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JLS_PT_OCS -> Re: www.defendphysicaltherapy.com (March 16, 2005 3:34:00 AM)
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I think it is important to realize that as bad as this situation in Arkansas is, and it is bad, we have our share of the blame for the poor relations between our professions as well.
We as a profession have done our share to attempt to restrict practices of paraprofessionals such as athletic trainers and massage therapists, as well as state PT boards have been known to attempt to limit the chiros practice regarding modality use, and probably rehab as well, I'm not sure.
I think most PTs go through several stages of chiropractic feelings:
1. How could they do that?! I can't stand them! Nonscientific cultish voodoo charlatans!!
2. Well, maybe we contributed to this situation as well.
3. I'd be interested in working with them (not FOR them) maybe they have something to add to my skill list.
4. Doesn't much matter what a chiro does. We don't seem to compete really for the same population of patients, and given our practice scope and established authority in research and practice excellence, it really isn't my concern what they do. Defensive actions to practice scope attacks (such as in AR and also recently in TX) are the only real actions taken regarding DCs. And welcoming with open arms the good DCs (read non-subluxation, musculoskeletal practitioners) to the team of patient care.
I think I am at stage 4 now. A DC was an assistant instructor in my PT program, and he was very nice and a great instructor, knowledgeable and approachable. I just thought chiros were trained like us, but focused on passive care and manipulation and not active rehab. I didn't have a problem with that.
Then I graduated, and learned all about the education and training of DCs and the history of our professions. What a shock for me!
I worked my way through the stages above. I now remain convinced that our professions have far more to gain by calling a cease fire than by fighting each other.
I have come to understand that there are good and bad chiros just as there are good and bad MDs and PTs, and that I should be focusing my efforts on working with individual providers and judging from that, not based on what their credentials say.
We will have some overlap with lots of other professions, and I feel the best way to approach this is to just leave each other alone about it. As long as an athletic trainer or chiro doesn't call what they do "Physical Therapy" it shouldn't be any of our business if they choose to provide rehab services. As long as I don't call my work with athletes and sports teams "Athletic Training" or call my manipulative care "Chiropractic", I don't see how other organizations can tell me how to practice.
I think that all of us non-MD/DO providers have a ways to go yet on unrestricted public access and communicating what we have to offer to the public, and that our organization's money would be better spent that way, than by fighting each other. Especially in PT, where the biggest obstacle to direct access and reimbursement is really physician organizations, not the chiros or the trainers.
I realize not everyone in PT feels this way and that they feel our environment is by nature one of exclusion and limitation of practices, and they choose to fight battles within that system instead of trying to see past it, as I try to do. I'm not sure which is better for us in the long run, and I trust that those in our professional organization are working for us in our best interest.
Sorry for the rant...
J
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