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ADVANCE Perspective: Physical Therapy

Infringement?

Published March 10, 2008 11:36 AM by Brian Ferrie
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Possible infringement by other professions is one of the most important issues facing physical therapy today. This issue has been highlighted by the recent lawsuit filed against APTA by the NATA.

The APTA Website states, "The National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA) on February 1, 2008, filed a lawsuit against APTA and the Orthopaedic Section, APTA, Inc. in the U.S. District Court in Dallas. The complaint alleges that the APTA and the Section have violated the antitrust laws by seeking to deny athletic trainers (ATCs) access to the market for manual therapy and by coercing physical therapists to refrain from educating ATCs in certain techniques. APTA's counsel is currently reviewing the complaint. APTA believes that the NATA lawsuit is wholly without merit."

The link below details the sequence of events that has taken place, according to APTA. What are your thoughts about these developments?

 http://www.apta.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Home&Template=/CM/HTMLDisplay.cfm&ContentID=45981
 
 The APTA has recently (Feb. 3, 2009) updated the status of this issue:
 
Update: NATA Lawsuit

Leaders of APTA and NATA met in Dallas on January 26, 2009, to talk about the possibility of settling the antitrust lawsuit brought by the NATA last February. APTA was represented by President Scott Ward, PT, PhD, CEO John Barnes, and staff and outside legal counsel. NATA was represented by its President Marje Albohm, Executive Director Eve Becker-Doyle, two other senior staff members, and outside legal counsel. Although the two sides did not reach agreement on the terms of a settlement, they will be communicating further.

posted by Brian Ferrie

3 comments
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Sorry ATC person. You did not earn a doctorate.. no less any college degree to do your job. The idea that you believe that your training is similiar is the "maniacal" part in all this!

  Perhaps if you were better educated, you could also write a less rambling, ridiculous retort! PT is about the functional health of the person. Perhaps you could learn more about that... maybe at your  next very intensive 1 day seminar?
Jeanne, PT - Senior , kids kabin June 3, 2008 3:14 PM
KINGSTON TN

"their place"?   WOW%0d%0a%0d%0aAthletic trainers are educated and trained in the same competencies as physical therapists....although ATC's have a much larger focus on emergency/pre-hospital care .....To claim that we need to understand our place is maniacal.  %0d%0a%0d%0aDO's and MD's co-exist - PA-C's and NP's co-exist.   Why do PT's think they own the market on physical medicine and rehab.  They don't.  The training is very similar.  The fight is simply about reimbursement and competition in the PMR market.  %0d%0a%0d%0aPT's scared of the ATC's......I think so!!!!%0d%0a%0d%0acompetition is good for patients! %0d%0a%0d%0a
P Guil, AT - ATC, College May 25, 2008 7:28 PM
Ly VA

The "Rush" gym in my town advertises PT sessions. When I asked if they had a PT on staff ( expecting the answer I got!), they looked at me like I had 2 heads. I'm no longer a member there and this is one of the reasons. The APTA has so much on it's plate, but this infringement is a big issue to be taken very seriously. Athletic trainers need to be taught THEIR place and gyms need to stop using our very hard earned credentials to try to fool the public at our profession's expense!
Jeanne March 11, 2008 6:17 PM

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