The Primary Care PT Podcast: Recent Episodes

Dr. Katie O'Bright, PT, DPT

Highlighting primary care physical therapists - who we are, where we are, what we do, and how we help patients and communities optimize physical health.

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In this episode, I sat down with Rachelle Hartman from Providence Health in Washington where they have an integrated primary care PT program. It was great to hear from her about how effective leaders with solid relationships came together to make this happen for their patients. Their practice includes MSK/vestibular/women's health evaluation and triage, and they are also beginning to explore their role in lifestyle medicine for patients with chronic diseases.

If you or someone you know would like to reach out to Rachelle, her email address is rachelle.hartman@providence.org

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Trigger warning: This episode contains a postpartum story that may be difficult to listen to for some people who have experienced similar trauma.

In this episode, we had a special patient guest share her postpartum story. She developed postpartum preeclampsia and acute heart failure. We discuss the benefits of a pre-discahrge PT evaluation, including testing vitals with movement, lifting and stair climbing, which may have detected key diagnostic features earlier. We also discuss the importance of attention to detail when attending to patients in the hospital setting.

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Disclaimer: This podcast and anything mentioned in it is not medical advice or education, rather thought-provoking entertainment for healthcare clinicians.

In this episode, Drs Seth Peterson and Jess Klain help me dive into one of Seth's case reports on a patient with "grumbling" cauda equina syndrome that was managed conservatively. We discuss the spectrum of CES and compare management strategies.

Seth's Case Report: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1zOfbgWMW8q5Oqz9hPfIQnkHVeZEgglkt/view?usp=sharing

Other paper mentioned: "SHADES of grey – The challenge of ‘grumbling’ cauda equina symptoms in older adults with lumbar spinal stenosis"

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2468781219302620?via%3Dihub

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In this clinical spotlight, I share my own personal experience with POTS/dysautonomia along with Dr. Rebekah Griffith and Dr. Jessica Klain. I share my experience of feeling brushed off and gaslit by several healthcare providers who made me believe my symptoms were caused by anxiety before comprehensively putting the pieces together. To quote Dr. Griffith "if it truly is anxiety, I have tools to be able to handle this... but don't jump to that without thoroughly ruling out other things". Individuals with dysautonomia often go years before receiving a medical diagnosis due to lack of awareness by many healthcare professionals. It our responsibility to be informed... and never to gaslight a patient.

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In this first clinical spotlight episode, Dr. Jessica Klain and I discuss a case of transient global amnesia. We review the current practice guidelines for differential diagnosis and management, and discuss how our opinions differ from a paper that we reference:

Sealy D, Tiller RJ, Johnson K. Transient Global Amnesia. Am Fam Physician. 2022 Jan 1;105(1):50-54. PMID: 35029951.

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I will start by saying that I've never been to Hawaii (yet!), but I learned a TON in this episode about just how isolated and rural the Hawaiian islands actually are. Dr. Genevieve Correa is a PT in Molokai and she did a fantastic job educating me on how primary care PT truly solves a problem in these "healthcare deserts"... or islands! We also briefly discuss the primary motion brought forward by the HI delegation... and why it was tabled. Listen in...

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In this part 2 episode with Dr. Brian Barney, we discuss our mutual interest of serving underserved communities. We discuss how socioeconomic and racial disparities influence access to care and what we can do to help solve that problem... a must listen.

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I had a great opportunity to sit down with one of our primary care course attendees to hear more about his experience as a young athlete with cardiovascular pathology. As an orthopedic specialist, I wish that my training focused more on cardiovascular awareness of patients in my care. Hope this will inspire our listener to focus a bit more on intentional systems review. Stay tuned for part 2 where Brian and I discuss a shared passion of working with underserved communities.

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I had a chance to sit down with Dr. Ryan Jacobsen, who is a pediatric PT clinical specialist about his perspective on the need for primary care PT in the pediatric space. We cover how you don't need to be a pediatric specialist in order to work with children in the primary care PT space! This is something near and dear to my heart as a parent of young boys and a topic we should all pay attention to!

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Welcome back! Listen to hear about highlights for the fall 2023 season of The Primary Care PT Podcast!

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In this episode, I sat down with Dr. Kelly Valignota, DO who is a physiatrist/sports medicine physician in a national health system. Dr. V shed light on her background, and provided valuable information about the expertise and role of physiatrists in MSK care. We talked about how physical therapists and physiatrists can work as a team to serve patients with musculoskeletal needs. Don't miss it!

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NEW Primary Care PODCAST!

