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Why is APTA membership so low?
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Why is APTA membership so low? - August 15, 2005 5:42:00 PM
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Nef
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From: Brooklyn, NY
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I've seen a few threads which mention the low membership and participation of physical therapists within the APTA yet none explaining why that is. How is it that 90% of CRNA's are involved and the AMA is so powerful yet the APTA isn't? Does it deal with poor organizaton or handling or what? (I don't know much about its history so pardon that).
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Re: Why is APTA membership so low? - August 16, 2005 3:12:00 AM
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tucker
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From: Texas
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Good question...From talking with non-members at work, they are not members due to the high membership fee. I just renewed last month and it was $435. They told me that they would join if membership was less than $250. They did not give me another reason, simply it's too expensive.
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Re: Why is APTA membership so low? - August 16, 2005 3:18:00 AM
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Diane
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From: Vancouver, B.C., Canada
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$435? That's a bargain!
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Re: Why is APTA membership so low? - August 16, 2005 4:00:00 AM
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jma
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Yes, the majority of people I talked to said that the price was quite high. However, at work, we are required to be a member. Fortunately, we are reimbursed for this.
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Re: Why is APTA membership so low? - August 16, 2005 4:45:00 AM
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PTupdate.com
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My experience from talking about this with others, practicing for 14 years, and even some personal reasons are as follows:
1. Cost. Let's face it, PT's can be the cheapest people on earth. The fact that our salaries have not really changed much since I started practicing, yet taxes and cost of living have, the price of the membership takes a much bigger chunk out of take home pay than it used to.
2.Consider the fact that pay has NOT really increased, yet reimbursement has stayed pretty much the same (but we have to work much much harder to get that same buck), and so many PT practices and companies are owned/run by PT's, and I look at it like we are just destroying our own profession.
3. Not many people really feel like the association does anything for them. They see their profession getting chipped away on all sides, yet never see the quality of protection that other associations tend to have.
4. PT apathy....too many think they graduated with all the knowledge they need, so why waste time reading some new journals that cost all that $$$?
John Duffy, PT OCS
[URL=http://www.PTupdate.com]www.PTupdate.com[/URL]
_____________________________
John M. Duffy, PT
Board Certified Orthopaedic Clinical Specialist
www.PTupdate.com
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Re: Why is APTA membership so low? - August 16, 2005 5:05:00 AM
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AllenB
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Is this price not consistent with other similar professions such as speech therapy, OT, Physicians, respiratory therapy? They all have their organizations. Does anyone know how their membership numbers look?
When I moved to Memphis three months ago I wanted to find a job as a PT Tech before I started PT school at UT. I was aware of the APTA so I went to their website to search for PTs and clinics. I was at first happy to see the "Find a PT" button on the website so I entered my zip code and to also search for 10 miles surrounding my zip code. I was expecting several dozen names and/or clinics to pop up....all I got was 11. I would assume there's more APTA members in Memphis and it's possible they just don't have their information on the website. If so, why wouldn't you have your information listed? For all I know, there are only 11 members. Anyway, the yellow pages became my source for looking up PT clinics.
I'm not usually one to just complain about a problem and forget about it so I plan on joining my state PTA once school begins and learn about these issues and how we can improve our profession. It would be great if more would do the same but I'm sure that becomes more difficult as we get out and begin to practice.
I think ALL PTs should pay up for the good of the profession. It's just a little over $36/month.
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Re: Why is APTA membership so low? - August 16, 2005 5:26:00 AM
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Diane
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Without organization that is national in scope and has a few teeth, a profession as a whole cannot move forward. Every PT should join their organization and give it manouverability so that it can take care of/prevent crazy episodes like Arizona. Profile at every level is requisite. The fee amount is small sacrifice to gain freedom.
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Re: Why is APTA membership so low? - August 16, 2005 5:52:00 AM
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PTupdate.com
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You are very right about this Diane, as we will get crushed without some type or representation. It's just when the representation does not appear to be doing an effective job, along with other factors, membership will suffer.
Basically, the membership rate sucks, and it's up to the APTA to figure out why and make a correction. They cannot have the arrogant stance, similar to the Catholic church, that they will do what they want and how they want it, and you better like it and stay a member.
If there was another association that did meet the needs better, I'd join that one instead.
Duffy
_____________________________
John M. Duffy, PT
Board Certified Orthopaedic Clinical Specialist
www.PTupdate.com
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Re: Why is APTA membership so low? - August 16, 2005 6:07:00 AM
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coloradojulie
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I think if you felt like being a member gave you something back...then more would be members (I am a member)...Meaning beyond discounted courses and merchanidise, what tangible benefits are available?
