Category: Therapy

The End of 2020 is Near!

December 29, 2020 – I was fortunate enough to receive my physical therapy doctorate education from Creighton University. Creighton University was founded by Jesuits and they use their values in a lot of their teachings. One of the values that they instill is the importance of reflection. This can be done at a micro and a macro level, but I believe both are very important after a long and stressful 2020.

It is important that this week we reflect on what we went through in 2020. We reflect about our personal journey, our financial journey, our spiritual journey, the effect it had on our careers, or a number of other topics. This reflection time is very important to start to close the chapter on 2020 and to start 2021 on a good note.

As I reflect on 2020 from the perspective of Witte Physical Therapy a few things come to mind. First, we have the best patients. They continued to work hard in physical therapy and many of them navigated through the obstacles of the pandemic to achieve their goals and get back to their prior level of function. Next, we have a first class staff. In many ways our staff became closer this year. They worked hard and adapted to changes in the schedule and the policies we must follow to be able to treat patients. This was all done with minimal disruptions to the clinics where our focused remained on our patients. Lastly, while we were forced to learn on the fly (when it comes to insurance) more this year than ever and when we don’t know what to expect moving forward in 2021, I know that we can continue to provide excellent care to the patients and communities that we serve. This only sets us up better to be prepared to care for our communities as we work back to “normal” later in 2021.

I am grateful for those that trust me as their employer and those patients that trust us to get them better. I know that we can and will continue to provide the best care possible making us the top choice for physical therapy in Cass and Dodge counties!

Give us a call to come and check us out in Louisville at 402-234-3333, in Plattsmouth at 402-298-4747!

Twas The Night Before…

December 22, 2020 –

Twas the night before therapy and all through the gym not a creature was stirring not a her or a him

The theraband was hung on the rack with care, waiting for the patients that soon would be there

The therapists were tucked all snug in their beds with visions of new interventions dancing in their heads

And her in her kerchief and him in his cap had just settled down for a long winter’s nap

When on the bedside table the alarm caused such a clatter the therapist rose from their bed to see what was the matter

Away to the closet they flew like a flash, turned on the light, to get dressed in a dash

Next to the bathroom to clean our teeth and brush our hair, then onto the clinic as fast as we dare…..

The truth is I would love to complete this “poem” but as you can tell it is not my strong suit. The important thing to remember is that this week is Christmas and after a long year it can be difficult to remember the reason for the season! We must take the time to be thankful for what we have and figure out what we can give to others. This could be our time, our talents, or something of monetary value. At Witte Physical Therapy we hope we have given you our best over the past year. We hope you have felt the caring and compassion of our staff. We hope that your goals have been met and you have felt like a person and not just another patient.

We also continue to try to find ways to give. We have worked hard to continue our financial support to several local school districts and community groups. We have tried to continue to provide assistance to these organizations in a year where most of us have been hit financially. Currently we are still accepting food donations to the local food banks of the communities we serve. These will continue to be collected through the end of December and then delivered in early January. You can drop off your food donations to any of our clinics in Louisville and Plattsmouth!

From our staff to your family we hope you have a very Merry Christmas!

This Day In History…

December 15, 2020 – Have you often wondered what makes today any more special than yesterday or tomorrow? I often think about what important historical events have happened on certain days. Today, December 15, is a date that caught my eye. First it is my brother’s 34th birthday. As I was thinking about what else could have happened on this day I stumbled on a few things. Did you know that December 15th is when the Bill of Rights officially became a ratified document? Did you know that December 15 was the day that Dr. James Naismith introduced the first version of basketball? These are two events that really caught my eye (and I suppose the fact that it was my brother’s birthday!).

Let’s get back to the first question, what makes today any more special than yesterday or tomorrow? I would argue that today is more special than tomorrow because tomorrow isn’t promised. But why would today be any more special than yesterday? You could say that your survived yesterday and were granted today. Or you could look it as each day is special in its own right and thus no one day is any more special than another. But what if we thought of it in the following terms. We had a chance yesterday to do something and it did not get done so we were given today to cross it off the list. In terms of our health this can be related to your wellness and physical therapy. 

