Phone interview

S: My account representative called today and said that an interview will be set up for 5/8. I'm so excited to have an interview.

O: I've already gone online and looked at the site. I've got a few questions for them, but I totally forgot to ask the account rep the questions about the pay and perks.

A: I feel really good about getting an interview and will be even more excited when I talk to the therapist at the facility.

P: My plan is to ask the account rep the pay and perks questions before I have the interview.

Healthcare Traveler Magazine

S: I'm still waiting for the facility to call me for an interview. I'm told by the account representative that the problem is the manager is too busy to call me, but is interested.

O: I found an article from Healthcare Traveler magazine which explains what to ask when negotiating the salary and benefits package. It lists questions that I need to ask such as do I get paid weekly or when I complete the assignment, will I have malpractice insurance, and is there 24/7 customer support for me when I'm traveling.

A: I like this article because it gives ideas of what questions should be asked. I wouldn't have thought to ask these questions so I'm glad I read this article.

P: I'm going to call the account representative and ask these questions.

Maintain access to herbs and vitamins

S: Many of our patients use herbs, supplements, natural remedies. My professor brought to my attention that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is attempting to classify natural remedies as medicine. This would make it illegal for people in the USA to buy vitamins over the counter.

O: This is a quote from an investigator who is trying to get the word out. "When I first heard about this FDA attack on complementary and alternative health care, I considered it another "Chicken Little" rumor. On further study, I'm appalled at the speed with which the pharmaceutical companies are implementing Codex Alimentarius in the USA. If you don't suspect the pharmaceutical companies control the FDA, you may want to research that further by visiting http://www.HealthFreedomUSA.org." I got this quote from a press release: FDA Attacks Complementary & Alternative Healthcare by John F. Gilbert, Ph.D. - President/NTCB.

A: I went to the link posted in the title and signed the petition. The deadline is April 30th 2007.

P: I hope more people sign the petition and make their voice heard.

PEAT (Practice Exam and Assessment Tool)

S: I've been exploring different exams to prepare for the NPTE. One option is to use the online test from the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT).

O: The online exam is called the PEAT (Practice Exam and Assessment Tool) and is linked to the website from this blog. The advantage of taking the PEAT is that it is developed by the organization that administers the national board exam so it closely resembles the actual exam.

A: If you have test anxiety, then practicing with the PEAT may help because it simulates a time-based computer exam.

P: I plan to share this website with the students at the university.

My YouTube video

S: I read in the blogger notes that we can add video now to our blogs. I couldn't figure out how to add the video, but when I was messing around with the tool bar I discovered how to add a link in the body of the blog. The icon to select is the green circle (maybe representing the earth??) next to the capitol "T". Yeeha!

O: This is the link to my YouTube video showing how to perform progressive relaxation. I did this for one of my university classes. I'm getting a Complimentary Medicine and Wellness certificate and this video was designed to help viewers use relaxation to lower their blood pressure (consult your doctor also!).

A: I can't wait to post the blog and test the link to see how it works. I hope it takes the reader straight to my video.

P: Planning to go test the video right now......

Phone interview

S: I heard from the travel company today. I've been assigned an account representative who will assist me in finding a job. I'll be having a phone interview this weekend from one of the jobs. I'm a little nervous, although I shouldn't be.

O: I prepared for the interview by going online to find out about the city that I would be staying in. It is a little farther than I expected and is very rural. There are beautiful water falls and scenic areas to explore. I found an image online and posted it here.

A: Preparing for the interview by looking the city up on the Internet helped me feel better. I'm used to preparing for exams and I think I needed to prepare for this interview a little bit.

P: I'll post how the interview went after I'm called.

Sync iPod to exercise equipment

S: I was happy to read an article in Physical Therapy SOAP notes that a company is testing exercise equipment that will sync to the iPod. The link is in the title of this Blog.

O: The exercise bike will allow the exerciser to use the LCD panel to view videos from their iPod, charge their iPod, and listen to music. The exerciser was demonstrated in San Francisco 4 days ago at the International Health, Racquets & Sportsclub Association (IHRSA) Convention.

A: I would love to be able to watch my iPod videos while exercising. It would also be nice to be able to charge the iPod while it is being used.

P: I hope the university recreation center gets this exerciser.

Free Internet Radio

S: I feel like listening to Celtic music today. I love free internet radio and the link in the title is to my favorite station. I was surprised to read that Congress has decided to charge the radio stations $500 per channel.

O: I decided to follow the links to my congressman. I wrote him an e-mail telling him to leave the internet radio stations alone.

A: I hope my little e-mail makes a difference.

P: Tomorrow is Easter- HOPPY EASTER!

Health Care Traveler

S: The title/link is to the newest edition of free Health Care Traveler magazine. I'm excited because my recruiter called today telling me that there were 16 new requests today for physical therapists in the state I want to work in. She wanted to know what facility I did not want to work in so she could narrow down the list.

O: I told her that I won't have a car so that eliminated home care. I've work in most all physical therapy facilities including outpatient, inpatient, rehab, skilled nursing, pediatrics, and even an automotive plant. I sent her my updated resume. She also needed a current reference list of employers for the last year.

A: I'm pleased that she told me there was an immediate opening in a city that I have my heart set on. It would be at a skilled nursing facility. I like working with all ages from pediatrics to geriatrics so I'm comfortable at a SNF.

P: I plan on putting together a list of references tonight and e-mailing it to the recruiter.

NPTE pass rates

S: The title of this blog is a link to the federation of state boards physical therapy NPTE pass rates. In the Newsweek magazine for 3/26/2007 there are advertisements for Physical Therapy schools. One school showed a pass rate of 100%, but what does that mean?

O: The pass rate refers to the number of graduates from a physical therapy program who pass the national boards and are able to practice as physical therapists. The advertisement that showed a 100% pass rate didn't state how many times the students had to take the exam before they passed. Should students looking at physical therapy schools ask how many students passed on their first attempt? This is called the "first time pass rate."

A: A student can decide what school has good pass rates by looking at the fsbpt website.

P: I plan on blogging more on a physical therapy topic in a couple of days.