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Biomedical subjects

M Foto

Publications and source records attributed to M Foto.

16 recordsLinked to original sources

Competence and the occupational therapy entrepreneur.

That which constitutes competence in an occupational therapy entrepreneur is not well delineated, even though the role of entrepreneur requires that such a person possess a particular set of knowledge and skills in order to be competent. The question of competence in an occupational therapy entrepreneur is increasingly important because the number of practitioners assuming this role has grown in recent times. Indeed, a connection exists between the competence of occupational therapy entrepreneurs and the future stature of the profession. Still, the issue remains: How will occupational therapy entrepreneurs be judged competent? Peer evaluation is one possibility, but the ultimate measure will be marketplace success.

Entrepreneurship↗

Low frequency of axial involvement in Caucasian pediatric patients with seronegative enthesopathy and arthropathy syndrome after 5 years of disease.

In order to establish how many children with seronegative spondyloarthropathy (SpA) starting with peripheral arthritis and/or enthesitis will develop ankylosing spondylitis (AS), 13 consecutive Caucasian pediatric patients, (11 with the seronegative enthesopathy and arthropathy (SEA) syndrome and 2 with isolated B27 associated peripheral arthritis or enthesitis at entry), were followed prospectively with no loss for more than 5 years. Sacroiliac joint plain films obtained at the last visit were mixed with those of 14 control subjects and read blindly. The course of SpA was self-limiting in 6 patients and recurrent in the other 7. Six patients had episodes of inflammatory cervical and/or lumbar pain during followup. However, none showed any limitation of spinal movement in the asymptomatic periods. Only one patient (9.1%) of 11 with the SEA syndrome showed bilateral sacroiliitis and met New York criteria for AS after 5 years of disease. Our results suggest that the proportion of Caucasian children with the SEA syndrome developing AS is much lower than the 75% found in a similar study on Mexican children. Lack of evaluation of all patients after 5 years, the reading of pelvic plain films without reducing observer error, and the male predominance in the Mexican study, probably in addition to ethnic or environmental factors, may account for differences.

Adolescent↗

A medical review approach to Medicare outpatient documentation.

Blue Cross of California has recognized the problem of reimbursement delays due to Medicare claims that have been returned or denied. The information in this article applies to the medical review process and suggests an interpretation of the new Medicare outpatient guidelines used by the Blue Cross of California Medicare reviewers. As a solution to the problem of delayed reimbursement, medical reviewers--who are also practicing occupational therapists--offer an explanation of the Medicare review process and suggestions for correcting technical billing errors. Methods for keeping complete and timely medical records are discussed, with the suggestion that clinicians follow these methods from the start of care. A process for documentation is presented that will clearly prove to the medical reviewer the need for the special skills of an occupational therapist. This article also proposes reasons for noncoverage because of insufficient medical necessity. It is important to note, however, that variance between fiscal intermediaries' interpretations and requirements exists nationwide. This article, therefore, represents only one fiscal intermediary's approach to reviewing claims and medical records.

Ambulatory Care↗

Generalist versus specialist occupational therapists.

The issue is not generalist versus specialist, bachelor's degree versus master's degree, or even registered occupational therapist versus certified occupational therapy assistant. The issue is: What is each professional's product? What is the process by which each produces it? What knowledge, skills, and judgment do each need to competently produce the product? And, under what circumstances and conditions and at what point are each required to assure a quality product? The delineation of the requisite knowledge and skills as well as the delineation of generalist and specialist will flow from the answer to these questions.

Guidelines as Topic↗