In this episode, I sat down with Dr. Steve Goostree, a physical therapist working in the digital and hybrid healthcare space. We talked about how important it is for healthcare organizations include digital and hybrid options to improve access to care. We also talked about the employer-sponsored model and how perhaps big third party payers will be a thing of the past in the near future!

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In this episode, I had the chance to discuss the importance of lifestyle factors in PT practice with Dr. Mark Shepherd, PT, DPT, OCS, FAAOMPT, who is the director of the OMPT fellowship and also DPT faculty at Bellin College. Mark provided excellent insight on the importance of addressing lifestyle factors in patients with pain and disability and also shared how Bellin is incorporating this essential topic into their curriculum. You won't want to miss this!

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SUPER inspiring episode with Dr. Rekebah Griffith, owner of The ED DPT and author of the newly published book "Top of Scope: The Emergency Department Physical Therapist Practice Handbook".

We talked about Dr. Griffith's experience working in the ED as a PT and also discussed some specific cases of when and when not to refer to the ED! So much good stuff here.

Give her a follow on twitter @theeddpt and check out her website: https://theeddpt.com/

Link to her new book: https://a.co/d/fOt8mNW

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In this episode, I got the chance to chat with Dr. Seth Peterson, who is the owner of a private practice and The Movement Brainery, a continuing education company with a primary care PT course. We discuss Seth's background and how he incorporates the primary care philosophy into his practice.

Check out the Masters in Motion podcast, especially the bonus episode titled "The Woman in the Clock - Mary McMillan" from Jan 13, 2021.

Take a look at the movement brainery's primary care PT course: https://themovementbrainery.thinkific.com/courses/primary-care-pt

Follow him on Twitter @drsethPT

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In this Part 2 episode featuring the Palo Alto VA, I had the chance to chat with Dr. Katie Qiu, a new grad from High Point University who is a current resident. We talked about her experience as a new grad resident in an integrated primary care setting, but also discussed her "why" for wanting to get into a program like this. A great episode, especially for new grads or others interested in residencies!

Interested in getting in touch with Dr. Qiu? Follow her on twitter @katieqiu_dpt

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In this episode, I had a great discussion with Dr. Rusty Bishop from the Palo Alto VA in California. As the orthopedic residency director at this location, Dr. Bishop describes how his background in the Air Force inspired him to develop an integrated primary care opportunity for his residents. He describes their set-up, how/why they were successful, and future plans. Stay tuned for episode #4 where I chat with Dr. Katie Qiu, who is one of the current residents at this program!

Interested in reaching out to Dr. Bishop? Email him at russel.bishop2@va.gov

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The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services's has a best kept secret....

But it shouldn't be a secret!!! Tune in to learn more about how physical therapists are utilized in a team-based care model in the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) with Kelly Schroeder, a physical therapist and program director in Milwaukee, WI. This episode draws so much to light about addressing health disparities and social determinants of health. All primary care physical therapists should be aware of, and referring to, PACE programs in their region!

Listen in to the Redefine Health Ed Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Youtube, or click the link in bio.

Spoiler Alert: a discount code for our courses is waiting for you at the end of this show!

physicaltherapy #physiotherapy #primarycarept #dpt #dptstudent

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Primary Care Series #1:

In this episode, I sat down to chat with Drs. Joe Kucksdorf & Dan Roenz from Bellin Health in Green Bay, WI. They established a PT in primary care team-based model in 2018 and have been growing ever since. We discussed how they got started, what their model of care looks like and their future plans.

Interested in contacting Joe or Dan? Shoot me an email at info@redefinehealthed.com for details.

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In this episode, I had the pleasure of chatting with Drs. Ellen Anderson and Lori Zucker about all things cannabis! Cannabis has been a controversial topic in our nation's history and we discussed the "why" in this episode. We also discussed how cannabis can be used medically, not only as an alternative to narcotic medication for pain relief (or an aid for those tapering off narcotics), but also as a sleep or mental health aid. This episode could have gone on for hours - one of my favorite episodes to date!

Reach out to Ellen at Lori at their website www.ptcannabisinfo.com where they have several on-demand courses for rehab professionals.

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In this episode, I had a great conversation with Dr. Ari Ginsberg, owner of Psychology for the Body. Dr. Ginsberg is a DPT who also has a masters in psychology. We discussed his reasoning for obtaining a psychology degree and shared stories on the importance of clinicians understanding psychology principles. One of my favorite episodes thus far! Go check out his website at www.psychologyforthebody.com.

