How to dummy-down the definition of PM&R?

[urheald]

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Since I decided to pursue PM&R I have been explaining what a physiatrist does more than I would like to admit. Most of the time I end up screaming at the person I am explaining this to, "GO LOOK IT UP DUMMY". Grandma, if you're reading this, I'm sorry......I didn't mean it.

Please post your favorite answers to "what does a physiatrist do?". I realize that you have to know your audience but, for the general non-physician public, what do you say?


The following was taken off the rehabmed.net website under "What is physiatry?" Probably the worst explanation I have heard yet.

Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (Physiatry) is a specialty of medicine concerned with the diagnosis and treatment of aches and pains and other disabling conditions.

I prefer this one from Wikipedia: (I know, I know...do not use this site for medical info)

Physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM&R), or physiatry, is a branch of medicine dealing with functional restoration of a person affected by physical disability.

Please post yours. 👍

 

[PMR 4 MSK]

Everything an orthopod does, only without the knife, and better.

Most of the things a neurologist does, without the boring stuff.

Most of the things a rheumatologist does without the esoteric stuff, and with an understanding of the spine.

Most of things no one else wants to do, unfortunately.

 

[urheald]

Everything an orthopod does, only without the knife, and better.

Most of the things a neurologist does, without the boring stuff.

Most of the things a rheumatologist does without the esoteric stuff, and with an understanding of the spine.

Most of things no one else wants to do, unfortunately.

LOL...awesome! Anybody else wanna throw some wood on the fire?

 

[Shalom77]

I usually divide up my answer. First I rarely say physiatrist - I usually use Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.

Then when they want to know what that is -

Well there's the rehabilitation part - that involves helping people with things like spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, stroke, etc.
Then there's the physical medicine part - which deals with musculoskeletal medicine, and pain among other things.

I'll go into more detail depending on interest.

It's not perfect but it seems to work for me.

 

[SportsMed09]

Here's a blurb our PM&R interest group created for a pamphlet about interest groups.



Physical medicine and rehabilitation medicine is a specialty that deals with musculoskeletal problems and the improvement of kinesiology. PM&R doctors work to maximize a patients functioning after musculoskeletal injuries or strokes. Physical medicine and rehabilitation is a large field with lots of subspecialties, including pain management, sports medicine, and traumatic brain injury specialists.


Whaddaya think?

 

[Nico47]

If I'm in a rush I just say:

Medicine for the disabled.

 

[myodana]

"non-surgical management of musculoskeletal problems."

 

[paindefender]

Glorified PA/PT.

 

[deleted185747]

To paindefender:

WHAT A BUZZKILL DUDE

 

[PMR 4 MSK]

Glorified PA/PT.

Who laughs all the way to the bank...

Ignore him, I think a Physiatrist must have ran over his dog when he was a kid or something. Not sure why he trolls the PM&R forum.

 

[Disciple]

because he is one.

Check out some of his other posts.

 

[TRAMD]

Some of my responses:

"Non-surgical treatment of musculoskeletal and neurological problems" - used this at my interviews

"Rehab and pain medicine" - the quickie

"A chiropractor with a bigger paycheck" - for humor

"Great lifestyle with good salary" - seems to elicit the most understanding of my choice

 

[paindefender]

because he is one.

Check out some of his other posts.

I am sorry if you are one. Do not include me in your list of colleagues.

 

[topwise]

because he is one.

Check out some of his other posts.

Why would a 40 year old physician go trolling around on a PM&R board? I always think of internet trolls as being 13 year old boys making mean comments just to get people riled up, not something an adult, much less a physician, would do. Oh well.

I think it's unfortunate that the comment "glorified PT/PA" was meant as an insult because I think PTs and PAs do really important jobs. I'm embarrassed for him having said that. I have a lot of respect for both fields, but I think any physiatrist knows that what we do isn't similar to what they do. I definitely couldn't do what a PT does and they couldn't do what I do. I don't even know what to say about the simile to a PA, which is just kind of a weird thing to say.

 

[PMR 4 MSK]

I am sorry if you are one. Do not include me in your list of colleagues.

