Why You Need to Join the APTA (Full Version)

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jlharris -> Why You Need to Join the APTA (January 20, 2008 4:33:51 PM)

Duffy has a great post going on why they are not members of the APTA.  I did not want to hijack their thread but felt it important to "try" to communicate the reasons why we need to be members of the APTA.  Here goes:

1.  At the very least it's your professional duty.  Sorry, like it or not, the APTA is the ONLY organization that is doing anything to push a PT agenda at the national level.  I've been slightly admonished for not wanting to pay hundreds of dollars to multiple journals to keep my practice "evidence based" (Post title "A proposal") but not joining our professional association and then wondering why Chiros, ATC's, MT's, etc continue to encroach and limit our scope from the outside is baffling.

2.  State Chapters:  I agree it seems at the national level the APTA in out of touch with the "average" run-of-the-mill OP ortho PT.  State chapters, however, are directly impacted by you one voice.  You get to vote or run for leadership, and change can happen much quicker.  Again, complaining about leadership but not throwing you vote in or running for a leadership position just doesn't make sense.  Yes, this is the "get involved" argument. But it is true.  Worrying that the current leaderships "vision" is unclear makes no sense.  "Getting involved" is taking YOUR VISION to others.

3.  Direct access - change happens through legislation, not word of mouth.  Taking students, giving talks at senior centers, and taping ankles at soccer tournaments aren’t going to get us true direct access.  Money and a (generally) unified voice will.  Don't kid yourself.  Our Nebraska chapter is just finishing up on rewriting our state practice act and struggled mightily against the Chiros, AMA (Orthos specifically) and the school district (they were charging PT for students using paraprofessionals which would have been eliminated in the new act) despite having one of the nations highest % of APTA memberships.  Reason doesn't matter, money and lobbying does.  In the end we retained direct access by omission and manipulation by calling it Grade V mobilization (although the backstabbing Chiros - who agreed to this language in drafting - are systematically fighting it at each stage of the maturation of the new practice act.  Currently it is with the drafting of regulations based on the practice act).

4.  Support of research - While I don't feel the PTJ is a great source of research directly applicable to practice behavior, JOSPT is and many of the brightest manual therapy researchers in PT right now publish in JOSPT, contribute to enlightening editorials, and receive research grants from the APTA to continue their high level research directly because of your dues.  Most of us love the Manipulation CPR but indirectly turn our backs on the researchers by refusing to support the organization that if providing them with many of their research dollars.

I don't mean to shame anyone into thinking they need to join, but part of being a "professional" and not just a technical trade is support of our professional organization.  This can be as little as just paying your dues or as great as contributing intellect, time, and resources to lead our profession at a district, state, or national level.



SJBird55 -> RE: Why You Need to Join the APTA (January 20, 2008 5:39:23 PM)

1.  It's not anyone's professional duty to be a member of the APTA.  Non-members can be just as professional as members.  It is not a duty to be a member.   http://www.apta.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Home&Template=/CM/HTMLDisplay.cfm&ContentID=24781

2.  There is a group of physical therapists in New Jersey that have broken away from the NJPTA because of differing opinions and the lack of the state and national organizations to support their ideas.  (This is just my personal opinion - I know nothing of the details, but a society doesn't just become a society unless there was strong disagreement.)  That group seems quite professional and seems to be forward thinking.  http://njsipt.com/index.php 

3.  With regard to the state chapters... there is no reason to put forth any effort if it appears that those in power have a poor game plan OR can't communicate a game plan.  Failure is sure to occur and there is no reason to put forth effort in a sinking ship effort.  Often times those in positions do not bail on their ideas/venture when the outcome will be poor.  Often times they are not open to a different strategy because they are highly focused on the failing path being undertaken.  There is a book out there that discusses "dips."  There is no shame in cutting and bailing when the outcome is going to be crap.  At the same time, here in MI, I'll have to agree with what one of the posters suggested about all the women.  I spoke up at our spring meeting last year and those in power don't want to hear any comments that are not in line with their thought processes.  They all want everything nice and friendly and want to disseminate information versus being proactive and creating change.  I had a couple of males present come up to me afterwards and commend me for my viewpoints.  Your state chapter will have its own PT-PAC.  Non-members can support legislative endeavors by financially contributing - money is money, right?  I'm sure most states would have something on their chapter site, for Michigan:  https://www.orbromart.com/mpta/legislation_pacform.html 

4.  One does not have to be a member to support the research of others.  The Foundation will gladly accept checks from non-members.  A check is a check.  If one wants to support via a credit card payment, that is acceptable also - member or non-member.   
http://www.apta.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Make_a_Donation&Template=/TaggedPage/TaggedPageDisplay.cfm&TPLID=105&ContentID=29140


Jason, all of your points seem to be "guilting" in nature. 