Free journals, reductions in insurance, free job listings etc. I think we would see a jump in membership if when you joined there was a significantly greater advantage to being a member than not. Right now, I don't think PTs see that. Even as a member you have to pay, although a reduced rate, for everything.
I am only a member because I may want to get politically involved, and you have to be a member for a minimum of two years before you can do that! That's bogus too.
Diane, correct me if I am wrong, but being a member of the Canadian association provided benefits like free journals, discounted dues etc.
_____________________________
PRC
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Re: Why is APTA membership so low? - August 16, 2005 6:40:00 AM
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Diane
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Julie,
Free journal subscription, discounted fees for courses, access to teleconferences on various topics educational and political, discounted costs for malpractice insurance. A sense of being a functioning and supporting and responsible member of one's "tribe". An opportunity to have a say in the direction of the profession. Access to help if you want to do a survey about something/start a special interest group.
I'm sure I've overlooked lots of things. The main reason for joining IMO is not for cheaper this or discounted that, but to move the profession on. If you aren't part of the solution you are part of the problem, in any human endeavor.
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Re: Why is APTA membership so low? - August 16, 2005 6:47:00 AM
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MinnDasota
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From: NYC
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I was always wondering this same question. I remember talking about the APTA (in a good way) in one of my PT school interviews and the interviewer/PT faculty quickly interjected and said that the students in her program would highly diagree and debate what good it's doing (her students believe the APTA is very disorganized and lacks the support it needs in the PT community....btw, I think they are all student members pushing for better representation/organization). Being an applicant/potential student at the time, I didn't realize this sentiment and I was very suprised. Now as I read more posts, talk to PT's, and read the literature, I see in bits and pieces what everyone's "gripe" is with the PT governing body (cost, lack of benefits, not enough done to govern the profession, etc). No wonder there are those crazy episodes in AZ, etc. Without a good and firm organization governing us (and PT's not supportive of them), how can we ever agree state-by-state or nationally of what physical therapy entails without other physical medicine professions knocking on the door and calling it their own? I, like most everyone else, believe vision 2020 is a great thing. However, if we do want autonomy and hopefully higher salaries, we do need a more organized governing body with better cost-benefits. At the same time, we have to get PT's to believe that things will get better and support what is going on.
As with all my opinions on this forum, I am still just a student and am still learning what's going on. So please excuse me in advance if I might be a little naive at the moment. I plan to be an active member when all is said and done, but until then, I have high hopes for the future!
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Re: Why is APTA membership so low? - August 16, 2005 7:15:00 AM
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Jon Newman
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Belonging to any professional organization has its pluses and minuses. A patient of mine who happened to be a psychologist said to me once, "you always do what you want to the most". I would add, "and justify that decision consciously at a later time point".
Those who feel that the APTA doesn't do much for PT would have a difficult time strongly defending that position.
jon
_____________________________
[URL=http://www.sonymusic.com/clips/selection/30/064887/064887_03_03_30.wav]Evidence[/URL]
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Re: Why is APTA membership so low? - August 16, 2005 8:19:00 AM
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Sebastian Asselbergs
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I second Diane's post fully. Yes, it is not everything to everybody, but it IS a professional representation on a national level of our profession. it has more political clout with more members, more insurance discounts, more clout on the PR side (more members= more advertising dollars). And if it doesn't work the way you like it, you can change it.....from within. Or not. That happens to be the same as in society. As you can guess, I feel strongly about using one's vote in elections too!!
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Mundi vult decipi
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Re: Why is APTA membership so low? - August 16, 2005 9:45:00 AM
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back bonz
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Correct me if I am wrong, but I think membership dues should be lower to get more people in...Wouldnt it be better to have (for example only) 10000 people paying 10 dollars instead of 2500 people paying 40 dollars, same amount of money coming in...bigger membership numbers gives more clout, I would think...but I know it is more complicated than that.
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Re: Why is APTA membership so low? - August 16, 2005 9:51:00 AM
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curio
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One of the things that amazes me is how apathetic people can be about what puts food on their table. This is our profession..while I dont harangue ( did I spell that right? :) ) my co-workers who are not members of the APTA, I do try to emphasize its importance.
-"what does the APTA do for me?" common question...I just say..well what the heck are you doing for your profession...if you cant spend the money...lobby...do something! Man-if we all could get one person to join the APTA....and so-on...we could achieve so much more..and protect our profession.
