-----Original Message-----
From: David Perry <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
Cc: *EXECSTAFF <[log in to unmask]>; *BOD <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Monday, May 31, 1999 6:07 PM
Subject: Re:: Excess PT's


>APTA recently conducted an Employment Survey of over 5,000 members and
>non-members, which indicated that 3% of physical therapists (mostly in
>skilled nursing and home health practice settings) are not practicing and
>are seeking full-time employment. This is the 2nd survey of this type, and
>will be repeated on a 6 month cycle. It is an attempt to quantify all of
the
>anectodal references to "widespread unemployment" that has risen this past
>year. No doubt that the impacts of the 1997 BBA are many, and perhaps not
>fully recognized by the initial Vector study. Thus another reason why APTA
>is actively working at addressing the employment issue, as well as the
>legislative and regulatory limits which are at the heart of this all.
>I'm not sure which "high ranking APTA offical and Board member" you refer
>to. Not identifying a source is to me another widespread "anectodal" slam,
>and not helpful to the debate.
>APTA currently has approx 43% of PT's as members. APTA is actively working
>to overcome the impacts of BBA and other health care initiatives which
>challenge our profession. It's unfortunate that the 57% of non-members are
>out there, for with them in the fold APTA could be even more powerful.
>David Perry, PT
>APTA Treasurer, Board of Directors
>[log in to unmask]
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
>Date: Thursday, May 27, 1999 11:06 PM
>Subject: Digest of physio - volume 1 #319
>
>
>>Subjects of messages in this digest:
>>
>> Excess PT's
>> Re: Excess PT's
>> Re: Excess PT's
>> Excess PT's
>> Re: Excess PT's
>>
>>
>>----------------------------------------------------------------------
>>
>>Date: Thu, 27 May 1999 04:09:38 EDT
>>From: [log in to unmask]
>>To: [log in to unmask]
>>Subject: Excess PT's
>>Message-Id: <[log in to unmask]>
>>
>>I thought I would initiate an informal poll.
>>Recently I read an article in Modern Healthcare. A disturbing little
>>article caught my eye, it was pointing out how many PT's are out
>>of jobs these days. It went on to quote several VP types from large
>>rehab companies who described in gruesome detail the actual numbers
>>of ex employees. It was difficult for the first time to actually see in
>print
>>that over 12,000 PT's nation wide have lost their jobs!
>>However THE single most disturbing statement was made by a board
>>member of the APTA. When asked to comment on the recent carnage
>>sweeping the rehab world, his reply was that there was no proof that there
>>are too many PT's for the available positions, it was only "anecdotal
>>evidence".
>>I run a rehab department in a small community hospital in Northern
>>California, we have 2 per diem PT positions posted, I have over 60 resumes
>on
>>my desk very
>>recently submitted. Frighteningly anecdotal. A recent graduating class of
>>over 40 masters level trained PT's - word from one of the students that as
>of
>>today only 3
>>had jobs secured. How many PT's out of school over 4 years had to wait
>until
>>after graduation to find a job? Again, too anecdotal for me. I estimate
>that
>>30-40% of my
>>same age counterparts are getting out of PT (another informal poll), going
>>into high-tech sales, pharmaceutical sales, med school, etc. Oh, I feel
>>another anecdote coming on.
>>I am willing to give the benefit to this high ranking PT official and the
>>entire APTA organization for that matter, maybe the question wasn't clear
>>enough, maybe a communication style misunderstanding? I hold out
>>optimistically because I am too frightened to believe that such and 'out
of
>>touch' comment could
>>come from one so plugged in to the system.
>>Unduly harsh? Maybe, but I don't think I've heard enough healthy debate
>about
>>the
>>direction of this field and what is being done to preserve our position
>>within the
>>healthcare arena. Most of the survival techniques I see are coming
straight
>>from
>>innovative and imaginative individuals who love what they do, maybe they
>>should
>>be making comments to the press instead.
>>
>>Rick May, PT
>>[log in to unmask]
>>
>>
>>------------------------------
>>
>>Date: Thu, 27 May 1999 06:36:22 EDT
>>From: "Stuart D. Blatt" <[log in to unmask]>
>>To: [log in to unmask]
>>Subject: Re: Excess PT's
>>Message-Id: <[log in to unmask]>
>>
>>Good Morning Rick,
>>
>>Anecdotal information is very important, but I think there is another
>>and in my opinion, a more important issue which you raise. I believe
>>the job market ( as we are currently defining it) is decreasing, but
>>the decreases in jobs may be a knee jerk reaction to government
>>changes in health care reimbursement. Do you remember in the mid
>>1980's a nurse could not buy a job in this country and look at the
>>demand now. Ultimately I think things are cyclical and it is PT's
>>turn to face adversity.
>>
>>The larger issue as I see it is, when faced with adversity, what
>>are we going to do about it? I believe it is time for PT to reclaim
>>the birthright we so willingly abandoned during our haydays. Some
>>examples of the areas I am referring to are Cardiopulmonary,
>>dermatology, wound care, long-term nursing care, and instituting of
>>appropriate use of modalities (ionto, SWD, UV). I believe it is time
>>for PTs to use the "art" side of our profession and begin to think
>>abstractly about what are profession can be. Instead of trying to
>>limit our professional scope of practice to the current trends, we
>>should be creating new markets for the future. Instead of looking at
>>this transition as a time to be fearful and lament a loss, we should
>>seize the opportunity to rei-nvent ourselves to take on the demands
>>of future.
