September 2024 PULSE

SEPTEMBER 2024

ENERGAGE 2024- HIGH LEVEL INSIGHTS Most of you will remember participating anonymously in the Energage survey in May. It was sent to 395 employees, and 70% responded. There were 671 written comments- a new record!

Last year we acted on the feedback that burnout had increased significantly, and that the documentation burden needed to reduce. As a result, PTSMC moved to Prompt.

Thank you for taking the time to assess and share your experience as a PTSMC employee. Your feedback provides insight into what we do well and what would make us a better place to work. Our goal is to be an “employer of choice.” We want our people to enjoy being part of PTSMC.

In assessing this year’s results, the Faily Valued theme seems the place to start.

Specifically, the statement, “My Benefits package is good compared to others in this industry,” was the lowest score coming in at 44%. The benchmark (similarly sized rehab companies) for this question, was also 44%. However, this means 56%, over half of our people, disagree with that statement. It is clear we need to dive deeper to better understand employee expectations.

This year, Energage changed their scoring system to a “Workplace Experience Score” (WPES). PTSMC scored 82%; 8% higher than our benchmark (similarly sized rehab companies). The WPES is an average of all the core survey statements. In the past, the “final score” was only based on only 3 “engagement” questions. This year it’s based on the average of 23 questions. These questions comprise 6 themes. Here is how PTSMC scored in each:

The first 5 themes, all questions scored well above the benchmark. Fairly Valued scored 1 question above, and 3 questions within the benchmark. No score fell below the benchmark.

Energage converted past data into the WPES. PTSMC has been consistently in the 80’s over the last 5 years. I attribute this to the time you take to provide feedback, and the attention to the results by our leadership. At the June Management meeting, overall company data was reviewed. In addition, Partners and Directors with at least 4 survey participants received clinic-specific reports. The reports identify areas of strength and areas needing attention. My question and challenge: What can we do to be in the high 80’s and up into the 90’s?

IN THIS ISSUE Clinician’s Corner by Andrew Perazella, New Haven Physical Therapist Pain and Rehabilitation from a Nutritional Perspective Employee Spotlight: McKenzie Daniels, Newington PSA

“Benefits” covers a wide range of topics. Are employees dissatisfied with one or two specific benefits at PTSMC? Or, are there multiple benefits not meeting a variety of needs depending on personal factors, ages, marital status, family status, familial dependents, etc.?

CSIGs Update

The past few years, we have responded and made changes to specific benefit feedback: • As a result of employee inquires, Domestic Partner coverage is now an option for Dental, Health and Vision.

• Years of Service Milestones were perceived as imbalanced between the achievement and the gift recognition. PTSMC now has a more robust program.

• Dissatisfaction was expressed with the eligibility wait period and entry dates for the 401(k) plan. Both were shortened in 2023.

• Benefit eligibility was reduced from 40 hours required to 30 hours, based on feedback.

LifeBeat: Effective Stress Management

2025 Sponsored Course Survey

DEI: The Importance of Correct Information

Money Beat: Understanding A Mortgage Rate Buy Down, aka Points Of course, benefits are a form of compensation and make up a sizable percentage of By Jim Hungerford PTSMC expense. As we dig deeper and get more specific information, I will share our findings.

PTSMC will always seek to improve the quality of our employees’ lives. We appreciate all PTSMC staff and will continue to strive to be an EMPLOYER OF CHOICE. Thanks for all you do!

Coming soon: Marketing Help Center Read more on page 7.

Join us for an OPEN HOUSE

Alan

WELCOME BACK ATHLETIC TRAINERS!

Bristol Open House and One Year Anniversary Celebration November 13th from 4-7pm Join us for food, drinks, raffles, and fun to celebrate Bristol’s one year anniversary.

Jenna Bouffard Watertown Watertown HS

Steve Dale Guilford Guilford HS

Kasey Cutler Essex Valley Regional HS

Michelle La Forte New London Waterbury HS

Ashley James New London East Lyme HS

Madison Whalen Wallingford Mark T. Sheehan HS

Erik Lanese Waterbury Holy Cross HS

Sara Sullivan Westbrook Old Saybrook HS

RSVP to Emily at Emily.Fillion@ptsmc.com by Monday, November 11th.

