60 YEARS AND COUNTING!
In December of 2023 I celebrated my 60th birthday...I know what you’re thinking, and I agree. There is no way I can be that old!
Having said that, the reality of the experience gave me plenty of time to contemplate life. I re ected on the time that has passed and, more importantly, the years I have left. A concept that resonates with me is the idea of “say yes more often.” There is a lot written about what happens if you say yes more often.
In general, saying yes more often opens doors to something new, and for me it helps me prioritize people and experiences. I didn’t want a party to celebrate turning 60; however, I wanted to extend the celebration for the entire year...go big or stay home!
I challenged myself to nd an adventure or reconnect with someone in my life at least once a month for the entire year. I’m six months in, and it has been an interesting and ful lling experiment.
In January, I went to the Boston Boat Show with one of my closest friends. We wandered around the convention center climbing on boats neither of us had any intention of buying. We spent the night in Boston, and I watched him sip cocktails over dinner (my hardest test during Dry January) as we relived some of the adventures we shared over the last 30+ years of friendship. We’ve traveled extensively together, and the stories never get old.
In February, two of my close friends and I did a long weekend in Florida. We were set to venture out on a shing charter before high winds cancelled the outing. We made the best of our time together shing from the shore and making up for Dry January.
In March, Sandra, Blake and I enjoyed a family vacation.
In April, Blake and I did our rst ever “boys’ weekend.” It was a great opportunity for one-on-one time with my now fourteen-year-old son. We agreed “boys’ weekend” will become an annual tradition.
In May, we went to a Boston Red Sox game with another family we enjoy spending time with. The Red Sox won, which made Sandra happy. They sell big pretzels at Fenway, which made Blake happy. The game was super fast with the new time clock rules, which made me happy.
In early June, I made it to Charleston, SC to visit a good friend. I was his best man, and we were business partners early in our careers. I couldn’t believe it had been ve years since I’ve taken the mere hour and forty-minute ight to see him. That won’t happen again.
In late June, our “core group” consisting of four couples and assorted kids headed to the beach and spent the week together! It was great to all be under one roof.
In the rst six months of 2024 I’ve relearned a few things.
• If I put something on the calendar it has a better chance of happening.
• Small e orts at staying connected yield huge results.
• Time spent with people that I love makes life special.
• Life has been a great run for me... and it’s not done yet!
I hope this summer you head out on an adventure that you may have passed on, reconnect with people who make your life special, and nd at least one opportunity to say YES!
Thanks,
Alan
IN THIS ISSUE
Clinician’s Corner by Daniel Vala, Middletown Physical Therapist The Importance of Pain Neuroscience Education in Patient Care
Congratulations DOCS Grad!
Apply for PTSMC’s Orthopaedic Residency - Deadline End of July
2024 Superstar Clinical Instructor Recognition
Employee Spotlight: Jacey Bissell, Branford PSA and VPSC
DEI: Navigating Di cult Conversations: How to be an Ally By Marilex Santiago
LifeBeat: Social Connections
The Extra Mile: How to Keep Patients (And Yourself) Calm During Times of Transition By Kiana Truong
Goodbye Hello
It’s been 3 full weeks of transitioning in Prompt ~ We are de nitely IN IT!
Every position at PTSMC has been impacted by this EMR change and the move to bring Billing and Account Receivables in house.
THANK YOU to all PTSMC employees!
These few weeks have consisted of so much learning, new work ows, di erent looks, changed access, and steps closer to being paperless.
The worst is over. Hopefully through these challenges, glimmers of the goal to decrease administrative burden are being seen.
Please keep sending questions to: PromptQuestions@ptsmc.com. FAQ documents are being created, emailed out, and housed in the ERC.
CLINICIANS: June End of Month Documentation deadline is extended to Wednesday, July 10th, 7:00 am. FRONT DESK: Balancing of News, Visits and Cash in Prompt are being determined and the process will roll out by July 10th. Reporting in Prompt is new and di erent. There will continue to be more learning as the proverbial onion is peeled! Clinicians and front desk will continue to have access to WebPT as clerical users. There will be at least one clinical user per location through July 31.
You’re invited to a company-wide family event at the Hartford Yard Goats Baseball Game on Sunday, September 8th at 1:10pm.
