Building a Tennis Center with the Emphasis on Physical Therapy/Rehabilitation

Introduction

The name of the tennis center is “Maxfitness” and it emphasizes on physical therapy/rehabilitation. The business will offer science-based physical therapy and sports rehabilitation programs for active people who can play tennis. The company works based on the objectives of the client. The three general categories of physical therapy treatment at Maxfitness include exercise, modalities, functional training, and manual therapy. The first category offered is modalities, which are non-invasive treatments applied to patients to reduce pain and inflammation and enhance healing by increasing blood flow. Some examples of modalities include cold and ice packs, hot packs, ultrasound treatment, amongst other procedures that involve electrical stimulation. The other category of physical therapy treatment in the facility is therapeutic exercise and functional training. They include activities aimed at strengthening weak muscles, improving flexibility, and correcting muscle imbalances (Egilson, 2011). The other category is manual therapy, which refers to types of hands-on-treatments provided by the physical therapist. Some of the components of manual therapy include massage, joint mobilization, stretching, and manual traction. 

Maxifitness engages primarily the services of orthopedic surgeons and care doctors who collaborate with physical therapists to tailor a therapy program. The program aims at restoring function, control pain, speed recovery, and helping an athlete to return to full activities and sports safely. The company also uses advancement technological equipment to ensure maximum efficiency in the level of services offered. 

Services Offered at Maxifitness

The services at Maxifitness tennis center are provided by expert teams using modern techniques. The center is custom-designed and is equipped with high-tech equipment and robotic systems. Below are the services provided at the facility.   

Physical therapy and sport-specific rehab

The center will help athletes to recover from injuries and services while customizing the athlete’s therapy program to ensure they return to their sport safely.

Aquatic (water) physical therapy and rehab

The business also provides aquatic therapy, which is a unique method of rehab. The therapy involves using water, because water makes the body more buoyant, to relieve the stress of the joints of an individual. This helps the individual to feel less pain and thus complete the rehab exercise efficiently. Some of the best candidates for aquatic therapy include people healing from surgery and individuals with arthritis, fibromyalgia, and chronic joint or muscle pain (Egilson, 2011). Other benefits of aquatic therapy are an enhanced range of motion, heals injured tissues, reduces joint stiffness, promotes flexibility, and tones muscles. 

Sports performance and training conditioning programs

The facility will offer sports performance and fitness programs which help to improve human movement and correct imbalances in not only sports but also life. The activities involved are movement assessments and tennis training to make an athlete more proficient. The experts in the facility train with the assumption that in-depth functional movement assessment is useful in identifying problems that hinder athletes from reaching their level best. Upon realizing the problem, the experts focus on broad jumps, pro-agility drill, L-drill, pull-ups, and vertical jumps. The data collected during the initial assessments are used to customize athlete-specific programs which are safe but ensure that the athlete reaches their goals. Other additional assessments offered in the facility are gait assessments, tennis-specific videos to analyze movement patterns, and body fat analysis to check on skin fold.   

Team training

Experts at the tennis therapy center also help to create team training programs which help in pre-season conditioning, in-season conditioning and strength training, and off-season training and conditioning. 

Maxifitness will also provide technical services like urinary bladder rehabilitation, speech and swallowing rehabilitation, occupational therapy, oncologic rehabilitation, rheumatologic rehabilitation, orthopedic rehabilitation, pediatric rehabilitation, and geriatric rehabilitation, among other services. In robotic heabilitation,  Maxifitness selects the most appropriate gait model for its patients and thus offering the patient a possibility to regain walking at a normal rate. 

Supporting Technology Used in Tennis Center

Given the recent advancements in the levels of technology, different industries continue to evolve as they adapt new methods of doing regular activities. Like in any other industry, a modern therapy center must be equipped with modern tools to serve the needs of clients efficiently. The tools are meant to make treatment more convenient, impactful, engaging, and fun. Below are some types of technology equipment that the center will use to promote patients experience.

