For The Supporter
If you are looking to engage with our program as a health care practitoner for a patient of yours or as support person for a loved one and you have questions about PRIME please continue below for more information.
If you have questions about how to ENGAGE with our program as a potential referral source or loved one of a potential patient here are some frequently asked questions about how our program works and what we do. Please feel free to look around and contact us if you have additional questions.
How is PRIME different? –What is different about this program?
The PRIME (Postural Restoration Integrative Multidisciplinary Engagement™) program was put together to fill a need in the healthcare market that we felt was lacking. Some patients that we were seeing from Lincoln, NE and across the country were not seeing optimal results from traditional PT and even PRI (Postural Restoration Institute®) based programs. Most needed integrated care between multiple disciplines. Sometime even with multiple disciplines involved we still had some struggles. As we reflected on our successes and struggles we felt strongly that the coordination of care was the biggest issue when we had difficulties. Getting all the professionals and the patient on the same page and understanding their role and influence on other disciplines was challenging. The need to coordinate care with all necessary other disciplines was becoming more and more evident as we saw more patients who required comprehensive care. If the dentist and the optometrist or podiatrist or physical therapist didn’t realize the influence they had on each other’s program inadvertently the care wouldn’t be as good as it could be.
We felt the only way to truly solve these issues was to gather a team of experts together to work hand in hand with a common background and goals. Once they had a common starting point or program of how they fit together each practitioner could communicate with each under to understand how each specialty fit together to optimize treatment for each patient. Knowing how the shoes you have on will influence the eye refraction you get or how the position you assume in a dental chair has an influence on the splint you get from the dentist is of utmost importance for some patients.
As we have developed our PRIME program we have chosen the best practitioners that work well together to fully manage a person, utilizing PRI principles and science, by looking at the whole person rather than the sum of its parts. Too often specialists do only what they know and specialize in and get focused on addressing one part only. The best podiatrist, or dentist, or therapist in the world can manage their specialty just fine. However, if they don’t understand or work together with those that can manage any other issues that may be affecting that patient their treatment may not work as well as it should. Without a team of people, looking at the same person from different angles and understanding their role and how they influence each other there can be important things missed.
This optimal coordination of care amongst our team and the experience and expertise of our Clinical Integration Specialists who have seen and coordinated numerous patients who required care with other disciplines prior to and with our PRIME team is what truly makes our program different.
How come there are different practitioners involved?
What does each practitioner do?
Our team is made up of experts who have worked alongside each other for years, even prior to the founding of the official PRIME program, who desire to coordinate care with each other due to seeing the amazing impact they each can have on people. Our team currently consists of experts in the fields of Physical Therapy, Optometry, Podiatry, and Dentistry. Each professional has a specific role in influencing how the body holds itself up or moves by altering the sensory input (what you feel, see, or are aware of) that it receives. The brain uses input it receives from various body parts to make decisions of where it is at in relation to the world around it to make decisions of what muscles need to be active to stay upright and interact with the world. The Neuro-opometrist for example can change the way the world looks around you which forces your brain to hold you differently in that new world. The Dentist or orthodontist can change the way your body senses how your head and neck alignment is by placing something between your teeth to direct your head and neck to a different place or maintain a more desirable position. The podiatrist can not only make custom fit orthotics to keep your foot and ankle bones in a more ideal position but also can influence how you sense the ground under your feet. You will use different muscles to hold your body up and keep from falling if your feet sense you are on a downhill versus an uphill slant. The physical therapist can then provide a more detailed activity progression to help each person learn to move and hold themselves up in an entirely more effective and efficient way. When each piece is done with the same goal in mind and compliment each other our ability to create lasting change for chronic hard to treat issues is much greater.
Click HERE to meet and learn more specifics about each team member and what their role is in the PRIME program.
Can we use our own dentist or eye doctor to do the same thing?
Will we need to see everyone on the PRIME team?
Why would I send my loved one or patient to PRIME?
Every person has a unique history and background that has led them to where they are now. We feel that a lot of people who would benefit from seeing us in PRIME have had a lot of good treatment from a lot of good practitioners but have unfortunately not seen the results they would like. This is often not because they had the wrong treatment, or the wrong diagnosis, but because the underlying foundational issues haven’t been addressed. See our frequently asked questions for people searching for answers HERE to learn more about why we feel people get into chronic states that do not improve with treatment that should help.
Albert Einstein described insanity as doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. Our PRIME program wasn’t developed to be a program that gives people MORE of what they’ve already tried. If it was we’d be insane. A lot of people who are dealing with chronic issues are already working too hard or doing MORE just to maintain whatever level of function they are at. The people who will do the best with a PRIME program are those who don’t need to work on doing MORE. Someone who wants a more program (i.e. more running, more lifting, more intensity) is not a good candidate for PRIME. People who need a PRIME program need a way to sense things differently so they can do LESS to maintain a good posture and position so they can actually learn how to move in a way that is easy and efficient.
Our program is designed to stop the insanity of doing more and harder things just to maintain a current state of function but rather looks to address root causes that are neurologically ingrained so that true progress can be made.
