Healthy Wealthy & Smart

On today’s episode of the Healthy Wealthy and Smart Podcast, I welcome Miye Fonseca to talk about the top strategies you can implement to pass the National Physical Therapy Exam! Miye Fonseca is the Founder and CEO of Therapy Exam Prep, provider of online NPTE and NPTAE exam prep courses focusing on the clinical thinking aspects, test-taking strategies and addressing factors on confidence, fear and test anxiety. She has spoken at student conclaves about exam preparation from a clinical thinking and practical approach. In this episode, we discuss: -Miye’s top 3 most important components for success -Is taking practice exam after practice exam the best strategy for preparation? -Why you need to think clinically and treat exam questions as mini evaluations -How mindset can be the deciding factor to pass the NPTE -And so much more!   The shift from academics to the NPTE’s clinically oriented framework can be challenging for students. From Miye’s experience, she found that she was, “viewing the exam too academically and not like a practicing clinician. Patients aren’t textbooks and they’re not study guides either.”   The NPTE mirrors clinical practice forcing students to deal with ambiguity and use the little bit of information available to start an effective treatment plan. Miye reminds us that, “In the clinic, you’re not going to know everything and you have to grasp onto one particular thing to help that patient.”   With stress levels high, mindset can be a deciding factor in getting a passing grade on the NPTE exam. Miye challenges future test takers, “Are you going to beat the NPTE or are you going to allow that exam to beat you?”   For more information on Miye: Miye Fonseca, PT, DPT is the Founder and CEO of Therapy Exam Prep, provider of online NPTE and NPTAE exam prep courses focusing on clinical thinking, test-taking strategies and addressing factors on confidence, fear and test anxiety. She has spoken at student conclaves about exam preparation from a clinical thinking and practical approach. Miye graduated from the University of Southern California with her class being ranked #1 for PT programs in US News for the first time. When preparing for her own board exam, she felt there had to be a better way to prepare than just reading a study guide book as there were no online prep courses at that time. The idea of Therapy Exam Prep came about after treating in private orthopedic practice for years and recognizing how the exam had transitioned into being more integrated and clinical. Miye started the first online exam prep course for PTs and PTAs preparing for their own exam. She brings the clinical examples into studying and treating the exam holistically by easing fear, stress and feelings of being overwhelmed. With many practical and powerful test-taking strategies as well as receiving training by the FSBPT on writing NPTE format style questions, Miye has been able to help thousands of candidates be successful.   She has worked with recruiting agencies, PT and PTA programs as a curriculum consultant, and also written exam prep articles in publications and blogs.   Resources discussed on this show: Practice Exam Simulation Exam Mistakes Video Series Facebook Twitter LinkedIn YouTube Instagram Snapchat: momohime11 Therapy Exam Prep Email: miye@therapyexamprep.com   Thanks for listening and subscribing to the podcast! Make sure to connect with me on twitter, instagram and facebook to stay updated on all of the latest! Show your support for the show by leaving a rating and review on iTunes!   Have a great week and stay Healthy Wealthy and Smart!   Xo Karen   P.S. Do you want to be a stand out podcast guest? Make sure to grab the tools from the FREE eBook on the home page! Check out my blog post on the Top 10 Podcast Episodes of 2016!

