Functional Pathways is a therapist-owned contract therapy and management consulting provider that has exceeded expectations with our services and support for nearly 30 years. We provide staffing, ongoing support, and services to Skilled Nursing Facilities, CCRCs, Assisted and Independent Living Communities, and Hospital Rehab Departments across the United States.

Our client partnership strategy places an emphasis on relationships and aligning with those who share similar missions and values. That’s why over 70% of our clients are non-profit companies.

We aim to make a difference in the lives we touch every single day.

Our number one priority is to form long-lasting relationships with our clients, which leads to improving clinical and financial outcomes at their facilities, communities, and hospitals. Our commitment to providing next-level service and support is second-to-none, and that’s reflected in our 97% controllable client retention rate and world-class Net Promoter Score of 80.

As a values-based and relationship-focused organization, we hold philanthropy close to our hearts as well. We encourage our employees to volunteer and donate their time in support of charitable initiatives, and we’re proud sponsors and donors to the Alzheimer’s Association, American Red Cross, and other non-profit organizations. We’re also honored to partner with LeadingAge and several of their state-specific communities.

We were blessed to experience record-setting growth as an organization in 2023, adding more clients than ever into the FP Family while moving into several new states. We’re on pace in 2024 to break the growth records we set last year, and we’re excited for the opportunity to serve more patients and clients across the nation.

Why are more facilities choosing to partner with Functional Pathways? Because we provide support from all levels of our organization, ongoing MDS training and education from clinical experts, more PDPM reimbursement opportunities, 34+ therapy programs, 64+ Wellness programs, and a robust compliance department that has earned a 100% appeal win rate for 14 consecutive quarters.

If you’re interested in world-class therapy services and support, reach out today by visiting our website at fprehab.com or calling 888.449.2212 for a brief introduction.

In today’s fast-paced and interconnected world, having a strong personal brand is like having your very own superhero cape. Your personal brand is a combination of how you present yourself, your reputation, and the way others perceive you in the professional world. It’s your unique promise to the world – a reflection of your values, skills, and the incredible value you bring to the table.

But here’s the exciting part: Your personal brand isn’t set in stone. You have the power to shape it, refine it, and make it shine even brighter. Get ready to unleash your professional potential and leave a lasting impression! Here’s how you can shape your personal brand:

1. Reflect on Your Brand Perception: Take a moment to reflect on how you’re perceived by others in the workplace. Consider feedback you’ve received, both formally and informally. What do your colleagues, supervisors, or clients say about you? Does your brand align with your professional goals? This self-reflection will help you evaluate your current brand perception and identify areas for improvement.
2. Evaluate Your Online Presence: In our digital age, your online presence plays a significant role in shaping your personal brand. Conduct an audit of your social media profiles, especially LinkedIn. Is your profile up to date? Does it accurately reflect your skills, achievements, and aspirations? Also, review your privacy settings on other platforms to ensure your personal and professional lives remain separate. Remember, what you share online can leave a lasting impression.
3. Seek Feedback: Obtaining feedback from trusted colleagues, mentors, or supervisors is invaluable in evaluating the strength of your personal brand. Ask for honest input on how you are perceived in the workplace and how your professional image could be improved. This feedback can provide valuable insights into areas where you may need to focus your efforts to strengthen your brand.
4. Cultivate a Professional Network: Your network can greatly influence your personal brand. Take the time to build and nurture relationships with colleagues, mentors, and industry professionals. Engage in meaningful conversations, attend industry events, and participate in networking opportunities. By connecting with others, sharing knowledge, and offering support, you enhance your brand and expand your professional reach.
5. Develop Your Unique Value Proposition: What sets you apart from others? Identify your unique strengths, skills, and experiences. Craft a concise and compelling personal brand statement that communicates your value proposition. This statement should highlight your expertise and the value you bring to the table. Use it as a guiding light to shape your professional brand messaging consistently.

Developing a strong personal brand is an ongoing process that requires self-reflection, continuous learning, and intentional actions. Embrace authenticity, showcase your unique talents, and let your personal brand shine brightly.

