Advocacy and event updates

APTA CT Newsletter

March 2022

APTA CT President Message

Dear members,

I decided to mix it up a bit this month and write you all a note. First and foremost, Happy Spring Time! I find that this time of year brings new life and energy levels, and after the past few years and the continued stressors and being on the brink of burn out, if you’re not already there, a breath of fresh air and outdoor adventures is the best cure all. There are many things going on this time of year within our chapter component, regional groups, northeast caucus and Nationally. I’ll take a few moments to highlight some of the things we have going on, but encourage you to read through the newsletter and see if anything interests you!

First, it’s national elections season and our very own Chris Petrosino is running for Board of Directors. It’s a very competitive slate, but Chris brings a wealth of knowledge and experience from all different areas of Physical Therapy including academia, industrial health, and being a former member of Nominating Committee for APTA. We wish Chris the very best of luck and regardless of the outcome, are extremely proud of his strong representation of Connecticut.

Next, it’s time to sign up to play a round of golf at Keney Park on July 21^st. Our Public Policy Committee is hosting this fundraising event to help with our lobbying efforts. Now more than ever, we need to support our lobbying efforts, from telehealth, to Compact, to payment strategies, our voice on the hill matters. Your voice matters. If you’re frustrated with the way things have been going for our profession, then there are multiple ways to get involved, but the easiest, is to get a team of four players together and join us! Share your thoughts and opinions with our Public Policy Committee today and get involved, network, and enjoy a great game no matter what your skill level!

The APTA released our Strategic Plan for the next three years. Many of which continue to focus on health inequities, inclusion, robust research and most importantly collaboration. As a sign of their efforts for communication and collaboration myself and Jim Leahy, attend quarterly Strategic Planning meetings. We talk about things like increased transparency of data and data sharing and better alignment between the academies and components. There’s been some great discussions and efforts so far, and if you have any ideas please feel free to share them with me, as the platform is there to implement a change.

Finally, our annual conference and meeting will be in person this year at the University of Hartford on October 22^nd. The request for proposal portal is open! Please consider sharing your knowledge with your colleagues and our very active students. Awards and Scholarships will also be opening shortly.

I could keep writing about all the things that we have going on, but your leaders have shared it all in this amazing newsletter! Please let me know if you prefer this format or my quick videos! Oh and, recruit some more members! Our numbers are holding strong but there’s always room for more!

Be Well and stay Active!

Stefanie Bourassa DPT, CSCS

President, APTA CT

SIG Updates

Neurology SIG:

Offered CSM Debrief on April 27th. Neurodegenerative Diseases and Aging was reviewed by Dhimitri Stojko, SPT at UConn and Movement System Task Analysis by Laura Simaitis of Quinnipiac University.
Neuro SIG will be engaging in a community outreach program on Sat May 7th with the American Parkinson Disease Association during their annual Optimism Walk. We will be starting off the walk with a warm-up and also running a fall risk screening for people with PD.

Geriatric SIG:

In February, Karen Blood hosted a journal club on the use of reminiscence therapy for our patients/clients with dementia.
Janine Hatch hosted our April journal club on the use of backwards walking speed as an outcome measure for our more active, community dwelling older adults.
We are working with the Neuro SIG to put together a night to review the new Parkinson's CPG.
We also have 3 members working on submitting 2 proposals for the fall conference.

The DEI committee members have participated in local and national recruitment efforts that target underrepresented populations.

Most recently in April, members participated in a virtual fair to provide student and faculty perspectives to high school students interested in PT.

Additionally, this summer, members will be collaborating with ConnCAP (Connecticut Collegiate Awareness and Preparation Program) to bring increased awareness and interest in PT. ConnCAP's overall purpose is to get more minority and economically disadvantaged high school students prepared and motivated to attend college and succeed there.

Residencies

CT is fortunate to have several Residency Programs

Hartford Healthcare and University of Hartford Orthopaedic
Jewish Senior Services Geriatrics
Live Every Day Orthopaedic and Neurology
Physical Therapy and Sports Medicine Centers Orthopaedic
Sacred Heart University Orthopaedic

Click here for a brochure and contacts for all programs compiled by the Student SIG

Upcoming Events

Registration is open

After a long absence, the APTA CT is excited to announce the return of the annual APTA CT golf classic. Hosted at the historic Keney Park course, located in Hartford and Windsor, we look forward to an excellent day of golf while we reconnect with old friends and meet new ones. If the past is any indication of success, this will be one of the biggest events of the year.

Great Sponsorships available.

The theme for our conference this year is Moving Forward.

As we come back together as colleagues, we look to refresh as a profession and as professionals.

Educational presentation proposal submission deadline is extended to June 10

Submit a presentation proposal

LAMP Leadership 101

June 25 and 26

MCPHS, Worcester MA

Early Bird Rates end June 1

Click on this graphic to be directed to a collaborative continuing education and SIG calendar with our surrounding states. Everyone invited.

Updates

NEW: Clinical Practice Guidelines were published. Wonderful ongoing support of Evidence Based Practice.

Physical Therapist Management of Parkinson Disease: A Clinical Practice Guideline From the American Physical Therapy Association (PTJ: Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation Journal)
Physical Therapist Management of Patients With Suspected or Confirmed Osteoporosis: A Clinical Practice Guideline From the Academy of Geriatric Physical Therapy.

Click here for a summary of these guidelines

WORKFORCE DIVERSITY: On March 10, 2022, Senators Patty Murray (D-WA) and Richard Burr, (R-NC) unveiled a new legislative package known a known as the PREVENT Pandemics Act (S. 3799). This sweeping bill aims to modernize the country’s pandemic response, to include increasing federal and state preparedness, improving epidemiologic data collection, accelerating research and development, and improving the medical supply chain.
SISP: On March 24, 2022, U.S. Representatives Marie Newman (IL-03), Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01) and Susan Wild (PA-07) introduced the Growing, Recruiting, and Obtaining Workers in Specialized Instructional Support Personnel Services (GROW SISPS) Act (H.R. 7219) as part of an effort to ensure students receive the individualized support they need to succeed in the classroom.
LONG COVID: On April 6, 2022, the Targeting Resources for Equitable Access to Treatment for Long COVID (TREAT Long COVID) Act was introduced in the U.S House by Reps. Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Don Beyer (VA-08) and Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), and in the Senate by Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA), Tammy Duckworh (D-IL) and Edward Markey (D-MA).
PTAs: On April 6, 2022, Rep. Bobby Rush (D-IL) sent a “Dear Colleague” to his House colleagues requesting their support and signature on a letter to the House Appropriations Committee on the current PTA/OTA direct supervision requirement under Medicare.

For more details and links to these - click here

The APTA CT Public Policy Committee continues to socialize its plans to add imaging to our practice act.
We have also been working with CONNOTA as they are in the mist of updating their practice act.
We continue to plan on working on adding PT to an interstate compact in the off season and next legislative session.

For more information on these initiatives, click here

Pictures from the Yardgoats game.

Plans are in the works to do this again on September 10

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