When clinicians bring up the phrase "Mechanical Diagnosis And Therapy" (MDT), they will often mention things like diagnostic classification, centralization, and directional preference. You might even hear mention of self treatment.
I would suggest that we can add one more phrase to the mix: public health.
MDT clinicians are uniquely qualified to contribute favorably to a public health initiative. Though that may sound like a pretty significant value proposition for the future of health care, it comes with some substantial rationale to support it. There are a number of reasons why MDT can provide the foundation for a public health initiative that could truly be a game-changer.
The logical fallacy exists on a daily basis in the orthopedic world. Perhaps more importantly, it costs the health care world millions of dollars and a tremendous unnecessary burden psychologically.
Orthopedic patients are referred for countless imaging studies as a first line of assessment. An MRI is a detailed image which patients are told will provide all the answers to the diagnosis of their problem.
Technology is a wonderful thing, right?
But there are some significant problems with this that begin with the initial line of thinking.
Should we trust pathoanatomy?
It was another example of truth being stranger than fiction: rain, in Austin, in July. As I looked out the window, I had a double-take. I had to pause to realize that no, Chicken Little, the sky was not falling, and yes, it was actually real, honest-to-goodness rain. And buckets of it.
While the northeastern part of the country bakes, we have actually experienced the wet stuff and a (fingers crossed) only-modestly-blazing summer thus far. I am not sure what you call all of these strange weather patterns, although some might actually call it "global warming" - but I digress.
So while the sky is falling, grab an umbrella, enjoy the rain, and dive right in to the next episode of the Rhubarb Report.
It is a simple decision that stands in our way to the promised land of health care reform. When do we finally get to the point in which health care consumers just say no?
Imagine, if you will, a world without Big Medicine, Big Pharma, Big Insurance, and Big Hospitals. Imagine, again, that same world with legislators who made decisions based on the needs of their constituents, and not the needs of the Bigs. I know, I am creating a world of science fiction here, but work with me for a moment.
When do consumers finally decide that the status quo - and its currently accepted "standards" of health care - is no longer acceptable? And when will consumers finally choose to take back their health care system once and for all?
Our lives are chock full of beautiful memories. Some of the simplest things can trigger them off. Add some live blues music last week to some photos I found while rummaging around, and voila - an incredible trip down memory lane.
In those fleeting moments, I went back to places I haven't seen in decades. But it was more than just memories. These were some epic moments of growth and discovery.
Those were the times when life was really as simple as an open mic, a blues jam, a guitar, a glass slide on my finger, and, yes, some barbeque chicken.
Here's a question to anyone who has ever been a patient in the health care world: Are you paying for a service, or for an outcome?
And to all of you clinicians out there, I ask a similar question: Are you charging for a service, for your time, or for an outcome?
I would suggest that patients seek out the guidance of clinicians to attain an outcome.They are searching for a game plan to provide a tangible outcome of some form or another. That tangible outcome may have multiple steps, but it is still a specific outcome.
If there is a patient population that demands an outcome - and promptly - it is the athletic population. It becomes even more important to those athletes who make their living from sport. Health care in general stands to learn a lot from the ways of the injured athlete.
Today is Independence Day in the United States. For the first time since I moved to Austin, I went to Auditorium Shores this evening to watch the fireworks and listen to the symphony. It's not that I haven't witnessed fireworks here before - I just haven't taken part in the traditional Austin downtown celebration - until today. Cool stuff.
Welcome to a special July 4th edition of the Rhubarb Report. It would only be appropriate on a day like today to find some patriotic rhubarb and to share a few thoughts on what makes this country what it is. We live in a country founded on freedom, and there are plenty of powers-that-be that would gladly tear it asunder if we let them do so.
So sit back, relax, raise a toast to the United States, and enjoy the latest episode of the Rhubarb Report.
Smart Physio
posts are on professional and career-related topics such as health, fitness, training, and health care.
Rhubarb Diaries
posts are commentary, perspectives, opinions, humor and insight on all of my favorite topics: music, sport, and politics/current events.
Top 5 finalist in three categories: "Best Overall Blog", "Best PT Blog" and "Best Advocacy Blog".
Allan Besselink, PT, DPT, Dip.MDT has a unique voice in the world of sport and health care, one that has been defined by his experiences as physiotherapist, mentor, McKenzie practitioner, coach, innovator, author, educator, patient, and athlete. Read more about Allan, contact him, get updates via email, or connect with him on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
Up to 60% of runners will sustain an injury within any given year. Poor running mechanics, in conjunction with poor, ineffective and outdated training methods, can pose a significant injury risk. "RunSmart" was written to address these issues in the running community.
"Running Injuries: Etiology And Recovery- Based Treatment" (co-author Bridget Clark, PT) appears in the recently released third edition of "Clinical Orthopaedic Rehabilitation: An Evidence-Based Approach
" by S. Brent Brotzman, MD and Robert C. Manske, PT.