Clear and effective communication is the foundation of a harmonious and productive work environment. Yet, miscommunication can easily creep in, leading to misunderstandings, conflicts, and decreased productivity. Today, we will explore some common reasons for miscommunication and provide practical tips to improve communication within your organization.

1. Missing out on Context: One of the primary culprits of miscommunication is a lack of contextual understanding. This can happen when we internally misunderstand someone’s direction and fail to clarify their expectations of us. When we fail to grasp the broader picture or neglect to clarify expectations, messages can be misconstrued. To address this issue, we can:
   • Practice active inquiry: Ask questions and seek clarity whenever you encounter ambiguous instructions or vague objectives.
   • Provide comprehensive briefings: When delegating tasks, ensure that you provide all the necessary information and context, empowering your colleagues to perform their duties effectively.
2. Making Hasty Assumptions: Assumptions are a communication killer. Making quick judgments without gathering all the facts often leads to miscommunication. To overcome this challenge:
   • Practice open-mindedness: Embrace diverse perspectives and be willing to challenge your assumptions.
   • Seek direct communication: Instead of relying on hearsay or rumors, approach the individuals involved directly to gather accurate information and gain a comprehensive understanding of the situation.
3. Failing to Actively Listen: Active listening is a vital skill that many of us overlook. When we fail to listen actively, important details can be missed, leading to misunderstandings. Here’s how we can become better listeners:
   • Give undivided attention: When engaging in a conversation, focus solely on the speaker and avoid distractions.
   • Reflect and paraphrase: Summarize and repeat key points to ensure that you have understood the message correctly.
   • Show empathy: Demonstrate understanding and validate the speaker’s feelings, creating a safe and open space for communication.
4. Lack of Employee Motivation: Low motivation can hinder effective communication within a team. To promote engagement and motivation:
   • Foster a positive work culture: Recognize and appreciate employees’ efforts, creating an environment where individuals feel valued and motivated to contribute.
   • Encourage open dialogue: Provide opportunities for employees to voice their ideas, concerns, and suggestions, fostering a sense of ownership and involvement.
5. Using Poor Mediums of Internal Communication: Choosing the right communication medium is essential for transmitting information accurately. Avoiding inefficient communication channels can significantly reduce miscommunication. Here are some best practices:
   • Utilize appropriate platforms: Consider the nature of the message and select the most suitable medium, such as email for formal communication or video conferencing for complex discussions. Avoid texting whenever possible – it is perceived by many to be a casual, informal communication method, and due to the nature of quick texting, it is hardly ever received in the tone and context it was meant to be.
   • Document important information: Instead of relying solely on verbal communication or informal channels, use formal documentation to ensure clarity and prevent misinterpretation.

In a world where communication is key, let’s unlock the doors to effective workplace interaction! By understanding the common pitfalls of miscommunication and implementing simple tips, we can create a friendly and collaborative atmosphere within our organization.

By incorporating these friendly and valuable communication practices, we’ll create a workplace that thrives on collaboration, productivity, and understanding. So, let’s get out there, communicate effectively, and make our workplace a communication utopia!

ORTHOTICS AND PROSTHETICS: The CPT Editorial Panel revised the set of codes physical and occupational therapists use to report orthotic and prosthetic interventions by differentiating between initial and subsequent encounters:

• 97760: Orthotic(s) management and training including assessment and fitting when not otherwise reported, upper extremity(ies), lower extremity(ies) and/or trunk, initial orthotic(s) encounter, each 15 minutes
  • Change: the term “initial encounter” was added to the code descriptors for CPT code 97760 for orthotic

• 97761: Prosthetic(s) training, upper and/or lower extremity(ies), initial prosthetic(s) encounter, each 15 minutes)
  • Change: the term “initial encounter” was added to the code descriptors for CPT code 97761for prosthetic

• 97763: Orthotic(s)/prosthetic(s) management and/or training, upper extremity(ies), lower extremity(ies), and/or trunk, subsequent orthotic(s)/prosthetic(s) encounter, each 15 minutes
  • Change: new coded added to describe all subsequent encounters for orthotics and/or prosthetics management and training services

• 97762: was deleted

COGNTIVE SKILLS DEVELOPMENT: The CPT Editorial Panel also created CPT code 97127 to replace/delete CPT code 97532.

