If you aren't already aware, current legislation prohibits physical therapists from practicing spinal manipulation in WA state, even though it is a requirement of CAPTE for our DPT programs to teach us this skill. PTs in Washington State are working hard with PTWA, legislators, and lobbyists to turn this around. Input from current students will give us more fuel for the fight, since public tax dollars go into a lot of our educations!
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/PQN9NB8
Please take 2 minutes to complete this survey about spinal manipulation legislation in WA state. The survey will close on SUNDAY, JULY 18. Email students.ptwa@gmail.com if you have any questions!
Monday, June 21, 2010
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
2010 APTA House of Delegates
The APTA's 66th session of the House of Delegates took place June 14th - 16th at the Hynes Convention Center in Boston, Massachusetts.
What is HOD?
HOD is the highest policy-making body of the APTA. It is comprised of 401 chapter voting delegates and many other section, assembly, and caucus non-voting delegates. The number of voting chapter delegates is determined each year based on membership numbers. Our very own Student Assembly delegate, Efosa Guobadia (University of Scranton, DPT 2010) sits in the delegation and is able to provide a voice to the students of the nation. The Washington State delegation consists of 14 delegates and two alternate delegates.
What happens at HOD?
APTA HOD functions a lot like a meeting of the United States Congress. The delegates spend countless hours prior to HOD preparing for and discussing motions brought forward by APTA members or components (state chapters, etc). Each component may decide to stand in support of a particular motion, called an "RC", or offer the pro/con viewpoint of the APTA members they represent. After discussion a vote takes place among the 401 voting delegates. Motions that involve an APTA by-laws change require a two-thirds majority, other motions require a simple majority.
There are also elections held prior to the HOD for APTA Board of Directors positions. This year, Roger Herr, a Seattle PT and delegate from Washington State, succeeded in his campaign to run for APTA Board of Directors. Congratulations Roger!!
Saturday, June 5, 2010
APTA Members Mentoring Members
Many of us probably have academic advisers through our DPT programs. Do you have a professional adviser? Well, did you know APTA provides a mentoring service to members?
This mentoring service is available to all APTA members, whether they are students, new professionals, and even to experienced PTs. You can do a handy little search by PT name, by state, by specialty and/or a whole mess 'o different keywords.
This can be greatly beneficial if you are interested in a specialty area of PT and need some advice on how to get there. Perhaps you're browsing different specialty areas, or even just trying to peruse the different primary areas of PT.
Click below for more information and to find yourself an APTA mentor!
http://www.apta.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Mentoring
This mentoring service is available to all APTA members, whether they are students, new professionals, and even to experienced PTs. You can do a handy little search by PT name, by state, by specialty and/or a whole mess 'o different keywords.
This can be greatly beneficial if you are interested in a specialty area of PT and need some advice on how to get there. Perhaps you're browsing different specialty areas, or even just trying to peruse the different primary areas of PT.
Click below for more information and to find yourself an APTA mentor!
http://www.apta.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Mentoring
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Federal Advocacy Forum Report - Student Loan Legislation
Nearly 200 PTs, PTAs, and PT/PTA students visited our national capitol in Washington, D.C. at the end of April this year to speak with legislators about supporting issues that affect PTs and students around the country. About 20% of attendees this year were STUDENTS! That is a fantastic number.
A major issue that PTs are lobbying for now pertains to students. We are asking for the right of PTs to participate in an already existing program through the National Health Service Corps (http://nhsc.hrsa.gov/), under which graduates may qualify for up to $50,000 worth of loan forgiveness for working in an under-served area.
Other issues at the federal level include: Medicare Direct Access - (H.R. 1829/ S. 950), Medicare Therapy Cap Repeal - (H.R. 43 / S. 46), and Veterans PT Services Improvement Act (H.R. 1036).
Janna Ott, Eastern Washington University student from the class of 2011 had this to say about the APTA Federal Advocacy Forum:
It is so easy to be oblivious to the issues of our profession when you are stuck in the "bubble" of school. However, attending the APTA forum was a fabulous way to learn about the Health Care Reform and the issues facing physical therapists. I was rejuvenated by the camaraderie of physical therapists from all over the country and inspired by participating in the processes of our government and the positive responses from most of my senators & representatives. Finally, it was wonderful to network with other students and to learn about the ways we can be involved (such as running for APTA student officer positions).
Click here to join PTeam, and get up-to-date legislative action alerts and easy links to send your legislators requests for support on the issues that affect physical therapy: www.apta.org/pteam/
For more information about how you can participate in legislative issues that pertain to students, email: students.ptwa@gmail.com
A major issue that PTs are lobbying for now pertains to students. We are asking for the right of PTs to participate in an already existing program through the National Health Service Corps (http://nhsc.hrsa.gov/), under which graduates may qualify for up to $50,000 worth of loan forgiveness for working in an under-served area.