CLINICIAN’S CORNER Pain and Rehabilitation from a Nutritional Perspective Andrew Perazella, PT, DPT Physical Therapist at PTSMC New Haven “If you want to learn about the health of a population, look at the air they breathe, the water they drink, and the places where they live.”

- Hippocrates, 5th century BC Over 2000 years later, this statement from the ancient Greek physician of antiquity still holds significant truth. Taking that concept further, the general health and wellness of individuals is greatly reflected in what kinds of foods they fuel their bodies with. In physical therapy school there is a heavy emphasis on topics such as anatomy, physiology, kinesiology, orthopedics, etc.

However, the depth and breadth of nutrition usually falls into a mere single course taught in our under-graduate years, which likely becomes forgotten as we focus more on the disciplines mentioned previously to become physical therapists. For that reason, it’s worth recognizing and discussing how exactly nutrition can be an important factor in an individual’s physical rehabilitation.

Questioning patients on what kinds of foods they are consuming can be a good start when it comes to education. While the list of potentially harmful chemicals and substances is far too long to discuss in a short post, two substances worth noting are salts and sugars, especially considering how much of each is easily found in so many grocery store products and restaurants. It is researched that consuming sugar in excess increases inflammatory cytokines such as TLR-4, Plasma C-Reactive Protein (CRP), E-Selectin, and others.1 And as clinicians we know that higher levels of inflammation can impede on physical activity / performance and recovery.

Related to salt, excessive levels of sodium can alter immune responses and reduce pain thresholds leading to hypersensitivity, thus making otherwise normal movements and functions painful, and increase the fear of movement and exercise.2 Knowing this, one must consider the patient demographic that exists in the vicinity of the physical therapy practice. It’s easy to assume that the demographic of low-income, less educated individuals is the main group that tends to consume more fast food than normal; however, it’s also shown that fast food and junk food consumption is common amongst college students due to factors including accessibility and affordability.3 In addition to discussing what types of foods to avoid in excess, discussing foods to pursue is also a helpful educational point. From an anti-inflammatory perspective, foods rich in anti-oxidants such as vitamins E, D, A, B6, B12, and Zinc are shown to have inflammation-reducing properties and tend to be consumed less in populations with pains such as those with chronic, non-specific low back pain.4 Taking into consideration that a great deal of patients that are treated in physical therapy are individuals recovering from an injury or surgery or experiencing chronic pain issues, reducing excessive inflammation can aid in the goal of overall pain reduction and tolerance to physical activities.

So, what can we do? As physical therapists we are obviously not qualified to be nutrition consultants, and devising a food plan is outside of our scope of practice. But we can ask questions, take a thorough history, and recognize when it could be playing a role in a patient’s diagnosis and refer to a nutritionist / dietitian if necessary. But this is just one of many pieces to patient-centered care, including other realms such as stress management, exercise dosage, mental health, rest, perceptions of pain, etc. that make up the biopsychosocial model of health. After all, the profession of physical therapy continues to lean towards direct access, autonomy, and becoming primary care providers to patients in need of our services; therefore, broadening our knowledge of the body and components of rehabilitation is an obligation to provide proper, holistic care.

References 1. Ma X, Nan F, Liang H, Shu P, Fan X, Song X, Hou Y, Zhang D. Excessive intake of sugar: An accomplice of inflammation. Front Immunol. 2022 Aug 31;13:988481. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.988481. PMID: 36119103; PMCID: PMC9471313.

