Peter:
Please see below.
|
| DPT has been available as a professional doctorate for several years in
the
| USA.( In may cases by "distance" learning!!)
The only DPT programs available in the USA by distance learning is a
transitional DPT. All entry level DPT, MSPT etc. programs are largely
didatic and clinical education.
In this context it appears to
| be means of inflating fees and overcoming the huge chip on the shoulder of
| PT's.
| In the USA PT's are also required (? by law) to adhere to the "doctors"
| orders, however ridiculous they may be,no more or less.
PTs are not required to follow anyone's "orders" in the US. There may be
legal or finacial requirements for a physican's referral or certification of
the plan of care. This does not mean that a PT must follow what is ordered.
PTs are ethically and legally required to evaluate all patients and develop
individualized plans of intervention based on the evaluation. If this plan
corrisponds with the referral from anoterh practitioner then so be it. If it
doesn't the PT has the obligation to communicate their findings and plan of
care to others involved in the care of the patient.
Currently ~36 states in the USA have direct access to PT.
Many states also
| require referal to PT's by doctors therefore, holding the title Doctor may
| facilitate legislative changes to allow self referral = increased revenue.
| Holding the title Doctor may facilitate increased professional autonomy.
| Other professions such as Chiropracters, osteopaths, podiatrists and
| dentists (maybe also Vets) all use the title doctor. With the comensurate
| increase in fees. As such the title Doctor for other than medics has
become
| somewhat of a joke.
| The coure content of DPT programs, in my experience, has been largely
based
| on coursework and experience. Therefor it is a professional title and not
| "doctoral" studies and subsequently contributes no "significant and
original
| contribution to the body of knowledge in the area"
| I see little value in using the professional title doctor outside of the
| context of restrictive legislation noted above, and would rather see
members
| of the profession undertaking quality research in Masters and Phd
programes
| in order to contribute to the virtualy non-existant body of evidence
| assosiated with the profession.
| I'll stop ranting now
| Ta
| Peter Dewar
|
*******************************************************
Douglas M. White, PT, OCS
Physical Therapist, Consultant
191 Blue Hills Parkway
Milton, MA USA 02186
P: 617.696.1974
[log in to unmask]
http://DouglasWhite.tripod.com
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