In the News

5 Things You Can Do This Spring to Advocate for Your Profession

By: Dr. Eva Norman, PT, DPT

It’s spring and our US members of Congress want to hear from their constituents. They are home in the district throughout the spring. Check out the Senate schedule and House schedule to find out when. We have a wonderful opportunity to educate legislators on issues important to us and our patients. However, only 11% of the entire APTA membership are currently advocating for our profession. Help us strengthen our voices on Capitol Hill! If you want to improve your reimbursement, reduce administrative burdens, and improve access to your services, make a difference by doing one of the following:

  1. Download the APTA Action App: Have easy and quick access to legislative issues, your legislators, and ability to take action and have your voice heard.  Download for iPhone. Download for Android.

  2. Join the Advocacy Network: It is the best way to advocate and stay informed on the issues facing our patients and the profession. In 30 seconds or less, you can sign up and grow our grassroots, get regular Congressional updates through email, and advocate through emails created by APTA. There are legislators that will vote based on the number of letters they receive, especially if they are not healthcare experts or know enough about the issue. Your letter can sway a vote!

  3. Read the latest Federal Affairs Liaison Briefing Memo: This is a great way to learn and stay informed about the Congressional legislative issues impacting physical therapy and our patients.

  4. Attend a local town hall meeting: These meetings can be invaluable to learn what issues are important to your member of Congress, to build a relationship by introducing yourself to the legislator and their staff (Mention you are a therapist or student!), and to alert the legislator on what is important to your profession. They always want to hear from constituents! Google search their name and go to their Congressional website to learn when the next meeting is. Inquire about the healthcare town hall meetings.

  5. Donate to the PT PAC: PT PAC is the federal fund raising arm of the association. A donation of any kind can help the profession have more face time with members of Congress to educate them about the value of physical therapy. If every member donated $20, we would be the largest healthcare PAC in the country. Imagine what we could accomplish! 

Help advance the profession through advocacy today. Contact me should you have any questions at [email protected].

Learn*Educate*Advocate
PT & Our Patients are Counting on You!

Dr. Eva Norman, PT DPT
Newly appointed APTA Home Health Federal Affairs Liaison 
 

ACHH Partnered with Providence Health For Live Seminar Last Month

Last month, our ACHH faculty partnered with Providence Health to host a live seminar, a required component of the Advanced Competency in Home Health Certificate program. A big thank you to Providence Health for hosting a great weekend with some amazing PTs and PTAs in the Seattle area!

Mark your calendars! Our next in-person seminar will be in October in Hanover, Pennsylvania and the next virtual seminar will be held in November. More information and registration will be available soon! 
 

Webinar Recording: Stay Alert for High-Alert Medications in Home Health: Anticoagulants and Insulin

APTA Home Health collaborated with the National Association for Home Care & Hospice for this nation-wide free webinar. During this recorded webinar, the presenter, Melissa Bednarek, PT, DPT, PhD, will define high-alert medications and focus specifically on anticoagulants and insulin.  The indications, mechanism of action, side effects and clinical implications for each medication class will be discussed.

This webinar was originally recorded on April 27, 2023. 

Click here to view the recording: https://vimeo.com/822041458
 

ACHH Graduate Virtual Journal Club

When: Thursday, May 11, 2023 | 7:00pm - 8:30pm Eastern 

The ACHH faculty have worked with the APTA Home Health Board to initiate a journal club exclusively for the PT and PTA graduates of the ACHH certification program.

The FREE ACHH journal club will take place three times a year on the second Thursday of January, May, and September, from 7:00pm – 8:30pm EST.  The first 30 minutes will be a happy hour of networking and discussion and then one member will lead a guided journal club.  Participation in the club will carry points towards recertification, with one point for each club attended, to a maximum of 5, and 3 points for the individual leading the discussion.  The club will be held virtually, and details and the link will be sent by the section to all graduates of the program.  It is planned that the topics will rotate through different major areas such as neurological, cardiopulmonary, musculoskeletal and issues specific to PTAs. 

The next event will be on Thursday, May 11, 2023. Any volunteers to lead journal discussions in the subsequent meetings will be appreciated. Remember - 3 points will be awarded towards your ACHH Certification Renewal if you volunteer to lead these discussions. If interested, please email us at [email protected].

ACHH program graduates, click here to register for free! 
 

Meet Our New Student Council Representative!

My name is Chris Chisler and I am excited to begin my new role as the Home Health Academy’s APTA Student Counsel Representative. I am in the final year of the DPT program at University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences and currently beginning the first of two terminal clinical placements, one in McAllen, Texas and the other in Orange City, Florida. I first became interested in home health while working as a PTA in the Orlando area in Florida. There are few settings that allow for the type of one-on-one time home health offers. I also found home health to be a great way to connect with the community and help those unable to access physical therapy services any other way.

As the first APTA Student Counsel Representative, I hope to foster engagement of student members in the academy. Engagement in professional organizations is a great way for students to develop as leaders and it is my mission to promote this amongst the membership. I look forward to serving the APTA Home Health Academy over the next year building a strong foundation for future student involvement.

Regards,
Chris Chisler, SPT
 
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