What a wild year it has been for those of us enrolled in the DPT program. We acquired the credit hours to partially meet our goal, which is set to be achieved in August 2013. We've learned new techniques, new terminology, diagnostic vocabulary and how to read the literature in our field. Plenty has been absorbed into our practice of physical ...

After much sweat and tears this past semester, I've finally managed to finish my three online classes for my DPT with a month to spare. It was perhaps the most challenging semester so far, with a class titled ''Direct Access.'' Having worked 20-plus years for healthcare systems, I was quite comfortable with seeing patients who were required by ...

Physical therapists who haven't been paying attention to the legislative battle raging in California might want to start. As the APTA detailed in its Aug. 30 press release, ''In California, a Rough Ride for Senate Bill 924,'' the latest salvo was just fired: ''California physical therapists have been infuriated by the legislative wrangling that ...

On Feb. 22, President Obama signed the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 (HR 3630), noted a Feb. 24 press release from the APTA. Among other facets, this act extends the therapy cap exceptions process for the remainder of 2012. The law mandates consistent use of the KX modifier upon reaching the $1,880 therapy cap and puts in ...

An Oct. 14 press release from the APTA detailed the results of an intriguing new study in the journal Health Services Research. The study suggests ''the role of the physician gatekeeper in regard to physical therapy may be unnecessary in many cases'' and could have significant implications for the U.S. health care system. Funded by a grant from ...

We recently had a representative from the APTA speak to our class about the structure of the organization, as well as some current legislative topics that are on the radar within physical therapy. What sparked my interest most was the prospect of PT being added to the National Health Service Corps (NHSC) list of eligible professionals to benefit ...