If you have any aches and pains, if you have trouble doing things today that you could do easier yesterday (or further in the past), if you feel like you are weaker or your balance isn’t as good, then you could start to look at ways to improve these items. A very simple first step is to call Witte Physical Therapy and schedule your free consultation. You can call us at 402-234-3333 (Louisville), 402-298-4747 (Plattsmouth) to schedule your free consultation. At this appointment you will get time with a physical therapist to discuss what is going on and ask questions. Your therapist will provide you with answers as to why you may be experiencing these symptoms and what your next step should be. This next step could include seeing your primary physician or a specialist for further investigation. It could be providing your insurance information to see if you can access physical therapy without a physician referral. Or it could be that you just need some simple advice and basic exercises to feel better. All of these options are provided at no charge. This appointment is a way to get to know us and for us to get to know you so that we can provide you the best education possible to save you money and avoid unnecessary appointments in the future (tomorrow and beyond).

If you want to start your wellness journey then our sister company, Witte 24/7 Wellness, can help you with that first step. Again if you did not call us yesterday than take some time today to give us a call at 402-234-3333 to schedule your free appointment and tour of our fitness facility. We offer a 24 hour a day, 7 day a week fitness facility that meets your needs. There are aerobic machines, cable weight systems, a variety of free weights, plyometrics, and space to complete your floor workout or body weight routine. There are services that allow the therapists and a personal trainer to provide assistance and training for you and your questions. We are running a special promotion for December 2020. If you join now you get your initiation fee or one month’s fee waived!

COVID19 and Physical Therapy

December 8, 2020 – As we continue our blog series in December we are taking a look back at 2020. Unfortunately the top story is COVID19. It has been a devastating disease for many people and it has affected the majority of the population in some way. Whether it has been quarantining, being sick, or losing a loved one, this year has been a trying time. Every day, week, and month we are learning more about the disease. In this article I want to share where we are at today with quarantining rules and how physical therapy is dealing with COVID.

The CDC released its new quarantining guidelines early in December. These changes the quarantining rules for those who have been in contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID19. There are now 3 options. Option 1, to quarantine for 14 days. Option 2 to quarantine for 10 days. If you have had no symptoms after 10 days then you can leave quarantine but you need to keep your mask on for the majority of the day (even if you are at home) for another 4 days. Option 3 is to quarantine for 7 days and then you can leave quarantine as long as you have had no symptoms and you have had a negative COVID test after day 5. You must continue to keep your mask on for the majority of the day (even if you are at home) for another 7 days. These new guidelines can be welcomed news for those people who do not have symptoms and who cannot quarantine for 14 days. Additional information can be found at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/more/scientific-brief-options-to-reduce-quarantine.html.

A lot of people think of physical therapy as helping someone to recover after a surgery or injury. They think of helping people overcome pain or deal with a change in their life making it hard for them to complete certain tasks as they once would. One of the more common things we treat in physical therapy is deconditioning after a hospitalization or extended period of inactivity. This can occur after a surgery, infection, or anything else that causes a long hospital stay or deconditioning period. COVID19 brings another aspect along with this particular issue. COVID19 has been known to affect heart and lungs which brings along cardiovascular concerns. These are areas that physical therapists already treat after heart attacks, stent placements, long term pulmonary conditions, and other issues. We can work to help you get your legs back under you, improve your heart strength (it is a muscle!) and rate, and get your lungs back. If you are having issues with this problem due to COVID19 or another issue contact us in Louisville at 402-234-3333 or Plattsmouth at 402-298-4747 to schedule a free consultation!

More information can be found at: https://www.choosept.com/radio/detail/physical-therapy-s-role-in-fight-against-covid-19

Why did Melissa chose Physical Therapy?

November 17, 2020 – We all have reasons for why we do what we do for a living. These can include past experiences, a call to action, or just having something fall into place. For Melissa her reason for choosing to become a physical therapy assistant roots back to her past experiences.

What does Deductible, Co-Insurance, Out of Pocket, and Visit Limit mean?

November 3, 2020 – Sometimes it is hard to believe that it is November already. Other times 2020 has been so trying for so many people for so many reasons that it has felt like the longest year that they can remember. Regardless of how 2020 has felt to us it does not change the fact that for many of us our deductibles and insurance plans are getting ready to end on December 31 and then start back over on January 1. One of the most confusing parts of our healthcare system is how insurance plans work. There are different plans for each person from different insurance companies that cover healthcare costs at different rates. Even as a provider it can be tough to keep up with all the information. Let us cover some basics today.

