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August 2008 Newsletter | March 2009 Newsletter
I’m just too busy….
Those are words for our times, aren’t they? Hard to believe that there have always been 24 hours in a day but somehow that doesn’t seem like enough anymore. Tasks build up, projects get put on the shelf, always something to do. How do we manage to prioritize things in our lives so that we get the important stuff done?
These questions and concerns are familiar to most of us. As President of our state physical therapy chapter, I hear them—and even say them to myself—from time to time. Yet, important challenges face our profession which preclude us from “being too busy”. Matters at hand call for our attention—not to put on some list for future reference, not to delete from our email, not to toss away as unimportant.
For years we PT’s and PTA’s have been perpetually busy—never a dull moment, often too much on our plate, unwilling or unable to become a manager in our rehab facility, or to become involved in our state chapter. For years, we’ve been content to do our job, thinking that folks know what we do, rarely speaking up about our training, the scope of our profession, or our skills and knowledge. We’ve had a sense of security: that our jobs will always be there, that our profession will endure.
Now it’s time to speak up and get involved. Important processes are taking place at the state and national level. Patient direct access to physical therapy is becoming reality across our country, saving the health care insurance system large sums of money and saving patients precious time by allowing them to get the therapy they need in a timely manner. What can you do to help this process? Educate each of your patients about how much easier their lives would be if they could come to you directly, knowing that you will treat them appropriately and that, when indicated, you will send them to their physician for assessment. Ask your patients to write a letter to their congressperson, attend a hearing, tell their friends and family about their physical therapy experience.
Gone are the days of unlimited access to healthcare just because you have health insurance. Insurers are asking us to do more with less. Lawmakers and health insurance companies are sitting at the table talking about how to provide cost-effective healthcare to Americans. Without our national association sitting at the table, physical therapists and physical therapist assistants might be looking at a bleak future. How can you participate? Attend our physical therapy event at the legislature this fall. Talk to your congresspeople about our profession.
We’ve each got to start practicing physical therapy better and smarter. We’ve each got to step forward and help out. We absolutely cannot afford to sit back and just hope everything will be alright. Ever thought about being pro-active versus reactive? This is a key strategy for success. Waiting until “things go south” results in a big scramble to catch up to those who have planned better than we have.
Are you convinced yet? Here’s how to help your profession move forward: Check our website for events, for letters to send to your congresspeople, for ways to get involved. Come to a HAPTA board meeting—they happen every other month, and are posted on the webpage calendar. Email me (annfrost.pt@gmail.org) with how you’d like to participate in our state association.
Ann Frost, President
The House of Delegates was held in Baltimore, Maryland this year. For those of you unfamiliar with the HOD, it is the highest policy-making body of the American Physical Therapy Association. Delegates represent the membership of each state in national issues regarding our profession. Jennifer Simpson and I had the fortunate opportunity to represent all of you again this year in a monumental HOD. This year was unique due to the mounting discussion on national healthcare reform. Additionally, we worked diligently on perfecting a new Code of Ethics. Here is an overview of the 9 RCs passed this year during the HOD.
RC 4-09: Amend: Code of Ethics
We have an updated and expanded code of ethics. The code of ethics will be disseminated to all members in the near future. The new Code of Ethics becomes effective July 1, 2010.
RC 5-09 Amend: Standards of Ethical Conduct for the Physical Therapist Assistant
We also have updated and expanded standards for the physical therapist assistant. The new Standards become effective July 1, 2010.
RC 9-09: Amend: Licensure Renewal: Continuing Education
Continuing education related to practice management is recognized and supported by the APTA.
The APTA endorses the concept of continuing education as an integral component of professional development and as a condition for license renewal. We are now recognizing to importance of staying abreast of changes in practice management, regulations, and compliance issues in order to operate an ethical and efficient practice.
RC 14-09: Support of “green” practice by the APTA and its components
The APTA encourages its members to adopt environmentally responsible practices into their professional and personal lives.
As physical therapists, we have a responsibility to promote health and wellness. Protection of the environment is essential for the health and well being of our global society. We can set a positive example by adopting environmentally responsible practices.