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Re: Why is APTA membership so low? - August 16, 2005 9:55:00 AM
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Diane
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From: Vancouver, B.C., Canada
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I don't know what annual fees are for other professions, I think they are higher. In Canada annual fees for PT including CPA, special interest groups, provincial associations and the college, all together are something like around a thousand. Still a bargain at twice the price IMO. Four or 5 hundred is no big deal for the return for the profession in terms of visibility. Legislative doors push open with pressure from the weakest baby finger if your profession is well organized. In fact that's the only way they will open. It has to stay voluntary or the effect is diminished, but because it's voluntary is definitely not a reason to not join and lend your share of support for the furtherment of this profession legislatively.
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Re: Why is APTA membership so low? - August 16, 2005 10:58:00 AM
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Andrew M. Ball PT PhD
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This is the topic of my PhD dissertation.
ABSTRACT:
Background and Purpose. In 2002, 34% of licensed physical therapists were members of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA). This study was designed to measure the magnitude to which variability in dues price accounted for variability in membership percentage, as well as to identify non-price and price-related factors contributing to non-membership. Subjects and Methods. This study consisted of economic analysis of physical therapist membership and semi-structured interview of 12 APTA non-member physical therapists. Results. Economic analysis suggested that price accounted for nine percent of the reason that non-members choose not to be members. Qualitative analysis suggested that non-members perceived several specific non-price factors as contributing to their non-membership. The high price of dues was often cited as the primary reason for non-membership, but upon further questioning, clarified as price-related family priorities. Discussion and Conclusion. Economic analysis did not support the belief that price is the primary limiting factor to APTA membership. Price-related priorities ranging from family/children, home-ownership, and business start-up, were often mentioned as personal needs superseding professional membership. Models of section-only membership were both financially feasible, and found universal appeal among study participants.
A few things to consider:
Lowering dues would impact APTA operating budget.
Although roughly 90% of non-members site the high price of membership as the primary reason that they are not members, economic modeling analysis defines price to be no more than 9% of the reason that non-members do not join.
DISCUSSION:
Economic analysis revealed that although upon survey non-members may have claimed “cost” as the primary reason for their non-membership which was interpreted by previous researchers as financial cost, or “price2”; non-price and price-related variables (often family priorities) appear to have a much more significant impact upon non-membership. As such, any price reduction in membership dues without addressing the membership access desires common to professional women may, not have the desired effect upon improvement of national membership percentage.
APTA non-member physicals therapists describe extensive specialty specific informal networks that serve their continuing education, clinical problem solving, and professional networking needs. Because non-members perceive these informal networks as serving most of their day-to-day needs, most APTA non-members perceive national and state membership (which is a required pre-requisite to section membership that they seek), as a poor dollar-value. Non-members are receiving the APTA member benefits that are important to them without actually joining the association (and thereby increasing national membership percentage). The impact of taking steps to discourage the formation of, and/or replace the functions of, informal networks should be thoroughly explored by future research.
As every study participant responded enthusiastically, if not simply favorably, to the idea of “section-only” APTA membership or “section-first” APTA membership for $179 with the option of adding-on national and/or state membership, it can be concluded that non-members perceive value in the added benefits (e.g. improved organization and efficiency for local section-specific issues, access to section-specific journals, access to section-specific clinical problem-solving through the section listservs, and national networking) of APTA organization and oversight of section-specific informal networks. According to the qualitative study, $179 section-only or section-first membership (with the understanding that a portion of individual dues fees would have gone to support state and national activities), would have yielded 100% national membership saturation. This number, however, is not generalizable from 12 individuals, and as such, the financial effects of 80% membership saturation under the condition of section-only/section-first membership, was calculated . At 80% membership saturation, the APTA would became an organization more representative of licensed physical therapists and, therefore have both greater financial resources for which to achieve its goals, and greater political strength. Considering that many physical therapists, faculty in particular, could be expected to purchase either membership in more than just one section, and/or national and state membership, this 19 million dollar figure be considered a low-estimate under section-first membership access reform.
By contrast, alternative proposals for improvement of national membership percentage by rank-and-file non-APTA-member physical therapists focus solely upon reduction of dues price. Using 1996 data, were total dues reduced to $245 per year (the price of annual dues alone), membership percentages could not be calculated to rise above the 48.14%, or 64,154 of the 133,266 physical therapists in the United States at the time (Appendix A). Such a policy would have reduced positive cash flow due to physical therapist membership dues from an estimated $16,444,342 ($346 x 47,527 members) to an estimated $15,717,730 ($245 x 64, 154), and have left the APTA with increased demands of its membership, and fewer financial resources with which to support them.