First you must meet your DEDUCTIBLE. This is the amount that your insurance company sets forth in your insurance contract that must be paid before they will start to help to cover any healthcare costs. This amount tends to be from $500 to $5000 per year and even that amount can be different. How fast you can meet your deductible depends on how much you use your insurance coverage and how they will pay for your healthcare usage. Some plans pay by the day and some by the procedure. Often these amounts are set by the insurance company and not the healthcare provider, but you can always call and shop around for the best situation for your plan.

Once you have met your deductible then you start to look at your CO-INSURANCE. Your co-insurance is the first sign that your insurance company will start to pay for some of your medical expenses. You have met their contracted deductible amount and now they will start to help pay for some of your medical bills. Typically, your co-insurance will be 80%/20%. This means that they will pay 80% of the bill for your services and you will pay 20%. Both payments are directed at the provider that performed and billed for those services. Co-insurances can range from 90%/10% to 50%/50%.

Now that you are using your co-insurance you need to start to understand what your MAXIMUM OUT OF POCKET is. This tends to be double your deductible amount. No matter what the number is it is again set up by your insurance company. Once your have paid the amount equal to your maximum out of pocket then your insurance company will cover your healthcare costs at 100%. This means you will not owe any more for the rest of the year. Of course, this is only true if you still follow their rules. They will not pay for anything they normally do not cover.

When it comes to physical therapy, we also need to be aware of what your visit limit is for the year. If you use all your visits, then your insurance company will not pay for any extra costs no matter what your deductible or out of pocket met amount is. Physical therapy visits can be as little as 20 visits per year or as large as unlimited. Again, these limits are set by your insurance company.

At Witte Physical Therapy we want to make sure that you are aware of what your benefits are and what your costs may be. We will provide any education needed to our current, future, or perspective patients to make sure that you understand how your insurance works and how physical therapy will be processed by your insurance company. Please contact us at 402-234-3333 in Louisville or 402-298-4747 in Plattsmouth to get any of your insurance questions answered!

Why did Natosha Want to Become a PT?

October 26, 2020 – I am very fortunate to be part of a great team with a common goal. We all love physical therapy and helping our patients! Our number one goal is to get our patients back to 100% as efficiently as possible. Natosha is just one of our team members. She has extensive experience in pediatrics, orthopedics, and women’s health. This gives her the ability to treat many different types of patients across the age range. Let’s learn about Natosha and why she chose physical therapy.

“When I graduated high school, I thought I wanted to be a pharmacist.  That dream lasted until my first college chemistry class.  At that point, I took a step back and really thought about what I enjoyed and what I wanted to do for a job.   I have always been fascinated by how the body works.  Specifically with how to make the body work most effectively and efficiently.  That coupled with my desire to work in the health care field, but not give shots or draw blood, led me to physical therapy.  I spent a lot of time observing Physical Therapists, and one of my favorite things was that we get to work in so many settings!  Whether I was observing in a hospital with someone post stroke and working to get strong enough to get back home, or observing in an outpatient clinic with someone post rotator cuff surgery working to get back to work, or observing in a school setting with a school aged kiddo working to play on the playground at school independently, there was one thing in common with all these settings.  In each setting, it was a physical therapist helping those individuals to reach goals, using their own bodies and strength to meet their goals.  I love the fact that when I go to work, I will get to help people improve their own body’s efficiency.  Each patient I see has different goals.  Each patient I see will take a different path towards their progress.  That makes each day different and challenging for me, in the very best of ways!  So, while the short answer to “why did you become a physical therapist?” is actually because I didn’t really like chemistry!  The longer, more realistic answer, is because I love that my job, every day, is to help my patients reach their goals and get back to the things that matter to them!  My best days are hearing my patient retell a story of how they were able to do something meaningful in their life following our sessions!”

To have the change to work with Natosha or any other of our fabulous team members please call us at 402-234-3333 in Louisville or 402-298-4747 in Plattsmouth. If you are experiencing pain then why not take the first step towards being pain free!

Why Katie Became A Physical Therapist

October 20, 2020 – As physical therapists we all have chose this line of work for a variety of reasons. Some may be personal and others may not be. In this week’s blog we are going to meet Katie, one of our physical therapy assistants, and learn more about her and why she chose physical therapy.

