Every professional organization should have a vision statement to inspire its individual members. The APTA’s new Vision 2020 statement is no exception. When I read the information on the APTA’s website addressing our profession’s vision statement “Transforming society by optimizing movement to improve the human experience” it was just words (Vision Statement for the Physical Therapy Profession and Guiding Principles to Achieve the Vision, 2015, para.2). I then watched and listened to California delegate, Terrence M. Nordstrom, PT, EdD, in the Video: APTA Adopts a New Vision (2013) and I realized I have come full circle in achieving this vision personally. I originally became interested in physical therapy as a profession at a very young age
…show more content…
Part of the vision is the concept of physical therapists moving more into the community which is also part of social responsibility as one of APTA’s core values (APTA, 2012). To build on this vision, physical therapists need to move past looking at the shoulder or knee injury from the traditional medical model of treating a patient, and more toward how it is impacting their daily movement and functioning at home, school, work or recreation (Hayhurst, 2014). The physical therapists in the school system have already moved away from this medical model given the environment in which we work. However, the school staff relies on therapists for medical and clinical expertise. The only interaction with physicians is to sign a plan of care if the individual therapist is billing Medicaid for a student’s therapy services which are carried out through a fax …show more content…
Frequently, at festivals chiropractors or massage therapists have a booth promoting their profession with spinal assessments or a chair massage, respectively. A physical therapist is the practitioner of choice for evaluating and managing the movement system across the lifespan (Vision Statement for the Physical Therapy Profession and Guiding Principles to Achieve the Vision, 2015). This therapist is frequently out in the community with students whether at academically or at job sites. Out in the community, I am often mistaken for a teacher because of the required ID badge worn. It may be a small part, but when one inquires the role I play in the school system, I take the time to educate them as to the role of the physical therapist. I support the students in participating and accessing their educational setting which includes the
Part of the vision is the concept of physical therapists moving more into the community which is also part of social responsibility as one of APTA’s core values (APTA, 2012). To build on this vision, physical therapists need to move past looking at the shoulder or knee injury from the traditional medical model of treating a patient, and more toward how it is impacting their daily movement and functioning at home, school, work or recreation (Hayhurst, 2014). The physical therapists in the school system have already moved away from this medical model given the environment in which we work. However, the school staff relies on therapists for medical and clinical expertise. The only interaction with physicians is to sign a plan of care if the individual therapist is billing Medicaid for a student’s therapy services which are carried out through a fax …show more content…
Frequently, at festivals chiropractors or massage therapists have a booth promoting their profession with spinal assessments or a chair massage, respectively. A physical therapist is the practitioner of choice for evaluating and managing the movement system across the lifespan (Vision Statement for the Physical Therapy Profession and Guiding Principles to Achieve the Vision, 2015). This therapist is frequently out in the community with students whether at academically or at job sites. Out in the community, I am often mistaken for a teacher because of the required ID badge worn. It may be a small part, but when one inquires the role I play in the school system, I take the time to educate them as to the role of the physical therapist. I support the students in participating and accessing their educational setting which includes the