In addition to the proposed section-only/section-first membership access models, the APTA must consider and explore the possible pejorative effects of employers either never mentioning APTA membership, or worse yet, encouraging membership in other professional organizations. Active recruitment on the part of employers for alternative organizations (such as, as is the case with respect to pediatric physical therapists working in school systems, the state education association) must be recognized and countered by the APTA and/or its sections. Specifically, the APTA must explore the possibility of marketing directly to employers of groups of physical therapists working for non-physical therapist employers (in addition to appealing to the professional responsibility of individual therapists), especially in the case of groups of physical therapists working for a non-physical therapist employer.
Therapists working in exclusive nice specialties reported an employer culture which unintentionally provided incentives for membership in alternative professional organizations. Specifically, as clinical ladders (which are used for performance appraisal and promotion) were implemented clinicians began to place increasing importance upon specialist certification for their own professional advancement. Although the APTA offers specialist certification in orthopedics, pediatrics, neurology, sports medicine, and cardiology; no venue for specialist certification in wound care, hand therapy, or oncology/women’s health currently exists within the APTA. For this reason, some of the most talented and driven physical therapists practicing in exclusive niche specialties, especially those working within an institution with a recently adopted clinical ladder, are being given an unintentional message to join not the APTA, but rather an alternative organization that can meet their specialty certification, and by extension, professional advancement needs in ways not currently available through the APTA. If the talents of these individuals are to be retained and cultivated by the APTA, special considerations must be explored including, for example, the impact of establishment of specialist certification examinations, reduced dues rates for members of physical therapist members of alternative organizations seeking non-APTA specialist certification, and/or establishment of APTA grants that cover the full price of specialist certification in areas not currently available through the APTA.
Finally, the overwhelming majority of non-member physical therapists participating in this pilot study described the APTA and its members as something different than who they themselves were as a physical therapy clinician. Most viewed themselves as clinical artists who would have no place among what they perceive as an organization of evidence-based clinical scientists. Some saw themselves as clinicians who would have no place among the legal/lobby minded. It would seem, therefore, that the APTA could benefit from an ad campaign similar to the one championed by America Online when trying to attract older Americans to the Internet, “There’s no need to be afraid, because the people who are online [e.g. APTA members], are just like you!”
Hope that sparks discussion . . .
_____________________________
Dr. Andrew M. Ball, PT, DPT, Ph.D.
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Re: Why is APTA membership so low? - August 16, 2005 11:26:00 AM
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kragar
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The above study was sponsored by a grant from the APTA...not with grant money, but rather future back scratching and brown nosing.
Wow that is alot to be said for a "semi-structured interview" (does that mean you met at BW3's, got them drunk and tape recorded the convo)...of 12 therapists.
Kidding.
_____________________________
You're my boy Blue!
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Re: Why is APTA membership so low? - August 16, 2005 12:02:00 PM
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dosrinc
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From: Bonita Springs
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Andrew, great post, thanks for the info.
My quick answer was going to be that you can't lower the price of membership (in fact the FPTA just voted to raise state fees) because of the cost per member that, like everything else but reimbursement, continues to go up. Anyone who complains about the APTA "not doing anything for me" should be forced to labor under the $1,500 cap and the 4.5% reimbursement cut that was scheduled to take place in Jan of '05 until the hard working volunteers of the APTA got the cap repealed for another year and assisted in seeing a 1.5% increase in medicare reimbursement instead of the proposed cut. The problem is that these issues don't go away. APTA membership is now at 41%, the cost is little when compared to the cost of NOT JOINING! Chiro's correct me if I am wrong but don't you guys pay over 1k per year with a percentage of that going to a political action comittee that is one of the largest in the medical field? As it is the PT profession has less than 10% of its members doing 100% of the volunteer work to make the profession as strong as it is. What if we ALL participated! If you don't like the way the APTA is run become active and change things. If you would rather have 4 steak dinners out per year with your spouse then I wish you would have picked another profession.
Rick
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Re: Why is APTA membership so low? - August 16, 2005 12:52:00 PM
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dosrinc
Posts: 335
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From: Bonita Springs
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Drew, as I re-read your post it sure seems like you drew an awful lot of conclusions from a very small sample survey. I would suggest that a larger sample taken from individuals in all fields and in all geographical locations would have yeilded quite different results including significantly less interest in specialty section membership or specialty certification. Just my perspective from trying for 14 years to encourage APTA membership.
I knew I had this somewhere:
"Every man owes part of his time and money to the business or industry in which he is engaged. No man has the moral right to withhold his support from an organization that is striving to improve conditions within his sphere"
---Theodore Roosevelt
Thanks,
Rick
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