I just finished reading a piece in Advance for PTs and PT assistants titled 
"Lets Get Together:  A Review of the Perceived Benefits, Challenges of 
Collaborative Practices."  The writer reports results of a questionnaire which 
was mailed to PTs and "other clinicians."  The questions asked reportedly were 
about time collaborating with others, whom they collaborated with, their 
feelings about collaboration and the effects of collaboration on the patient.  
One result reported was that almost 100% of respondents "believed there were 
definite benefits of collaboration."  Most respondents reported that the 
majority of their collaboration was with physicians.  Which lends itself to a 
question by the author, "Is this really true collaboration?  I would wonder if 
it is really shared decision making and response for care delivery, rather than 
merely sharing information or interacting."  The author of the piece cites a 
Dr. Cleary who states, "..collaboration lends itself to efficiency..it reduces 
length of stay for patients, in many cases, and creates well-delivered services 
that overlap and reduce costs."

Personally, I was wondering what others on the list feel of collaborative 
treatment as it exists at this time.  Prior to moving from a cost based 
reimbursement system to CPT billing under Medicare, PTs and OTs often 
co-treated with severely involved brain injured and post CVA patients.  It is 
seen less often in the States now because CPT billing does not allow for 
multiple disciplines to bill for the same full time period. 

I am also interested in the input of those outside the US and their response to 
how collaborative efforts exist in their respective countries.  What other 
strategies exist other than co-treatment for collaboration?  How well do list 
serve members interact with other disciplines.  Do you feel you truly 
collaborate with physicians?

One point in the article is that their is a misunderstanding of scopes of 
practice and knowledge deficitsbetween disciplines that lends itself to less 
effective medical care.  They also site competition and territorialism as 
limiting patient care outcomes.

I am interested to read others reaction to the above statements and their 
perspective on the issues above.

Jimmie

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