2. Fan, A., Oladiran, O., Shi, X.Q. et al. High-salt diet decreases mechanical thresholds in mice that is mediated by a CCR2-dependent mechanism. J Neuroinflammation. 2020;17(179). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12974-020-01858-6 3. Rajmohan D, Madhusudhanan S, Anthuvanraj S, Anthuvanraj S, & Dr Balamurugan S. An Empirical Study On Factors Determining Intention Towards Fast Food Consumption Behavior Among College Students; A Scoping Review. Educational Administration: Theory and Practice. 2024;30(5), 3147–3155. https://doi.org/10.53555/kuey.v30i5.3401 4. Elma O, Yilmaz ST, Nijs J, Clarys P, Coppieters I, Mertens E, Deliens T, Malfliet A. Proinflammatory Dietary Intake Relates to Pain Sensitivity in Chronic Nonspecific Low Back Pain: A Case-Control Study. The Journal of Pain, 2024;25(2), 350-361. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpain.2023.08.015

CASE DISCUSSION & JOURNAL CLUB All meetings are 12:00-1:00 pm on TEAMS. Upcoming CD dates: 09/10, 10/08 Upcoming JC dates: 09/24, 10/22 Go to the ERC Clinical Excellence Folder for CD & JC 2024 information.

Email Meghan.Blanusa@ptsmc.com to be added to the meetings.

APTA CONNECTICUT’S ANNUAL PT CONFERENCE Click here to register for the APTA Connecticut’s Annual Physical Therapy Conference, hosted at UCONN Storrs, on Saturday October 5, 2024.

Be sure to utilize our discount code to receive $20 off: PTSMC Early Bird Rates end September 23, 2024 For conference details visit ctpt.org

CLINICAL EXCELLENCE Upcoming Courses 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

INTERNAL COURSES Upper Extremity September 28, 2024 *DOCS Program Requirement at PTSMC Branford Instructed by Andrew Kalach, PT, DPT, OCS, CMTPT

Lower Extremity November 9, 2024 *DOCS Program Requirement at PTSMC Wallingford Instructed by Melissa Boutagy, PT, DPT, OCS

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.

2025 PTSMC SPONSORED COURSES All clinicians were asked to participate in a survey to rank 13 different courses and topics for PTSMC to bring in-house for Sponsored Course in 2025. Thank you to the 61 clinicians who completed the survey! Below you will see the number of times a course was ranked within the TOP 3. Next, you will see a conversion to weighted total and percent to see the courses with the greatest sum of #1, #2, and #3 rankings. With these results, the Clinical Excellence Team will work to schedule the 3 top-ranking courses for next year.

CSIGS UPDATE The Clinical Excellence team is excited to announce the start of Clinical Special Interest Groups (CSIGs)! These groups are spaces for clinicians to communicate and connect with each other to share clinical interests, ideas, resources, goals, and have discussion as it relates to their practice.

CSIGs will go live on September 10th! We will be starting with the following CSIGs based on survey responses: Manual Therapy, Pelvic Health, and Sports Rehabilitation.

On September 10th, an email will go out to all clinicians with links that will take you directly to the CSIG you wish to join. If you are already actively using Teams, simply click a link below and click “Join”. You may need to sign in with your PTSMC email in the process.

If you do not use Team regularly, you may not have Teams license.

Click a link and try to access the group. If you are denied, no worries, we can get you access! Please inform your clinic’s Partner/Director of your interest in CSIGs then reach out to coned@ptsmc.com so we have your access and licensing set up.

Each Team will come with a General channel, Article Share channel, and Clinical Questions channel to help you organize your communications within the team.

Remember, CSIGs are clinician/employee driven! This platform is here as a means for you to leverage your greatest resource – each other! It is a space to connect and engage with each other for support, questions, ideas, best practices, share knowledge, etc.

We look forward to seeing clinicians connect in this new space and can’t wait to see the clinical growth and relationship building that occurs!

If you have any questions reach out to coned@ptsmc.com.

STUDENT PROGRAM UPDATE Additionally, we are in the process of scheduling a Return to Sport course for the beginning of 2025 based on the 2024 Sponsored Course Survey results. Stay tuned for the date!

DOCS Program courses are also in the works, and clinicians can expect the following courses within these months in 2025 – specific dates to be announced.

• April – Introduction to the Assessment & Treatment of the Concussed Patient • August – Cervicothoracic • November – Lumbar

PTSMC’s CI training has been updated!

Whether you’re signed up to be a CI later this year or are thinking about joining the team – please check out this link for more information: https://ptsmc.egnyte.com/dl/XOXOVcsfbd Email Juliann.Chacko@ptsmc.com with any questions.

