Hands Heal: Communication, Documentation, and Insurance Billing for Manual Therapists (Paperback)

by Diana L. Thompson (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Handbook for gaining knowledge about comprehensive communication and documentation competence. Provides information on how to take client histories, set functional goals, bill insurance companies, document outcomes, and more. Previous edition is not cited. Includes sidebars throughout the text. Softcover.

Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2nd edition (January 15, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0781726824
• ISBN-13: 978-0781726825
• Product Dimensions: 10.7 x 8.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #635,013 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

33 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars obsession with documentation is now the future of massage..., July 10, 2002

By	Julie Onofrio "Julie Onofrio www.thebodyworke... (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews

Her first edition of "Hands Heal" was a collection of forms used for charting massage therapy sessions. When I saw the new book on the shelf being three times as thick as the first I thought "Oh my what more can be done with charting!" I now understand her obsession with charting. It is not just charting your sessions, but learning to communicate what you do, so the medical community and the public will begin to understand massage therapy as a healing modality. Communication starts with the therapeutic relationship with the client. Healing begins when the client becomes involved in the process. Then you can pass the information along to all parties involved - the lawyers, the doctors, whoever. If you document every treatment, you will be able to find out what is working and what is not with each individual. Documentation can assist you in builing your practice and support the massage profession as a whole. I particularly liked the section on ethics as she supports the idea of peer groups, mentoring and supervision as a means of development for the practitioner. I believe the future of the profession lies in those areas.
If you are a massage therapist in any state, this will guide you to a successful practice whether you are involved in billing insurance companies or not.

19 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Must buy for every massage therapist, August 15, 2003

By A Customer

I'm a massage therapist and used part of this book to study for the National Certification Examination for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCETMB). This book is really helpful for showing you how to take a client history. This book is needed because it shows you the legalities and proper way to run a massage business. Documenation protects you in cases of audits and also is a source for assessing the client's progress and contraindications. I also studied the following for the National Certification Exam:
The Ultimate Study Guide for the National Certification Examination for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork: Key Review Questions and Answers (Volume 1), (Volume 2), and (Volume 3)
(Author: Patrick Leonardi)
The last 3 books helped me to prepare for the type of questions encountered on the national certification examination. I highly recommend all 4 books. I passed the first time with the help of these books

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great reference!, September 29, 2006

By	Steven Albertson "Massage Therapist" (Evanston, IL USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Hands Heal: Communication, Documentation, and Insurance Billing for Manual Therapists (LWW Massage Therapy and Bodywork Educational Series) (Paperback)

I've watched this book evolve over a number of versions. Each one gets better and better. Yes, at times Dianna Thompson appears obsessive but on the other hand, that's what makes it great. Recently I was asked to write a detailed case summary that will be used as evidence in a lawsuit for a client I saw over a year ago. My SOAP notes are what saved the day for me. Thanks Diana. This book is essential for anyone working in a therapeutic environment.