Other issues at the federal level include: Medicare Direct Access - (H.R. 1829/ S. 950), Medicare Therapy Cap Repeal - (H.R. 43 / S. 46), and Veterans PT Services Improvement Act (H.R. 1036).
Janna Ott, Eastern Washington University student from the class of 2011 had this to say about the APTA Federal Advocacy Forum:
It is so easy to be oblivious to the issues of our profession when you are stuck in the "bubble" of school. However, attending the APTA forum was a fabulous way to learn about the Health Care Reform and the issues facing physical therapists. I was rejuvenated by the camaraderie of physical therapists from all over the country and inspired by participating in the processes of our government and the positive responses from most of my senators & representatives. Finally, it was wonderful to network with other students and to learn about the ways we can be involved (such as running for APTA student officer positions).
Click here to join PTeam, and get up-to-date legislative action alerts and easy links to send your legislators requests for support on the issues that affect physical therapy: www.apta.org/pteam/
For more information about how you can participate in legislative issues that pertain to students, email: students.ptwa@gmail.com
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Free Trip to 2010 Private Practice Conference
Dear PT Student,
PPS is sponsoring a Student Business Concept Contest for all PT students in their last year of PT school. This is your opportunity to win a complimentary registration, travel expense and lodging (a $1,700 value) to the Private Practice Section (PPS) 2010 Annual Conference & Exposition in Washington, DC, November 3-6, 2010.
DEADLINE TO ENTER: Monday, May 3
PPS Annual Conference attendees participate in quality, business focused, educational programming. Take advantage of unparalleled networking opportunities!
Two winners of the essay contest will each receive:
- Complimentary conference registration
- Hotel accommodations for three nights
- Up to $500 toward air fare
To enter the contest submit
- An original business idea (product, service or concept) that is a viable business option for private practitioners
- Description of the product, service or concept
- Target population
- Marketing plan
- Budget
Submit your entry by email to: chriscollins@apta.org or mail to: PPS/APTA, 1055 N Fairfax St, Ste 100, Alexandria, VA 22314.
Questions? Contact the Private Practice Section office at 800.517.1167 or chriscollins@apta.org
Thursday, April 22, 2010
WA Students attending APTA Federal Advocacy Forum
Two students will be attending the APTA Federal Advocacy Forum this weekend with PTWA. Janna Ott, Eastern Washington University DPT c/o 2011 and Sarah McDonel, University of Washington DPT c/o 2011. They will be meeting with legislators to discuss the PT perspective on:
- Medicare Direct Access - (H.R. 1829/ S. 950)
- Medicare Therapy Cap Repeal - (H.R. 43 / S. 46)
- Student Loan Repayment Under the National Health Services Corps (H.R. 988/ S. 1057)
- Veterans Physical Therapy Services Improvement Act (H.R. 1036)
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Recent sSIG activity!
sSIG held a meeting Saturday, April 17th at the PTWA Spring Conference. The sSIG voted unanimously to include professional PTs who are students pursuing a PhD in Rehabilitation as members of sSIG.
The sSIG also had an information table both Friday and Saturday of the conference with information for students and new grads, a "vote for a logo" poll, and other information.
The winning logo will be announced soon! sSIG hopes to use the logo to increase knowledge and recognition of the sSIG and for future fundraising activities.
The sSIG also had an information table both Friday and Saturday of the conference with information for students and new grads, a "vote for a logo" poll, and other information.
The winning logo will be announced soon! sSIG hopes to use the logo to increase knowledge and recognition of the sSIG and for future fundraising activities.
Friday, April 16, 2010
POPTS... Lock, and Drop It?
Since as far back as the ‘70s, APTA has had a strong stance against physician-owned physical therapy services. POPTS has become synonymous with “referral for profit” (RFP). RFP describe situations in which a referring doctor refers a patient for PT and stands to receive a financial gain from the referral. If you are like many students you may be wondering, what’s the big deal?
Some concerns about RFP/POPTS:
· RFP can lead to physicians having undue influence on the clinical judgment of a PT and can make our profession appear to be an ancillary service (along the lines of x-ray services, massage, etc.). This negates all the work our profession has done to become more autonomous.
· The financial incentives may lead to a conflict of interest, because the doctor employs the PT or receives financial incentives that may lead to an avoidable conflict of interest since the doctor receives money for each referral. Because the doctor contracts or employs the PT, he would directly profit from every patient he self-refers. This can then lead to excessive or unnecessary procedures and treatment durations. RFP can also lead to “cherry-picking” patients with well-paying insurances.
