July 2, 2009
On Tuesday, June 30, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) and the Federal Coordinating Council for Comparative
Effectiveness Research released their recommendations on comparative
effectiveness research priorities that should be funded by the $1.1
billion made available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
(ARRA). I am pleased to report that many of the priorities outlined by
IOM and the council include research that will draw conclusions about
physical therapy intervention as compared with pharmaceutical and
medical management.
The IOM has recommended that comparative effectiveness research
evaluate the effectiveness of prevention methods (exercise and balance)
vs clinical treatments for falls risk; treatment strategies for low back
pain; school based interventions, including physical education, on
childhood obesity; long term effectiveness of weight bearing exercise
and bisphosphonates on osteoporosis; treatment strategies, including
physical therapy, on cervical disc and neck pain; and various quality
improvement strategies on rehabilitation services for diverse
populations. The council's report cites the need for studies to
"investigate the comparative effectiveness of rehabilitation
interventions to restore or maintain functioning or minimize its loss,"
including physical therapy interventions.
APTA is carefully reviewing the reports and will provide members in
the coming days with a detailed summary of the recommendations. We
expect to find that APTA's priorities, which were outlined to the
council in April, have been considered in the council's report to
Congress.
As we stated to the council earlier this year, "Comparative
effectiveness research will contribute to a high quality health care
delivery system and improve the health of the nation." It is our hope
that the funds provided in ARRA will go toward research that results in
optimal care to those patients we serve.
APTA President R. Scott Ward, PT, PhD