Screening Patients for “Premature Mortality”

Credit

Speaker

Ron Blehm, PT, CEEAA, CSFI, CFPS Related seminars and products

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Ron Blehm, PT, CEEAA, CSFI, CFPS
For over 30 years, Ron’s career has focused on preserving and restoring what matters most to his patients, function. Whether working in pediatrics, sports medicine, orthopedics, or work hardening, he has focused on creating patient-centered programs that maximize recovery and quality of life. Ron has served as a clinical instructor for physical therapy interns, an adjunct instructor for the Department of Geriatrics at OHSU Medical School, clinical instructor for Geriatric Fellow MDs and a community instructor for Parkinson’s Resource Center of Oregon. Additionally, he is involved in research studies including rehab for knee OA, non-pharmacologic management of fibromyalgia, high-intensity rehab for Parkinson’s agility, CBT and exercise for chronic pain, and fall-prevention. He has authored or co-authored articles in Current Headache Reports, Journal of Neurological Physical Therapy, Current Opinions in Rheumatology among others. Mr. Blehm holds multiple certifications, including, the American Physical Therapy Association "Exercise Expert for the Aging Adult", Senior Fitness Instructor, Fall-Prevention Specialist, and Tai Chi Instructor.

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Ron Blehm is the owner of EEI Physio and has an employment relationship with Minneapolis VA Health Care Systems. He receives a speaking honorarium and recording royalties from PESI, Inc. He has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Ron Blehm has no relevant non-financial relationships.

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Objectives

1. Investigate screening tools linked to daily function within the home and community environments. 
2. Formulate how to shift from singular diagnoses to global health and ADL functional status. 
3. Integrate patient education on long-term health and wellness goals as part of best practice standards. 

Outline

Normal Aging

• What does normal aging look like? 
• Literature review 
• Risk factors for comorbidities 

APTA’s “Movement for Movement Campaign” 

A guide for the future of the profession” 

• Up to 2/3 of mortality is lifestyle related. 
• The vast majority of health spending goes those with the poorest function.  
• Earlier identification and management of functional impairments decreases future disability. 
• Improving activity levels by 10% could equate to 500,000 fewer deaths. 
• If fall-prevention were just 5% effective, we could see a savings of $18 billion. 

Functional Exams linked to Mortality

Demonstrations to Practice these objective and functional tools (stand-alone tests) that are the direct link to biologic vitality.   

• Gait Speed 
• 30-sec Sit-to-Stand 
• Timed Up and Go 
• Timed Up and Go with Dual Task / Cognitive 
• Four-Stage Static Balance 
• Four-Square Step Test 
• Tire Jogs 
• Alternate Stepping 

Additional Tests: 

• DGI 
• BBS 
• SPPB 
• POMA 
• Mini BESTest 

Clinical Applications

• We too often conflate short-term goals / progress with long-term outcomes, and this sells short our professional impact. 
• Tests commonly seen in Rehab practice have no predictive value and do not actually relate to patient’s function – so why are we measuring these things? 
• We need to implement better screenings, identify those at risk for disability sooner. 
• This session will provide practical, in-clinic applications that may have long-term impact to improve patient’s QoL and Functional Status. 
• A true functional exam will guide your treatment and your goals. 

Target Audience

• Physical Therapists
• Physical Therapy Assistants
• Occupational Therapists
• Occupational Therapist Assistants
• Chiropractors
• Exercise Physiologists
• Strength and Conditioning Coaches
• Athletic Trainers