Over the past few months I've noticed a few things about the physical therapy profession that caught my attention, and I wanted to describe the situations here.  First, I was speaking with a physical therapist about the doctorate program education for physical therapists, and she responded, ''I think it's a really good thing that they are ...

According to Medicare, I'm able to work under the direction of an MD. Imagine what that could do to the outpatient market in some areas. As a PTA, I could set up a clinic, hire an MD and begin to provide care based on the MD's plan of treatment. Of course the state rules would try to prevent this but I'm pretty sure federal law trumps state law ...

As I was perusing the various state board websites, I noticed several states offered licenses to PTs but required the PTA to have a certificate to practice and provide therapy care. I've been awarded certificates in achievement, performance and even have one as a geriatric wellness specialist. My children come home from school with certificates in ...

Once again, I was searching the state board websites and came across some applications that asked whether the prospective licensee had a disease or condition that interfered with the ability to perform the essential functions of the profession. If so, the PT or PTA was expected to give supporting documentation about this condition. I guess this ...

This year I want to hear from fellow PTAs. I want to know your thoughts on healthcare changes, working relationships with PTs, and your ideas about increasing the PTA education to a bachelor's level as well as your feelings towards the APTA and the PTA profession. I would ask that you do a bit of research on reimbursement rates in Kansas for PTA ...

In the mail, I received several brochures advertising how to evaluate and treat multiple body parts. All therapy disciplines were invited to attend. Being a PTA, I don't evaluate people so I wonder if I could get a discount because the evaluation aspect of those courses wouldn't directly benefit me in my chosen profession. I'd like to see more ...

Reading Jason Marketti's blog last week reminded me of a discussion we're having here in Texas. It's called RC-3 and is an amendment to the Texas Physical Therapy Practice Act. It proposes unlicensed individuals such as athletic trainers and massage therapists be used as PT extenders. These extenders are to provide care as directed by the physical ...

I'm sure there are some people who'd like to see the PTA profession disappear and have every patient treated only by a PT. And for those who feel like that, let's discuss what we should do with the PTAs. But first the United States needs to open its borders to more foreign-educated physical therapists to take the place of the PTAs currently ...

Internet misinformation about physical therapy staff positions is enough to send a sounder of swine squealing off the edge of a cliff into a frothy sea. At a minimum, it should send the APTA into hyperdrive with a primary goal to unify terminology. The tagline of one site reads, ''Making Education Accessible.'' They should start by making it ...

As PTs and PTAs, we went through enough testing in school and yet we had to pass one more test to get that magical piece of paper from the licensing board. The problem is that to get that license to practice, we did not have to show any skills to the state board demonstrating that we knew what we were doing. Maybe the licensing board trusts the ...