The Future of PT
Last week, my class was lucky enough to benefit from the Scully Lecture Series, an endowed program that brings distinguished speakers to the area to highlight relevant issues within the world of physical therapy. Justin Moore, PT, DPT, APTA vice president of government and payment policy, came to the Southwest Pennsylvania District to discuss current legislative focal points, prior to which he met with our class for a more informal question-and-answer session.
If I took nothing else from the session, it's that the health care climate is changing, and our roles as PTs may transform in the next 10 years. Dr. Moore addressed a variety of topics ranging from changes in reimbursement to the future of direct access. Health care reform is driving many of these transformations, and he emphasized that now, more than ever, we need to demonstrate the value of what we do. Luckily, he seems to be having success in Washington, so it sounds like we're on the right path.
As we are all just getting started, it's hard to look so far into the future. But the reality is that by the time we hit the peak of our careers, many of these changes could be implemented. I think it's important that we keep ourselves updated regarding what's on the horizon, and how it may affect us in the future.