PTManager List Serv 
An Electronic Rehab Leadership Community
Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Management, Administration and Leadership
Reimbursement, Health Policy and Management and Leadership Development

This electronic leadership community is dedicated to Rehabilitation Management, Administration and Leadership issues such as Reimbursement, Health Policy and Management and Leadership Development.

Please consider joining us.

Subscribing
To subscribe, send an empty message to ptmanager-subscribe@yahoogroups.com  
or fill in the form below.

UnSubscribing
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The list address is ptmanager@yahoogroups.com.

Once you have subscribed, sending an e-mail message to this address will distribute it to all of its subscribers. 
An archive of all of the messages sent to the list is also available at http://www.yahoogroups.com

About List Serv Technology
I've had several questions about how this works - so here is a bit of information. I hope this helps you understand list serv technology.

What is a listserv discussion group?
A listserv discussion group permits you to:

• network with colleagues, 

• quickly resolve problems and seek solutions, 

• seek advice or answers and get responses quickly, 

• monitor news or developments not easily obtained, 

• read only (lurk), 

• actively participate in discussions.

How does a listserv discussion group work?
A listserv discussion group functions much like a large bulletin board in a busy household. You pin up (post) a message, and everyone who comes by can read it. If they have a response, they pin up (post) another message. Many people can participate. Information is shared by many people at one resource.  In essence, we have truly created an electronic community dedicated to Rehab leadership.

Technically speaking, the computer which controls your e-mail is equipped with special software which allows the computer to manage mail that has certain commands built in and distribute it accordingly. In order for you to be a part of the discussion group, you must subscribe to the list. This is done through your mail system. After you subscribe, you will begin receiving all messages posted to the group through your e-mail.

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Happy 2nd Birthday 
June 20, 2000.

A bit of history

On June 20, 1998 - in a small Holiday Inn outside of Cleveland Ohio - PTManager - the list serve was created - almost by accident. It was something I did while I was waiting for a colleague to pick me up in the lobby of the hotel. Originally established for about 100 or so past and current clients of Kovacek Management Services as a way to communicate changes in the environment, PTManager membership has grown to almost 12, 000 as of its second birthday. Composed of rehab managers from all disciplines - both clinical and business - the diversity of the group is one of its strengths.

We have quite a legacy

Activity on the list has also changed from that first month when 99 messages were sent in June 1998. To date, approximately 11,220 individual messages (including this one) have been sent. Approximately 66,472,575 individual E-mails have gone out. Imagine sending that level of communication in any other format. At first class rates, postage alone would have been over $21 Million.

Since its inception, every major (and most minor) Federal legislative and regulatory actions that have affected Rehab as an industry have been announced and discussed on the list and then saved to our web site. Every individual posting has been saved to a substantial archive. Over 10 different academic groups have studied the sociology of the list archives. Apparently, we are an interesting phenomenon.

Practice makes perfect

We've learned much since we started. We've learned that the strength of our numbers is also the weakness of the list. We endured the days with 75 postings and no real information. We've grown past the point of sometimes getting irritated with the "newbies." We've seen members come and go through job changes, relocations, and sometimes career changes. Still, over 75% of everyone who has ever been a member of PTManager is still a member. Some would suggest that the retention rate is so high because absolutely no one knows how to unsubscribe without telling the entire list to do it for them.

We've learned how to communicate via E-mail - it is not as easy as it sounds. We've seen members forget that every posting is a very public event and send personal greetings to the entire list - probably the largest audience any of us will ever address! We've made mistakes by not noticing that a post came from the list instead of an individual. We've seen way too many "me too" replies.

Decorum

Throughout it all, we've maintained our respect and developed a distinct politeness and tolerance in our postings to one another. There have been several ex-members who did not share that respect - but they were quickly disposed from the list. We've learned to discuss and argue without fighting and dehumanizing each other as we have grown. I think I am most proud of our professionalism on the list. Few other such groups have maintained it as well as we have.

But most importantly, we have developed an amazing sense of community. Each of us has 12,000 pen pals. 12,000 resource people. 12,000 compatriots. 12,000 peers. Each with different strengths and skills. Each with unique abilities and perspectives. All, working together to provide the highest quality of rehab for our patients and the finest management for our staff and facilities.

We've experienced the ravages of the BBA together. We've seen members devastated by job loss, together. We've seen the industry and the market change together. And together, we have fought back. We've lobbied Congress. We've campaigned for social justice. We've criticized and cajoled our national rehab associations when we did not think they were on track. We've also supported them to an unprecedented degree by bringing together the largest groups of association members and non-members into a single forum - for the good of the industry and for our patients.

Sometimes, together, collectively, we've shouted into the darkness and no one heard. But most of the time, together we have been heard. Together we have made a difference.

The rehab landscape is different now - partly because of what we have accomplished. We are, as managers and leaders, better now - partly because of what we have accomplished. The future is brighter now - partly because of what we have accomplished.

Blessings

I feel very blessed to have been able to provide the "room" for us all to have this party. We have made a difference and we have just begun. As we look back from the second birthday for PTManager, I thank each and every member - all the verbose posters and especially the multitude of lurkers - for making PTManager what it is today - a significant force in the industry - a voice of the grass roots - a meeting place to discuss excellence and a support group for all of us.

I have provided the room but you all have made the party successful. Thank you.

I offer each of you a toast - "Together we have made a difference - but we have only just begun. To the future as we will create it."

All the best and thanks for a very exciting 2 years. I look forward to the next 2, 10 100 years together.

Peter Kovacek, PT, MSA
Owner, PTManager list serve