Reality is that the only reason anyone joins or supports any organization or association is because 1) it seems like the right thing to do or 2) the benefits of being a member or 3) the commonality of all the members to such a degree that the mission/efforts are desirable by all. 

One would hope that with being a member valuable benefits would be extended to the member to such a degree that the member is better off being a member than being isolated from the membership.  That is where the APTA fails.  I can go about doing what I do day in and day out and whether I am a member or not a member does not truly impact me.  The information that I do value from the APTA and from the various sections, in particular with the dissemination of information that is required for me to practice within rules and regulations, can be found via other routes just as quickly with the information being just as accurate.  The internet is a fabulous tool that makes practicing and staying current much easier than 10-15 years ago.  The APTA hasn't provided enough to really make anyone need to be a member.  When those of us who pay our dues because we hope discontinue our loyalty, where will the APTA be?



jlharris -> RE: Why You Need to Join the APTA (January 20, 2008 11:53:31 PM)

It's hard for me to understand the viewpoint of "I don't seem to be able to do anything so I'm not going to even try".  The importance of being part of one's profession group was started with me in PT school.  We were ALL student members of the APTA.  We ALL had to attend district and state meetings and allowance were made in our schedule to do so.  Our student organization had a small voice in the state chapter and we were taught how to use that.

I haven't come across a classmate that works in Nebraska that doesn't have their dues paid for by their employer.  I guess I'm on the "good" end of how the APTA can work because it's emphasized and made a priority from day one.  Not sure how other PT schools look at it.

In regards to the NJ organization.  I do not have any knowledge of the good or possible bad they've done by doing that.  Question is:  Is that the model we all follow?  If you don't like the direction your state organization is going, don't change it but quit and form your own group?  What does that give us?  50+ individual groups all lobbying for their own wants and needs but not able to form one voice for the importance of the wants and need of our profession in general?  Chiros and ATC will love that.  Easier for them.

quote:

With regard to the state chapters... there is no reason to put forth any effort if it appears that those in power have a poor game plan OR can't communicate a game plan.


Do the chapter leaders get voted into a term for life?  Sure it may suck for a year, but that's what elections are for.  If you or the person that carries your voice cannot get elected then it is either a case of your voice does not coincide with the overall membership or you didn't do anything to let the membership know what you hope to change because you didn't communicate your game plan.  It's easy to blame the system.  Even in Nebraska where we have a very high membership rate, the last election only had 2 or 3 challengers to the incumbents.  When that's the case, no one can complain about the way the chapter is heading because they did nothing to make a change.

To your last point, my opinion that the benefits of a professional organization are proportional to the effort the members put into it.  If the majority of the members just sign up and sit back and wait for benefits to fall into their laps, they'll be sorely disappointed.  Example again is our state practice act.  We have kept direct access and the right to practice what we were trained in PT school (eg spinal manipulation) because when needed the membership called their representatives, contributed more money, used contacts, and agreed upon a unified voice. 

quote:

..I can go about doing what I do day in and day out and whether I am a member or not a member does not truly impact me.



See, that's the problem.  Being a part of a professional organization - different from a club - is that it is not about YOU but the profession.  You join in order to help the profession move and evolve.  It's corny, but Kennedy's "ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country" is a great quote for my argument.  We tend to look and scoff at the APTA because it isn't "doing" anything for us.  That's not the point.  The organization is there for us to "do" something for our profession.  By turning your back on it, you eliminate the single biggest way to help our profession as a whole - while, admittedly you may be do ok yourself.



T_Thom -> RE: Why You Need to Join the APTA (January 21, 2008 2:01:47 AM)

I have been an APTA member since 2001. Even though I do not agree with everything the organization does, they are really all we have. No other organization out there is defending our practice act; and really members and non-members alike reap benefits of their work. 

Splitting into 2-organizations (like NJ) does not seem like a very efficient way to go. It’s the right hand fighting with the left, with piranhas at our heels.