RC16-09: Models of Care Delivery
The APTA has been challenged to examine new ways the physical therapist could be utilized in the health care delivery system and develop models to support these roles.
We are on the brink of health care reform, and we want to assess the potential roles a physical therapist could serve. Physical therapists overseas and in the military have successfully been practicing in some extended scope of practice models. There is strong reason to believe these models could prove cost effective, efficient, improve patient access to care, while maintaining quality of care.
RC 20-09: Student Loan Repayment Programs at the State Level
The APTA supports the development of strategies to seek inclusion of physical therapists as an eligible healthcare professional for student loan repayment programs. Educational materials will be provided to advocate for this at the state level.
RC 23-09: Election to Honorary Membership in the APTA: Charles L Martin
Charles Martin served the APTA for over 17 years. He was the Chief Financial Officer.
RC 24-09: Election to Honorary Membership in the APTA: Stephanie A Studenski
Stephanie A Studenski, MD, has been involved in research that has contributed significantly to physical therapy practice.
RC 27-09: Health Care Reform
The APTA stands ready to work with the US Congress and Administration on health reform.
Physical therapy services need to be included as a standard benefit in the reform of healthcare. It is critical that we are all ready to advocate for our profession. Two documents are available here to assist you: The Role of the Physical Therapist in National Health Care Reform and Health Care Reform: 2009 A Physical Therapy Perspective.
If you have further questions regarding this years HOD, please contact me at lisa.c.curtis@gmail.com. Also, if you have an idea for an RC you would like to present at the 2010 HOD, it is never too early to start discussion!
Lisa T. Curtis, PT
Aloha and happy summer!
It was a whirlwind week in Baltimore Maryland, starting with APTA House of Delegates and culminating with the fantastic PT 2009 programming. It was quite an exciting HOD session, with several motions stimulating very lively debates. The complete summary of all HOD actions can be accessed by going to the APTA website and searching for "2009 HOD Summary." I would like to take the time to briefly familiarize Hawaii PTs and PTAs with one topic in particular, the revised Code of Ethics for the Physical Therapist and the Physical Therapist Assistant (RC 4-09 and RC 5-09). The changes ratified by the 2009 HOD are of special importance to all PTs and PTAs, as it is the expectation of our patients, our Ethics Committee Members, and our legal system that all practitioners adhere to the Ethical Standards of our profession. Many states specifically reference the Code of Ethics in their PT Practice Acts, and therefore those PTs are actually legally bound to follow them.
When a case of questionable ethical behavior arises, it is up to the Ethics and Judicial Committee to review the complaint and then determine if a Principle was violated. Previously, our Code of Ethics consisted of only numbered basic principles, with no examples/explanations or guidance for interpretation. Some principles were clear cut - for example: Principle 1 stated "A physical therapist shall respect the rights and dignity of all individuals, and shall provide compassionate care." Others were vague and open to wide interpretation -for example, Principle 4 used to read, "A physical therapist shall exercise sound professional judgement." The revised Ethical Standards include lettered subheadings that provide clarification and specific examples to guide professional behavior. Some of the topics specifically addressed in the revised Code of Ethics include avoiding conflicts of interest that influence clinical decision making, responsibility for reporting collegues who are unable to safely practice due to physical/psychological/substance abuse issues, the acceptance of gifts, and the necessity of disclosing financial interest in a product or service that we recommend for a patient.
The current Code of Ethics will continue to be utilized until July 1,2010. It can be found on the APTA website by typing "Code of Ethics" into the search box on the home page. The newly revised Code of Ethics will be available on the APTA website in August.
It has been an honor to serve HAPTA as an APTA House of Delegates member for the past 3 years. HOD is always a rewarding and uplifting experience - it is amazing just being in a room with 400+ passionate, involved, excited PTs and PTAs! Unfortunately, I will not be able to serve again next year, as I have recently relocated to Vermont. If you have been thinking about getting involved in HAPTA, please consider volunteering to run for a HOD delegate position - it is truly one of the most exciting and important roles that you can play within the State and National levels of the Association. If you have any questions or would like to discuss the positions further, please email me at JennHAPTA@gmail.com.
