About My Specialized Practice
I have a very specialized clinical practice that is strictly limited to the comprehensive evaluation and treatment of patients with pain and dysfunction of the Neck & Shoulder Girdle (Cervical Spine Disorders (CSD), Jaw (Temporomandibular Disorders (TMD), associated Cervicogenic Headaches (CGH) and Orofacial Pain (OFP) of CSD and/or TMD origin.
My 58 years of clinical, teaching, publications and research (see Biosketch) previously culminated in the development of a specialty physical therapy certification in craniofacial & cervical therapeutics (ptbcct.org). Therefore, my prime referral sources are from dentists/oral surgeons, neurologists, physiatrists, physical therapy colleagues and former patients.
The manner in which I evaluate and treat patients is markedly different from that of other physical therapists as the majority of my referrals consist of those with chronic pain and dysfunction who most often have never received a comprehensive evaluation to determine the causative and perpetuating factors.
This necessitates the need to conduct an extensive three hour initial evaluation (IE) of not one but 3 related regions (Cervical/Shoulder Girdle, Temporomandibular Complex and Craniofacial that cross refer) and therefore is equivalent to having 3 separate evaluations on 3 different days to determine the ideal therapeutic/rehabilitation paradigm for each individual patient. to determine the ideal therapeutic/rehabilitation paradigm for each individual patient.
Subsequent treatments are limited to only one/week (see Fee Schedule) with a re-evaluation after the initial 6 or fewer treatments.
I perform every IE and treatment by myself as I do not have any other physical therapists, physical therapy assistants, secretary or receptionist, other than my excellent scribe, Jennifer, who assists with documentation during the IE.
Jennifer graduated with a B.A. in economics and mathematics. Her experience includes math education, training in statistical software like Stata, SAS, and R, and internships at the Center for Cancer Research at the NIH where she researched the defense role of the mFPR2 receptor against bacterial infection and damaged cell clearance in vivo. In addition to her interest in medical research, she also has corporate experience at chemical companies including Total S.A. and HiCap Formulations, where her responsibilities included market research, product design, and intellectual property. She currently works with Dr. Mannheimer as a scribe, where in addition to aiding the evaluation of new patients, her responsibilities include web development, preparing lecture slide decks for Dr. Mannheimer’s graduate level physical therapy courses, and biomedical research.
Since I am the only source of income, my practice needs to be cash-based, out-of-network and cannot depend upon receiving payments from insurance companies which requires additional time-consuming paperwork.
Therefore, I do not have a billing service or secretary and do not accept auto accident or Workman’s compensation patients unless an acceptable prior agreement is obtained or the patient agrees to pay privately and wait to be reimbursed by those payors.
In a cash based physical therapy practice, I also CANNOT see a Medicare beneficiary for a service that is covered under Medicare guidelines and is deemed medically necessary. I am therefore required to let you know that if standard physical therapy treatment is indicated it would be covered by Medicare at another facility.
In addition, the extensive IE that I perform is markedly different from a standard physical therapy assessment and is followed by an explanation of your pain, dysfunction, education and instruction in day & night preventative guidelines and recommendations.
It is essential that each new patient prepares the following materials for the initial visit:
Typed or printed chronological history of your problem: This can simply be in bullet format and should include the initial symptoms (pain and dysfunction), cause if known, and any intervention to date (physicians, dentists, oral surgeons, physical therapists, chiropractor, acupuncture, medication, oral appliances, etc.).
Bring the pillow or pillows that you sleep with.
Bring a lateral picture at your work station if your job consists of significant computer work. The picture should show your feet on the floor, back of your head and chair, hands on the keyboard and mouse as well as your head in relation to the monitor. The picture can simply be on a digital camera or cell phone.
Bring reports and CD’s of any previous cervical or temporomandibular imaging.
Complete and bring with you the new patient contact form.
