Attend APTA's first ever online Virtual Career Fair on Tuesday, April 9, 1:00 pm-4:00 pm ET. This live, online event is a great way for you to engage directly with top employers about their current and future physical therapy opportunities. 

Participate in the Virtual Career Fair for as long as you wish, chatting 1-on-1 with recruiters to discuss your background and experience, and their current and future career opportunities.   

Space is limited, so register now at www.brazenconnect.com/event/apta_virtual_career_fair. 

APTA members have just a few days to register for the Innovation Summit: Collaborative Care Models. Don't miss the opportunity to be a part of this groundbreaking virtual event that will bring together physical therapists, other health care providers, large health systems, and policy makers to discuss the current and future role of physical therapy in integrated models of care.

Interested in attending the summit with your colleagues? Eight APTA chapters and 26 members are hosting viewing parties. Go to www.apta.org/InnovationSummit/ViewingParties/ to find out if there's one near you.

For more information and to register, visit the Innovation Summit webpage.

Be a part of this important time in the history of your profession and join us April 14-16 for the 2013 Federal Advocacy Forum. At the event, you will hear from decision makers on Capitol Hill, learn to effectively communicate with your elected officials, receive an update on the legislative and regulatory issues affecting the physical therapy profession, and lobby your members of Congress on behalf of your profession. Registration closes on March 22, so register online today and bring your voice to Capitol Hill on behalf of your profession.

The programming for the 2013 Federal Advocacy Forum will begin on Sunday, April 14, with an evening reception. Monday, April 15, will be dedicated to advocacy programming and preparation for your hill visits. The event will conclude with the opportunity for you to take your message directly to your members of Congress on April 16.

The number of CEUs earned for this event is pending. To claim CEU credit, you must attend the live event and complete the online posttest with at least 70% accuracy. The online posttest will be available on APTA's Learning Center.

For a full agenda and more information, visit www.apta.org/FederalForum. APTA encourages you to get the word out to your friends and colleagues and bring someone with you to the event.

Look for a special e-mail today from APTA that includes important information about sequestration and other time-sensitive issues that have a significant impact on physical therapists (PTs). Included in the e-mail is a new video featuring APTA President Paul A. Rockar Jr, PT, DPT, MS, outlining 2013 policy implementation dates that PTs need to know and how they can support APTA's advocacy efforts.

For more information, go to APTA's recently updated 2013 Medicare Changes webpage, which includes the video, a new graphic and Heard on the Hill podcast, and other resources to help members comply with the latest policy requirements.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) recently released a final rule reforming its universal service support program for health care. Specifically, the rule transitions FCC's existing Internet Access and Rural Health Care Pilot programs into a new Healthcare Connect Fund. This fund will expand health care provider access to broadband, especially in rural areas, and encourage the creation of state and regional broadband health care networks.

In the rule, FCC notes that "Whether it is used for transmitting electronic health records, sending X-rays, MRIs, and CAT scans to specialists at a distant hospital, or for video conferencing for telemedicine or training, access to broadband for medical providers saves lives while lowering health care costs and improving patient experiences." In particular, FCC acknowledges the role of telemedicine in helping patients with stroke avoid lasting damage.

The final rule also includes examples of how telehealth applications save health care providers money. For example, a South Carolina provider consortium funded by the Commission's Rural Health Care Pilot Program saved $18 million in Medicaid costs through telepsychiatry provided at hospital emergency rooms. Another pilot project in the Midwest saved $1.2 million in patient transport costs after establishing an electronic intensive care unit program, known as "e-ICU."

APTA will post a summary of the rule in the near future to www.apta.org.

Four physical therapists (PTs) from the Michigan Chapter presented posters at the Clinical Trial Awareness Day held at the state capitol on January 30. This inaugural event, sponsored by state Rep Gail Haines (43rd District), chair of the House Health Policy Committee, aimed to educate citizens about the clinical trials taking place in Michigan and encourage lawmakers to create a research-friendly environment. More than 20 research participants represented the state's major universities and hospitals. The PTs spoke with many state representatives and senators on the importance of medical research and how physical therapy contributes to the advancement of patient care. 

In her opening remarks, Hines noted that there are more than 3,400 clinical trials under way in Michigan.

(Left to right) Cathy Larson, PT, PhD, University of Michigan Flint; Susan Talley, PT, DPT, C/NDT, Wayne State University; Michael Shoemaker, PT, DPT, PhD, GCS, Grand Valley State University; and Lucinda Pfalzer, PT, PhD, FAPTA, University of Michigan Flint.