Jennifer Simpson, PT
Highlights from the 2009 PTA Caucus Business Meeting
Aloha everyone, it was another awesome opportunity to represent PTAs during the PTA Caucus’s annual business meeting, June 6 - 7 in Baltimore, Maryland. The 2009 PTA Caucus consisted of five delegates and 42 representatives. Elected to leadership positions in the PTA Caucus and installed to begin their terms at the close of the House of Delegates were: chief delegate, David Emerick, Sr, PTA, BBA (3-year term); delegates, Carrie Perkins, PTA (2 years), and John Linberger, PTA, BS (1 year, completing Emerick’s term); alternate delegate, Paul Purdue, PTA (1 year); and nominating committee member, Tony Hall, PTA (3 years). The PTA Caucus also acknowledged outgoing chief delegate Linberger, outgoing delegate Nancy Brox Koftan, PTA, BS, outgoing alternate delegate Michael Davis, PTA, and outgoing nominating committee chair Luke Markert, PTA for completion of their terms and their contributions to APTA.
The PTA Caucus reviewed work done by the Advisory Panel of PTAs and the APTA Board of Directors relative to RC-14-08, Identification of the Role of the Physical Therapist Assistant in 2020. (For a detailed account of that work, see the June 2009 PTA Viewpoint column written by APTA President Scott Ward, PT, PhD.) As part of this effort, the Board has appointed a taskforce on PTA post entry-level educational pathways to further the work of the Advisory Panel of PTAs.
The PTA Caucus will pursue a bylaw change at the 2010 House of Delegates that would give PTAs a full vote at the chapter level. Those attending the PTA Caucus meeting in Baltimore described mixed reactions to the proposed change from their chapter delegations. PTA Caucus delegates and the Full Vote Committee will address stated reasons for resisting the bylaw change and will provide PTA Caucus representatives with educational talking points. The proposal will be a major focus of the caucus throughout the months leading up to the 2010 House.
I was able to meet with and discuss issues throughout the House of Delegates with our chapter’s Delegates Jenn Simpson, and Lisa Curtis, HAPTA President Ann Frost, as well as the PTA Caucus Delegates and other state representatives. House motions that directly impact the work and education of the PTA included RC05-09 concerning the Standards of Ethical Conduct of the Physical Therapist Assistant.
In honor of the 40th anniversary of the PTA, PTAs nationwide raised more than $27,000 in 2008-2009 for PT-PAC. Saluting this effort was Mike Matlack of APTA’s Grassroots & Policy Advocacy staff. He described 2009 as a crucial year for APTA’s political action committee, given the Obama administration’s plans for health care reform. There has been a tremendous amount of respect gained by the actions of the PTAs over the past few years as a result of the work done by the PTA Caucus Delegates, PTA Advisory Panel, APTA Staff, PTA Caucus Representatives, as well as the P.T.s leading the profession. This is a wonderful time to be a Physical Therapist Assistant and share the importance of belonging to a profession in which we are a valued member. Please share this information with your co workers who are not APTA members, feel free to contact me via cell (808) 368-1560, e mail Edmund.H.Ho@ kp.org, or give them my contact information and have them contact me directly.
Aloha,
Ed Ho, PTA, Hawaii PTA Caucus Representative
HAPTA Strategic Planning Meeting
From APTA: Podcasts on Models of Delivery of Care and Reimbursement Now Available
In a podcast on emerging and innovative models of delivery of care, Nancy White, PT, DPT, OCS, APTA associate director of practice, discusses why the development of new models is essential to the continued success of the physical therapy profession and describes the data collection currently underway by the department of practice.
The "problematic" issue of reporting a re-evaluation is the subject of a podcast by Jim Nugent, APTA senior policy analyst, which addresses when reporting a re-evaluation is appropriate, the differences between testing and measuring as opposed to re-evaluation, documentation requirements, and more.
In My Patient, My Billing, My Responsibility, Nugent discusses the responsibilities that each PT assumes for services billed under his/her name.
All APTA podcasts are available at this link.
