Standards to enhance VHA's ability to recruit high
quality PTs
ALEXANDRIA, VA, March 5, 2009 - New qualifications for physical
therapists who work in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) will
help ensure that America's veterans continue to receive the highest
quality rehabilitation for their musculoskeletal and neurological
conditions and other impairments, says the American Physical Therapy
Association (APTA). In recently adopting the Physical Therapists
Qualification Standards, the VHA reaffirms its competitive and clinical
leadership in physical therapy and rehabilitation.
"The approval of these standards will enhance equality among
providers with similar education and will assist the VHA in recruiting
and retaining expert physical therapists," said APTA President R. Scott
Ward, PT, PhD. "In addition, these standards will bring the VHA up to
date in current professional practice in physical therapy by recognizing
the Doctor of Physical Therapy degree and physical therapists who
achieve board certification in a specialty area."
The standards also will allow VA facilities to implement certain
incentives designed to recruit and retain more qualified physical
therapists to provide care for chronic diseases that aging veterans
face, such as diabetes, and injuries sustained by wounded warriors,
including traumatic brain injury, amputation, nerve damage, and
burns.
"We applaud the VHA for acknowledging the important role physical
therapists play in rehabilitating our nation's veterans," Ward said. "We
expect these new standards will encourage more physical therapists to
consider a career with the VA."
Physical therapists are highly-educated, licensed health care
professionals who can help patients reduce pain and improve or restore
mobility - in many cases without expensive surgery or the side effects
of medications. APTA represents more than 70,000 physical therapists,
physical therapist assistants, and students of physical therapy
nationwide. Its purpose is to improve the health and quality of life of
individuals through the advancement of physical therapist practice. In
most states, patients can make an appointment directly with a physical
therapist, without a physician referral. Learn more about conditions
physical therapists can treat and find a physical therapist in your area
at www.moveforwardpt.com.