When it comes to reasons for not belonging, ask yourself, how important is your career to you? Do you have usurpers eyeing your practice, or another PTs practice? I like to think of myself as a capable person, but there is certainly more power in organized numbers. Personally, this is the most important investment I make every year. The APTA is our union (but at a far smaller cost than traditional union dues!)



SJBird55 -> RE: Why You Need to Join the APTA (January 21, 2008 8:03:16 AM)

See, I disagree with your view of the split.  If an organization isn't going or doing anything to support members, then something has to change.  Split off and make what you want to happen actually happen OR attempt to make it happen.  One can only hit a brick wall so many times.... If an issue is an issue both want to tackle, then I would assume they could join efforts.  The left and right hands aren't fighting because I would assume that nothing was occurring or being down by the NJPTA, hence the society was created to get crap done.  You can't be going against an organization if the organization isn't doing anything.

Jason, I never said that I wasn't going to do anything or I wasn't going to try... The amount of time and energy one tries is important to consider.  The reaction to the attempt is important to consider.  Sometimes one can easily get the flavor of whether becoming involved is worth it or not.  The "culture" of an organization can't easily be changed.  I tend to think we have a "cultural" issue as a whole in the organization.  There isn't a bottom line highly focused amount of energy being directed to what really matters to the bulk of us in the trenches with a focus on keeping our profession proactive, strong and alive.  One can't change a culture of wishy-washy, try to keep everyone happy with a focus on the minority that must be squeaking the loudest.  I'm hoping the new CEO can create a new, proactive culture with a focus on the majority.

And, yes, Jason, it IS about me... I am the profession, along with many other physical therapists. 



T_Thom -> RE: Why You Need to Join the APTA (January 21, 2008 11:30:05 AM)

Personally, I would rather see a coalition of clinical PTs uniting to take on the APTA to identify issues ‘in the trenches’ and devise solutions, rather than spending capitol creating two bureaucracies. AAOMPT seems to be rather successful at getting messages through to the APTA.
Emergency medicine had a split of professional organizations; I only know vague details on the history and end result. Maybe we could learn from the actions of other professional groups like this?



jesspt -> RE: Why You Need to Join the APTA (January 21, 2008 11:48:10 AM)

"...I tend to think we have a "cultural" issue as a whole in the organization.  There isn't a bottom line highly focused amount of energy being directed to what really matters to the bulk of us in the trenches with a focus on keeping our profession proactive, strong and alive."

SJ,

If there is a disconnect between the product the APTA produces and what the average PT wants, what is it you think the typical PT wants out of their organization? I think that it is quite different from what you're describing.  I think many PTs want cheap dues, peroid. They care little about moving the profession forward and the energy they're directing is probably coming out of an ultrasound head or e-stim machine so they can meet that productivity standard their employer has put in place.



jma -> RE: Why You Need to Join the APTA (January 21, 2008 11:48:16 AM)

I found this interesting about the group in NJ. Many of their members are APTA members as well. Taken from a link from their website:

"That should not, however, be seen as a criticism of the APTA, Mailly emphasized. In fact, 93 percent of NJSIPT members are also members of APTA. Mailly himself is a past director of the New Jersey chapter."



Sebastian Asselbergs -> RE: Why You Need to Join the APTA (January 21, 2008 5:14:02 PM)

Coming from a Canadian (member of the CPA) - I really believe that an organisation that is mired in issues NOT important to one's own, can only be changed by pressure. That may come from an individual, an organised group of like-minded people, or by trowing everything into "working from the inside" (meaning: run for a position at tha national level).

Yes, there is a ivory tower aspect to national associations, but it is the ONLY national body that is recognised by the other big players: government, insurance, Comp etc etc.  There IS strength in numbers when an association can boast to the various other "players" that it represents a majority of the professionals. The higher the # of members, the stronger the position. 

Now, on order for an association to be strong: those becoming a member need to be like SJ - have an opinion, think, argue, propose ideas, send it in, etc etc. Have a voice. Don't sit back and wait for "them" to do "it".  An association can only function as a strong entity when it has strong and involved members.