How do you identify a RFP or POPTS clinic? If you can answer, “yes” to any of the following:
· Does the PT work directly for a Physician practice?
· Does a physician own a part of the practice?
· Does a physician rent the PT practice space for an above-market rate? Or based on the volume of treatments provided?
· If you’re not sure, ASK! Ask the clinic who the owner is and where they get referrals.
What are the obligations if you discover such a practice?
“The APTA Code of Ethics states that it is the obligation of the PT to inform his or her patients when the patient’s referral is from a physician who has a financial interest in the physical therapy service.”
That is, your obligation is to provide the best care to your patients, including notifying them of their right to be informed and choose their healthcare provider. Your responsibility is also to your profession, and you should inform your state PT association if you suspect a clinic of participating in RFP.
On the flipside, don’t attack clinics or call them out for being unethical - APTA has noted a distinction regarding ethics and has defined POPTS/RFP as bad policy, but not necessarily unethical. Contact the PTWA RFP Committee to get involved and stay informed as this issue is still evolving with local litigation in progress and the nationwide fight. More information is available through APTA RFP/POPTS resource center: http://www.apta.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=State_Gov_t_Affairs&Template=/TaggedPage/TaggedPageDisplay.cfm&TPLID=311&ContentID=37286
Post contributed by Senayet Woldemariam, SPT
President, UW DPT 2011
Vice President, SSIG
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
SSIG Meeting at PTWA Spring 2010
Student SIG will have an information table at the PTWA Spring Conference this Friday and Saturday. Come by and check out what we're doing! Email students.ptwa@gmail.com to help staff the table!
MEETING: 2pm (right after the PTWA chapter business meeting) outside the ballrooms.
We will be sharing more information about what SSIG is, hearing from you on what SSIG should be doing, handing out information on student loan forgiveness programs, how to make the most out of your clinical experience and more! Stop by the SSIG table or the info desk at the conference for more information.
MEETING: 2pm (right after the PTWA chapter business meeting) outside the ballrooms.
We will be sharing more information about what SSIG is, hearing from you on what SSIG should be doing, handing out information on student loan forgiveness programs, how to make the most out of your clinical experience and more! Stop by the SSIG table or the info desk at the conference for more information.
Friday, March 5, 2010
Education FYI - Vision 2020
Doctor of Physical Therapy Accreditation
As many of you are very familiar with, most educational preparation for PTs is at the graduate doctoral level (DPT). But did you know that as of 2016, CAPTE will no longer accredit programs that are not at the DPT level? This is part of the APTA strategic plan that by the year 2020 "physical therapy will be provided by physical therapists who are doctors of physical therapy, recognized by consumers and other health care professionals as the practitioners of choice to whom consumers have direct access for the diagnosis of, interventions for, and prevention of impairments, functional limitations, and disabilities related to movement, function, and health." Currently, only eight accredited programs in the U.S. are not at the DPT level, including California State University campuses among others.
Why don't California State Universities offer a DPT?
The state of California requires legislative approval for the California State University campuses to award any doctoral degree, including the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree. This does not, however, affect licensure eligibility, or practice potential of CSU graduates. CSU's Master of Physical Therapy (MPT) programs are fully accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), and the program meets the same rigorous standards and outcomes that all accredited DPT programs meet. Therefore, graduates are eligible for licensure in any state.
Efforts to change these legal restrictions are ongoing by several academic disciplines (including Physical Therapy) within the California State University System.
As many of you are very familiar with, most educational preparation for PTs is at the graduate doctoral level (DPT). But did you know that as of 2016, CAPTE will no longer accredit programs that are not at the DPT level? This is part of the APTA strategic plan that by the year 2020 "physical therapy will be provided by physical therapists who are doctors of physical therapy, recognized by consumers and other health care professionals as the practitioners of choice to whom consumers have direct access for the diagnosis of, interventions for, and prevention of impairments, functional limitations, and disabilities related to movement, function, and health." Currently, only eight accredited programs in the U.S. are not at the DPT level, including California State University campuses among others.
Why don't California State Universities offer a DPT?
The state of California requires legislative approval for the California State University campuses to award any doctoral degree, including the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree. This does not, however, affect licensure eligibility, or practice potential of CSU graduates. CSU's Master of Physical Therapy (MPT) programs are fully accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), and the program meets the same rigorous standards and outcomes that all accredited DPT programs meet. Therefore, graduates are eligible for licensure in any state.
Efforts to change these legal restrictions are ongoing by several academic disciplines (including Physical Therapy) within the California State University System.
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