Jun-29-2009
EXPAND YOUR PROFESSIONAL HORIZONS!

Become a Board Certified Clinical Specialist. Applications for the 2010 exam cycle are now available! The application deadline for Specialist Certification in Geriatrics is July 31, 2009.

For more information, or to request an application, contact the Post Graduate Certification Department by phone at 800/999-2782, ext 8520; or by e-mail at spec-cert@apta.org.

Application forms and information are also available through the APTA website at www.apta.org/specialist_certification.

More Info: Specialist Certification

Jun-25-2009
Global Bone & Joint Decade Network Conference

The US Bone and Joint Decade is in the process of coordinating the Global Bone & Joint Decade Network Conference that will be held in October in Washington, DC (APTA is a founding member of the US Bone & Joint Decade). Through Anita Bemis-Dougherty, PT, DPT, MAS, Associate Director APTA Department of Practice, they have requested that a PT member be included in the panel on Bone Health and Osteoporosis.

Timothy Kauffman, PT, PhD, will be representing the SOG and BHSIG on this panel. He will be participating in panels that will be international in nature and will be determining what needs to be done 'beyond the decade'&the work that has to be done for a roadmap for the future relating to bone health and osteoporosis. This will then be developed into a paper that will be published. The areas that will be touched upon will be prevention, intervention, education, & research.

If you would like to know more about the US Bone and Joint Decade program, please visit www.usbjd.org. Of particular interest would be:

"Bone and Joint Decade Global Network http://www.usbjd.org/projects/project_op.cfm?dirID=267 Conference October 21-24, 2009 Washington, DC

"Burden of Musculoskeletal Diseases in the United States: Prevalence, Societal and Economic Cost - Presenting a compelling argument for greater understanding and expanding research http://www.boneandjointburden.org/

"Fit to a T - An Education Program on Bone Health and Osteoporosis http://www.usbjd.org/projects/Fit2aT_op.cfm

Let's hope that our invitation to be a part of this program will make a positive difference in deepening physical therapy involvement when bone health decisions are being made at the national level.

Submitted By: Carleen Lindsey, PT, MS, GCS Section On Geriatrics Bone Health Special Interest Group Chair

More Info: US Bone and Joint Decade Program

Jun-22-2009
HHS Announces Initiatives in Support of the "Year of Community Living"

More Info: HHS News Release

Jun-19-2009
Update on Health Reform fromthe Obama Administration

"To say it as plainly as I can, health care reform is the single most important thing we can do for America's long-term fiscal health."

President Barack Obama, addressing AMA's House of Delegates, Monday, July 15, 2009

Over the past two weeks, the Obama Administration has stepped the rhetoric and pressure on national health care reform. On Saturday, June 6th and Saturday, June 13th, the President outlined his case for and a call to action to enact health care reform this year in his weekly address . In addition, President Obama visited Green Bay, WI to highlight that community's commitment to health care quality and as a low-cost, efficient deliver of services. And finally, today, Monday, June 15, 2009, the President addressed the 158th House of Delegates of the American Medical Association (AMA). It is clear that President Obama has made and will continue to emphasize health care reform as his domestic policy priority this summer. What is not clear is how and when the Congress will plan to deliver on this priority.

President Obama is also taking significant steps to support his public appearances with strong policies to fund health care reform. Late last week, President Obama built on his $634 billion dollar down payment on health care reform he outlined in his proposed budget with an additional $313 billion dollars in suggested savings from the Medicare and Medicaid programs. This put President Obama on record of identifying $950 billion dollars in projected savings, cuts, and financing mechanisms to support the cost of reforming our health care delivery system in the US. The additional $313 billion would cut payments to hospitals, medical equipment manufacturers, and laboratories, gain savings from productivity by reducing inefficiencies, lower drug payments, and reduced payments to disproportionate share hospitals (DSH) as the ranks of the uninsured diminish. The savings outlined by the Administration also discuss payment changes to imaging services, enhanced fraud and abuse efforts, and reduced payments (per MedPAC's recommendations) to skilled nursing facilities, inpatient rehabilitation facilities, and long term acute care hospitals. Policy experts and initial estimates from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimate that the cost of health care reform will range from $1 to 2 trillion dollars.

The uptick in action by the President foreshadows what looks to be an intense two weeks in Congress. The schedule for action is most clear in the US Senate, where the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee and Senate Finance Committee have indicated the intent to mark-up legislation this week. Draft legislation, entitled the Affordable Health Choices Act, from the Senate HELP committee is being circulated.