7.
CLINICIAN’S CORNER
The Importance of Pain Neuroscience
Education in Patient Care
Daniel Vala, PT, DPT
Physical Therapist at PTSMC Middletown
Chronic Pain is seen too often in our line of work. Oftentimes we will have patients that come in and tell us a story of how they’ve had pain for 10 or more years that has not changed. Sometimes we have patients come in with a level of pain that is so intense that they are not able to function. There are many misconceptions that patients hear every day regarding pain and the sources of their pain that are based solely on the structural pathology model and ignore the human as a whole such as in the biopsychosocial model (1). At times, misconceptions can lead to negative pain beliefs that contribute to kinesiophobia that can worsen their chronic pain and decrease their level of function. Additionally, oftentimes patients come in with an external locus of control, meaning that they believe that they cannot do anything about their pain and need medical intervention to manage the pain (2).
One way we as physical therapists can help deconstruct these misconceptions is by providing pain neuroscience education (PNE). PNE can be delivered in various forms, whether it be one on one, or as public education/presentations (2). In a systematic review by Marris et al. published in 2019, participants who received pain education in addition to traditional physical therapy improved signi cantly more than control groups that included waitlisting, medical management, or solely traditional physical therapy (3). Other reviews had previously been published examining the e ect of PNE in adults with chronic pain and all of them also showed bene cial e ects in decreasing pain (3).
Additionally, we as physical therapists should educate ourselves in PNE to be able to share our knowledge with our patients (2). In a study by Adriaan Louw et al., attending a 3 hour online PNE course for physical therapists resulted in decreased disability scores in patients with low back pain (2). Additionally, therapist behavior in the clinic shifted to using less visits and more active interventions instead of passive interventions (2). This signals more of a focus in channeling the patient’s internal locus of control and self-e cacy.
One strategy therapists use in PNE is an analogy to explain pain. The “Fire Alarm Analogy” is oftentimes used to explain chronic pain. The “Fire Alarm Analogy” uses the example of an overactive or over sensitive re alarm to describe the pain experience that they are feeling. One thing we as therapists need to remember is the importance of using motivational interviewing with our patients to make sure our goals and POCs are relevant to the patient (4). Additionally, motivational interviewing is important in leading to true behavior and lifestyle changes for our patients (4). We should be empowering
our patients to make true behavior changes for themselves in order to manage their pain on their own and improve their quality of life.
Using these strategies, in addition to our manual skills and exercise expertise, we can provide a new explanation to our patients regarding their chronic pain that addresses the whole human and not just the musculoskeletal system and help them improve their function, reduce their kinesiophobia, and provide some true lifestyle changes.
References:
1. Ryan C, Karran EL, Wallwork SB, et al. We are all in this together - whole of community pain science education campaigns to promote better management of persistent pain. The Journal of Pain. Published online October 1, 2023. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpain.2023.10.024
2. Louw A, Puentedura EJ, Denninger TR, et al. The clinical impact of pain neuroscience continuing education on physical therapy outcomes for patients with low back and neck pain. Shaharudin S, ed. PLOS ONE. 2022;17(4):e0267157. doi:https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0267157
3. Marris D, Theophanous K, Cabezon P, Dunlap Z, Donaldson M. The impact of combining pain education strategies with physical therapy interventions for patients with chronic pain: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Physiotherapy Theory and Practice. 2019;37(4):1-12. doi:https://doi.org/10.1080/09593985.2019.1633714
4. Nijs J, Wijma AJ, Willaert W, et al. Integrating Motivational Interviewing in Pain Neuroscience Education for People With Chronic Pain: A Practical Guide for Clinicians. Physical Therapy. 2020;100(5):846-859. doi:https://doi.org/10.1093/ptj/pzaa021
CASE DISCUSSION & JOURNAL CLUB
All meetings are 12:00-1:00 pm on TEAMS.
Upcoming CD dates: 07/09, 08/06
Upcoming JC dates: 07/23, 08/20
Go to the ERC Clinical Excellence Folder for CD & JC 2024 information. Email Meghan.Blanusa@ptsmc.com to be added to the meeting invites.
