PTs and Practice Opportunities

As I look at the state of the profession it puzzles me that more PTs are not pursuing specialization in areas that are both professionally stimulating and financially rewarding.

PTs try many ways to enhance the skills and tools used in clinical practice. Many choices exist for therapeutic and diagnostic skills if one wishes to pursue and master them. The time spent in doctorate entry level training covers many but not all possibilities for eventual decisions to enhance ones scope of practice. But, it seems PTs are slipping when it comes to the opportunity for practice innovation in the area of electrodiagnostic tests, (EMG, NCV….)

Since the 50’s PTs have been trained and use principles of electrical properties in daily practice.  PTs traditionally apply electrical principles in treatment of neuromuscular disorders.  All areas of PT but especially modality driven practices have clearly seen a declining valuation. It is clear payers regard the application of electrical treatment modalities commensurate with passive or unattended service and as such justify cuts in reimbursement. Although we still treat patients using these modalities interest in electrical treatment procedures has waned among the PT community.

In the general medical community however, Electrical Testing of the neuromuscular systems has seen dramatic growth over this time. But in PT we have not seen any significant interest in this area of practice.   Why in the world would that be?  Have we forgotten that our training also includes testing with electrical principles? Well is it true most PTs focus on treatment modalities but fail to see the opportunity to use their knowledge and training in electrical tools as a “testing” modality. Fortunately these testing opportunities are still in high demand and reimburse very well compared to treatment modalities, even after a recent sharp reductions in reimbursement.

Elctrodiagnostic testing or EDX  is used to evaluate nerve and muscle disorders and has been a part of PT practice since the 50’s. Originating in classical forms like chronaxie and strength duration tests traditional EDX today consist of two separate tests nct and emg. Basically NCT assesses nerve conduction speed in response to electrical stimulation and EMG records electrical activity from a muscle. NCT are done with surface electrodes and EMG utilizes a small needle electrode. These tests help clinicians to diagnose entities ranging from focal nerve compression like carpal tunnel syndrome to radiculopathy and such disorders as myopathy and diabetic neuropathy.

Today, although PTs have training in principles underlying electrical tests the EDX field is dominated by the neurology and PMR disciplines. PT’s focus on treatment and diagnostic testing has been the purview of “doctors” .But why?   To me the answer is clear – “money” – as reimbursements for EDX escalated in the 70;s and 80’s almost overnight arbitrary lines were drawn in the sand by the medical community to define EDX  as the practice of medicine.  Historically dependent upon the medical community PT’s have tended to acquiesce to these arbitrary practice boundaries.

But over time the profession has progressively ‘pushed back’ against the medical establishment defending therapists’ right to practice EDX. Today’s climate for PT practices is transforming. The economic pressures on private PT practices are pushing them close to extinction. In spite the obvious challenges therapists in private practice need to explore opportunities for growth and sustainability.

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John Palazzo PT, DSC, ECS- EMG Specialist

Dr. Palazzo earned his BS degree in PT, MS in Human anatomy from The Ohio State University and then the DSc in Clinical Electrophysiology from Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions in Utah. Born and raised in Ohio he relocated to Michigan and stayed put to pursue his PT career and current specialty track in EMG/NCV testing. In the early 80’s he founded “NeuroLAB” an EMG private practice with a focus on serving orthopedic, occupational medicine and hand centers. On entry into EMG practice Dr Palazzo encountered many practice challenges. In the late 80’s an important legal precedent for PTs in EMG practice resulted when he championed a major antitrust action against several organized physician competitor groups that hindered his livelihood. Dr. Palazzo represents PT/EMG interests in legislative, regulatory, legal and reimbursement issues on state and national levels and is distinguished by the following: -1980 dedicated a private practice to provide free standing EMG testing services -1985 first PT board certified as an Electrophysiologic Clinical Specialist (ECS) -Cofounder of the APTA EMG section Blue Ribbon panel on EMG practice -Prompted efforts and funding in late 90s to get a national Medicare policy for recognition of PTs performance and reimbursement for EMG tests. - APTA expert and advisor to the AMA CPT Code panel workgroup on EMG CPT coding issues -APTA key rep to defend PT practice at licensure and Insurance boards in over 20 states -Member of Michigan Medicare carrier advisory committee (CAC) -Adjunct PT faculty at five Michigan Universities -Clinical and research publications on peripheral nerve compression disorders and sports injuries. -2002 co-founder the American Congress of Electroneuromyography (ACE) On the personal side, Dr Palazzo makes it a priority to enjoy family time, fixing broken things and playing a competitive but friendly game of handball.

Latest posts by John Palazzo PT, DSC, ECS- EMG Specialist (see all)

• PTs and Practice Opportunities - July 9, 2014