>>
>>Lastly, I would say to all new graduates instead of looking at the
>>areas of which are most popular, look to the underserved areas which
>>we have traditionally denied physical therapy care because they were
>>not prestigious. These areas are more typically challenging and are
>>probably waiting for someone to help them.
>>
>>I think our future can be a bright one, if we can see this as an
>>opportunity to pull together and use our knowledge and skills to
>>serve the all the people in this country.
>>
>>Just one man's opinion.
>>
>>Stu Blatt
>>
>>
>>Stuart Blatt MA PT
>>Lecturer
>>Physical Therapy Department
>>School of Health Professions and Studies
>>University of Michigan-Flint
>>Flint, MI 48502-2186
>>E-mail [log in to unmask]
>>(810) 762-3373 voice
>>(810) 766-6668 Fax
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>------------------------------
>>
>>Date: Thu, 27 May 1999 06:47:15 EDT
>>From: [log in to unmask]
>>To: [log in to unmask]
>>Subject: Re: Excess PT's
>>Message-Id: <[log in to unmask]>
>>
>>
>>Rick,
>>
>>The high ranking board member must not have read the Vector Report done by
>>the APTA that projected a decline in the need for PT services and a
>projected
>>surplus of PT's by 50,000 in the year 2005  . This report, sponsored by
the
>>APTA, can by found on their website in the research section.
>>
>>Sorry Rick, but so much for anecdotal.
>>
>>Best wishes,
>>
>>Dave Bender
>>
>>
>>------------------------------
>>
>>Date: Thu, 27 May 1999 12:54:35 -0400
>>From: "Elmer Platz, PT" <[log in to unmask]>
>>To: [log in to unmask]
>>Subject: Excess PT's
>>Message-Id: <[log in to unmask]>
>>
>>Ray:
>>
>>    I understand and commiserate with the basis of your concern.
>>    However, I would say that the corporate CEO's are in a much better
>>    position to advise as to how many PT's have been laid-off since
>>    they're doing the firing. The APTA on the other hand has a much
>>    more difficult task in determining PT employment since they are
>>    neither employers nor an employment agency. Unless frequent
>>    surveys are performed the estimates can only be anecdotal. I'm
>>    not by any means suggesting that this is ideal and we should
>>    develop a method for making an accurate determination. An additional
>>    consideration is the fact that the APTA does not represent a large
>>    percentage of licensed/employable therapists that are not
>>members.      How can they be held accountable for the fortunes of
>>non-members let     alone determine their rate of employment? There are
>>several forces
>>    at work that have created the current dilemma. As the professional
>>    organization of physical therapists the APTA is attempting to deal
>>    with these forces/situations but that takes money and peoplepower.
>>    If the anecdotal information available from the APTA is inadequate
>>    then do something about it! There hasn't been a much better time
>>    for PT's to get together and support one another through their
>>    professional organization than now. The membership base should be
>>    increased. It takes money and lots of voices to make changes.
>>    We need more people involved, more people to speak-up, more
>>    people to present new ideas and create change. If you really
>>    love PT and you're out of work and out of touch that's when you
>>    need to give support to get support and be represented.
>>
>>    my .02
>>    Elmer Platz, PT (26 yr APTA member)
>>
>>
>>------------------------------
>>
>>Date: Thu, 27 May 1999 17:26:55 -0700 (PDT)
>>From: Chris Morrow <[log in to unmask]>
>>To: [log in to unmask]
>>Cc: [log in to unmask]
>>Subject: Re: Excess PT's
>>Message-Id:
><[log in to unmask]>
>>
>>Rick - Interesting perspective.  The most recent survey that I've seen
>>says that there is about a 1.2% unemployment rate for physical
>>therapists throughout the U.S.  Of course the sites for available jobs
>>(rural settings or less-desired job settings) do not match with the
>>location or career choices of many therapists.  And, as you've stated with
>>anecdotal evidence, we are entering a time of decreasing job availability,
>>but I do agree with Elmer that it is time for the profession of P.T. to
>>step up to this challenge.  We (including all APTA Board members) have
>>known of the Vector study for a couple years now, but the rate of change
>>in health care has come faster than predicted by this model.
>> I can assure you that the APTA is responding to the changing
>>health care job environment, but there are no easy answers.  As a delegate
>>to the House of Delegates, I am hearing plenty of healthy debate on this
>>subject.  You'll see motions related to this issue being presented
>>to this year's APTA House of Delegates in Wash D.C. next week.  Perhaps
>>you could get in contact with delegates from the state of California,
>>become an active member in your local district,  or check out the APTA
>>website and ask for information if you don't find out what you're looking
>>for.
>> And let's publicize those innovative and imaginative "survival
>>techniques" so others in our profession may benefit.  Good topic for
>>discussion, let's hear some ideas for advancing P.T. job status and
>>patient accessibility.....Chris
>>
>> Christopher T. Morrow, PT, NCS
>> Harborview Medical Center
>> 325 Ninth Avenue, Box 359819
>> Seattle, WA 98104
>> (206) 731 - 5791
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>------------------------------
>



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