CLINICAL EXCELLENCE STUDENT PROGRAM UPDATE
Upcoming Courses
Clinical Management of the Fitness Athlete
August 3-4, 2024
Instructed by ICE at Taft School in Watertown
INTERNAL COURSE SPONSORED COURSES
SMT 1: High Velocity Low Amplitude Thrust Manipulation of the Cervical, Thoracic, Lumbar, & Sacroiliac Joints
September 21-22, 2024
Instructed by American Academy of Manipulation at PTSMC Guilford
2024 Superstar Clinical Instructors
July 2024 marks the 4th year of the Clinical Instructor (CI) Recognition Program, where Superstar CIs are honored for their e orts through the Student Program. These Superstar CI’s will receive PTSMC CI swag, Giftogram gift cards, and certi cates. Additionally, this program recognizes and welcomes the newest CIs who have taken on this role in 2024 for the rst time.
More than 50% of all PTSMC clinicians have worked with students in some capacity over the last year. THANK YOU for your hard work and dedication!
Lastly, a special thank you to all CIs who continued to provide unmatched clinical experiences for our students throughout the PROMPT transition.
CIs Who Have Hosted 5-9 Students
Josh McAdams, Danbury
Mario Paredes, Orange
*Save The Date*
Upper Extremity
September 28, 2024
*DOCS Program Requirement
More info coming soon
Lower Extremity
November 2, 2024 at PTSMC Wallingford instructed by Melissa Boutagy, PT, DPT, OCS
*DOCS Program Requirement
Visit the ERC Clinical Excellence folder for all future course information.
Email ConEd@ptsmc.com to register for PTSMC courses or with any Clinical Excellence questions.
Congratulations DOCS GRAD!
The Clinical Excellence Team would like to recognize and congratulate the most recent graduate of the DOCS (Development of Clinical Success) Program:
Micaela Nowacki, PT, DPT, Putnam
Micaela re ected on her DOCS Program experience and shared the most in uential parts of the program for her, as well as what she looks forward to pursuing next for continuing education:
“The most in uential part of the DOCS program was the one-on-one support and opportunity to have an experienced clinician shadow and provide guidance on real patient treatments.
With continuing education this year, I plan to focus on return to sport for athletes after injuries and/or surgery.”
Russ Woodman, New Haven
*data tracked since 2016
2024 First Time CIs
Ally Hickey, Watertown
Bernie Lapaan, Wethers eld
Cody Filingeri, Avon Conner Gavin, Groton
Interested in becoming a CI? Please reach out to Juliann.Chacko@ptsmc.com to learn more.
The following students are starting in July:
Kara Beaupre (Spring eld) will be with Mike McGowan in Windsor starting on 7/29.
Elena Masiello, Wallingford
Katherine Fan, Shelton
Sean Doenias, Newington
Lauren Granato (Boston University) will be with Todd Cacopardo in East Hampton starting on 7/1.
Omaniel Ortiz (UCONN) will be with Christina Swan in Newington starting on 7/15.
Emma Raccaro (Spring eld) will be with Je Lo in Westbrook starting on 7/29.
William Toomey (UCONN) will be with Bart Kolcz in Avon starting on 7/15.
Nicholas Vecchitto (UCONN) will be with Nathan Gockel in West Hartford starting on 7/15.
HUMAN RESOURCES
New Employees
JOB OPPORTUNITIES
Brooke Boisvert Danielson PT Aide
Jasmine Cedeno-Costas Groton Patient Services Coordinator
Nicole Kowalski Avon Physical Therapist
Megan Gallagher Southbury PCC
Employee SPOT LIGHT
Jacey Bissell Branford PSA and VPSC
JULY BIRTHDAYS
July birthdays are located in the ERC. Click here to see the list of birthdays.
By Caty Mulligan, HR Coordinator & Sports Medicine Coordinator
Jacey Bissell has grown with PTSMC in many ways! She began with PTSMC Branford as a part-time Patient Services Coordinator in August 2019 covering evenings while she worked as a research assistant for a non-pro t during the day. When she was introduced to the PSC position, she truly felt connected to our mission and was excited to become a part of PTSMC!
She gained experience with customer service and administrative procedures, which paired well with her educational background in Healthcare Administration and her interest in improving patient outcomes. The next year, she became full-time. As Branford’s volume grew and Jacey became an expert in the role, she was promoted to Patient Services Administrator in December 2021.
