The FOTO 2016 D. L Hart International Research Award was presented to Pedro Gozalo, PhD, for outstanding research relating to rehabilitation using patient outcomes.
Knoxville, TN (PRWEB) May 11, 2016 -- Specifically the research showed how functional patient-reported data, derived from the Focus on Therapeutic Outcomes (FOTO) database, can be used to validly benchmark outpatient rehabilitation therapy clinics. Because there was sufficient variation in provider outcomes use for benchmarking, the FOTO dataset would be useful in pay-for-performance models. Co-authors involved in the research include Linda Resnik, PT, PhD and Benjamin Silver, BA.
The study used FOTO outpatient rehabilitation data from 538 clinics throughout the U.S, involving 2,040 clinicians and 90,392 patients over a 2 year period. A scientifically clear distinction between high-performing and low-performing rehabilitation clinics was shown.
Deanna Hayes, FOTO Coordinator of Internal Research, Development and Design said, "The findings have important implications for a potential P4P model in which the amount of payment may be related to the degree of both treatment effectiveness and efficiency. In other words, the practice of getting patients better, faster may be rewarded, rather than the current practice of reimbursement based on volume of services provided."
FOTO co-founders, Al Amato and Ben Johnston, said "the research is timely with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services(CMS) and other payers moving toward P4P models for reimbursement of healthcare providers."
The D.L. Hart Award honors research that has made a significant impact on the science of patient management by advancing the use of rehabilitation functional outcomes measurement and assessment. The Award honors Dennis Hart, PT, PhD, FOTO’s Director of Research and Development who passed away in 2012. Dr. Hart’s work was visionary as FOTO’s functional outcomes measurement system and database has become the rehabilitation industry standard. Through Dr. Hart’s open collaboration with clinicians and researchers using the FOTO outcomes database, many opportunities are now available to study and advance the science of physical, occupational, and speech therapy.
Leigh Castleberry, FOTO, Inc., http://fotoinc.com, +1 (800) 482-3686 Ext: 239, [email protected]
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