Wii-Hab

Wii-Hab refers to the use of Nintendo Wii in physical rehabilitation whereby the whole therapy session feels like a game. The technology helps to add some fun and competition to treatment as patients can use the controller’s to engage in games like boxing, which involves movements that resemble exercises done in physical therapy (Swann-Sternberg et al., 2012). Even though the exercises are similar, the use of WII increases the level of participation and engagement. Experts have proven that it creates inner competitiveness that encourages patients to perform better.  Moreover, the gaming nature of the exercise motivates patients to complete the required length of the exercise programs.

Tele-Rehab

The business will also provide tele-rehab medicine whereby a patient can receive the services of the experts from the facility without necessarily having to travel to the facility. Telemedicine has been a crucial development in the health care industry. Tele-rehabilitation services have also helped to extend the benefits to physical therapy. The ability to access care whenever needed has increased the likelihood of patients completing their therapy. Reports from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention CDC) have previously indicated that approximately 70% of the patients who receive knee replacements annually do not complete their post-surgery physical therapy (Swann-Sternberg et al., 2012). Many patients get discouraged from driving to appointments or even develop a fear of doing the therapy. Consequently, most of them suffer consequences such as chronic pain or even readmission to hospitals. Our facility will apply the use of tele-rehab to increase the likelihood of a patient completing the therapy and resuming games in time. The experts use the platform to guide the patients through the process, watch to ensure the patients do the correct thing, and even prescribe a home exercise program.

Virtual Reality

Virtual reality involves creating an interactive and immersive computer-generated environment that allows the patient receiving physical therapy to experience something that is not physically there. The technology engages patients to complete their physical therapy exercises, for example, by allowing patients to walk down an imaginative outdoor path with a finish line after some distance. It also offers gaming elements that add an incredibly-immersive environment to the Wii-Hab strategy. The gaming and engaging aspects of the technology challenges patients to develop improved strategies for balance, mobility, and coordination. 

 NordicTrack

The NordicTrack is a tool that helps patients to develop strength, stigma, and coordination. The equipment allows for easy adjustment of the intensity of the workout, and thus, patients can easily adjust to the tension on their arms to match their level of development at a particular time. Moreover, it has a smooth gliding motion that enables an athlete to perform basic movements without overstraining their bodies. Some of the benefits that a patient enjoys form the tool include burning down of calories since the patient uses both their arms and legs at the same time. Besides, its low impact workout is also perfect for not physical therapy but also suitable for senior patients recuperating from an injury.

Ultrasound equipment

The ultrasound equipment will also be used in the facility for several purposes in the process of offering physical therapy. For instance, ultrasound therapy helps in treating various injuries. Furthermore, types of equipment that apply ultrasonic technology are essential in identifying stressed, low blood flow areas, and even fractured body parts. The machine can be used in therapy to treat tightness of the joints, frozen shoulders, ligament injuries, muscle strains, tendonitis, and bursitis. 

Electrical muscle stimulation equipment 

Electrical muscle stimulation is a technique used on an accident victim to help enhance muscle growth and prevent muscle atrophy. Skilled therapists use the equipment to help rebuild strength in muscles that were severely damaged. Electrical muscle stimulation equipment is commonly used at the commencement of physical therapy, especially in cases where traditional exercise options not applicable due to extreme weakness in the necessary muscle groups. 

Exercise Bike

An exercise bike is also essential equipment that must be present at the tennis physical therapy center. The machine helps patients to recover from foot, legs, and ankle therapies. They also help to build stamina and strength throughout their legs. There exist different models of bikes, and some of the models provide real-time effect regarding the fitness level of the users. Exercise bikes thus, help the users to evaluate their progress throughout the rehabilitation process. Besides, stationary recumbent bicycles are more effective in encouraging thoracic and lumbar flexion as well as help to maintain a stable zone of opposition.

