2007 PTA Caucus Report
The 2007 PTA Caucus was held in Washington, DC on May 19-20 with 40 PTA Caucus Representatives present to represent their chapters. John Linberger, Chief Delegate conducted the meetings, which included a presentation by Steve Levine, Speaker of the House who discussed motions related to APTA governance that would go before the 2007 House of Delegates and answered questions.
The PTA Caucus voted to adopt an amendment to the PTA Caucus Procedure Manual that outlines the duties and responsibilities of PTA Caucus alternate representatives. The PTA Caucus is encouraging all chapters to develop a PTA Caucus alternate representative position to assure representation at the PTA Caucus and to provide another avenue of leadership development for PTA members.
Other decisions of the 2007 PTA Caucus included adding additional responsibilities for the PTA Caucus Representative in the PTA Caucus Procedure Manual regarding communication with their chapter’s chief delegate concerning issues raised in regional caucuses and mentoring their chapter’s alternate delegate; co-sponsoring RC 01-07 to elect Francis J. (Frank) Mallon, Esq. an honorary member of APTA; and charging the delegates to work with the Advisory Panel of PTAs to pursue increased representation in legislative efforts of the PTA’s role and qualifications in patient care.
The following individuals were elected to positions in the PTA Caucus:
Chief Delegate: John Linberger (CA) 2 year term
Delegate: Nancy Brox (KS) 2 year term
Alternate Delegate: John Kelly (IN) 1 year term
Nominating Com.: Bob Hayden (UT) 3 year term
The outgoing officers: Tony Hall (NE), Delegate; Lisa Stoehr (ID), Alternate Delegate; and Amy Smith (GA), Nominating Committee Chair were recognized by the Caucus.
During the meeting, Jessica Solberg (MN) announced that Minnesota had just voted to require licensure for PTAs. There are now 4 states and 1 jurisdiction remaining that do not have regulation for PTAs. Other jurisdictions obtaining licensure this year are Washington and Washington, DC.
The PTA Caucus Delegates, John Linberger, David Emerick, Andrea Johnson, Lisa Stoehr, and Russell Stowers represented all PTA members in APTA’s 2007 House of Delegates. Adopted RCs of particular interest to PTA members included:
RC-11 Amend: Physical Therapist and Physical Therapist Assistant Licensure/Regulation. This RC clarified that state regulation as a PT or PTA should at a minimum require graduation from a CAPTE accredited program. If the individual is internationally educated, they must have a substantially equivalent education. Additionally, the amended position states that an individual working as a PTA where licensure or regulation is presently unavailable is required to be a graduate of a CAPTE accredited PTA program.
RC-22 Adopted: Continued Competence, Lifelong Learning, and Professional Development in Physical Therapy. This creates a new position that embraces the concepts of continued competence, lifelong learning, and ongoing professional development for physical therapist and physical therapist assistants.
RC-27 Adopted Core Values: Endorsement. The HOD endorsed the Core Values of accountability, altruism, compassion/caring, excellence, integrity, professional duty, and social responsibility.
It was great to see PTAs at the Caucus stepping forward to add to the dialogue regarding how to help the Association move toward Vision 2020. We need to be fully involved in this process. One way to do this is by to taking on leadership roles within the districts and chapter. Go to meetings, join a committee or agree to accept or run for a position. Members who, have been, or are in leadership roles are eager to assist those who are new. I’d like to hear your views and concerns regarding PTA practice or membership involvement. Please don’t hesitate to contact me at beckyduff@cox.net or (540) 985-8246/344-2509.
Rebecca Duff
VA Representative, 2007 PTA Caucus
PTA SIG in Action - Look for the Winter Issue in your mailbox soon!
PTA SIG Bylaws
What does PTA SIG do?
Promote the role for PTAs in the delivery of physical therapy
Represent PTA SIG membership to the VPTA Board of Directors
Provide updated information on PTA issues and activities at both state and national levels via the VPTA website and the “PTA SIG in Action” newsletter.
Promotes and encourages PTA student involvement in VPTA Annual Conference and VPTA Annual Retreat.
Promote membership in VPTA/PTA SIG, emphasizing the many benefits of belonging to your professional organization, including but not limited to access to low-cost continuing education workshops as well as the ability to give your input into policy decisions that may impact the practice of PTAs.