On today’s episode of the Healthy Wealthy and Smart Podcast, Michael Matlack joins me to discuss the Physical Therapy Political Action Committee (PT-PAC). Michael Matlack is the Director of Congressional Affairs with the American Physical Therapy Association which advances the association's legislative priorities on Capitol Hill through federal lobbying, grassroots, and political action. In this episode, we discuss: -Physical Therapy Political Action Committee: What it is and what it isn’t -How the PT PAC attracts the attention of legislators -Important PT PAC initiatives in 2017 -Ways you can get involved with the PT PAC -What is up with all those ducks?? -And so much more!   The most effective way to get past the wall of congressional staff and lobbyists is through direct lines of communication from practitioners and patients. To elicit action from our members of congress, Michael believes, “They need to hear from our members, our patients and how healthcare policy affects them.”   One of the initiatives the PT PAC is targeting for 2017 is physical therapy as an alternative to opioid use for pain management. Michael notes that we need to educate legislators that, “We can manage pain. You don’t need to do drugs to do that. Physical therapy is the answer in many ways.”   Members of congress are there to represent their constituents and physical therapists can get involved in local advocacy and contact their own representatives to make the biggest impact. Michael advises, “What’s most important is to share what you do and how this healthcare policy affects your patients. That’s what resonates with members of congress.”   For more information on Michael: Michael Matlack is currently the Director of Congressional Affairs in the Government Affairs department of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA). He oversees APTA’s lobbying team, PAC, and grassroots departments. Michael was employed by APTA on April, 1999. Prior to joining APTA, Michael was employed by the National Society of Professional Engineers as their Manager of Congressional Relations for two and half years. Michael was in charge of their political action committee, grassroots programs, and lobbying on education and research issues. Michael also worked at Pearson & Pipkin, Inc, a small consulting firm, the Republican National Committee and interned for former Congressman Richard Pombo (R-CA). Michael is responsible for all political action at the federal level. Michael is in charge of APTA’s political action committee, PT-PAC. In the 2015-2016 election cycle PT-PAC raised more than $1.6 million through the direction of Mr. Matlack. Michael received his Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science from North Carolina State University in 1993. Michael has been married to his wife Cynthia for twent-one years and has two children named, Summer and Kayla.   Resources discussed on this show: Email: michaelmatlack@apta.org Phone: (703) 706-3163 Legislative Action Center Federal Advocacy Forum PT PAC House of Delegates Private Practice Section Annual Conference 2017   Action App   Thanks for listening and subscribing to the podcast! Make sure to connect with me on twitter, instagram and facebook to stay updated on all of the latest! Show your support for the show by leaving a rating and review on iTunes!   Have a great week and stay Healthy Wealthy and Smart!   Xo Karen   P.S. Do you want to be a stand out podcast guest? Make sure to grab the tools from the FREE eBook on the home page! Check out my blog post on the Top 10 Podcast Episodes of 2016!  

LIVE from Combined Sections Meeting in San Antonio, Texas, Dr. Justin Moore joins me to discuss the American Physical Therapy Association’s initiatives for 2017! Dr. Justin Moore, PT, DPT, a physical therapist and veteran of both the profession and the association with more than 20 years' experience, leads the American Physical Therapy Association in the role of CEO. He has been with APTA for 18 years and has held numerous positions, including executive vice president of public affairs, leading the public policy agenda and payment and communications departments, leading its federal and state affairs advocacy departments and serving as the association's lead lobbyist on Capitol Hill. In this episode, we discuss: -The American Physical Therapy Association’s focus for 2017 -APTA’s renewed focus on building partnerships with others in the healthcare ecosystem -The role of advocacy within the physical therapy profession -Updates on APTA’s progress in new legislative initiatives and the regulatory environment -How can diverse sections within physical therapy work together to promote the profession as a whole -And so much more!   There are many opportunities for physical therapists to participate in advocacy and both individually and collectively impact the profession. Justin notes, “One of the things that physical therapy has is strength in numbers.”   The physical therapy profession nurtures ideal qualities for strong advocacy. Justin notes, “We are naturals at advocacy. We advocate for patients on a daily basis so advocating on that macro level and state capitols and on Capitol Hill is a great function for physical therapists.”   Dr. Moore’s advice to budding physical therapists is to utilize their energy and drive to, “Take more risks early.”   