Since then, PTSMC Branford has added to their sta and moved to a new and larger location. Jacey has enjoyed being a part of that growth while watching Partner and Director, Ted Raczka, grow as the leader of the clinic, and her colleagues grow professionally and clinically. As PSA, Jacey has taken on additional responsibilities and oversees the operations of Branford’s PT Aides, including maintaining their schedules and timesheets. This has led to her developing great relationships with the PT Aides. It’s so rewarding for Jacey to be a part of their journeys as they learn to succeed in the position and take their next steps in life.
This past year, Jacey had the opportunity to join PTMSC’s growing remote operations team as a Virtual Patient Services Coordinator. In this role, she works remotely three days a week primarily covering the Branford location and helping the other VPSCs with coverage of other VPSC clinics as needed. Being a part of the team of VPSCs and remote operations has been valuable for Jacey, as they all work together to learn and tackle challenges in a virtual, high-tech world.
She recognizes that her roles of PSA and VPSC work synchronously as they allow her to have both in-person and remote interactions as well as work with patients from other clinics. She has enjoyed working with a bigger pool of patients and being a part of the Admin team too!
Originally from North Haven, Jacey has been around the Branford area her whole life.
Jacey, her partner Brendon, and their two adopted cats, Jack & Nashville, recently moved to Niantic. They love everything the small town has to o er. In fact, they have so many great things to say about Niantic, that her parents are looking to move to the area as well!
JULY ANNIVERSARIES
Alisha Mohamed O ce Assistant
Stephen Petrosino PT Aide
Tyrus Conroy PT Aide
Justin Marceau Physical Therapist
Sydney Gill PSC
Kaylee Hall PT Aide
Je rey Panepento Physical Therapist
Chelsea Wadle PSC
Stephen Delaney PT Aide
Jolie Galasso PT Aide
Kelly Hylton PT Aide
Kelly Cozzolino PSA
Danielle Pilgrim PCC
Jacey takes full advantage of what living on the CT shoreline has to o er. She loves to spend time on the water and exploring inland. During the summer, she can always be found either kayaking or on a boat. If not near water, she’s out hiking the many trails in the area. She’ll also take day trips and brave the crowds to visit the many accessible tourist destinations like Newport, Mystic, and Block Island. Last year, Jacey and Brendon traveled to the Grand Canyon, Antelope Canyon, and Cape Cod. They hope to plan another trip out west soon to visit Montana and Wyoming.
Jacey also has the advantage of being close to fresh, local seafood where she lives, and she takes full advantage of it. She loves to try new seafood and sushi restaurants. She also is happy to cook for herself and enjoys trying new recipes, gardening and baking her own sourdough bread!
FUN FACT!
Jacey dreams of opening an animal sanctuary someday.
401(k) Updates
NEW: MONTHLY DEFERRAL CHANGES
Beginning July 1, 2024, your personal deferral changes will be implemented MONTHLY instead of quarterly.
The change you make will go into e ect the second pay period of each month.
Please note this does not apply to new enrollments.
EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT
Social connections
Being social is vital for mental health and well-being as it provides emotional support, reduces stress, and fosters a sense of belonging.
“Social” can be an intimidating word, so let’s shift that perspective to “cultivating connections.” Positive connections (social interactions) boost self-esteem, enhance coping skills, and contribute to overall happiness. Engaging with others stimulates the mind and provides a sense of purpose. Additionally, maintaining healthy relationships promotes emotional intimacy and ful llment.
Summertime is a great opportunity to get out there and start cultivating connections! Use this checklist and try to check something o each week over the next few months:
Join a group focused on a favorite activity
Help out/volunteer at a community event
Attend/participate in a neighborhood event
Attend/participate in a social work event
Reach out to someone you have been meaning to catch up with
Plan an outing with your favorite people
Exercise with a companion or group of people
Introduce yourself to someone new
DEI
Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion
By Marilex Santiago, DEI Leader
Being an ally in the workplace involves advocating for inclusivity and challenging biases. Situations where patients or colleagues make derogatory statements can be di cult to address. Here are some tips to navigate these moments while remaining a supportive ally:
1. Assess the Situation:
• Take a moment to understand the context of the statement. Was it malicious or simply ignorant?
