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Guest Guru: Kevin Elo, 1st Advantage Physical Therapy

1^st Advantage Physical Therapy… “Reaching For, And Achieving… A New Level of Health.”

Holding a masters degree in Physical Therapy, and additionally credentialed as a Licensed Athletic Trainer, a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, and Certified Ergonomic Assessment Specialist, Kevin Elo has over 14 years of experience in rehabilitation, specializing in Industrial Rehabilitation, Orthopedics, Sports Medicine, and Performing Arts. Kevin is the owner of 1st Advantage Physical Therapy, serving Northwest Indiana and Chicagoland.

Why 1st Advantage Physical Therapy? Kevin has been a consultant in various industries, ranging from manufacturing to the performing arts. He has experience working on the most complex workers compensation cases, as well as training national and world athletes. He is capable of breaking through the physical, mental, and social barriers, which may be holding back a client from achieving an optimal outcome. He is results-oriented, which means you can be assured that you are getting the highest quality of care when you send your patients to 1st Advantage PT.

Why 1st Advantage Physical Therapy? 1st Advantage PT is also known in the area for their precise documentation and excellent communication skills, which has facilitated the progression of otherwise stagnant cases. This leaves little room for ambiguity regarding the patient’s ability to function at each stage of their recovery. They work together with the entire referral team to safely expedite the patient’s recovery.

Why 1st Advantage Physical Therapy? 1st Advantage PT prides itself in providing their patients with the highest quality of one-on-one care from the most qualified staff. The goal of 1st Advantage PT is to have their patients reach their maximum functional outcome following surgery, injury, illness or any other condition that would require physical therapy. Their goal is to make the patient feel better and have a safe and rapid recovery.

Why 1st Advantage Physical Therapy? We provide convenient evening, early morning and weekend appointments and can see patients within 24 hours of calling for an appointment. Most insurance plans are accepted.

Why 1st Advantage Physical Therapy? As a 100% independent clinic, 1st Advantage PT is proud to receive the highest honor of clients referring their friends and family, including physicians and case managers who have referred themselves. And because we are a therapist owned clinic, we are able to help you save money on your worker compensation costs and return your patients back to work safely.

Why 1st Advantage Physical Therapy?

Because 1st Advantage Physical Therapy Reaches For, And Achieves… A New Level of Health.

If you are interesting in suggesting or becoming a Guest Guru, please contact info@wcguru.com for more details.

Solving Problems

Anyone who has met or talked to Kevin knows that he is very passionate and detailed oriented with his work. He recently treated a woman for back pain. During the course of that treatment, he began to talk about her work environment.

"As it turned out, she was working on two different computers that were on opposite sides of a cubicle, while she was seated in the middle on a four-legged, non-moving chair. As a result, she spent the day stretching alternately to the left and right, aggravating her back."

He suggested she get a standard wheeled-and-rotating office chair.

"Within two days, her back problems had almost completely disappeared, and they were able to end the treatments shortly thereafter. She was happier, healthier and more productive, and the company eliminated the ongoing cost of her treatments, all for the price of a standard office chair."

He doesn’t just fix people, but helps identify the problem to prevent it from happening again.

Future Events

Events 1st Advantage will be attending in 2010

June 23, 2010

IWCI NW Luncheon
Location: Gamba Ristorante
11:00am-1pm

July 28, 2010
IWCI NW Luncheon
Location: Gamba Ristorante
11:00am-1pm

August 5, 2010
The IWCI Indianapolis Chapter Annual Seminar
Location: Ritz Charles
7am - 4:30pm

August 25, 2010
IWCI NW Luncheon
Location: Gamba Ristorante
11:00am-1pm

September 22, 2010
IWCI NW Luncheon
Location: Gamba Ristorante
11:00am-1pm

October 21, 2010
The IWCI Northwest Chapter Annual Seminar
Location: Radisson Hotel
7am - 4:30pm

Why should you choose 1st Advantage for your Industrial Rehabilitation needs?

Industrial rehabilitation involves specialists who specifically help those who have suffered on-the-job injuries. In addition to evaluating work tasks, they also will focus on the evaluation of the ergonomic environment, and help with redesign/implementation of work tasks helping to minimize on-the-job injury. Kevin and 1st Advantage take it even a step further, and utilize work hardening practices.

As a goal-oriented, structured, treatment program, work hardening is designed for something specific: to return a person to work. According to the APTA, work hardening programs, which are interdisciplinary in nature, use real or simulated work activities designed to restore physical, behavioral, and vocational functions. Addressing work behaviors and safety, work hardening focuses on the issues of productivity.

Our goal: To return your employees back to work faster and save you money.

What makes Kevin a Guru?

Kevin reads a variety of publications and visits websites to help keep him up to date on workers compensation and the advances in Physical Therapy.

-Journal of Orthopedic & Sports PT
-The Journal of the American Physical Therapy Association
-Journal of Athletic Training
-Strength and Conditioning Journal
-Journal of Dance Medicine and Science
-APTA(American Physical Therapy Association)
-NSCA (National Strength and Conditioning Association)

Work Conditioning

As a program designed to increase strength and physical endurance required for a safe return to work, 1st Advantage provides work conditioning for patients who are unable to return to work due to lingering physical limitations following normal care. The focus is the restoration of a patient's flexibility, strength, endurance, coordination and work related functions in order to maximize their physical performance. We perform one-on-one evaluations on the patient, creating an individualized program specific to the patients needs.

