Thank you for listening to the Healthy Wealthy and Smart Podcast! LIVE from St. Petersburg, Florida post the Graham Sessions, Dr. Eric Robertson joins me to discuss population health! Dr. Eric Robertson, the founder of PTThinkTank.com and PTCoop.org, is the Director of the Kaiser Permanente Physical Therapy Fellowship in Advanced Manual Therapy in Northern California, and Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Texas at El Paso. He specializes in orthopaedic manual physical therapy, radiology, evidence-based practice, and the impact of technology on healthcare.

In this episode, we discuss:

-Population health: The management of total health across different groups and the life spectrum

-Why prevention should be a primary focus in healthcare

-How population health addresses important objectives such as health literacy, resource management and access to care

-And so much more!

Innovators in healthcare reduce costs and improve quality care by intervening before complex conditions arise. Eric notes, "When you look at groups and systems that focus on population health by and large they are almost always focused on prevention."

Physical therapists should start to think beyond their traditional role in the healthcare system and treat patients as a whole and expand their realm of care. Eric believes physical therapists should, "Conceptualize yourself as a primary care provider."

Management decisions in population health are aligned to "[help] the patient enable their own pathway to health." Eric believes prioritizing patient self-efficacy leads to better treatment outcomes and cost reduction.

For more information on Eric:

PT Think Tank's founder, Eric is the Director of the Kaiser Permanente Hayward Fellowship in Advanced Manual Therapy in Northern California and Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Texas at El Paso, where he teaching musculoskeletal physical therapy management. He received his physical therapy education from Quinnipiac University and Boston University. He is board certified in orthopaedic physical therapy and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapists (AAOMPT). Dr. Robertson is a frequent national speaker on leveraging internet technology in health care and evidence-based practice. Eric is also faculty for Evidence in Motion, LLC and an editor for the EIM Musculoskeletal Learning Academy.

Eric has authored several web-based continuing education courses for professional associations and several post-professional educational programs. At Regis University, Dr. Robertson researches the link between low back and hip pain as well as the use of instructional technology with physical therapist education. Dr. Robertson has a passion for the use of technology in healthcare and is a frequent national presenter as well as the founder of PTCoop.org, a curated, open-access collection of physical therapy learning resources. He specializes in information management and the use of social media in healthcare.

On the personal side, Dr. Robertson enjoys bonsai trees, hanging with his two weimeraners, fast mountain bike decents, the outdoors, and has a penchant for being interested in way too many things at once!

Resources discussed on this show:

Eric Robertson Facebook

Eric Robertson Twitter

Kaiser Permanente Northern California Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapy Fellowship and Orthopaedic Residency

Kaiser Permanente Northern California Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapy Fellowship and Orthopaedic Residency Twitter

Kaiser Permanente Northern California Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapy Fellowship and Orthopaedic Residency Facebook

PT Think Tank

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Have a great week and stay Healthy Wealthy and Smart!

Xo Karen

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