Back to lurking



ptdan23 -> RE: Why You Need to Join the APTA (January 21, 2008 7:05:36 PM)

I think instead of talking about how we can divide up we should concentrate on using our collective power to push forward agendas that are pertinent to us as PT & PTA's.  We are the ones who elect those who run the APTA.  If you feel they are not doing what you think they should then show that through the voting process and in between through being active in activities of the organization, writing or making phone calls, etc.  I have been a member of the APTA since school.  I felt it was that important that despite wanting to use that money for pizza and beer I joined our professional association.  I am dumbfound by the number of individuals that cite cost.  How many times have you eaten out, how many movies have you rented, etc?  For some of you saying that if you made your profession and livelihood a priority then you would not use cost as an excuse. 
Do I think the APTA can do more?  Sure - I think this is the same for any organization.  But I am getting involved and make my voice heard when I feel the need.  I think those that make excuses for not joining our professional organization are the same ones who are content with "shake and bake" treatments and the status quo of us as PT's taking "orders" from MD's.  If the profession is to move forward we need to move away from that line of thinking.  For those of you that are involved in the profession and not a member that I have no problem with (I think SJ is an example).  But those who just sit back and complain and don't do anything about it are the ones who are contributing to holding the profession back.
I apologize if I am rambling but I am trying to get this done before my next patient arrives.
Dan



SJBird55 -> RE: Why You Need to Join the APTA (January 21, 2008 7:22:31 PM)

Psst.. Dan, I'm a member.  :)  I have full rights to complain.  :) 

And another Psst... my voice can't be heard any longer within the HPA section because
1) the president of the HPA doesn't listen to me (he's also from MI and he and I don't see eye to eye - he's okay with status quo and I'm not)
and 2) the president of the HPA is the same person who moderates the listserve and has me "moderated" - meaning, nothing I post will ever show up unless he believes the post fits his agenda and what he believes to be relevant - his nice, easy excuse is that I can't be trusted because I failed to use my full name, credentials and location (although he wields his power unfairly and allows others to post without all the details... hmmm...)

On another note, the CEO again attempted to contact me and left a message for me to contact him.  I returned his call.  (edit - and left a voice message.  I think next time I'll just state my name and then "tag, you're it!" LMAO)



ptdan23 -> RE: Why You Need to Join the APTA (January 21, 2008 7:39:30 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: SJBird55

Psst.. Dan, I'm a member.  :)  I have full rights to complain.  :) 

And another Psst... my voice can't be heard any longer within the HPA section because
1) the president of the HPA doesn't listen to me (he's also from MI and he and I don't see eye to eye - he's okay with status quo and I'm not)
and 2) the president of the HPA is the same person who moderates the listserve and has me "moderated" - meaning, nothing I post will ever show up unless he believes the post fits his agenda and what he believes to be relevant - his nice, easy excuse is that I can't be trusted because I failed to use my full name, credentials and location (although he wields his power unfairly and allows others to post without all the details... hmmm...)

On another note, the CEO again attempted to contact me and left a message for me to contact him.  I returned his call.


I apologize SJ...I do now remember reading that you are a member.  I guess that does give you full rights :)

I can imagine that you are frustrating in your dealings w/ the HPA section.  It is disappointing to see people that are in that position not listening to section members even if it does not agree with their opinion.

Hopefully you get somewhere with the phone call w/ the CEO.

Dan



SJBird55 -> RE: Why You Need to Join the APTA (January 21, 2008 7:57:21 PM)

Jess, what do typical members want from the organization?  Where do you want me to begin?  Firstly - reimbursement should either increase or at least stay status quo.  How is it that there isn't ever a fight for an increase in reimbursement?  (And I'm not just talking Medicare.)  Secondly - why do we not own the CPT codes for our professional services?  Thirdly - why do we not have an educational code - sure, there IS an educational code, but the requirements to use that code to not generally apply to the type and level of education we provided.  Fourthly - why did the association not take the Virginia Mason Medical Center information and dig into it and run with it?  Fifthly - do the ICD-9 codes truly reflect what we are treating?  Could there be a better system in place?  Sixthly - the fee schedule system for reimbursement sucks.  Why isn't the APTA highly involved with brainstorming a win-win system for payors, patients AND providers?  Seventhly - physical therapy and physical therapists aren't "new" to the world - why don't consumers know what the heck we do?  Eighthly - Why are shake and bakes AND mills allowed to stay in existence? pssttt... tags right in wtih #7.  Consumers don't know quality from crap.