Work Hardening

As an individualized, job-specific therapy program consisting of progressive exercise and simulated work activities required for a safe return to work, work hardening is another program offered by 1st Advantage. Because of Kevin's expertise in the strength and conditioning field, he uses that knowledge to create a defined and efficient work hardening program for the patient. The daily program takes up where traditional physical therapy ends. The activities are comparable to the job tasks that are needed to return the patient to work safely with reduced risk of re-injury and the ability to be productive.

WC FAST STATS

Did you know...

-Over 50% of 1st Advantage Physical Therapy’s patients are Work Comp patients.

-In 2007, the Indiana Worker's Compensation Board reported that 62,326 claims involving one or more days of missed work were filed.

- In 2005, the U.S. DOL determined that there are 4.6 injuries per 100 full-time employees in the workplace.
• Manufacturing sector — 6.2 injuries per 100
• Small businesses (1-10 employees) — 2 per 100
• Mid-sized businesses (50-249 employees) — 5.8 per 100
• Large businesses (more than 1000 employees): 5.2 per 100

-Injured employees require an average of 19 therapy visits (Workers Compensation Research Institute).

-Sprains/strains account for 40% of work injuries.

-A work-related injury results in a loss of $38,000 including wages, productivity loss and medical expenses (National Safety Council, 2005)

- The National Safety Council documented that the longer you wait to treat workers' compensation injuries, the greater the cost.

Job Analysis
A job site analysis is typically performed to evaluate an employee's workstation to determine if the set-up is ergonomically correct. They are also beneficial in determining the physical demand level of the job, making suggestions for modifications and identifying job tasks that can be performed within specific restrictions. A job site analysis can be performed for an injured worker, to retrain the worker to prevent re-injury and improve work habits. Additionally, it can be used for non-injured employees as a preventative measure to avoid future injuries. In either case, a job site analysis will provide ergonomic recommendations that enable a better fit between the worker and his or her workstation. A job site analysis can also help physicians, consultants and other professionals determine a job candidate’s suitability for employment.

Functional Capacity Evaluation

A functional capacity evaluation or “FCE”, is an assessment tool utilized for those who have suffered an injury that may affect employment. Essentially, it is a standardized way to collect information regarding physical abilities to determine whether or not an employee can return to their previous job duties. Kevin performs all FCE’s at 1st Advantage and has received positive reviews from many case managers and employers. His observation skills and ability to connect on a physiological level help move clients forward. Kevin reports are detailed, and are also quickly identifiable, making it easier to read for the case managers and physicians who must review the information.

Pre-Employment/Post Offer Job Screenings

Designed for employers to accurately assess an applicant's physical capability to perform the essential functions of the job, job screenings are important because they help identify the demands of the job, the skills of the potential employee and help prevent the potential of a work injury. 1st Advantage performs these screenings to determine the employee's ability to perform the essential duties of the job they were hired to do.

Questions?

Do you have questions for Kevin? Want to learn more about 1st Advantage PT? Send us an email at info@f1advantage.com. We will respond promptly to all questions and comments.

Top ten things you need to know about 1st Advantage:

1. Provide Industrial Rehabilitation. With a proven track record working with various companies over the years, 1st Advantage provides Ergonomic Assessments, Post Offer Job Screenings, Job Analysis, Work Hardening and Conditioning, and Functional Capacity Evaluations. We employ true workers compensation specialists and work with companies to help identify and reduce injuries.

2. Experience in workers compensation cases. Over 50% of 1st Advantage’s patients are worker compensation patients. Because of our knowledge and experience, we have been trusted to provide therapy for some of the most complex and advanced cases, providing desirable results for all parties involved. Our patients experience a safe and rapid recovery and return to work satisfied with their results.

3. Aquatic Therapy. We provide Aquatic Therapy at our Crown Point clinic location. Our aquatic therapy programs are personally designed for the patients and their individual needs. Aquatic Therapy is a great way to provide high intensity therapy at low impact, reducing the stress on the patients’ body and joints and relaxing the muscles. We continually tailor these programs as needed based on the patient’s progress. For more information, click here.

4. Produce satisfied and healthy patients. At 1st Advantage PT, our number one goal is to make the patient feel better and have a safe and rapid recovery. We want our patients to reach their maximum functional outcome following surgery, injury, illness or any other condition that would require physical therapy. We are able to reach these goals by providing one-on-one care from our highly qualified staff. We take pride in being able to produce happy, healthy and satisfied patients.

5. Independently Owned and Operated Clinic. Kevin has a vested interest to maintain the high standards in which 1st Advantage was founded. We provide quality one-on-one care at every visit from our highly trained staff.

6. Kevin Elo, owner and therapist, is a Master Physical Therapist with over 14 years experience. He also has certifications in Strength and Conditioning, Athletic Training and Ergonomic Analysis.

7. Save money by reducing your workers compensation costs. Because we return patients back to work faster, your workers compensation costs are lower when you send your patients to 1st Advantage PT.

8. Return patients back to work faster. Statistics show that by attending an independently owned clinic, injury recovery is obtained in fewer visits during the course of treatment.

9. Offer early morning/evening/weekend appointments. We also can see patients within 24 hours of calling for an appointment. Why do we do this? It is simple…because we are independently owned; we value your business and want to provide the highest quality of care. We believe that offering convenient appointment scheduling is part of providing that quality of care.

10. Accept most insurances, including Medicare and Medicaid. If we are not in network with your insurance, we will work with that insurance company to receive the lower in-network rates to save you money out of pocket. We are also part of the Align Networks.