Let us know your opinion on the policies being debated this year in APTA's House of Delegates

Submitted by Shawn Reed on Tue, 05/31/2011 - 22:26

Hello HAPTA Members:

The House of Delegates, held annually each spring, is the highest policy-making body of the Association. It is comprised of chapter voting delegates and section, assembly, and PTA Caucus non-voting delegates, and consultants.

This year you will be represented at the House of Delegates by:

  • Lisa Curtis, Chief Delegate
  • Kristin Hawkinson, Second Delegate
  • Jazie Silva, PTA Caucus Delegate

    •  

    The 2011 House of Delegates will be held in National Harbor, Maryland, June 6-8.

    Materials related to the House of Delegates may be accessed by all APTA members at APTA Communities within the House of Delegates Community.

    Link: http://communities.apta.org/communities/HoD/Packet%20I%20Motions%20and%2...

    After reading each of the RC's and the background behind each, there are a few I would like to bring to your attention.

     

    RC 3-11 PHYSICAL THERAPIST RESPONSIBILITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THE DELIVERY OF CARE

    Resolved, That the American Physical Therapy Association recognizes and supports physical therapists’ abilities to utilize the most appropriate support personnel when directing and supervising selected aspects of physical therapy intervention, consistent with jurisdictional law.

    In summary, the RC would change APTA’s current position that PTA’s are the only care extender utilized by the physical therapist to support the use of the most appropriate support personnel.

     

    RC 13-11 FULL PAYMENT FOR PHYSICAL THERAPY INTERVENTIONS

    Resolved, The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) supports full payment for physical therapy interventions whether provided by the physical therapist or the physical therapist/physical therapist assistant team operating in accordance with APTA positions, standards, guidelines, policies, and procedures.

     

    RC 14-11 AMEND: SUPERVISION OF STUDENT PHYSICAL THERAPIST ASSISTANTS

    That Supervision of Student Physical Therapist Assistants (HOD P06-00-19-31) be amended by substitution:

     

    Student physical therapist assistants, when participating as part of a physical therapist assistant education curriculum, and when acting in accordance with the American Physical Therapy Association policy and applicable state laws and regulations, are qualified to perform selected physical therapy interventions under the direction and direct supervision of either the physical therapist alone or the physical therapist and /physical therapist assistant team. The physical therapist assistant is responsible for patient/client management. Direct supervision means the physical therapist or physical therapist assistant is physically present and immediately available for direction and supervision of the student.  The physical therapist will have direct contact with the patient/client during each visit that is defined in theGuide to Physical Therapist Practice. Telecommunications does not meet the requirement of direct supervision. When the physical therapist assistant student is working under the direct supervision of the physical therapist assistant, the physical therapist maintains responsibility for patient/client management, including responsibility for the direction and at least general supervision of the physical therapist assistant and physical therapist assistant student. 

     

    RC 24-11 DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF STANDARDIZED ELEMENTS FOR AN ANNUAL PHYSICAL THERAPY EXAMINATION

    That the American Physical Therapy Association support the promotion and implementation of Annual Visit with a Physical Therapist by developing and promulgating at least the following:

    1. Standardized elements of an annual physical therapy examination that would meet the needs of all individuals
    2. Resources and tools to support the physical therapist in tracking outcomes across the lifespan
    3. A marketing and implementation plan to enhance public recognition of the need for an annual physical therapy examination

     

    An interim report shall be submitted to the House of Delegates by 2013, with a final report to the House of Delegates by 2014.

    Please contact me with any questions or concerns you may have regarding these or any of the other RCs.

     

    Lisa Curtis, PT, DPT, CSCS

    Hawaii Chief Delegate

    lisa.c.curtis@gmail.com