Entry By: Eileen Bach, PT, M.Ed, DPT
The FDA site noted here has some helpful information. http://www.fda.gov/MedicalDevices/ The case study for July is pasted below.
Best regards, Eileen Bach
Case Study of the Month
The FDA encourages consumers and health care professionals to report problems they have with their devices while they are using them. This could be anything from an injury or death to a malfunction or near miss with a device while it is being used. Users should report these problems to the FDA so that we can accumulate information on products in our national database and take any action if needed. The reporting number you should use is 1-800-FDA-1088.
Case Study for July 2011: Dangerous Purchase
Consumer ordered a knee walker/leg caddy from an online shopping website. This device was unsuitable and even dangerous because the knee platform was unsteady and the pads were slick. The steering did not turn 120 degrees as advertised, the brake did not work well and the handlebars collapsed (weight was not a factor). As a result, the consumer experienced a fall. At first, the online seller refused a refund, but the buyer appealed to PayPal and PayPal secured a full refund on the basis that the device was unsafe and not as described. Consumer later learned that this device was an imitation to a superior product. This cheaply-made imitation is extremely dangerous and could further injury and/or result in additional surgery for many people. Unfortunately, products as such are still being sold on at the shopping website.
Eileen,
This is an interesting post-I am supposed to see a new Pt. today who got a knee walker for a new short leg cast/NWB. The nurse who opened the case told me about it. I do not recall ever seeing a knee walker in my 18 years as a PT in a variety of settings.
I was at your CEU course in Cleveland a few months ago and have found your information very helpful. I am working for a 2 year old home care agency that has 3 PTA’s that want to stay busy/productive. I was wondering what is the most on average 1 full-time PT should try to case manage. It is difficult to supervise 3 PTA’s that each carry between 18-25 visits per week.
Any input would be appreciated. Rich PT
Hi, Rich – first off, thank you for the positive feedback on my seminar and I am glad you found the information helpful!
I have practised 35 years and never had a client with a knee walker; one of my colleagues shared that he found using one to be very challenging with a client and the client needed to be cognitively intact and fairly functional to use one.
As for productivity, I do not know of any industry averages as many therapists are not full-time staff. My experience is that somewhere between 15 and 20 cases are needed to make 30-35 visits a week for a full time therapist. In your example, 3 PTA’s makning 18-25 visits seem to be equal to 2 or 2.5 full time equivalents so it would seem that 30-40 cases minimum would be needed for the PTA productivity. Of course there is SO MUCH variability in cases and each agency may have more specific data about average length of stay, Dx’s, etc that would help identify the caseload issue parameters.
If you supervise 3 PTA’s, I know you are working HARD! The need to be on top of visit counts and calendars so you (the PT) make all required re-assessments is hard enough for a single clinician and having 3 others in your case work, must be challenging. In my state – NY – a PT can only supervise 2 PTA’s in home care so my licensing board has set a framework in that aspect.
I suggest asking your agency for caseload information or overall census, case mix details so you have more data. If your agency has RN’s supervise LPN’s that caseload info may be comparative and helpful in looking at PT:PTA caseloads.
Best wishes,
Eileen