ethics

committee of the state chapter so rarely deals with serious issues very sternly.

If we are to market ourselves successfully for our " rightful " and necessary

(necessary for the public) place in the coming millennium, we must assure the

public that the physical therapy profession practices legally and ethically.

this takes monitoring of our own, by our own. Tough stuff, but then we have

taken on an awesome responsibility in becoming physical therapists! I urge each

of you to review the language of the Code of Ethics at least annually (it makes

for a very interesting inservice discussion).

Dale Avers

Dale Avers, PT, MSEd

Mount St. 's College

12001 Chalon Road

Los Angeles, CA 90049

FAX

Doctoral Candidate

Instructional Systems Technology

Indiana University

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