Author: Jamie Lee

A number of people have asked why I chose to pursue another doctorate degree (for as long as I’ve been in school, sometimes I ask myself the same question!). After finishing my master of science in nursing, I strongly considered obtaining a PhD in nursing science or the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree. I…

I was working in the emergency department (ED) some time ago, and one of my colleagues asked me to examine their shoulder. The ED is known for the chaos that can happen at any given period. Though, at times when it settles down, co-workers will occasionally ask me about orthopedic problems that they are experiencing….

Ever since my 2 year old daughter was born, I have taken a long hiatus from writing (she’s a blessing, but quite a handful!). Despite my absence, I have been so encouraged by the emails that I have received from physical therapists (PT), PT students, healthcare colleagues, and students from other professions who have contacted…

Historically, Illinois has been one of the most conservative states for all non-physician providers. With antiquated policies coming to an end, NPs and PTs will finally be able to practice to their fullest extent. With the political landscape of Illinois changing, physical therapists (PT) will have direct access and nurse practitioners (NP) will be able to…

I have had an increasing number of colleagues ask me the following questions: (1) “What physical therapy (PT) clinic do you recommend?” and (2) “which PT should I go to?” Considering all the physical therapy clinics that are readily available in the area, it is an important question to ask. Picking the right PT can influence your…

You have heard it countless times: “I’m going to refer you to physical therapy (PT)” or “What you need is physical therapy.” While I understand that these statements are said with good intentions, I do have some issues with the phrasing. My physician assistant (PA) colleagues are similarly unsatisfied with the term “physician’s assistant.” It…

I recently read an article from JOSPT that revealed that approximately only 7.1% (95% CI, 7.0%-7.1%) of patients who have plantar fasciitis (PF) actually receive a physical therapist (PT) evaluation. A total of 819,963 patients were diagnosed with the condition and seen by providers between 2007 and 2011. Can you believe that? Where’s the love…

This might ruffle a few feathers, but I firmly believe that residencies should be required before any physical therapist (PT) is allowed to enter fellowship training. In medicine, a physician must complete residency before entering into fellowship. After finishing, they may choose to go into fellowship or “sub-specialty training.” The residency is the stepping stone. For…

Advanced Practice Clinicians (APC) are civilian mid-level providers (ex. nurse practitioner, physician assistant) who have the ability to order imaging. Though, some proponents have suggested that mid-level providers may be inappropriately ordering unnecessary imaging for their patients. Hypothetically, this could lead to increased healthcare cost and spending. Hughes, Jiang, & Duszak (2015) used Medicare claims…

There are so many advertisements from various companies that offer courses for manual therapy. Whether it’s joint manipulation, soft tissue mobilization (STM), instrument assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM), or dry needling (DN), the companies will promote how these skills will improve your results in the clinic. While that may be true, there are a couple…