Exoskeleton

The exoskeleton equipment is a robotic suit that patients wear then stand up and walk with the assistance of technology. It is most suitable for stroke and spinal cord injuries. The equipment provides strength to the patient and helps restore nerve signals operating between the brain and the legs of an individual, thus enabling patients to walk again. More benefits of the equipment include providing physical therapy and rehabilitation in restoring perfect step patterns and weight shifting. The technology also helps in modifying compensatory behaviors in some patients. Early research indicated that using exoskeleton in physical therapy may help patients to improve their functional mobility outside the device. For instance, by improving walking speed, walking safety, improved bone strength, and endurance for functional activities. 

The SMART Balance Master

The Smart Balance Master is equipment that uses a force plate to determine weight shifts and the position of the center of gravity. It also uses a dynamic visual surround to test how a patient uses visual information to maintain balance. The equipment contains a sensor in a plate at the base of the device. The device measures an athlete’s ability to maintain balance and shift his weight.

The IT Positions on Staff

Below is a list of IT positions on staff that would be present in the physical therapy center.

1.    Cloud computing engineer

The duties of the cloud computing engineer include designing, building, and maintaining systems. Besides, the engineer will leverage systems and infrastructure, which are managed by cloud providers such as Microsoft. The staff will be hired on a contract basis.

2.    Computer network specialist 

Computer network specialists and analysts will assist in defining, designing, building, and maintaining different data communication networks and systems. The staff will be hired on a contract basis. 

3.    Computer support specialist

The computer support administrators and network administrators serve the same functions in the facility. The primary duty is to support computer networks by testing and evaluating network systems to ensure the smooth running of daily activities. A regular employee will hold the post.

4.      Database Administrators

The therapy center will also have a database administrator to assist in storing data of the company or that of the clients. The primary function is to protect data against any unauthorized users. The facility intends to uphold confidentiality by ensuring that the medical details of clients attending the facility are safe from the public. The staff will be a regular employee.

5.    Chief Technology Officer

 The company intends to hire a technology leader with a strong technology background and experience in managerial skills who will be in charge of the IT department. Their leading roles entail formulating policies and creating systems aimed at making provision of services in the facility more efficient. The staff will be hired as a regular employee.

6.    Web Developer

  The therapy center will have a web developer who will create and help maintain the website. The web developer will also be modifying the website to ensure that clients who visit the site get the required assistance quickly (Khurshid, 2003). The website will assist clients to know more about the facility to make inquiries and even register online. The staff member will be hired on a contract basis.

Technology System to Implement

The firm intends to implement 10to8 software. The system provides physical Therapy software. The system helps to improve client coordination, and its main features include appointment management, billing and invoicing, treatment plans, patient records, exercise management, progress notes, coaching features, and insurance management among other features. Moreover, the system contains personal trainer features and yoga studio features from where the client can engage in some activities from home. 10to8 can be customized to provide the client with notifications and reminders through emails and text manages whenever necessary. The client has an option of rescheduling through a mail or text in case they cannot make it. The software will cost the business $40 per month, but the changes vary with the size of the businesses so we expect the charges to increase should the facility expand any further. The software is safe to use as it has a security feature so that unauthorized persons cannot access a client’s details. 

Furthermore, Maxfitness will implement a direct electronic data interchange system (EDI) for communication between the facility and the clients to facilitate communication incase a patient relocates to different area and can no longer gain the services from the facility. 

Mobile Applications

Different patients have different needs, and thus, the business will use a variety of mobile applications depending on the needs of specific patients. Some of the applications to be used are listed below.

i)    Shoulder decide, knee decide, and spine decide

The three applications are used by therapists to explain medical conditions to patients. They contain videos and images that patients can refer to when doing their exercises at home.

ii)    Pocket Anatomy 

The application allows users to view different body parts such as the skin to determine the extent of their injury. The pocket anatomy magnifies through the layers of the skin to enable an individual see any healing progress.

iii)    Coach’s Eye

The app allows coaches to record, review, and even refine the movements of a patient. Therefore, coaches can improve their patients’ movements and provide instant feedback to get the patients to feel better

iv)    Blue Engage

The blue engage app enables coaches to interact with their clients even after the treatment time is over. It allows for constant communication between patients and therapists using multimedia messaging. It, therefore, enables the therapists to make a follow up in their patients long after they are done with therapy. Besides, the therapist can assign exercise programs for the patients to engage in at home.

v)    Instant Heart Rate

The app is a mobile heart rate monitor that tracks the heart rate of an athlete during fitness (Muccini, Di Francesco, & Esposito, 2012). It includes a slider which communicates the target rate for people of different ages when engaging different activities.  