Welcome to students beginning affiliations in September: Erika Lopez from Franklin Pierce starts in Middletown with Rob Bass and Gabby Didiano.

Nicholas Lopez from Mercy College starts in Danbury with Josh McAdams.

HUMAN HUMANRESOURCES RESOURCES

New Employees

Cristina Brose Simsbury PT Aide

Megan Broussard Michela Cole West Hartford Westbrook PT Aide Physical Therapist

Kasey Cutler Essex Athletic Trainer

JOB OPPORTUNITIES PHYSICAL THERAPIST

Rachel Durand Putnam PSC

Branford East Hampton Groton Guilford Lock Street New Haven New London New Milford Newington Plainville Shelton Southbury Wallingford

PATIENT SERVICES COORDINATOR

Alexandra Helmke Simsbury PT Aide

Bri Rivera Windsor PSC

Alexandra Jones Windsor Physical Therapist

Nevaeh Rivera Westbrook PSC

Shayla Leary Naugatuck PSC

Michele McClarnan Aneesa Mohamed Patient Accounts Admin Office Receivable Rep Assistant

Madeline Ruggiero Connor Scagliarini Orange PT Aide Fairfield PT Aide

Kylee Slavik Guilford PT Aide

Guilford New Milford Simsbury Westbrook

PT AIDE Avon Bristol Danbury Danielson East Hampton Essex Fairfield Groton Middletown Naugatuck

New London New Milford Orange Shelton Southbury Southington Waterbury Watertown Westbrook

ADMIN POSITION Athletic Trainer (Employer Services) Madeline Stopkoski Guilford PT Aide

Madison Whalen Wallingford Athletic Trainer

Brittany Wilder Wallingford PT Aide

Not Pictured Eilish Crossley, West Hartford PT Aide Victoria Cunningham, Fairfield PT Aide Alexis Enjem, Naugatuck PT Aide Emma Gearing, Putnam PT Aide

Traci Hancock, New London PSC Angelica Linsmeier, Windsor PT Aide Sebastian Maslinski, Simsbury PT Aide Victor Mojica, Simsbury PT Aide

Sofia Rudenko, Simsbury PT Aide Angelo Salazar, Southbury PT Aide Mary Talalas, Guilford PT Aide

Check PTSMC.com/job-openings for our most up-to-date postings, and feel free to share!

Call Karen or email at Karen.Havlicek@ptsmc.com if you are interested in a position.

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SPOT LIGHT McKenzie Daniels Newington PSA

By Mallory Mason, Director of Culture & Engagement Just over three years ago in July of 2021, McKenzie Daniels joined the Newington clinic as a PSC. She had been in the midst of obtaining a certification in Business Office Technology for Medicine Offices through Tunxis Community College, and the PSC position aligned perfectly with this pursuit.

In October 2022, McKenzie was promoted to PSA. She explained that it was really nice to take on more responsibility, and coincidentally the classes at that time were focused on insurance and learning EMR systems. Her classes helped her in the PSA transition, and the PSA transition helped her with her toward the completion of her certification in Spring 2023.

September birthdays are located in the ERC. Click here to see the list of birthdays.

SEPTEMBER ANNIVERSARIES

When she’s relaxing, she’s also learning and often watches documentaries. Recently, the shows The Blue Planet and Planet Earth have been her go-tos, because they are both educational and so soothing.

McKenzie also loves to be out and about hiking, traveling and learning new activities, the latest being rollerblading!

McKenzie and her boyfriend Devon started to “re-learn” rollerblading back in April. What began as parking lot adventures has become 8-mile outings! She says it’s been quite the journey- a few bumps and bruise along the way but nothing permanent! They love the Heritage Trail that runs through various CT towns, so keep an eye out for them blading by this summer.

McKenzie lives in Bristol and grew up in Vermont. Being a “New Englander,” she loves to get in some good hikes every summer in CT. She loves to travel more locally within driving distance and has a big trip planned this fall up north. McKenzie and Devon will drive out for Niagara Falls (both American and Canadian sides), and then slowly work their way back. Last year they had an amazing trip out to Watkins Glen State Park and Ithaca, NY. They loved it so much they have plans to stop there on the way back to visit the gorges and the start of the leaves turning.