For more information on Justin: Justin Moore, PT, DPT, a physical therapist and veteran of both the profession and the association with more than 20 years' experience, leads the American Physical Therapy Association in the role of CEO. He has been with APTA for 18 years and has held numerous positions, including executive vice president of public affairs, leading the public policy agenda and payment and communications departments, leading its federal and state affairs advocacy departments and serving as the association's lead lobbyist on Capitol Hill. Moore also previously oversaw APTA's practice and research departments. He has been honored for his contributions to physical therapy and public policy by receiving the R. Charles Harker Policymaker Award from APTA's Health Policy and Administration Section and the Distinguished Service Award from APTA's Academy of Pediatric Physical Therapy. In addition, Moore has written, presented, and lectured on health policy, payment, and government affairs issues to a variety of health care and business groups across the country. Moore received his doctor of physical therapy degree from Simmons College in Boston, Massachusetts, in 2005, his master of physical therapy degree from University of Iowa in 1996, and his bachelor of science degree in dietetics from Iowa State University in 1993. He was honored by Iowa State University's College of Human Sciences with the Helen LaBaron Hilton Award in 2014 and the university's Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition's Alumni Impact Award in 2011, and he was the Family and Consumer Sciences' Young Alumnus of the Year in 2003. He also recently completed a 3-year term on Iowa State University's College of Human Sciences Board of Advisors. Moore was part of the inaugural Leadership Alexandria class in 2004 and served on the Northern Virginia Health Policy Forum Board of Directors.   Resources discussed on this show: Email: justinmoore@apta.org Justin Moore Twitter Justin Moore LinkedIn   Thanks for listening and subscribing to the podcast! Make sure to connect with me on twitter, instagram and facebook to stay updated on all of the latest! Show your support for the show by leaving a rating and review on iTunes!   Have a great week and stay Healthy Wealthy and Smart!   Xo Karen   P.S. Do you want to be a stand out podcast guest? Make sure to grab the tools from the FREE eBook on the home page! Check out my blog post on the Top 10 Podcast Episodes of 2016!

Thank you for listening to the Healthy Wealthy and Smart Podcast! In this episode I welcome Dr. Suzanne Shugg. Her mission is to change health care for the better by using insurance solutions, telemedicine and preventive care. Sounds familiar right? These are themes that come up regularly on social media and in discussions with fellow PTs and healthcare practitioners. In this episode we discuss: - How Endeavor Plus is shaking up the insurance market - Why and how insurance companies function - The steps telemedicine is taking to change the healthcare market - What it is like to be the only woman in the C-Suite - and much more!   More about Dr. Shugg: Dr. Suzanne Shugg’s mission is to change health care for the better by using insurance solutions, telemedicine and preventive care.   She currently runs a preventive Cardiology clinical treating metabolic and lipid disorders at NJ Cardiology Associates while teaching full time as a professor in the School of nursing at Rutgers, University. She also is the Co founder of Teleplus HealthCare, a telemedicine company that works to improve care and medical outcomes in cardiovascular and chronic care. Finally, she is the director of wellness at a new insurance and technology solution, Endeavor Plus. This solution has been designed to improve the health care choices and management for both the patients and providers while helping small businesses and hospitals save money. Dr. Suzanne Shugg received her Doctor of Nursing Practice at what is now Rutgers in 2010. She has specialized in Preventive Cardiology and clinical lipidology. Prior to that she has practiced in general cardiology and in primary care as a nurse practitioner. She has been published in the Journal of Clinical Lipidology “Low-density lipoprotein particle number predicts coronary artery calcification in asymptomatic adults at intermediate risk of cardiovascular disease”. She has published in the Federal Nurse Practitioner for, “Health Information Technology Presents New Opportunities for Advanced Practice Nurses”. Finally she has recently published in the NP Women’s Health Care Journal for, “Pregnancy’s effects on cardiovascular health: A woman’s first “cardiac stress test”. She has also written medical guidelines for Prevention of Cardiovascular disease and Cardiac Rehab. She has also written a guideline for professional’s treatment of LPa. In 2010 she became a Clinical Lipid Specialist accredited by the National Lipid Association and shortly thereafter was nominated as a fellow. She has given various lectures on Women’s Cardiac Health, Prevention of Cardiovascular Diseases, Nutrition and Supplements, as well as advanced lipid testing.  In addition, she was a consultant to set up a Preventive Cardiovascular Clinic at Oklahoma Heart She sits on various editorial and preventive medicine boards and in   her spare time she has done medical missions. When Suzanne is not working she enjoys being outside; running, kayaking, biking, scuba diving and hiking with her two dogs, Dudley and Maggie.  