This legislative draft includes the following highlights: * Creates a health care insurance exchange called "gateways." This allows individuals to keep their insurance or to shop for new options through the gateways. A public option is included in these reforms, as well as shared responsibility provisions. * Reduces cost and increases efficiencies through health information technology. * Enhances prevention services and their importance in care delivery and cost reduction strategies. * Invests in workforce strategies (physical therapists are specifically mentioned in provisions in this section of the legislative draft). * Creates strategies to support older Americans remain in their communities and homes.

Although circulating a draft, the scheduled mark up of these provisions and this portion of the health care reform package has already been delayed from its scheduled Tuesday, June 16th mark up to Wednesday, June 17th. The Senate Finance is expected to release its draft legislation on Wednesday, June 17th. Anticipated reforms to the Medicare physician fee schedule and therapy caps, as well as potential policy changes to self-referral provisions, improving access to physical therapists, and regulatory simplifications are being aggressively lobbied.

Across the Capitol, action in the US House of Representatives is beginning to heat up. We continue to see more and more details from the three committees of jurisdiction. Late last week, the three committees (House Ways & Means, Energy & Commerce, and Education & Labor) released a Tri-Committee summary of health care reform that includes: * Reforms to the insurance market place, including the establishment of a health insurance exchange with a public option. Creates a pay or play shared responsibility on employers and individuals. * Investments in the health care workforce through various initiatives, such as expanding the National Health Services Corp and scholarship programs. * Reforms payments under Federal programs (Medicare and Medicaid), such as addressing the fee schedule, payment inequities to primary care and advances quality incentives. * Establishment of prevention and wellness programs, initiatives, and payment incentives.

APTA is working with several members of the Energy and Commerce Committee to introduce a bill that could be added to the health care reform package that would expand federal health care workforce initiative through scholarship and loan repayment programs for health care professionals not currently included in the National Health Services Corps. This legislation is expected to be introduced on Tuesday, June 16th.

A late joint release on Monday, June 15 by the House Energy and Commerce Committee and House Ways and Means Committee outlined potential reforms for the Medicare physician fee schedule in addition to the Tri-Committee summary. The release indicated the following outline of fee schedule reform: * Provides an update for 2010 based on the Medicare economic index (approximately 2-3%); * Removes the deficits created by temporary past fixes to the fee schedule; * Excludes items, such as drugs and lab services, that are not paid under the fee schedule; * Incentivizes payments for primary care services; * Encourages Accountable Care Organizations to advance quality initiatives; and * Encourages efficiency by retaining limits on volume growth

So the puzzle pieces continue to be put in place for a very active few weeks of health care reform. The emerging picture shows a lot of potential opportunities for physical therapists and a few perils in reform packages. As we move towards mark-up, the ground under us will continue to move. In addition, increasing grassroots initiatives will coincide with emerging action on health care reform and PTs, PTAs, and students of physical therapy will continue to be asked to be engaged and involved.

The best opportunity is the upcoming virtual rally for health care reform on Wednesday, June 24th from 7:30 to 9:00 pm.

Jun-03-2009
Topics in Geriatrics: Volume 5 Released!

Volume 5 offers the course participant an increased depth of knowledge on multiple topics: amputee rehabilitation for patients with diabetes; the integumentary system; health promotion; fitness and exercise; and orthopaedic considerations in the lower quarter. The participant will gain clinically-applicable knowledge across a variety of practice areas, making this course ideal for the generalist in geriatric physical therapy who is committed to lifelong learning and providing top-quality, evidence-based care to his or her patients. More information at the link below.

More Info: Home Study Page Here

May-22-2009
Become a Geriatrics Certified Specialist!

EXPAND YOUR PROFESSIONAL HORIZONS!

Become a Board Certified Clinical Specialist. Applications for the 2010 exam cycle are now available!

The application deadline for Geriatric specialist certifications is July 31, 2009.

More Info: 2010 Applications Now Available

May-13-2009
Upcoming CEEAA Course Series: San Diego!

Our first CEEAA course in Montgomery, AL at Alabama State University was a great success! We received positive feedback and our first course was SOLD OUT! So, hurry and register for your course today!

The San Diego Course Series is beginning July 18th, 2009!

University of St Augustine for Health Sciences at San Diego, CA 700 Windy Point Way San Marcos, CA 92069 Course 1: July 18-19, 2009 Course 2: December 5-6, 2009 Course 3: CSM 2010

More Info: CEEAA Course Information!

Apr-09-2009
New Geriatrics Residency Program!

