Ryan Hardin and Brett Burton share their journeys from McCook, Nebraska through PT school and various career paths before ultimately returning to their hometown to practice physical therapy at McCook Community Hospital.

• Both attended University of Nebraska for athletic training and UNMC for physical therapy
• Brett's path included a sports residency in Idaho and working with professional athletes in Phoenix
• A cancer diagnosis at 30 prompted Brett to reevaluate priorities and eventually return to McCook
• Ryan values working in a one-high-school town where he can serve athletes and be involved with FCA
• Small-town PT practice offers unique advantages including seeing patients through their entire recovery journey
• The critical access hospital setting provides excellent resources with 10 therapists and extensive facilities
• Both therapists treat patients across age ranges (4-104) and wide-ranging conditions
• Being part of the community creates deeper relationships with patients
• Challenges include regulatory limitations specific to critical access hospitals
• Both find joy in helping patients move better, with Ryan noting movement has "physical, emotional, psychological and spiritual benefits"
• APTA Nebraska membership provides valuable professional connections and continuing education
• McCook offers excellent quality of life with three recreational lakes, new YMCA facilities, and affordable living

Join us at upcoming APTA Nebraska conferences to connect with fellow physical therapy professionals and build valuable relationships across the state.

Episode Links:

Ryan Hardin, PT, DPT, ATC | Community Hospital - McCook, Nebraska

Brett Burton - PT, DPT, SCS, ATC, CSCS | Community Hospital - McCook, Nebraska

Founder/Instructor — One Harmonic Motion

Home - Visit McCook

The APTA Nebraska podcast provides critical updates on recent healthcare legislation and upcoming events for physical therapists throughout the state. This legislation brings a 2.5% Medicare fee increase for 2026 while highlighting concerns about rural hospital closures and changes to student loan programs.

• Recent "Big Beautiful Bill" signed with 2.5% Medicare fee schedule increase for 2026
• Concerns about Medicaid cuts potentially impacting rural Nebraska hospitals
• New $100,000 cap on grad plus loans affecting PT student financing
• EPSIG Social at Sunny's on September 17th from 7-9pm
• Nebraska PTs participating in Husker Harvest Days Health Exhibit (Sept 9-11)
• "Baseball-a-ween" trunk-or-treat event at Werner Park on October 24
• Jingle Bell Run returning December 6th
• APTA advocacy app available for easy communication with representatives

Download the APTA Advocacy app to stay informed and communicate with your representatives. It's the easiest way to engage in advocacy and make your voice heard.

Episode Links:

• EPSIG Summer Social: Nebraska APTA... - Nebraska Physical Therapy Association | Facebook
• Member Deals: APTA Membership Benefits and Discounts | APTA

The APTA Nebraska membership committee shares their diverse backgrounds and motivation for joining the organization while highlighting the benefits of engagement for physical therapists at all career stages. Members discuss how building professional relationships across practice settings and geographical areas creates a stronger, more connected PT community in Nebraska.

• Committee members include Brad Dexter, Adam Meirose, Candice McCoy, and Nathan Halm.
• Professional networking provides valuable cross-pollination of ideas and solutions across different practice settings
• APTA membership offers tangible benefits including discounted specialty certification exams and access to continuing education
• The organization helps newer graduates find mentorship and study partners, particularly valuable when relocating to new areas
• APTA Engage platform makes it easy to get involved at state and national levels with opportunities matching different time commitments
• Virtual engagement options ensure even rural practitioners can participate and benefit from membership
• Despite being geographically dispersed, the PT community is interconnected with potential for significant collective impact

To get involved with APTA Nebraska, visit the APTA Engage platform through the link in our show notes or reach out directly via the APTA Nebraska email address.

Links:

• Nebraska Physical Therapy Association Home Page
• APTA Engage Link
  • Nebraska Physical Therapy Association - Engage
• APTA Nebraska Email Address
  • info@aptanebraska.org

Mike Stodden and Wendy Bloomhuff of Rock Valley Physical Therapy share their journeys in private practice and innovative solutions for overcoming administrative barriers to provide exceptional patient care. The conversation reveals how passion for patient relationships drives practice decisions, while exploring the challenges of insurance requirements, administrative burdens, and practice management.

• Mike Stodden merged his successful private practice with Rock Valley PT after 17 years to maintain his patient-centered culture
• Wendy Bloomhuff leads Slate, a service helping private practices manage billing and administrative tasks to focus on patient care
• Insurance pre-certifications and administrative burdens create significant challenges for therapists wanting to focus on treatment
• Direct access has changed how physical therapists interact with both patients and referral sources
• The "art of therapy" comes from experience in knowing where to start with patients and how to progress their care
• Rural clinics face unique challenges in maintaining staffing and administrative support
• Building professional relationships through APTA Nebraska provides support, solutions, and community for therapists
• Physical therapists can help reduce healthcare costs by treating patients directly without unnecessary imaging or medications

Episode Links:

Rock Valley Physical Therapy

• www.rockvalleypt.com

Slate

• www.slatept.com

Net Health Therapy Source

• https://www.nethealth.com/therapy-source-emr/

The APTA Nebraska podcast discusses recent graduates, state advocacy, and prosthetics initiatives while providing important timeline updates for members and highlighting opportunities for engagement.