Thank you for listening to the Healthy Wealthy and Smart Podcast! LIVE from St. Petersburg, Florida post the Graham Sessions, Dr. Eric Robertson joins me to discuss population health! Dr. Eric Robertson, the founder of PTThinkTank.com and PTCoop.org, is the Director of the Kaiser Permanente Physical Therapy Fellowship in Advanced Manual Therapy in Northern California, and Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Texas at El Paso. He specializes in orthopaedic manual physical therapy, radiology, evidence-based practice, and the impact of technology on healthcare. In this episode, we discuss: -Population health: The management of total health across different groups and the life spectrum -Why prevention should be a primary focus in healthcare -How population health addresses important objectives such as health literacy, resource management and access to care -And so much more!   Innovators in healthcare reduce costs and improve quality care by intervening before complex conditions arise. Eric notes, “When you look at groups and systems that focus on population health by and large they are almost always focused on prevention.”   Physical therapists should start to think beyond their traditional role in the healthcare system and treat patients as a whole and expand their realm of care. Eric believes physical therapists should, “Conceptualize yourself as a primary care provider.”   Management decisions in population health are aligned to “[help] the patient enable their own pathway to health.” Eric believes prioritizing patient self-efficacy leads to better treatment outcomes and cost reduction.   For more information on Eric: PT Think Tank’s founder, Eric is the Director of the Kaiser Permanente Hayward Fellowship in Advanced Manual Therapy in Northern California and Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Texas at El Paso, where he teaching musculoskeletal physical therapy management. He received his physical therapy education from Quinnipiac University and Boston University. He is board certified in orthopaedic physical therapy and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapists (AAOMPT). Dr. Robertson is a frequent national speaker on leveraging internet technology in health care and evidence-based practice. Eric is also faculty for Evidence in Motion, LLC and an editor for the EIM Musculoskeletal Learning Academy. Eric has authored several web-based continuing education courses for professional associations and several post-professional educational programs. At Regis University, Dr. Robertson researches the link between low back and hip pain as well as the use of instructional technology with physical therapist education. Dr. Robertson has a passion for the use of technology in healthcare and is a frequent national presenter as well as the founder of PTCoop.org, a curated, open-access collection of physical therapy learning resources. He specializes in information management and the use of social media in healthcare. On the personal side, Dr. Robertson enjoys bonsai trees, hanging with his two weimeraners, fast mountain bike decents, the outdoors, and has a penchant for being interested in way too many things at once!   Resources discussed on this show: Eric Robertson Facebook Eric Robertson Twitter Kaiser Permanente Northern California Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapy Fellowship and Orthopaedic Residency Kaiser Permanente Northern California Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapy Fellowship and Orthopaedic Residency Twitter Kaiser Permanente Northern California Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapy Fellowship and Orthopaedic Residency Facebook PT Think Tank   Thanks for listening and subscribing to the podcast! Make sure to connect with me on twitter, instagram and facebook to stay updated on all of the latest! Show your support for the show by leaving a rating and review on iTunes!   Have a great week and stay Healthy Wealthy and Smart!   Xo Karen   P.S. Do you want to be a stand out podcast guest? Make sure to grab the tools from the FREE eBook on the home page! Check out my blog post on the Top 10 Podcast Episodes of 2016!    