• CMS will recognize HCPCS code G0515, instead of CPT code 97127

• CPT code G0515 will be added to the therapy code list.
  • CPT code G0515: Development of cognitive skills to improve attention, memory, problem solving includes compensatory training, direct one-on-one patient contact, each 15 minutes
• CPT code 97127 will be assigned a payment status indicator of “I” to indicate that it is “invalid” for Medicare purposes and that another code is used for reporting and payment for these services.

• Facilities will need to check with other payers (Non-Medicare Payers) to see if they will be using 97127 or G0515.

• Therapists will use 97127 for Non-Medicare beneficiaries when cognitive skills development is used.

• CPT code 97127 is a service based code.

To read the full article from CMS regarding these changes, please click Here .

Gina Tomcsik

Director of Compliance

In 2017 there is much to come, such as the presidential inauguration, a historical solar eclipse, and the usual trendy fitness goals that strike each year around this time. At the beginning of every January, everyone is looking forward to a new year, new resolutions, new goals and the opportunity to start fresh! With these new opportunities there are hundreds of ideas and trends to send you on to a good start, regardless of your age.

However, I chose to take a different and more effective approach, that not only has worked for me but for many other people, aiding us in successfully attaining our goals. And the strategy is this: Reflection first.

Why Reflection is Key to Success

Reflection is something we almost always forget about. Everyone is always looking for that instant feeling of gratification towards the things they are reaching out for. With weight loss, we want to see it after the first workout. With pain, we want to see it go away after the first attempt of doing therapy. We want to feeling energized after the first healthy meal we have had in years. Because of these expectations, we fail every single time! These expectations can also dampen your social and mental health.

Reflection, on the other hand, can provide opportunity for success. Just take a moment to reflect on the things you may have gained or lost over the past year. We are all living in this world experiencing different hardships and good fortunes. My grandfather who was an engineer and a farmer once told me “it’s the tough times in life that make you appreciate the good times in life!” Building the roadways in the United States was not an easy job, but now we enjoy traveling on paved roads versus uneven dirt roads.

When you apply the principle of reflection and try to put things into perspective in everything you do, you will see real results. You will still have mental, social, and physical struggles–but you will also start to feel like these struggles are not the reason to quit, but rather the reason to keep going. Because when you overcome struggles, you often end up feeling better about yourself and the world around you, as your struggles may take you to new places and allow you to forge new friends and help someone else in their own struggles along the way. You may come out stronger than you have ever felt.

It saddens me to see those who quit due to loss or obstacles, because I feel you have come this far for a reason! We all have something to accomplish. So instead of creating new resolutions, remember to reflect first and pick up where you left off. It’s easier, and more rewarding, than starting over.

There are many things you can do to keep wellness at the forefront during this cold, dry, and dreary season, though! If you follow these tips, you’ll find yourself feeling better.

1. If fresh produce is harder to come by during this time of year for you, check with your doctor to see if supplements are right for you!

2. Keep your hands clean, use soap and water. Cool water can reduce drying and cracking of the hands compared to hot water, cool water is just as effective as using hot water to wash hands.

3. Use gentle lotions or oils to keep skin from drying and cracking. Dry and cracking skin exposes you to bacteria or viruses because of open entry through the skin.

4. Drink plenty of water. This keeps your skin healthy along with cellular health.

5. Try to keep sugary foods in check. Though it can be hard around holiday parties, too much sugar not only promotes risk for diabetes and weight gain, but also may throw your healthy gut bacteria out of balance. Your gut bacteria make up 80 percent of your immune system. If you cannot resist, try to eat a lesser portion of the sugary items.

6. Remember that being healthy is a journey. Along the way, we hit bumps in the road, we get sick, we fall off our diet or make poor choices. However, as we celebrate this holiday season because of the gift of love given to us, we should share that with others. Let’s encourage and support one another. We all come from different walks of life and we all can benefit from encouragement. We become better when we feel better about ourselves and helping those around us.

Wishing you all good health and a happy holiday season!

Kaleb Roudabush, Wellness Coordinator