The Jewish Home for the Elderly Clinical Residency in Geriatrics in Fairfield, CT has successfully achieved credentialing as post-professional geriatric residency program.

A credentialed residency or fellowship program promotes standards of quality and consistency in the teaching and practice and adherence to the requirements of the credentialing process, these programs confirm to potential residents or fellows their commitment to providing quality learning experiences by meeting established criteria. Additionally, completion of the credentialing process is an affirmation to the public at large of the Programs commitment to the protection of the consumer of physical therapy.

More Info: Jewish Home for the Elderly clinical Residency in Geriatrics

Mar-08-2009
Alzheimer's Disease and Exercise:Evidence & Anecdotes

Download CSM 2009 presentation slides for Alzheimer's Disease and Exercise: Evidence & Anecdotes

More Info: Download Slides PDF

Dec-30-2008
Certified Exercise Expert for Aging Adults (CEEAA) Course Series

Certified Exercise Expert for Aging Adults (CEEAA) Course Series Three courses necessary to qualify for CEEAA (offered in western, eastern, and central locations in the US)

Background and Description

Evidence for the benefits of effective exercise programs for the full spectrum of aging adults is overwhelmingly positive. The unique role of the physical therapist in providing these programs is unequivocal. Further education can enhance the ability of physical therapists to incorporate evidence into practice in order to appropriately examine and provide the quality of exercise that will yield optimal benefits for the aging adult. The Section on Geriatrics, in adopting the position that physical therapists should be the exercise experts for aging adults, will be a leader in providing physical therapists with a mechanism to develop and demonstrate expertise in the design and delivery of effective exercise programs for aging adults.

All PTs with the CEEAA credential will demonstrate expert clinical decision-making skills in (1) designing and applying an effective examination and exercise prescription and (2) measuring the effectiveness and reflecting the current evidence of exercise for all aging adults. The process to attain the credential of “Certified Exercise Expert for Aging Adults” is to complete formal didactic education, and to participate in supervised and mentored skills development, home-based reflection, and critical thinking. Three courses of two days each will address three different and increasingly complex aspects of exercise design and delivery. The three courses are designed to build on each other; however, Courses 1 and 2 can be taken out of sequence.

Exercise Certification Series Course 1: Introduction and Examination (Tests and Measures) This course will cover the anatomical and physiological changes that occur with aging, including disease and disability, and the effects of inactivity on these changes. The best tests and measures for the examination of aging adults will be detailed, and participants will perform each test and measure throughout the course.

Exercise Certification Series Course 2: Exercise Prescription and Consensus Guidelines This course will cover the beneficial responses to exercise for several body systems. The principles for safe and effective exercise for the aging adult will be addressed. Participants will be able to provide an exercise prescription for the aging adult, including training for aerobic conditioning/ endurance; balance, coordination, and agility; flexibility; gait and locomotion; and muscle strength, power, and endurance. Practice sessions will be incorporated into the course.

Exercise Certification Series Course 3: Special Populations, Complementary Exercises, Motivation, Drug and Nutritional Considerations, and Marketing This course will provide information on exercise for special populations (eg, those with cancer, diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, osteoporosis, arthritis). Barriers to effective exercise prescription and motivational strategies for overcoming these barriers will be discussed. The effects of medications commonly used by aging adults and their effects on exercise performance will be reviewed. Nutritional screening and requirements for the exercising aging adult will be provided. Complementary exercises will be discussed including aquatics, tai chi, yoga, and Pilates. Participants will have the opportunity to perform some of the complementary exercises. Discussion of equipment needs, marketing, and reimbursement will facilitate participants’ ability to provide programs in their own clinical settings.

There will be a home-based examination for Courses 1 and 2. A skills test for the content of the first two courses will be preformed on-site during Course 3. If a participant does not achieve a passing grade on the skills test, they will be given the opportunity to retake the examination prior to the completion of Course 3. Following completion of all three courses, there will be a final, comprehensive, home-based examination. All home-based assessments must be completed within six weeks of taking the related course. A participant must achieve minimum criteria in both the skills and didactic assessments to progress to the next level; however, a person can elect to take a course without being tested.

Course series faculty (two instructors for each course, schedule to be determined):

• Marilyn Moffat, PT, DPT, PhD, FAPTA, CSCS
• Karen Kemmis, PT, DPT, MS, CDE
• Mark Richards, PT, MS
• Jill Heitzman, PT, DPT, GCS, FCCWS

More Info: Full CEEAA Information Here