Rick:
I enjoyed your comments. I have added a few of my own below.
[log in to unmask] wrote:
> Dr. Siff,
>
> A few colleagues and I have discussed this issue at length and have
> decided over the past few months to give these individuals the designations
> of M.R.T (Master of Rehabilitative Therapy) or for those outside the U.S.
> G.D.R.T (Graduate Diploma in Rehabilitative Therapy).
>
> It was suggested to me that we start with education. By changing the
> ed. standards and combining for one large designation we would be able
> to then specialize in whatever segment of rehabilitative medicine interests
> us.
> With specialization's in Neurologic, geriatric, research, sports, etc., every
> aspect
> of rehab. could be covered. Equally important would be the singular voice
> with
> which to truly "speak".
>
I believe this is already the case in the US. We train PTs to be generalists in
all areas of PT. You can then go on and specialize and become Board Certified as
I have done in Orthopaedics.
>
> Whatever our current designation, practitioners are the embodiment of their
> patients hopes, anticipations and desires for health and well-being. We
> touch,
> push, rotate, bend, instruct, lift, uplift, console, encourage and impact
> those who
> come to us for help. Regardless of educational bias, those realistic and
> conscientious among us research, accept, question, attempt (failure or
> success) and push the boundaries of our practice.
>
> Recently, in a U.S publication, a well-known practitioner stated that
> the recent "downslide" of therapists is just an adjustment for past
> over-remuneration and due to our lack of attention to science. I humbly
> suggest
> that the current healthcare environment is a difficult one across the board,
> regardless of a practitioners scientific proof. I also see many, many people
> paying for medical services out-of-pocket despite the almost "un"-science
> of a treatment.
>
I am not clear as to the meaning of the reference to "downslide" by this "well
known practitioner." PTs in the US have suffered from job loss, decreased income
and benefits over the last year. This is not due to "over-renumeration and a lack
of attention to service" rather is is due to a major cutbacks in reimbursement
from the largest health care payor in the world and an over supply of PTs and
PTAs. In the US we have had an exponential growth of PT and PTA educational
programs.
>
> These are serious times in the medical community, many of the outstanding
> practitioners find their niche simply through reputation and quality of care.
> This process lends itself to small almost local regions where certain
> experts can thrive and conversely, the most scientifically based therapy
> will flop due to community bias.
>
> Any reform, be it educational, reimbursement, practice based or political
> is going to claim its casualties. Patient based care is going to put up
> a fight and requires serious and aggressive lobbying, realistic reform,
> responsible and knowledgeable clinicians and leaders who are willing
> get dirty in the trenches with those who are taking risks because they
> love what they do REGARDLESS of educational background.
>
> I hope your "vision" is taken with a little seriousness by anyone who
> can begin to effect it's change. We are an imaginative and pushy group
> by all accounts, it really frightens me to think what could be done
> if even a few of us put our minds to it.
>
> Rick May, PT
> [log in to unmask]
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