One of her favorite parts of her job is patient relationships. For example, she recalls the time a patient went blueberry picking in Maine. That patient then made homemade blueberry muffins and brought them to share with the staff. McKenzie plays a major role in patient relationships not only with her PSA work, but she also puts her heart into patient engagement opportunities, including the clinic chalkboard with holidays and facts, candy jar guessing games, raffles, or small giveaways.

McKenzie is an avid learner, both in getting to know patients she works with and academically (she truly loves school). She has some certifications in mind to pursue next to continue to advance her personal and professional knowledge and skills.

SEPTEMBER BIRTHDAYS

FUN FACT!

McKenzie is a Lego lover!

With almost 100 sets & her own creations!

Isabelle Richard Molly Mayenschein Erika Ngan Lucas LaCroix Juan Alvarez Julia Turski Arthur Pappas Adam Rosenblatt Jillian Spindel Liam Vander Wyk Haley Walters Lauren Alicea Lorena Mendez Tara White Samantha Morin Nick Leiva

Patient Accounts Receivable Representative Virtual PSC PT Aide PT Aide PT Aide PT Aide PT Aide Physical Therapist PSC PT Aide PT Aide PT Aide Verification Representative PT Aide PT Aide Athletic Trainer

Admin Admin Wallingford Orange Orange New Haven Naugatuck Westbrook Fairfield Lock Street Wallingford Wallingford Admin Avon Groton Guilford

Dave Lawrence Julianne Balavender

Director of IT Admin Customer Service Admin Representative YHP

Jim Hungerford

Associate VP of Finance

Admin

EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT

DEI

Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

Effective Stress Management

By Marilex Santiago, DEI Leader

The Importance of Correct Information The 2024 Paris Olympics showcased the power of sports to unite people across the world. On the other hand, it also highlighted the destructive potential of misinformation. The leading example was in the case of Algerian boxer Imane Khelif. Khelif was incorrectly identified as transgender or intersex by some, and faced a barrage of hateful comments in the media. This misinformation fueled division, creating a hostile environment for both the athlete and the LGBTQ+ community.

Everyone experiences stress, and everyone experiences it differently. Here are a few techniques to manage stress at work. Try them out to find what helps you!

Find perspective: Our bodies do not effectively distinguish between physical, dangerous situations and emotional situations; most often, the stress response is engaged in both scenarios. To combat stress in non-dangerous situations, consider your perspectives. Try reflecting on what is most important to you, control what you can control, and avoid overthinking minor, daily disturbances.

Take charge in the moment: It is normal for emotions to fluctuate during the workday and to feel periods of stress. To find relief from overwhelm, try walking outside, engaging in deep breathing exercises, or listening to calming music to ease your mind.

Take breaks: Take small breaks throughout the day to recharge, stretch and clear your mind. Consider setting aside time for activities you enjoy. Also ensure you take personal time or vacations to unplug and help you to relax.

Manage time & energy effectively: Time management can help us reach our daily and long-term goals more efficiently, which can ease feelings of worry. Try the following: using a planner or reminder app to track tasks, time batching, delegating tasks to avoid the burn of a heavy workload, setting boundaries around time, and setting aside un-interrupted work time.

Moments like this highlight the importance of verifying information before sharing it. In today’s fast-paced digital age, it’s easy to be swept up in the rush to comment or repost.

However, taking a moment to confirm the accuracy of information is crucial.

Spreading misinformation can have real-world consequences, from damaging reputations to inciting violence.

The assumptions made about Khelif’s gender identity led to a harmful discourse that further divided people. It reinforced harmful stereotypes, prejudices, and intolerance due to the rapid spread of false information.

In this instance, the misinformation was also particularly dangerous. Violence against transgender individuals is a pervasive issue, and Algeria, Khelif's home country, criminalizes homosexuality. The false accusations against her could have had severe repercussions beyond the online realm.