• Safety and well-being are important. Consider the safety and comfort of everyone involved, including yourself. If the situation feels unsafe, prioritize de-escalation.
2. Respond with Empathy and Calmness:
• Avoid getting defensive or accusatory.
• Phrases like "That sounds like a frustrating experience" or "I can understand why that might be o ensive" can acknowledge the person's feelings without validating the statement itself.
3. Educate and Redirect:
• Brie y explain why the statement is insensitive or inaccurate. You might say, "It's important to remember that everyone has di erent experiences."
• Redirect the conversation back to the patient or the task at hand. You redirect with, "Let's focus on nding the best treatment.”
4. O er Support Privately:
• If appropriate, you can take the person aside later for a private conversation.
• O er resources or suggest educational materials to help them learn more about inclusivity. You can o er to research something together later as well.
5. When to Report:
• If the statement is blatantly discriminatory or creates a hostile environment, immediately report it to a supervisor.
• This protects other patients and sta and sends a clear message that such behavior is unacceptable.
Remember, it's okay not to have all the answers. To feel con dent in managing tough situations that may arise, you can personally practice the following:
• Active listening: Pay close attention to what others are saying and feeling.
• Continued development of communication skills: Learn how to express your concerns assertively and respectfully.
• Seek support from allies: Having a network of like-minded people can provide encouragement and guidance.
By consistently advocating for inclusivity, you can create a more welcoming and respectful environment for everyone.
Wednesday, July 17th from 1:00- 1:30pm
Topic: Generational Diversity
The Extra MILE
By Kiana Truong, Intern
How to Keep Patients (And Yourself) Calm During Times of Transition
This past month as a summer intern for PTSMC has been an exciting time of learning, especially through traveling to various clinics and seeing how they operate. During this experience, I’ve noticed how PSAs and PSCs across the board know WebPT like the back of their hand, and how switching to Prompt brings an adjustment period of challenges and stress. Here are some of the practices that I have watched, experienced, and tried to emulate from PTSMC front desk sta that keep both patients and themselves happy and calm during the transition period.
1. A Patient-Focused Atmosphere
Our patients are our priority. By ensuring that we transfer their data carefully and validate all the information necessary to treat them, we can continue to give them the best experience possible while limiting stress due to this transition.
2. Clear & Transparent Communication
It is essential that we are honest with our patients about this change and can answer questions they have. As much as we want to make this process easier for ourselves, we want to make it easier for them as well and foster a well-informed, understanding environment.
3. Listen to Feedback (and write it down!)
If a patient has feedback to share about our new software, listen intently and show appreciation for their thoughts. Encouraging feedback from our patients is a key component to improving our services and promoting a culture of openness and growth. Share patient feedback with your supervisor.
4. Continue Excellent Customer Service
PTSMC patients are accustomed to top-notch customer service. As always, treat patients with warm and welcoming smiles. Regardless of what’s going on behind the scenes, greet them with their preferred name, and mention personal details that show you remember your conversations with them. Our commitment to fostering lifelong relationships with our patients begins with and is maintained by showing we care about them.
5. Time for Self-Care & Teamwork
If you are feeling stressed or overwhelmed, take a minute to breathe. Incorporate little moments of self-care throughout the day so that you feel your best. Stay hydrated and nourished. Take little breaks from your computer screen. Communicate with your co-workers if you feel you need support and be there for them when they need it. Teamwork makes challenges so much easier!
You’re invited to this year’s company-wide family event, a Hartford Yard Goats Baseball Game!
Game day is Sunday, September 8th. Game time is 1:10 PM.
Tickets, food and beverages will be provided for PTSMC employees and immediate family members in the Picnic Pavilion of Dunkin’ Park.
RSVP HERE by August 17th.
Cancellation deadline August 24th. For all questions, reach out to
PTSMC Happenings!
Assistant Directors from various clinics gathered for an Assistant Directors Meeting.
PTSMC #GetMoving Hike
Sta
friends and
get
June 2024 Management Meeting: Under the Tent
PTSMC Guilford provided AT coverage (Sara Sullivan) for the CJSA Joe Conte Rec Tournament in Cheshire on Father's Day weekend.
New Haven celebrated the start of summer with a hot dog lunch.
