Northshore District, Part Two

Marching Through Mandeville/Covington

As I was heading toward Mandeville on the early morning of Friday, October 28th over the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway, I had only addresses of clinics in Mandeville, and somehow my GPS did not directly take me there, but, amazingly, I ended up exactly where I needed to be when I needed to be there (as has happened frequently throughout these travels, as if someone somewhere were looking out for me).

On a very busy corner, I stumbled upon a beautiful campus-like setting for the Lakeview Regional Medical Center in Covington, with exquisite landscaping and a beautiful facility.  There I met Leigh Ann Krieger, PT, Director of Rehab Services at this Medical Center.  She was busy preparing for the second annual BooFest (http://www.lakeviewregional.com/online-tools/video-library-youtube.dot).  They have sponsors who purchase a cardboard "house" or "mansion" or "haunted house" at various levels of sponsorship $$, and have for the public a free and safe fall festival.  They are raising over $15,000 each year so far for children with disabilities.

Leigh Ann stated some issues she faces are staffing issues, especially for pediatric PT's.  She does encourage her clinicians to be CI's which always helps in recruitment.  She is a member and I told her I appreciated her membership.

She invited me to drive just to the other side of a busy street across from the hospital to check out their outpatient clinic, and I did just that, where I met Anna Boler, PT and Katie Kersch, PTA busily treating patients.

Yancey and Joe, Audubon Physical Therapy 

Next stop was Audubon Physical Therapy back in Mandeville and I met Yancey McWilliams, PT (who trained with Greg and Kinta LeBlanc in Shreveport) and Joe Zimmerman, PT.  Their clinic was busy, but they took a moment out for a pic and a brief conversation.  Joe told me that in the past year, there have been 7 new POPTS spring up all in this area, where there were none before, and naturally, these physician-owned practices take away referrals.  He said the problem with POPTS would lessen if we just had a more free direct access.

A Facility Challenge clinic was next, and I drove down N. Causeway Blvd to find Rehab Dynamics in Covington which was in an upscale office complex.  Unfortunately, neither Susan Blanchard, PT nor Crystal Cook Ferris, PT who are co-owners, were there that day.  The only PT present was Devon C. Nolan, PT, a new grad who was busy with pt care, so I left a handout and told the receptionist to please make sure all the therapists receive a copy and and I wrote a personal note on the info sheet to thank them for their commitment to their professional organization.

Heading back toward Mandeville, Northlake Physical Therapy was my next stop, and there I met Beth Albritton, PT who owns and runs this clinic alone, with only one contract OT.  She was a CI for Rayme (from Wellness PT).  She spoke for the single proprietor and did say that POPTS is a problem and has cut into her bottom line.

My last stop in Covington was at Jones Physical Therapy where I had the pleasure of meeting Paul Jones, PT who is from Scotland (I was expecting a bit more of a Scottish accent, but he said he'd been in the states for quite some time).  Paul had wonderful pictures posted in his waiting room of "before" and "after" ROM of, for example, knees, necks, and ankles.  He utilizes the privilege we have in this state to evaluate a patient without an MD order, and encourages referrals from family members and word of mouth.  He had a hopping practice.  He is a longstanding active member, and has worked with the state Board to help get wellness into our practice act so we can have Pilates, etc in our clinics.  He stated he was willing to help me in whatever capacity he could.  I also received a very nice follow-up email from him again offering to help.

Hoofing It In Hammond

A 30 minute drive from where I was in Covington, I arrived at the North Oaks Rehabilitation Hospital at 12:30pm and all the therapists were out at lunch.  This looked like an amazing facility with a large PT gym, and I left an info sheet with a nurse there to give to the PT in charge.

I also had no luck at Affiliated Therapy just across the street, because all those therapists were at lunch as well.  I spoke with Ann Marie, the very nice receptionist, who allowed me to tour this facility which had an indoor pool.

The next stop I had more luck!  It was Anatomix Physical Therapy owned by Mike Conlin, PT who was there along with Mike Alfort, PT.  Mike Conlin has trained recently with dry needling and did educate me a bit about why this is in our practice act, because there is a certain number of hours a therapist should have in experience before performing this procedure on patients. (The new changes state 50 face-to-face hours.)  They are on computerized documentation and use WebPT which they like and has a flowsheet for exercises.  They utilize 2 PTA's in their practice as well.  He is a member and friend of Greg LeBlanc, PT, immediate past president, and said he'd help out wherever he can.

My last stop in Hammond was at O2 Physical Therapy and this clinic is owned by husband and wife Karen Heap, PT and David Heap, PT who are not currently members.  Karen was just returning from some water therapy/aquatics, and they talked to me for a bit about Workers Comp concerns, POPTS concerns.  Karen is friends with Stephanie Keen, PT over in Bogulasa at Therapeutic Concepts.  I left them an info sheet and encouraged membership.


Thus concludes my second day tour of the Northshore District.  I truly enjoyed meeting all the therapists and seeing all the clinics and hospitals I visited.  I was well received all around and would love to see this district come together more.  It is so spread out, that attending meetings takes driving for almost everyone.  I do think holding meetings in Covington is the most centrally-located spot, so David's been doing a good job in that regard as district chair.  I just want everyone to know that David Hendricks, the Northshore District Chair, really does work hard for you all and that he is someone who will always go look something up when the need arises.  He comes from a position of facts, not emotions, and that is great!  He'll be there for you if you all in the Northshore just begin to become more active in your state organization.

Next blog, next stop: Zachary in the Baton Rouge District on my way home from this south Louisiana journey!