As we strive to create a more inclusive and equitable workplace, it's imperative to be mindful of the information we consume and share. By verifying sources, challenging harmful narratives, resisting to partake in the spread of unverified or incorrect information, you promote empathy and understanding rather than fueling hate.

Everyone deserves respect, regardless of their gender, sexual orientation, or background. By being informed and responsible digital citizens, we can contribute to a more positive and united community.

SEPTEMBER VIRTUAL DEI FORUM Wednesday, September 18th at 12:30pm Topic: Languages RSVP by email to Marilex.Santiago@ptsmc.com

Billing Blog

By Tracy Laramore, Billing Representative

The transition to Prompt has brought brand new features and easier communication with PTSMC’s Billing and Accounts Receivable teams.

CMS Rules – New Rejection Feature!

For insurances that follow CMS billing guidelines, Prompt rejects claims that are over billed and under billed according to the Medicare 8 minute rule. In these situations, the billing team will send the visit back to the clinicians incomplete bucket to have time or units adjusted to follow the guidelines.

For example, Medicare guidelines require 38 minutes of time to bill 3 CPT codes. If you bill 35 minutes of time and 3 codes, we will send the billing back to your incomplete bucket and ask you to adjust time or units. We will always tag (using the @ symbol) you with the changes that need to be made.

3 Common Rejections & How to Prevent Them 1. Patient relationship to insured is invalid.

These rejections are mostly seen with Medicaid and Medicare Advantage Plans. The subscriber should always be self with these types of plans.

2. Primary Dx code cannot be the cause of injury.

Examples of these codes would be V89.2XXD person injured in unspecified motor-vehicle accident traffic, subsequent encounter or W19.XXXD unspecified fall, subsequent encounter. These codes are invalid primary diagnosis codes as they are not specific to the patient’s condition and will be rejected.

3. Tricare ID number invalid.

Tricare ID numbers need to be either the patient’s benefits number which is 11 digits or the subscriber’s social security number which is 9 digits. We cannot use the DOD number off the Tricare card which is a 10-digit number.

Tips Anyone can respond if they are tagged in a comment on a claim right through the Prompt EMR or can leave a comment for the Billing team if there is something we need to know about a claim.

Clinicians: Enter the visit you would like to leave the comment on and on the right-hand side click on comments. Then tag the person you would like to send the comment to. For example, if you would like to comment to the Billing team you would @Tracy Laramore, @Jennifer Detlefsen, or @Sam Guay. You can tag multiple people in the same comment.

Front desk staff, Verification, and Authorization Departments: You also have access to this feature. To get into the comments section, go to the visits tab and utilize the 3 dots next to the visit you want to comment on.

Once you enter the visit, you can get to the comments section on the top right-hand side of the visit.

Reach out to BillingTeam@ptsmc.com if you have any questions or need assistance. You can also reach out to ARTeam@ptsmc.com or both teams at once using RCMTeam@ptsmc.com.

Communicating Within Prompt

Coming Soon

MARKETING

By John Demitrus, Director of Marketing

HELP CENTER

The Marketing team is excited to announce we are launching a new Help Center portal on September 16, 2024 for marketing requests.

Employees will initiate and submit all inquiries and requests to the Marketing Team through forms on the PTSMC Help Center via our Zendesk platform. This will allow us to route the work to the right person, improve response times and allow us to better serve your needs.

This site was originally launched as a self help & troubleshooting site for IT issues. Now, it has a new look and has been renamed to “Help Center” to accommodate Marketing and future IT support options.

On the Help Center, you will find the option to ‘Submit a request’ and a library of resources with information on marketing strategy and tactics. You’ll also find the merchandise ordering portal where you can order products and supplies for your clinics.

We are striving to create efficiencies, increase transparency and improve turn-around times of your marketing requests and we are excited to leverage the Help Center to accomplish this. More information will be emailed out over the coming weeks in preparation for the September 16th launch.

PTSMC Happenings!

Jim Hungerford presented to ALMDP.

Lock Street hosted a spirit day- Crazy Sock Day.

Danielson hosted a back to school raffle. Pictured is the winner with her gift and PT Lisa Guilbault (right).