Why would a 40 year old physician go trolling around on a PM&R board? I always think of internet trolls as being 13 year old boys making mean comments just to get people riled up, not something an adult, much less a physician, would do. Oh well.

That's my point. He periodically pops in to the PM&R forum to make a negative comment, with nothing to offer the thread except making himself look stupid. Must be some kind of grudge there.

Here's my PM&R promotion in a nutshell: One of my ortho partners told me I make more to diagnose CTS via EMG than he makes to cure it surgically. I've checked it out by collections, and he's generally correct. Yet my liability on that patient is near nil, my malpractice is < 1/10th his, I go home at 5pm each day, take no call, and get a page on one of my own patients 1-2x/month after hours. Who would you feel sorry for?

 

[TRAMD]

He appears to be some kind of lazy troll. He is averaging about 1 post every two weeks.

 

[TRAMD]

Hey PMR 4 MSK, is that your dog?

 

[PMR 4 MSK]

Hey PMR 4 MSK, is that your dog?

No, but he looks a lot like an old one I had, and I couldn't resist the smile. 🙂

 

[drvlad2004]

Wow, you have a serious axe to grind against Physiatry. It would be nice if you something more constructive to say, whether positive or negative. It is really embarassing to see that all of your posts are essentially pointless or meaningless. You are a troll and you are trying again to stir trouble with everybody. It is sad to see this.

 

[Doctor]

That's my point. He periodically pops in to the PM&R forum to make a negative comment, with nothing to offer the thread except making himself look stupid. Must be some kind of grudge there.

Here's my PM&R promotion in a nutshell: One of my ortho partners told me I make more to diagnose CTS via EMG than he makes to cure it surgically. I've checked it out by collections, and he's generally correct. Yet my liability on that patient is near nil, my malpractice is < 1/10th his, I go home at 5pm each day, take no call, and get a page on one of my own patients 1-2x/month after hours. Who would you feel sorry for?

Hmmmmmm. How is this possible, when orthopods make roughly 2x the salary of a physiatrist? From what I've seen on surveys and in job postings, orthopods tend to average around $400,000/annum after malpractice is accounted for with physiatrists generally making more like $200,000/annum... it doesn't seem to add up given your statement above unless the orthopods are working more than twice the hours each week.

 

[Disciple]

Orthopedic surgeons do other surgeries besides carpal tunnel releases.

Carpal tunnel release is one of the simpler surgeries they do.

 

[PMR 4 MSK]

Hmmmmmm. How is this possible, when orthopods make roughly 2x the salary of a physiatrist? From what I've seen on surveys and in job postings, orthopods tend to average around $400,000/annum after malpractice is accounted for with physiatrists generally making more like $200,000/annum... it doesn't seem to add up given your statement above unless the orthopods are working more than twice the hours each week.

I see 3 pt's per hour in the clinc on average. Ortho's see 6-8, and use a PA. I do 2 procedures per hour in fluoro, CTR make take ortho 15 minutes or less. My EMG takes an hour.

Certainly they make more/hour doing surgery than I do with what I do. But they also work 60 hours per week seeing patients and doing surgery, then being on call all night, 1-2x/week for many, many years.

When my clinic looked at RVU's and ranked doctors, I was ahead of many of the ortho's. Hand surgeons were at the top. Trauma surgery was at the bottom. Joints were in the middle. I was above the joint guys.

Yet they take home more pay. Why? They work more hours. They also get paid to be on call. I only see patients 30 - 35 hours per week.

 

[Doctor]

Thank you for the additional details, PMR 4 MSK. Very useful info! 👍

 

[TRAMD]

No, but he looks a lot like an old one I had, and I couldn't resist the smile. 🙂

It's a great pic.

 

[SCIMDWRX]

Having been a medicine intern, I usually explain to people that PM&Rs help people live better instead of just die slower.

Alternately:

We're the department of "What happens next?" after a catastrophic injury.

I have also explained emphatically, and with enough passion to get me in trouble, that we are not Social Work MD, Dispo MD, or Surgery Dump MD.