On today’s episode of the Healthy Wealthy and Smart Podcast, Andrew Vigotsky joins me to answer audience questions and translate biomechanics literature to clinical practice. Andrew is currently a Master's student in Biomedical Engineering at Northwestern University in Evanston, IL, concentrating on musculoskeletal biomechanics. His thesis work aims to elucidate the relationship between the shear-wave velocity of muscle, as measured using Supersonic Shear Imaging, and muscle stiffness in vivo. In this episode, Andrew answers: -What is your biggest surprise on engaging clinical practitioners with research evidence? -How much do you feel biomechanics matter when looking at injury and pain development across various exercises? -If you were building your own program to maximize muscle hypertrophy what parameters would you use? -What can we draw from EMG studies and what conclusions are fair to make? -And so many more!   The goal of biomechanics research is to ultimately translate results to the clinic and enhance how clinicians treat their patients. Andrew states, “It’s only after you find those answers that you really understand what your results mean and how your question can affect society.”   Despite the large amount of research done each year in university labs, very little reaches practioners. Andrew notes, “There is a time lag from research to practice in the medical field of about 17 years.” Andrew believes clinicians can improve this transmission rate through a greater focus on science literacy and improved dissemination of new findings.   Best evidence based practice encompasses all elements of a biopsychosocial framework. Andrew believes, “Biomechanics still matters… It’s just in what context does it matter. From the people that are purely biomechanical, the neurophysiological and the pain science stuff matters a lot and we can’t ignore that.”   For more information on Andrew: Andrew is currently a Master's student in Biomedical Engineering at Northwestern University in Evanston, IL, where he is concentrating on musculoskeletal biomechanics. His thesis work aims to elucidate the relationship between the shear-wave velocity of muscle, as measured using Supersonic Shear Imaging, and muscle stiffness in vivo. He is completing this work in two different labs: the Neuromuscular Biomechanics Laboratory and the Neurobionics Lab, under Drs. Sabrina Lee and Elliott Rouse, respectively. Before attending Northwestern, Andrew graduated with a BS in Kinesiology from Arizona State University (ASU). It was during those undergraduate studies that he started getting involved in research; Erin Feser supervised him in ASU's Motion Analysis Laboratory, where he carried out two data collections that resulted in three publications. The studies investigated the effects of load on good morning kinematics and EMG amplitude, the acute effects of anterior thigh foam rolling, and the validity of the modified Thomas test. In addition to Erin's mentorship, I also grew close to Dr. Rick Hinrichs, who taught me a lot about biomechanics both inside and outside of the classroom.  While at ASU, Andrew was also able to secure an internship under Dr. Bret Contreras while he was completing research for his Ph.D. Bret has had a profound impact on how he thinks about movement and sports science. Together, they have published over a dozen papers related to strength, muscle hypertrophy, and physical performance, and have much more in the pipeline. Moreover, he has introduced Andrew to other great minds and researchers, such as Chris Beardsley and Dr. Brad Schoenfeld. After graduating from ASU, Andrew completed pre-requisites for graduate school (i.e., math, physics, and engineering courses) at a local community college while splitting time between two laboratories: the Leon Root, MD Motion Analysis Laboratory, at the Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS), and the Human Performance Laboratory, at CUNY Lehman. At HSS, he worked under Dr. Andrew Kraszewski to develop a 3D-mesh model of the gluteus maximus. At CUNY Lehman, he worked under Dr. Brad Schoenfeld to train participants and collect data for a training study, and also designed and carried out a cross-sectional study that investigated the determinants of squat strength, which is currently in peer-review.   If you are interested in learning more about what Andrew has done or reading works that he has published, you can check out it out at ResearchGate, Google Scholar, PubMed, or my CV.   Resources discussed on this show: Andrew Vigotsky Twitter Movement Science Blog   Thanks for listening and subscribing to the podcast! Make sure to connect with me on twitter, instagram and facebook to stay updated on all of the latest! Show your support for the show by leaving a rating and review on iTunes!   Have a great week and stay Healthy Wealthy and Smart!   Xo Karen   P.S. Do you want to be a stand out podcast guest? Make sure to grab the tools from the FREE eBook on the home page! Check out my blog post on the Top 10 Podcast Episodes of 2016!  