T_Thom -> RE: Why You Need to Join the APTA (January 21, 2008 11:52:36 PM)

Amen, SJ.
I can't agree with your points more (nodding while reading is giving me a headache!) I think if this IS what the APTA addressed, we would see an increase in trench-membership. What about a grass-root initiative to confront these important issues?



ptdan23 -> RE: Why You Need to Join the APTA (January 22, 2008 11:38:11 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: SJBird55

Jess, what do typical members want from the organization?  Where do you want me to begin?  Firstly - reimbursement should either increase or at least stay status quo.  How is it that there isn't ever a fight for an increase in reimbursement?  (And I'm not just talking Medicare.)  Secondly - why do we not own the CPT codes for our professional services?  Thirdly - why do we not have an educational code - sure, there IS an educational code, but the requirements to use that code to not generally apply to the type and level of education we provided.  Fourthly - why did the association not take the Virginia Mason Medical Center information and dig into it and run with it?  Fifthly - do the ICD-9 codes truly reflect what we are treating?  Could there be a better system in place?  Sixthly - the fee schedule system for reimbursement sucks.  Why isn't the APTA highly involved with brainstorming a win-win system for payors, patients AND providers?  Seventhly - physical therapy and physical therapists aren't "new" to the world - why don't consumers know what the heck we do?  Eighthly - Why are shake and bakes AND mills allowed to stay in existence? pssttt... tags right in wtih #7.  Consumers don't know quality from crap.


SJ...you definitey make some very good points.  I agree with you on every single one and they should definitely be made a priority by us and our professional organization(s).
Dan



jlharris -> RE: Why You Need to Join the APTA (January 22, 2008 11:48:11 AM)

From the APTA:

"The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) is pleased to announce the launch
of the Strategic Thinking and Planning (STP) Initiative.
The STP Initiative is designed to enhance APTA’s ability to think and plan in a more
strategic fashion. The STP Initiative includes three major components:

1. Development of a comprehensive strategic plan,
2. A review of APTA’s governance system, and
3. Board and staff development.
------------------------------
Development of a Comprehensive Strategic Plan

The development of a comprehensive strategic plan will include the creation of specific
goals and objectives for the Association. The strategic plan will inform our decisionmaking,
help us to achieve the goals of Vision 2020 and allow us to better provide
products, services and representation to the members of APTA. The strategic plan will
not sit on a shelf… it will be regularly revisited and updated as needed through an active
and annual process.

The process for developing the strategic plan will be inclusive and will involve the active
participation of multiple key stakeholders, including:
- The membership at large,
- Component leaders,
- The House of Delegates,
- The Board of Directors, and
- APTA staff.

The APTA strategic plan will build on the past successes of the Association while
preparing us to meet the challenges and opportunities of the future in the context of a
strategic framework.

The initial plan will be completed this spring and presented at the annual meeting for
review and feedback by component leaders and delegates. It will then be implemented
and will continue to be updated and improved annually to meet our future needs.
Review of APTA’s Governance System

The governance review will be a “soup-to-nuts” review of all the governance systems at
APTA. A simpler, more nimble, more transparent, and more efficient Association will be
the goal of this review. It will include an evaluation of the Association’s bylaws and
policies, the Board of Directors, the House of Delegates, our committee/advisory panel
system, and other elements of APTA’s governance. The question we will ask ourselves
is “How do we build a governance system for APTA’s future so that it will support the
goals of the strategic plan?”

As with the strategic plan, the process for the governance review will be inclusive and
will involve the active participation of the multiple key stakeholders mentioned above,
including APTA members, component leaders, and the House of Delegates as
representatives of the membership at large.

The governance review will begin with a presentation to the 2008 House of Delegates.
Any changes that are suggested and supported by the comprehensive review will return
to the Board of Directors and the House of Delegates for review and approval, as
required by current bylaws.

Board and Staff Development

Beginning January 2008, the Board of Directors and APTA staff will kick-off a process to
determine how to be more effective and efficient as a Board-staff team working on
behalf of the members of the Association. This will include an examination of the role
and time commitment of the Board, the role of staff, the processes used by the Board to
conduct its business, and communication between the Board and staff. The Board and
Staff Development process will be an ongoing part of all future Board meetings.
------------------------------
The three elements of the STP Initiative all have a common goal: To make the
American Physical Therapy Association a more relevant, effective and efficient
organization that offers indispensable value to its members."

Maybe we'll get some true change at the top to help those with "stuck in a rut" state chapters make some headway.



orthotherapist -> RE: Why You Need to Join the APTA (January 22, 2008 11:48:34 AM)

SJ for President



jesspt -> RE: Why You Need to Join the APTA (January 22, 2008 12:14:16 PM)

SJ -
I'd argue that you (and many readers and posters on this and other blogs) do not make up the typical APTA member, and perhaps not the typical physical therapy practitioner.



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