PTSMC hosted ICE's: Clinical Management of the Fitness Athlete course. 24 PTSMC clinicians attended!

Groton and New London sponsored and stretchers runners out at the Blessing of the Fleet 5k.

West Hartford attended “Center Streets,” an event in West Hartford center for walkers and bikers. Pictured left to right: Galen Thomas, Stephany Rozsa, and Janet Tarasuk.

LMDP NEW GRADUATES AND NEW CLASS New Graduates

from left to right Harrison Picard, Vlad Smolgovskiy, Jen Ashman, Conner Gavin, Kevin Howard, Gabby Didiano, Jackie Skirkanich, Emily Searle

Southington staff attended a Hartford Athletic game to celebrate achieving 1000 visits in one month for the first time.

Glastonbury Partner Brian Geer, Glastonbury Director Tom Kirsch, former Avon Partner Travis Lytle, and Bristol Partner Matt Baronowski attended the Fore the Kids Golf Tournament.

Did you miss the August monthly video?

New Class

from left to right Front Row: Elena Masiello, Bri Boulerice, Alan Balavender Middle Row: Mike Durand, Nick Scott, Sandy Wickman Mason Back Row: Amanda Kell, Mario Paredes

President Alan Balavender and VP of Business Development Mike Durand discussed the transition of bringing RCM in-house with Director of Billing Jenn Detlefsen and Director of Accounts Receivable Alison Pearce.

PTSMC HIGHLIGHTS

Congratulations: Promotion to PSC

CLINIC ANNIVERSARIES Happy 5 years to PTSMC Fairfield! The clinic opened on September 6, 2019.

Happy 10 years to PT for Life Southbury! The clinic opened on September 5, 2014.

Congratulations to the following PT Aides who completed the SIPTA (Skills Introduction for PT Aides) Program: Annabelle Bastura, Putnam Aries Bell, Guilford Brooke Boisvert, Danielson Christina Brose, Simsbury Sophia Cappolla, Wallingford Hayden Eldridge, Guilford Madison Ellsworth, Bristol Lucas Gallegos, New Haven Thatcher Gorman, Essex Ryan Granito, Shelton Ally Helmke, Simsbury Jason McGowan, Wethersfield Hayley Murnick, Fairfield Kaitlyn Parri, Essex Julia Pearson, Windsor Wyatt Pedersen, Westbrook Keegan Rybacki, Putnam Angelo Salazar, Southbury Alice Scalmani, New Haven Kylee Slavik, Guilford Danielle Smith, Westbrook Ben Villa, West Harford

Gabby Didiano, Middletown PT, married Stefano Raffa.

Glastonbury Partner Brian Greer (second from right) spoke at the McKenzie Institute Internal Conference in Ottawa and presented his group’s research on the use of the Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy in patients with concussion-like symptoms.

Fab 5 “Rob (Bass) and the whole PTSMC Middletown family were amazing!

Got me ready for my trip to Greece in no-time! Highly recommend this amazing team!” - Middletown “I love PTSMC, because it's happy and every client there gets full attention and I like watching the improvement in others as much as seeing my own.”

- New Milford “The staff at the front desk handles the appointments, insurance submittals and payments very professionally. The therapists are very knowledgable and pleasant.”

- Glastonbury “The therapist genuinely listens to your needs by personally adjusting new ways to improve whatever your condition may be. The total staff is very professional and cheerful making you feel very comfortable.

You leave the therapy sessions more confident on how to handle your wellbeing. I am completely satisfied. I would give Physical Therapy & Sports Medicine Center an A plus plus!”

- Simsbury “Friendly well-trained staff, efficient office operations, ideal environment for healing and improvement of injuries and post -op surgery.”

- Danbury

Jillian Spindel, Fairfield PCC, was recently promoted to Patient Services Coordinator! Beginning as a PT Aide in September 2023, Jillian quickly transitioned to supporting the front desk and took on the role of a PCC. She describes working in the Fairfield clinic as, “ a wonderful experience that feels like being part of a family and I am thrilled to expand my skills in the office.”