On today’s episode of the Healthy Wealthy and Smart Podcast, Dr. Sharon Dunn, PT, PhD, OCS, the President of the American Physical Therapy Association, joins me to discuss the Combined Sections Meeting in San Antonio, Texas and the APTA’s vision for 2017. Dr. Dunn is currently an Associate Professor and Chair of the Rehabilitation Sciences Department at Louisiana State University and was most recently elected APTA President. In this episode, we discuss: -The #ChoosePT campaign and its progress in promoting physical therapy as a pain management alternative -The already record shattering CSM 2017 and what’s in store for attendees -Themes APTA is pursuing in 2017 including the “quadruple aim” and encouraging a “therapeutic alliance” -Looking forward to the 7 for 2017: New CPT Codes, MIPS Benchmarking, Continued #ChoosePT, Student Loan Support, Enhanced PTJ Online, Diversity Milestone, and Registry Revolution -And so much more!   Dr. Dunn takes a practical and straightforward approach to working with the White House. She says the best advice she received was to, “Show up and offer the solutions” to halt the growing opioid crisis with physical therapy.   Dr. Dunn is supervising the launch of the Physical Therapy Outcomes Registry which capitalizes on more clinical data to encourage policy makers to support physical therapy. Dr. Dunn stresses, “We need more data to justify a change in payment.”   To meet the 7 for 2017 goals set by the APTA, Dr. Dunn believes, “The challenge is always alignment of stakeholder roots towards the collective vision of the profession.”   For more information on Sharon: Sharon Dunn, PT, PhD, OCS received her BS in PT in 1987 from LSU Health Sciences Center in her hometown of Shreveport, LA. She has since completed a Master’s of Health in ’96 and a PhD in Cellular Biology and Anatomy in ’06. She has been a faculty member at LSU since 1990, currently as an Associate Professor and Chair of the Rehabilitation Sciences Department. Since beginning service through the professional organization as a student, Sharon has served as the State Government Affairs Chair; Louisiana chapter President, Vice President, and Delegate; and was most recently elected APTA President.     Resources discussed on this show: Sharon Dunn Twitter Combined Sections Meeting 2017 CSM Presentation: The Role of Physical Therapy in Exercise is Medicine: A Collaborative Symposium with the ACSM Sharon Dunn LinkedIn APTA Coding and Billing   Thanks for listening and subscribing to the podcast! Make sure to connect with me on twitter, instagram and facebook to stay updated on all of the latest! Show your support for the show by leaving a rating and review on iTunes!   Have a great week and stay Healthy Wealthy and Smart!   Xo Karen   P.S. Do you want to be a stand out podcast guest? Make sure to grab the tools from the FREE eBook on the home page! Check out my blog post on the Top 10 Podcast Episodes of 2016!

On this week’s episode of the Healthy Wealthy and Smart Podcast, JJ Virgin, a celebrity health expert and four-time New York Times bestselling author, reveals how one life-altering event taught her to tap into an indomitable mindset, trust her instincts, and defy the odds, ultimately saving her son’s life…and her own. She’ll share the lessons she learned that can help you create your own resilient mindset. In this episode, we discuss: -The heart-wrenching story behind her new book Miracle Mindset -JJ’s self care tips to manage any of life’s challenges -How to access the healing power of the body -How to create a mindset which builds resilience and fosters hope to become fearless -And so much more!   Everyone faces challenges in their lives in different ways. From JJ’s experience, “As long as you have hope, you can do it.”   Mindset is one of the most powerful tools you possess to overcome difficulties. JJ stresses, “The real answer, again is above all of that, has to be that decision that I can do this. I can step up. I've got this. It’s scary but I’m stepping into it and not leaning away from it. I'm not going to run away, I’m going to expand my comfort zone. I’ve got it.”   What may seem like unfortunate and difficult challenges in life may often be opportunities in disguise. JJ has found that, “The worst years are often the best years. They are also the years that you’re going to grow the most because we don't grow when things are easy.”   