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International Direct Access Summit Highlights
International Summit Reaches Agreement: Patient Self-Referral to
Physical Therapy Improves Public Health
Leaders from 18 countries who attended the International
Summit on Direct Access and Advanced Scope of Practice October
22-24, 2009, endorsed the results of research that demonstrate that
patient self-referral to physical therapy is best for all health
systems, whether public or private. The Summit was co-hosted by APTA,
the World Confederation for Physical Therapy (WCPT), and the Canadian
Physiotherapy Association (CPA).

Alice Aiken, PT, PhD, president of CPA, moderated the Advanced Scope of
Practice symposium. |

Summit participants had the opportunity to ask presenters questions
following each symposium and panel discussion. |

Breakout sessions allowed participants to delve into the issues of
direct access, advanced scope of practice, and policy development and
implementation. |

Jonathon Kruger, BPhty, MPH, from the Australian Physiotherapy
Association, spoke on policy leadership and development and its
influence on direct access and advanced scope of practice. |

In her keynote address, Marilyn Moffat, PT, DPT, PhD, FAPTA, provided an
overview of the global epidemics of obesity and diabetes. |

Scheduled breaks allowed participants to attended poster viewing
sessions on both Friday and Saturday. |

More than 30 PTs, researchers, and policy experts moderated and
presented at the inaugural event. |

From left are: Molly Verrier, Dip PT/OT, MHSc; Brenda Myers, secretary
general of WCPT; Lesley Holdsworth, PT, DPT, PhD, FCSP; Ina Diener, PT,
PhD; and Ilse Swinkels, PhD. |
[Last updated: 10/28/09 | Contact: advocacy@apta.org]
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