Rebecca Petrosino, Fairfield Partner, commended Jillian's organizational skills and self-motivation, highlighting her dedication to excellence in every task. “Jillian's role in facilitating a smooth transition from virtual to in-person coverage and training new staff is invaluable.”

After graduating from SHU in May, Jillian will now be working full-time in Fairfield and pursuing further studies to become a Physician Assistant.

Congratulations DOCS Grad Congratulations to the most recent graduate of the Development of Clinical Success (DOCS) Program:

Harrison Picard, PTA, BEXSc, PTSMC Fairfield

What was the most influential part of the DOCS program?

I appreciated the hands-on approach to learning and honing in manual techniques, with the camaraderie of PTSMC family from all the offices.

Grateful for the knowledge and wisdom that was shared with me along the way.

What are you hoping to pursue next in your continuing education?

I'm hoping to continue to grow and learn, specifically with neuromuscular and motor disorders including ALS, MS, and progress my PD (LSVT) knowledge.

By Jim Hungerford, Associate Vice President of Finance

UNDERSTANDING A MORTGAGE RATE BUY DOWN, AKA POINTS Recently a fellow employee asked me if “points” are worth it. Navigating the world of mortgages can be complex, especially with the various options available to fit your financial situation. One option, that often confuses people when purchasing a home, is the mortgage rate buy down also referred to as “points”. Understanding this concept can help you make informed decisions and save money over the life of your loan.

WHAT IS A MORTGAGE RATE BUY DOWN? A mortgage rate buy down involves paying extra money upfront to reduce your mortgage interest rate for a portion or the entire term of the loan. This upfront payment is known as "buying points" or "discount points."

HOW DO POINTS WORK? When you buy points, you're prepaying interest to receive a lower rate on your mortgage. Here’s a breakdown…

Cost of Points: One-point costs 1% of your loan amount. For a $300,000 mortgage, one point would cost $3,000.

Interest Rate Reduction: Buying one point usually reduces your interest rate by 0.25%. This varies by lender and loan type, so ask your lender for details.

WHAT IS THE BREAK-EVEN POINT? This is when the savings from your reduced monthly payments equal the upfront cost of the points. It helps determine if buying points is financially beneficial. It is important to calculate the benefits and determine the break-even point.

LET'S LOOK AT AN EXAMPLE TO UNDERSTAND THE IMPACT OF BUYING POINTS: Loan Amount: $300,000 Interest Rate Without Points: 4.5% Interest Rate With 1 Point: 4.25% Cost of 1 Point: $3,000 Without points, your monthly payment (excluding taxes and insurance) would be about $1,520.

With one point, it would be about $1,476, saving you $44 per month.

To find the break-even point, divide the cost of the point ($3,000) by the monthly savings ($44), resulting in approximately 68 months, or a little over 5.5 years.

This means, if you stay in your home longer than the break-even period, buying points could be advantageous.

PROS AND CONS OF BUYING POINTS Pros: • Lower Monthly Payments: Reduced interest rates lead to lower monthly mortgage payments.

• Interest Savings: Over the loan's life, interest savings can be substantial.

• Tax Benefits: If you itemized your deductions on your tax return, points are often tax-deductible in the year they are paid. Consult a tax advisor for guidance.

Cons: • Upfront Cost: If you don't have enough cash or prefer to use it for other expenses, buying points may not be feasible.

• Break-Even Time: If you plan to sell or refinance before reaching the break-even point, you won’t recoup the cost.

• Alternative Investments: The money spent on points could potentially be invested elsewhere for a higher return.

WHEN TO CONSIDER BUYING POINTS Long-Term Stay: If you plan to stay in your home for a long time, the savings from a lower interest rate can outweigh the upfront cost.

High Cash Reserves: If you have enough savings to cover the upfront cost without depleting your emergency fund, buying points can be a good investment.

Tax Considerations: If the tax deduction for points benefits your overall tax situation, it might be worth considering.

A mortgage rate buy down can be a smart financial move, offering lower monthly payments and significant interest savings. However, it requires careful consideration of your financial situation, future and mortgage terms. Always consult with a mortgage advisor to explore how buying points might work for you.