Identify and respond to areas of concsern related to PTA practice on the state and national levels.
Serve as a resource for issues specific to PTAs.
Foster the professional growth and development of PTA members.
PTA SIG Elects New Officers
Elections were held at the 2007 ASIG Business Meeting at the VPTA Annual Conference in October. Mike Krackow was reelected as Vice President and Lillian Davalos was elected Secretary. In addition, the VPTA membership elected Sarah Schmidt as the 2008 PTA Caucus Representative for Virginia (this position was previously known as the RBNA Delegate prior to the governance structure changes at the 2005 House of Delegates). A big thank you goes out to all Becky Duff as the outgoing Secretary and PTA Caucus Representative, as well as those who have agreed to fill the open positions. Finally, I’d like to thank all of the other active PTA SIG members, for their hard work and dedication to the VPTA and PTA SIG.
Continuing Education Workshops
We held a fantastic continuing education course last year (September 2006). Dr. Gary Mattingly came to Roanoke to review shoulder anatomy and pathology. We had a great turnout and Dr. Mattingly had a wealth of information to share with us.Our plans for a continuing education course for summer 2007 did not materialize; however, we are still working on getting a course organized for PTAs for Winter or Spring 2008. We welcome any topic or speaker suggestions and the assistance of anyone who would like to help organize a course. Please contact a PTA SIG officer or your PTA SIG district chair for more information.
Outstanding PTA
Unfortunately, we did not have any nominations for the PTA Award for 2007 and, so, it was not awarded at the VPTA Annual Conference this year. We strongly encourage PTs and PTAs to consider nominating a PTA for this award in 2008.
The purpose of this award is “to recognize PTAs in Virginia who have made an outstanding contribution to clinical practice and to PTA development through participation in professional association activities”. This award was proposed by VA PTA SIG and was first presented to a PTA at the annual conference in 1992. Nominees must be a member of APTA/VPTA and much have held elected office or committee participation at the District or State level. If you would like to submit a nomination for yourself or a colleague, please contact Becky Duff, the Nominating Committee Chair, by August 15, 2008. Nomination forms are available through the VPTA website. The award will be presented at the VPTA business meeting at State Conference in October 2008. The winner will be awarded $250 and a plaque.
Last year, in October 2006, it was an honor to give this award to Bonnie Black. Bonnie has been an active member of the PTA SIG for several years now and has served a term as PTA SIG (ASIG) Vice President. While serving this term she undertook several big projects and was dedicated enough to follow through with them even after completing her service as VP. She has also been awarded the Certificate of Advanced Proficiency for the PTA, demonstrating clinical excellence and the dedication to continuing her education.
Certificate of Advanced Proficiency for the
Physical Therapist Assistant
This is a program developed a couple of years ago by the APTA as a result of the findings of the RC 40 Task Force. This task force was charged in 2001 to examine the future role of the PTA. One of the things this task force found was that a resounding number of PTAs are concerned with receiving due recognition for their achievements educationally and clinically. This new program is one step towards doing that. It is designed to give due recognition to PTAs who have achieved “advanced proficiency through education, experience, leadership.” Applications and further information can be found on the APTA Web Site at www.apta.org.
MEMBERSHIP
PTA SIG is asking all current APTA/VPTA members to FOLLOW-UP with any nonmembers that they know, to be sure they received this info. If they have not and would like to receive membership info., please contact any PTA SIG officer (see roster in this newsletter), or contact
Ron Masri
Membership , VPTA
ph: 540/381-2722 (W)
fax: 540/953-0873 (F)
email: ronmasri@yahoo.com
PLEASE NOTE: It is not solely the responsibility of the Membership Committee to recruit/retain members in our professional organization. We all need to be PRO-ACTIVE in promoting the importance of belonging to the APTA/VPTA. Our livelihood and future depends on it!!!!!!
SPEAKING OF MEMBERSHIP…
Historically speaking for the past several years PTA membership in Virginia has hovered around 10 to 15 percent of the number of licensed PTAs in the state, whereas the PT membership has been close to 30 percent of the licensed population. I want to hear from you on how we can move from the norm and become the gold standard for membership among chapters. We can and must do a better job of increasing our membership and participation in our professional association. Unless the PTA membership improves, our strength and position within the national association has a much harder task in getting our voice heard. Strength comes with numbers.