For more information on JJ: Celebrity health expert and four-time New York Times bestselling author, JJ Virgin reveals how one life-altering event taught her to tap into an indomitable mindset, trust her instincts, and defy the odds, ultimately saving her son’s life…and her own. She’ll share the lessons she learned that can help you create your own resilient mindset. In 2012, JJ Virgin was in a hospital room next to her sixteen-year-old son who was struck by a hit-and-run driver and left for dead. She was told by doctors that he wouldn’t last through the night and to let him go. With every reason to give up, JJ chose instead to invest her energy into the hope that her son would not just survive, but thrive. In Miracle Mindset, she shares the lessons that gave her the courage to overcome the worst moment of her life. During this difficult time, she learned valuable personal lessons that helped her rebuild her life and find success and purpose in herself, her work, and teach her sons and community how to face their own obstacles and trials. Lessons like “Don’t Wish It Were Easier, Make Yourself Stronger” and “Your Limitations will Become Your Life” will lead you to your own personal power and purpose, even when the deck seems stacked against you. With true stories from her life, her clients, and other well-known thought leaders, she can help you transform your mindset and your daily habits to endure the difficult battles that life sends your way. Insightful, personal, and completely relatable, Miracle Mindset proves that miracles are possible when you show up, remain positive, and do the work.   Resources discussed on this show: Miracle Mindset JJ Virgin Website The Brain That Changes Itself Book   Thanks for listening and subscribing to the podcast! Make sure to connect with me on twitter, instagram and facebook to stay updated on all of the latest! Show your support for the show by leaving a rating and review on iTunes!   Have a great week and stay Healthy Wealthy and Smart!   Xo Karen   P.S. Do you want to be a stand out podcast guest? Make sure to grab the tools from the FREE eBook on the home page! Check out the Final Blog Post of 2016: Advice You Need to Know!

On this episode of the Healthy Wealthy and Smart Podcast, Randall Cooper joins me to discuss the elements of bringing a product successfully to the marketplace. Randall is an experienced Sports Physiotherapist, Founder and Managing Director of Premax, Adjunct Lecturer at the La Trobe University Sport and Exercise Medicine Research Centre, Fellow of the Australian College of Physiotherapists, and designer of the Cooper Knee Alignment Sleeve by Thermoskin. In this episode, we discuss: -How to asses if your product idea fulfills a niche area in the market -Why you should protect your intellectual property -How to find a distributor that’s right for your product -Unique obstacles healthcare practitioners face when launching a new product -And so much more!   Once an idea is reasonably developed, Randall encourages entrepreneurs to solicit feedback on their product. He stresses, “Most of the time, that feedback you get from other people is extremely refreshing and helps solidify whether your idea is good or not.”   One of the biggest challenges physical therapists face is that they can rely on their stable career paths and potentially not take advantage of more risky but fruitful opportunities. Randall believes that, “The entrepreneurs who have nothing to fall back on, they grit down and they get through those tough times and they get to that next level because they have to.”   Before pursuing a venture, it is important to understand your underlying inspiration. From Randall’s experience, “The primary motivation has to be that you're changing things for the better and not that you want to be a millionaire and retire to the Bahamas.”   For more information on Randall: Randall is an experienced Sports Physiotherapist, Founder and Managing Director of Premax, Adjunct Lecturer at the La Trobe University Sport and Exercise Medicine Research Centre, Fellow of the Australian College of Physiotherapists, and designer of the Cooper Knee Alignment Sleeve by Thermoskin. As a Sports Physiotherapist Randall has worked with some of Australia's most notable sporting organisations including the Hawthorn Football Club, the Australian Winter Olympic Team, and the Victorian Institute of Sport. He consulted from the internationally renowned Olympic Park Sports Medicine Centre in Melbourne, Australia from 1999 - 2016. Randall has also attained the title of Specialist Sports Physiotherapist as awarded by the Australian College of Physiotherapists in 2008. Randall is the Founder and Managing Director of Premax. Premax in an Australian company that manufactures a range of sports skincare and massage creams. Premax is available in