What can I do to help my loved one in this process?
- Be There. We strongly feel that a supportive, engaged loved one is necessary for our PRIME program to have great results. Without someone by our patient’s side to help them learn, sense, feel, and progress through this program it will a more challenging road. We want each patient to have a loved one to engage with our team and to support them and help communicate with us. While in Lincoln, a lot of new information will be learned and it can sometimes be challenging and overwhelming to take it all in. We are trying to outline a path of treatment and recovery for the next few months in just a few days, so sometimes the important things get over-shadowed by the amount of information given. To have someone willing to stand beside the patient and remind them of the important pieces as things progress is vitally important. This program will not work overnight, but it will unlock the door for progress to be made. There will be work and effort required on the part of each patient to move forward so support and encouragement are the best things.
- Ask Questions. When you are in Lincoln we encourage patients and their engaged loved ones to ask lots of questions. We want your questions because we want you to know why we are doing what we are doing. If the patient isn’t truly engaged with an activity because they don’t understand the why, it will be harder to progress with the program.
- Stay Engaged. There will be ups and downs and most likely a time when new questions or concerns come up. We expect it, we want it to happen. If new things are happening, old things are going away. If we don’t have good communication from our patients or their engagers we won’t know how to help. Please contact us if you need anything.
What can I do to help my patient in this process?
If you are considering referring a patient of yours to seek assistance from another professional we hold you in the utmost respect. We do not take lightly the trust placed in us by referring practitioners. The willingness of your patient to engage with us also shows us the amount of trust they have in you to even consider seeking additional assistance. We do not take that lightly either. Our goal is to assist you in doing what is best for your patient so we can all be successful. First know that we are on your team, and this is your patient, we just have different tools to help you out.
Prior to your patient coming to Lincoln we would love for you to provide for us as much objective information as you hove including what your successes have been and what your struggles have been. Both tell us a lot about your patient. We also appreciate your subjective thoughts about what may be holding your program back. If you are referring someone to be considered for PRIME please fill out this Referral form and fax it to us.
Once your patient comes to PRIME we will send back information for you on what the biggest needs we see, and what our recommendations will be. The patient will still return to you (if you so desire) for follow-up care. You will now become a giant link of communication for us on what is going well and when/if the patient is ready to return to PRIME for follow-up visits. We will give you recommendations on what to look for to assist you in making these decisions. We just ask that you continue to engage with us through whatever means of communication works best for you.
How do we get started to see if this is a good fit?
If you think your loved one or patient is a potential candidate for PRIME please fill out the patient application forms and referral form (if applicable) to the best of your ability and send to our Patient Care Coordinator. You can find those forms on our Forms page HERE. If you have general questions that you need answered please contact our Patient Care Coordinator at 402-975-8533 or email us at stacy@primengagement.com. Also feel free to look at some of our patient TESTIMONIALS to see how PRIME has been helpful for our patients, their care givers and referral sources.
What does a typical week at PRIME involve? Is it different if we need to come back?
Once we have received the information we need in our Application Packet our PRIME team looks at the information and determines to the best of our ability which pieces of the PRIME program may be necessary. At that point we can set up a specific schedule incorporating each specialty We anticipate 3-4 days for an initial PRIME week. If a return visit is needed usually things can be done in 2 days depending on each persons specific need.
To see an example of what a typical PRIME week looks like click HERE.
How much does it cost? Does insurance cover the treatment?
PRIME is a unique program in that it integrates the expertise and services of different disciplines, based in different offices, working together for the good of the patient. Unfortunately this can lead to some confusion in regards to cost and who gets paid what. In order to ensure each discipline gets reimbursed for their services we have left it up to each business/office to collect and/or submit to insurance for their services. There are some central services that are outside the realm of each discipline that will be billed through PRIME.
Once we have received your application paperwork we will make recommendations for which services in our PRIME program will probably be utilized. At that point we can, and will, give you a better estimated breakdown for costs associated with the program and what may be covered with your insurance.
If you have questions on a general estimate please contact us and we’d be glad to give you a general idea but each individual is unique.
Where would we stay if we come to PRIME?
StayBridge Suites (1501 N 86th St; 402-484-6000)
While it’s not the closest hotel to the PRIME campus, StayBridge offers complimentary shuttle service to any of your destinations while here at PRIME (we will even supply him with your itinerary if you choose) as well as complimentary breakfast and dinner (with happy hour). They offer a special PRIME rate for our patients as well
New Victorian Inn (225 N 50th St; 402-464-4400)
Within a short walk to the main PRIME Campus and lots of eating choices it is a great central location. They offer a reduced rate for our PRIME patients. Mention PRIME or Hruska Clinic when you book your room.
Chase Suites (200 S 68th St Pl; 402-483-4900)
A short drive to the PRIME campus Chase Suites offers full suites with full kitchenettes. Lots of room if you plan on cooking all your meals and need a full suite.
Comfort Inn (331 N Cotner Blvd.)
Has typically been a great place to stay for our out of town patients as it is within a short walk to our campus. New management has not agreed to supply us a reduced rate for our patients, however the location is hard to beat.