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In this episode, I sat down with Dr. Elise Cantu who is The Onco PT! Elise is a physical therapist clinician & educator who is passionate about oncology practice. She is eager to educate generalist clinicians in how to evaluate and manage individuals with cancer. We shared some great, thought-provoking and emotionally driven stories. Such a great conversation! You can find her on all social media as @theoncopt. You can also listen to her podcast - The Onco PT and send her an email at theoncopt@gmail.com

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In this episode, I had the opportunity to sit down with Dr. Bill Egan, a long time colleague AND my former MSK professor from Temple DPT. Bill shares his experience coming out of the Army and starting as a civilian therapist. We discuss the difficulties that students and new professionals face when transitioning from clinic to classroom. We also discussed the barriers of insurance reimbursement and upward mobility in the profession. Great episode, and a great time catching up with Bill!

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In this episode, I sat down with 2 DPT faculty members, Dr. Mike O'Hara and Dr. Mike Steimling to discuss the importance of clinical education and mentorship. Clinical education is one of the least regulated portions of healthcare education and often times, clinical instructors are not prepared to be in this role. We discuss how clinicians can learn the fundamentals of pedagogy to ensure they are providing the student with the best learning experience. A great discussion to lead into their upcoming CEU course on Sat, Jun 19 from 9am-12pm EST - Paying it Forward: The Why, What, & How to Mentoring Students & Young Clinicians. See you there!

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In this episode, I had the opportunity to chat with one of our key educators, Dr. Lance Mabry. He is an assistant professor in the DPT program at Highpoint University and Teaching Primary Care/Imaging and Professionalism & Leadership. In this episode, we cover:

  • Dr. Mabry's background in the Marines and Air Force

  • Why imaging is important, especially for physical therapists

  • The current stance on physical therapists ordering imaging in the military and civilian sectors

  • RHE's MSK Imaging course series

We got to nearly a full hour of recording and I realized we needed more time! We're going to plan on a part 2 episode to dive deeper into this topics!

Contact Dr. Mabry at lmabry@highpoint.edu or on LinkedIn

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In this episode, I had the pleasure of interviewing a very important mentor of mine, COL Jason Silvernail. We had a great conversation about leadership and mentorship in healthcare. You’ll also hear both sides of the story of a young PT in need of mentorship, ie. Me and COL Silvernail.

Main themes:

  • What life is like in the military C suite
  • Healthcare professionals are not automatically qualified to be leaders/managers/supervisors.
  • Optimizing team dynamics, and specifically resolving interpersonal conflict….IMMEDIATELY…. is pretty darn important in any leadership role
  • Leaders must continuously reiterate their values and culture to those around them.
  • People have to be happy where they work!

Follow COL Silvernail on ALL the social medias! @jasonsilvernail

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In this episode, I had the pleasure of interviewing a very important mentor of mine, COL Jason Silvernail. We had a great conversation about leadership and mentorship in healthcare. You’ll also hear both sides of the story of a young PT in need of mentorship, ie. Me and COL Silvernail.

Main themes:

  • What life is like in the military C suite
  • Healthcare professionals are not automatically qualified to be leaders/managers/supervisors.
  • Optimizing team dynamics, and specifically resolving interpersonal conflict….IMMEDIATELY…. is pretty darn important in any leadership role
  • Leaders must continuously reiterate their values and culture to those around them.
  • People have to be happy where they work!

Follow COL Silvernail on ALL the social medias! @jasonsilvernail

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In this debut episode, I had an awesome discussion with my friend and colleague Dr. Rachel Neuhold, PT, DPT from the University of Oklahoma's Stephenson Cancer Center. In this episode, we covered a lot of bases, but here the main gist: - Getting started in oncology PT practice - Common misconceptions about working with individuals with cancer - Fascinating things about the effects of exercise & prehab on cancer - Psychosocial aspects of the job; where stuff gets real. Working with individuals with cancer is/was the most rewarding job that I have ever had. Contrary to what you may think, oncology practice is full of hope, inspiration, exploration and truly amazing individuals.

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In this debut episode, I had an awesome discussion with my friend and colleague Dr. Rachel Neuhold, PT, DPT from the University of Oklahoma's Stephenson Cancer Center. In this episode, we covered a lot of bases, but here the main gist: - Getting started in oncology PT practice - Common misconceptions about working with individuals with cancer - Fascinating things about the effects of exercise & prehab on cancer - Psychosocial aspects of the job; where stuff gets real. Working with individuals with cancer is/was the most rewarding job that I have ever had. Contrary to what you may think, oncology practice is full of hope, inspiration, exploration and truly amazing individuals.