The company will also have social media platforms from where they can advertise their activities and communicate different rehabilitation practices to the public for daily growth.

The Use of EHR/EMR

To avoid too much paperwork, the business will use Electronic Health Records to store its data. The decision to chose an EHR was well informed because it includes streamlined sharing of information, which makes it an important decision-making tool (Blumenthal & Tavenner, 2010). EHRs make it easy to share patient information with other authorized people. As a result, it becomes easy to update the next therapist during a transition. More benefits of EHRs include it reduces medical errors and thus improves health care. Moreover, increasing information sharing reduces cases of duplication of tests and therefore saves time and money. The business will consider the following factors when choosing an appropriate HER system.

i)    Software design-since the user interface of the EHR system may influence its compatibility with the software design; the company chose a software that is easy to navigate and is intuitive to use.

ii)    Vendor reputation- The Company will rely on recommendations from experts in the industry to identify a vendor who can assure the business that the software will continually be updated according to the federal regulations. 

iii) Costs- The Company will evaluate both the costs of purchasing and maintenance to ensure that the costs fit within the budget of the business. 

Participation in HIE

One of the goals of the business is not only to make profits but also to improve the level of health care to help everyone in society. Infants are an integral part of the community, and the business wishes to help all children attain their potential. It is therefore crucial that the business provides follow up activities for infants experiencing Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy Injuries. The therapy focuses on developing both fine and gross motor skills throughout an individual’s life, especially for young children whose brains are still developing (Lai & Yang, 2010). The patients will receive pain relief sessions, swelling reduction procedures, which include electrical stimulation of the muscles, and therapeutic exercise.

Cost of Implementing the IT systems.

According a market research conducted by the company’s marketing team indicated it will cost the tennis center an average cost of $32606 per full-time equivalent physician (FTE) while the monthly maintenance cost for the records averaged $1500 per month for each physician. The center is expected to spend approximately $167,000 to implement one EHR, and the estimates for maintenance costs in the first year averaged $85,500. Medical economists estimate that the center will spend an additional $5,900 in purchasing related software, hardware, peripherals, and  network connections. According to the economists, purchasing IT and other support material will cost the company an average of $3094. The center intends to implement a physician-hosted system. The system is suitable for Maxfitness since it places the data under the control of the physician and thus enhancing the security of the data. According to Title two of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), which focuses on HIPAA administrative simplification, the United States Department of Health and Human services is directed to set standards that will guide  medical facilities into to ensuring data privacy and security. The company conducted a (Returns on Investment) ROI analysis and determined that realized that despite the high cost of implementing and maintaining an HER system, the company stand to benefit significantly given the high traffic expected at the facility.

References

Blumenthal, D., & Tavenner, M. (2010). The “meaningful use” regulation for electronic health records. New England Journal of Medicine, 363(6), 501-504.

Egilson, S. T. (2011). Parent perspectives of therapy services for their children with physical disabilities. Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences, 25(2), 277-284.

Khurshid, Z. (2003). The impact of information technology on job requirements and qualifications for catalogers. Information Technology and Libraries, 22(1), 18.

Lai, M. C., & Yang, S. N. (2010). Perinatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy. BioMed Research International, 2011.

Muccini, H., Di Francesco, A., & Esposito, P. (2012, June). Software testing of mobile applications: Challenges and future research directions. In Proceedings of the 7th International Workshop on Automation of Software Test (pp. 29-35). IEEE Press.

Swann-Sternberg, T., Singh, A., Bianchi-Berthouze, N., & Williams, A. (2012, May). User needs for technology supporting physical activity in chronic pain. In CHI’12 Extended Abstracts on Human Factors in Computing Systems (pp. 2441-2446). ACM.