Emily Searle, Jackie Skirkanich, and Jen Ashman walked into LMDP sporting their PTSMC backpacks!
The Leadership and Management Development Program (LMDP) met in Admin with guest speakers Karen Havlicek, Steve Platt, and Kristen Forster
Prompt training is better as a team! Putnam and Danielson snapped a photo of their group lunch training.
Newington was out and about in the community! Left: Practice Liaison Janet Tarsuk and PT Sean Doenias attended the Newington Car Show. Right: Director Christina Swan and Sean Doenias attended the Newington Beer Trucky Festival.
Lock Street celebrated the rst day of summer with a Hawaiian Shirt Day!
,
family got together to
moving at the Wadsworth Falls State Park. Click to see more pictures!
Optimizing PTSMC’s Website: Why Long Form Articles Perform Better PTSMC HIGHLIGHTS
Jack Pearce, Data Analyst, married Rachel Hair on June 23, 2024.
Amber Carlbert, Southbury PT, welcomed Aksel Edward Carlbert on May 14, 2024.
SIPTA GRADUATES
Congratulations to the following PT Aides who completed the SIPTA (Skills Introduction for PT Aides) Program:
Victoria Alder, Windsor
Logan Blend, Fair eld
Emerson Colwell, Essex
StriveHub Fab
5
“The PTs that I've worked with, Bernie (Lapaan) and Kasey (Adinol ), are great people and very knowledgeable. There is a lot of positive energy, which makes me look forward to going.”
- Wethers eld
“I never feel rushed...everyone takes their time - the therapists are extremely knowledge - and, most importantly, everyone is friendly whether you're working with them or not.” - Westbrook
“Sta is very professional from entry to exit. Therapists have been very informative consistent and go over plan of care, answering all questions and reviewing the exercises to make sure I am correctly doing the exercises to get best bene t from the exercises.”
- Waterbury
“The sta , the aides and the PT professionals are all friendly and make a person feel comfortable when they are not at their best. I have been here many times and would never go the another place!” - Southbury
By John Demitrus, Director of Marketing
PTSMC’S Marketing TEAM is in the process of optimizing PTSMC website content for SEO (search engine optimization), so that when users search, our content is more likely to show up rst. We also want to make sure our content is engaging, so that when searchers click on our content, they stick around.
Is there a correlation between the length of content and engagement?
When readers nd comprehensive and engaging content, they are more likely to spend more time on the page, leading to higher user engagement metrics. These signals indicate to search engines that your content is valuable and relevant, improving your SEO rankings. We want higher rankings!
Jaime Condon, Newington
Dori Madancy, Plainville
Kaitlin Ryan, Plainville
Maya Slisz, Wethers eld
Dan Robinson, Shelton
Scott Testori, Newington
Kiley Yepes, Plainville
Audrey Zawadzki, Wallingford
“Dana (Colonese) is amazing. When I walked in your building for the rst time, I was in extreme pain. I made a huge improvement after just one session with her. In the weeks that followed, I could see she was really invested in seeing me make a full recovery. I’m now all better, and I’ve learned so much from Dana about how to avoid getting re-injured. Thank you!” - Orange
Research suggests that the average word count for the top 10 Google search results stands at approximately 1,447 words. Search engine algorithms tend to favor more extensive content (at least 1000 words), viewing it as more authoritative and comprehensive.
Longer content allows you to dive deep into a topic, providing in-depth analysis, examples, case studies, and supporting evidence. This not only demonstrates expertise but also provides value to users who are looking for comprehensive information. When users nd your content helpful, they are more likely to share it, link to it, and refer others to it, signaling to search engines that your content is authoritative and trustworthy.
With longer content, there are more opportunities to naturally incorporate relevant keywords phrases and search terms. This helps search engines understand the relevance and context, improving your chances of ranking for speci c search queries.
What does this mean?
The Marketing team aims to make PTSMC the authoritative source for physical therapy for both search engines and searchers. We’re looking forward to sharing PTSMC’s optimized content over the next few months.
Social Media CATCH UP
Brian Greer, Glastonbury Partner, lmed one of his patients recovering from an ACL repair. She’s working on sprint acceleration with change in direction, ability to control momentum, and single leg stability on an uneven surface.