Australia, Asia, UK and Europe, and will be launched in North America in 2017/18. As an Adjunct Lecturer for the La Trobe Sport and Exercise Medicine Research Centre, Randall advocates sport and exercise medicine, physical activity, health and well-being for all. He provides support to the Centre, activity assisting in translating research findings to key stake holders including the international research community, health practitioners, and the general public. Randall is also the designer of the Cooper Knee Alignment Sleeve by Thermoskin. This innovative proprioceptive sleeve features an anti-valgus strap, silicone dots within the sleeve to boost activation of the medial quadriceps and hamstrings, a patella sling, and a circular knit to optimise proprioceptive compression.   Resources discussed on this show: Randall Cooper Twitter Premax website Premax Youtube Cooper Knee Alignment Sleeve   Thanks for listening and subscribing to the podcast! Make sure to connect with me on twitter, instagram and facebook to stay updated on all of the latest! Show your support for the show by leaving a rating and review on iTunes!   Have a great week and stay Healthy Wealthy and Smart!   Xo Karen   P.S. Do you want to be a stand out podcast guest? Make sure to grab the tools from the FREE eBook on the home page! Check out my latest blog post on the Final Blog Post of 2016: Advice You Need to Know!

On today’s episode of the Healthy Wealthy and Smart Podcast, Dr. Joe Tatta joins me to discuss the evolution of his physical therapy career. Dr. Joe Tatta is a doctor of physical therapy, board certified nutrition specialist and functional medicine practitioner who specializes in treating persistent pain and lifestyle-related musculoskeletal, metabolic and autoimmune health issues. His mission is to create a new paradigm around treating persistent pain and reverse our global pain epidemic. In this episode, we discuss: -Why fresh PT’s should focus on honing their skills -Why an onboarding process is crucial to educating, selecting and motivating a successful team -The limits of scaling a cash pay practice and when it might be beneficial to sell -New integrated health centers for chronic pain and how it impacts the global pain epidemic -And so much more!   For new graduates, the physical therapy profession offers many different ways to grow and develop. Joe believes, “One of the great things about being a physical therapist is you have so many different aspects and avenues to really go. There are so many options.”   Joe recommends creating a consistent treatment methodology for chronic pain patients. Joe states, “It created continuity of care. It created almost one mind. When you came into the clinic, patients knew that there was a method going on here and they felt safe there.”   Joe has found performance tracking to be a useful tool for his employees to help asses their strengths and areas for improvement. Joe states, “[Metrics] can actually be a way to motivate people but they can be an indicator as to how interested someone is in their job.”   To reverse the global pain epidemic, more creative options are necessary and physical therapists are perfectly aligned to take on an integral role. Joe stresses, “We have to find solutions to help [chronic pain patients].”   For more information on Joe: Dr. Joe Tatta is a doctor of physical therapy, board certified nutrition specialist and functional medicine practitioner who specializes in treating persistent pain and lifestyle-related musculoskeletal, metabolic and autoimmune health issues. His mission is to create a new paradigm around treating persistent pain and reverse our global pain epidemic. He is the creator of the Healing Pain Online Summit and The Healing Pain Podcast designed to broaden the conversation around natural strategies toward solving persistent pain. Dr. Tatta is the author of Heal Your Pain Now; A Revolutionary Program to Reset Your Brain and Body for a Pain-Free Life by Da Capo Press.   Resources discussed on this show: Dr. Joe Tatta Twitter Dr. Joe Tatta Website Heal Your Pain Now Book The Pain Quiz Heal Your Pain Now Website Healing Pain Podcast   Thanks for listening and subscribing to the podcast! Make sure to connect with me on twitter, instagram and facebook to stay updated on all of the latest! Show your support for the show by leaving a rating and review on iTunes!   Have a great week and stay Healthy Wealthy and Smart!   Xo Karen   P.S. Do you want to be a stand out podcast guest? Make sure to grab the tools from the FREE eBook on the home page! Check out the Final Blog Post of 2016: Advice You Need to Know!