Katie was born and raised in Grand Island, Nebraska. After graduating from Grand Island Senior High, Katie attended the University of Nebraska Omaha where she received her Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science. After completing her Bachelor’s degree Katie then attended Clarkson College where she obtained her Associate of Science in Physical Therapist Assistant degree graduating Summa Cum Laude. Katie is a current member of the American Physical Therapy Association and the Nebraska Physical Therapy Association. Katie has been an employee of Witte Physical Therapy since 2016 and works primarily in our Louisville clinic. She has been an invaluable asset in the treatment of different patients across the age spectrum.

Katie writes:

I chose to be a physical therapist assistant to incorporate my interests of the human body, exercise and helping people as I get to experience all three each day. By being a physical therapist assistant I enjoy the direct daily patient care and relationships I form with various patient populations. Physical therapy means to me helping patients find ways through various techniques reach their personal goals whether big or small. Physical therapy offers many different specialties and healing pathways to cater to each patient and their particular needs. 

At Witte Physical Therapy we have a great team with a variety of different backgrounds and interests to treat the patient as effectively as possible. It is this team that allows us to treat each patient individually based on the patient’s needs. Katie’s outlook on why she chose physical therapy is present in all our team members leading to a patient first physical therapy experience!

Call us at 402-234-3333 in Louisville or 402-298-4747 in Plattsmouth to come in, meet us, and receive a free consultation!

Insurance vs Cash Pay, which is best?

October 13, 2020 – Often, we get the following question, “Does my insurance cover physical therapy”? I wish this were a simple answer, but unfortunately it cannot be. Many insurance companies offer multiple plans that result in many different answers to the above question.

United HealthCare does not provide the same coverage as Aetna. Blue Cross Blue Shield does not provide the same coverage as Medica. Medicare does not provide the same coverage as UHC AARP Medicare Advantage. This can be confusing for a patient to navigate. At Witte Physical Therapy we will work to provide you with the most complete answer we can get from your insurance company on your cost. This answer means that we will work to find out your deductible, out of pocket maximum, co-payment, co-insurance, and visit limits to put together your costs as best we can providing you the most complete information possible. Most of the time these costs are controlled and determined by your insurance plan and not by Witte Physical Therapy, but we can help you navigate what this means and what your options are.

If you do not have any insurance or your insurance coverage requires you to pay too much out of pocket you have the option of paying for therapy via cash pay. This means that you pay for your visit each time without submitting anything to your insurance company. Witte Physical Therapy offers competitive cash pay rates for our services and will work with you to understand what your options are and what is best for you.

Give us a call today in Louisville at 402-234-3333 or Plattsmouth at 402-298-4747 to learn how Witte Physical Therapy will give you the best bang for your buck!

October is Physical Therapy month!

October 6, 2020 – There are many celebrations that occur throughout the year. National Pizza Day, National Donut Day, Breast Cancer Awareness Month, etc. All these dates are especially important for their own reasons and should be given their fair share of attention. Another month that deserves some recognition is National Physical Therapy month. This occurs every October. In this month’s blog series, we are going to focus on National Physical Therapy month and what it means for Witte Physical Therapy.

At Witte Physical Therapy it has always been our goal to treat as many different issues, ages, and people as we efficiently as possible. We have worked hard to add staff that supplements our team and adds new experiences and expertise onto our staff. This allows us to have “big city expertise in a small-town clinic”. Our staff includes:

1. 1. Kayla Mammen: orthopedics, vestibular and balance
   2. Natosha Siemek PT, DPT: orthopedics, pediatrics, women’s, and pelvic health
   3. Christi Sieler, PT, DPT: orthopedics, vestibular, women’s health
   4. Dan Witte, PT, DPT, OCS: certified orthopedic specialist, functional dry needling, Graston, cardiovascular
   5. Katie Alvarado, PTA
   6. Melissa Schultze, PTA

This diverse staff allows us to work together to provide a team approach and treat most patient issues that come through our door. In addition to what is list above we also work with geriatric patients, post stroke and other neuromuscular patients. We can use aquatic therapy, cupping, and taping to help speed up your treatment plan.

We have worked hard to try to create an all-inclusive physical therapy clinic. We work with multiple school districts to provide educational opportunities for the local students. We provide free consultations to all our patients to help them navigate the best possible path for them through the healthcare system. We have also opened Witte 24/7 Wellness as another avenue for patients to continue with the rehab after therapy or for the public to have 24/7 access to a fully equipped fitness facility.

If you have any questions that pertain to physical therapy, free consultations, or Witte 24/7 Wellness please all us at 402-234-3333 or 402-298-4747!