In the News

Participate in Research Studies

APTA Home Health receives frequent requests from members and students to disseminate their research study surveys to our members in hopes of increasing volunteer engagement. As we receive these requests, we will post them here in our bi-weekly e-newsletter. Please note that these research studies are not affiliated with or sponsored by APTA Home Health and are 100% volunteer based. Any questions or concerns should be directed to the contact listed for the study.

__________________________________

Imposter Phenomenon Survey

Physical Therapists from West Coast University are seeking participation in a survey regarding the prevalence of Imposter phenomenon in licensed physical therapists. Imposter Phenomenon, or perceived fraudulence, describes an ongoing fear of exposure as a fraud despite objective successes and accomplishments.

The organizers of the study are hoping to gather data regarding not only the prevalence, but predictors and if there is a correlation to burnout within our profession.

The survey will only take about 15 minutes to complete. Please only take this survey once, as you may see it on multiple outlets. Your participation is greatly appreciated! Please contact [email protected] with any questions you may have.

Use the following link to access the survey and complete it by July 8, 2022:

Follow this link to the Survey:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1PgsmWEefs9EwnnQCTbSgL771D1wZAG-P4xSlxIP4kbw/viewform?ts=62811d86&edit_requested=true

__________________________________

Assessment of Balance Practices and Associated Barriers of United States Practicing Physical Therapists

A doctoral student at Seton Hall University is conducting a mixed-method study (IRB number 2022-298 ). The study will explore the balance assessment practices of U.S.-practicing PTs, specifically, addressing the utilization of American Physical Therapy Association (APTA)balance tests and measures and the Academy of the Geriatric Physical Therapy (AGPT) Clinical Guidance Statement (CGS) in the management of falls. The survey has two parts and will take 15 minutes to complete. The survey is anonymous and confidential.

If you have any questions, please contact the primary investigator, Franceah Palencia-Quijano at [email protected].

Use the following link to access the survey and complete it by June 19, 2022:

Follow this link to the Survey:
https://shu.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bPnCrt7mNqOBtI2

Join Us for Tomorrow's Virtual Town Hall

When: Wednesday, July 13, 2022 | 8:30pm - 9:30pm ET

This virtual town hall is open to APTA Home Health members only.

Please join us to discuss upcoming House of Delegates elections and motions! This is also an open-forum for member comments, concerns and feedback!

Members, if you are able to attend, please register here for FREE: https://aptahhs.memberclicks.net/july22_townhall

Home Health Toolbox II: Tests & Measures For Use in the Home

Published in February 2022, the Home Health Toolbox II, for use by physical therapy practitioners and researchers, is an impressive and comprehensive aggregation of assessments across multiple domains, ranging widely from physical capacity to cognitive functioning to social factors impacting health and functioning. A selection of these assessments can give a full picture of a patient’s status in the home setting and should play an important role in characterizing a patient’s problems and challenges, developing a treatment plan and following progress over time.

The value of this Toolbox is that its developers have carefully screened for instruments that will work in the home setting and describe their strengths, weaknesses, technical requirements and interpretation.

APTA Home Health Member Price:
- Digital: FREE
- Print Copy: $17.99

Non-Member Price:
- Digital Copy: $25.00
- Print Copy: $29.99

To purchase your copy, click here!

ACHH Graduate Virtual Journal Club

When: Thursday, January 12, 2023 | 7:00pm - 8:30pm Eastern

Article For January 2023 Discussion: TUG-10: A Modification of the Timed Up and Go Test for Aerobic Assessment in Older Adults

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, January 12, 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!

Home Health Care Research

Comparing Public Quality Ratings for Joint Commission Accredited and Non-Joint Commission Accredited Home Health Agencies: A Replication Study
Abstract: This was a descriptive replication study comparing 2083 home health agencies accredited by The Joint Commission (TJC) and 8695 non-TJC-accredited home health agencies over a 3-year period using the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Home Health Compare data set. Metrics included the star ratings and 17 quality measures. A longitudinal model was used to determine differences between TJC-accredited and non-TJC-accredited organizations on the quality measures. Categorical differences in star ratings were analyzed using a Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel test. TJC-accredited home health agencies had better average ratings than non-TJC-accredited home health agencies for each of the 3 years (3.4 vs 3.2, p < .001). When categories were collapsed to evaluate differences, the analysis revealed that a significantly larger proportion of TJC-accredited facilities were clustered within the higher ratings (41% for TJC-accredited vs 32% for non-TJC-accredited), and fewer TJC-accredited organizations were clustered within the lower ratings (22% for TJC-accredited vs 30% for non-TJC-accredited; p < .001). Two claims-based outcome measures (hospitalization and emergency room visits) were consistent with the original study in which TJC-accredited home health organizations had statistically significant lower rates across all 3 years studied, compared to non-TJC-accredited HHAs. This replication study validates and extends the generalizability of the findings from the original study.