• Congratulations to 2025 PT and PTA graduates, with reminders about patience during the four-week licensure process
• Announcement of an All-District meeting featuring House of Delegates information and legislative session updates
• Interview with Vince Lau about "So Every Body Can Move" initiative seeking insurance coverage for activity-specific prosthetic devices
• Details on LB410 (Insurance Fairness Act) with fiscal impact of only 1-12¢ per member monthly but potential savings of $68 million
• Upcoming events including Running Blade Clinic (June 21st) and Blade 5K (July 12th) at College of St. Mary
• Updates on Medicare rules for 2026 with limited clarity on Medicare Advantage plans
• Early bird deadlines for specialist certifications: July 1st for cardiovascular, pulmonary, electrophysiology, oncology, women's health, wound management; July 31st for geriatric, neurologic, orthopedic, pediatric, sports
• APTA member deals including 25% off car rentals and 65% off UPS shipping

Nebraska APTA House of Delegates Town Hall Meeting Link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/SWVZNBwJ-hCPT_L8i2NQpb0oVp7npqp1eveCKsvsGujO017oo5DBaaubb_cUtBWh.0Bm1ln2rwpxzf-JM?startTime=1747699308000

Passcode: 8J%&mc95

Vince Lau and Limb Lab Information:

• Contact
  • vincent@limblab.com
• Information Links
  • https://soeverybodycanmove.org/ [soeverybodycanmove.org]
  • Become an advocate: https://p2a.co/ASKIfhc [p2a.co]
  • LB410: https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=59036 [nebraskalegislature.gov]
  • Levitate Clinic:

Three early-career physical therapists share their journeys navigating the first years of practice, discussing both the rewards and challenges they've encountered along the way. We explore how APTA Nebraska's Early Professional Special Interest Group (EPSIG) provides mentorship and community support for PTs and PTAs in their crucial first five years.

• Kirsten, Joel, and Cole reveal what attracted them to physical therapy, highlighting the biopsychosocial aspects of the profession
• Early-career therapists experience excitement seeing patients improve while also feeling challenged by the knowledge gap between school and practice
• Professional development strategies include seeking mentorship, utilizing clinical practice guidelines, and consuming targeted educational content via podcasts and social media
• EPSIG connects early-career professionals with experienced mentors beyond their workplace to provide fresh perspectives
• The group hosts networking events, educational opportunities, and creates community among practitioners facing similar challenges
• Early-career professionals bring valuable fresh perspectives while still developing their clinical expertise
• EPSIG welcomes any PT or PTA in their first five years of practice, with mentorship opportunities for any APTA member beyond five years of experience

If you're interested in connecting with EPSIG, visit the APTA Nebraska website or email the EPSIG team to join their mailing list for upcoming events and mentorship opportunities.

NE APTA EPSIG page:

https://aptanebraska.org/Early_Professional_SIG [aptanebraska.org]

Membership Form:

https://forms.gle/qYqX7YyaLMsFyKSi8 [forms.gle]

Mentor Form:

https://forms.gle/zvjoQbcpd6mtm8c48 [forms.gle]

Email:

neapta.epsig@gmail.com

APTA Nebraska's Student Special Interest Group (NSSIG) executive board shares their journeys to leadership and why professional engagement matters for PT students and new graduates.

• Student leaders from NSSIG discuss their paths to executive board positions
• Service backgrounds range from extensive leadership experience to first-time involvement
• Board members emphasize that professional service creates valuable networking opportunities across PT/PTA programs
• NSSIG organizes the annual Conclave and biennial National Advocacy Dinner
• Students plan to maintain APTA membership after graduation for advocacy opportunities, professional development, and resources
• Membership benefits like discounts on shoes, hotels and professional resources provide additional value
• Board members encourage hesitant students to get involved, emphasizing that NSSIG can adapt to students' interests and time limitations
• Professional engagement helps students prepare for advocacy throughout their careers

Reach out to the NSSIG board about upcoming events or to provide feedback on what you'd like to see from your student organization!

APTA Nebraska launches its new podcast to connect physical therapists across the state with updates on advocacy, practice challenges, and member benefits. Brad Dexter and APTA Nebraska President Nick Weber discuss critical issues affecting physical therapists and share resources to help members stay informed and engaged.

• Medicare's 2.8% fee schedule reduction continues despite advocacy efforts, with Congress failing to address it in the recent continuing resolution
• TRICARE providers face significant challenges with obtaining referrals and payments since TriWest became the new contractor
• CMS changed requirements for caregiver training codes (97550/97551), now requiring the full time to be furnished before billing
• Two priority bills in the Nebraska legislature: LB77 for prior authorization transparency and LB527 for increased Medicaid reimbursement
• PT demand projected to exceed supply for the next 12 years according to recent PTJ research
• The Academy of Neurological PT will hold their annual conference in Omaha this October
• APTA members can access discounts on travel, entertainment, and even laundry services through membership benefits

Stay connected with APTA Nebraska for more conversations that elevate our profession and improve the lives of Nebraskans. Subscribe, share, and join the discussion as we drive the future of physical therapy forward together.

Links:

APTA Practice Advisory: CPT Codes for Caregiver Training Without the Patient Present: https://www.apta.org/your-practice/payment/medicare-payment/cpt-codes-caregiver-training-without-patient-present-practice-advisory?utm_source=Informz&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=250319-APTA-Weekly&_zs=pS2ll1&_zl=SX08A

TRICARE WEST REGION REFERRAL WAIVER APPROVAL LETTER: https://tricare.triwest.com/globalassets/tricare/provider/tricare-west-region-referral-waiver-approval-letter.pdf

Poplin Laundry Services: https://www.poplin.co

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