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The Physical Therapy Outcomes Registry: 2019 by the Numbers


In alignment with the APTA strategic plan's objective to elevate the quality of care provided by physical therapists and physical therapist assistants, staff and member experts have been working diligently to improve and grow the Physical Therapy Outcomes Registry. The Registry integrates with electronic health records (EHRs) to help providers easily benchmark patient outcomes, participate in the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS), and improve patient care.

Physical therapists such as Peyton Fandel, PT, DPT, at Columbus Orthopedic Clinic in Mississippi, have used the Registry to better track patient outcomes, identify areas of strength and areas for improvement, and ultimately augment patient care for optimal outcomes. (Read more at #PTTransforms blog, "Notes From the Field: MIPS, Quality Improvement, and the Physical Therapy Outcomes Registry.")

Over the past year, the Registry has achieved some significant milestones and new developments. Here they are, by the numbers:

20 The Registry includes more than 20 measures for MIPS reporting.
3 Participating providers can report MIPS data in all 3 MIPS categories—quality, improvement activities, and promoting interoperability.
15 As of November, 15 EHR vendors are integrated with the Registry.
2017 The Registry has been approved as a qualified clinical data registry (QCDR) by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services since 2017.
50% Physical therapist enrollment has increased by half over the past year.
500,000 The Registry has surpassed over 500,000 patient visits to participating physical therapists.   

 

These achievements are due in part to the Registry's Scientific Advisory Panel (SAP). Christine McDonough, PT, PhD, has assumed the role of director, taking over for James Irrgang, PT, PhD, ATC, FAPTA, who is now a special consultant along with Philip van der Wees, PT, PhD.

Other members of the SAP include: Linda Arslanian, PT, DPT, MS, Gerard Brennan, PT, PhD, FAPTA, Janet Freburger, PT, PhD, Chris Hoekstra, PT, DPT, Jeff Houck, PT, PhD, and Natalie Leland, OTR/L, PhD.

Thanks also to outgoing members Kristin Archer, PT, DPT, PhD, Stephen Hunter, PT, DPT, Michael Johnson, PT, PhD, and Linda Woodhouse, PT, PhD.

December 31, 2019, is the enrollment deadline to qualify for APTA's subsidy program. 


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