Beyond Vision 2020: A Proposed New Vision for the Physical Therapy Profession

IntroductionIn June 2009, the House of Delegates (HOD) of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) passed a major revision of the APTA Code of Ethics for physical therapists and the Standards of Ethical Conduct for the Physical Therapist Assistant. The revised documents will be effective July 1, 2010.PurposeThe purposes of this article are: (1) to provide a historical, professional, and theoretical context for this important revision; (2) to describe the 4-year revision process; (3) to examine major features of the documents; and (4) to discuss the significance of the revisions from the perspective of the maturation of physical therapy as a doctoring profession.Process of RevisionThe process for revision is delineated within the context of history and the Bylaws of APTA.Format, Structure, and Content of Revised Core Ethics DocumentsThe revised documents represent a significant change in format, level of detail, and scope of application. Previous APTA Codes of Ethics and Standards of Ethical Conduct for the Physical Therapist Assistant have delineated very broad general principles, with specific obligations spelled out in the Ethics and Judicial Committee's Guide for Professional Conduct and Guide for Conduct of the Physical Therapist Assistant. In contrast to the current documents, the revised documents address all 5 roles of the physical therapist, delineate ethical obligations in organizational and business contexts, and align with the tenets of Vision 2020.SignificanceThe significance of this revision is discussed within historical parameters, the implications for physical therapists and physical therapist assistants, the maturation of the profession, societal accountability and moral community, potential regulatory implications, and the inclusive and deliberative process of moral dialogue by which changes were developed, revised, and approved.

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Face Into the Storm

Physical Therapy ◽

10.2522/ptj.2012.mcmillan.lecture ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 92 (9) ◽

pp. 1221-1229 ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

Alan M. Jette

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Physical Therapy ◽

Access To Health Care ◽

Health Care Services ◽

Physical Therapists ◽

Vision 2020 ◽

Demographic Shift ◽

Health Care Environment ◽

Critical System ◽

Effective Health Care

America is about to experience a demographic shift of enormous magnitude: increasing longevity, declining fertility, and the aging of the baby boomers, which are triggering an enormous “age wave.” We are facing the challenge of limited access to health care services by millions of our citizens, and unsustainable cost escalation. In response, health care is changing fundamentally. In the 2012 McMillan Lecture, Jette discusses 3 critical “system skills” that physical therapists must develop to practice successfully in a changing health care environment. First, therapists must become interested in data. Second, they must become skilled in the ability to devise solutions for the system problems that data and experience uncover. Third, the physical therapy profession must develop the ability to implement at scale—the ability to get therapists along the entire chain of care functioning in concert, in collaboration. Jette discusses the American Physical Therapy Association's Vision 2020 as it relates to these challenges and the degree to which he believes physical therapists are equipped with the system skills needed to function within effective health care systems to identify what works in physical therapy, for what conditions, under what circumstances, and at what cost. Jette articulates a revised vision for physical therapy that includes being a leader in teaching systems skills to practice successfully in interconnected heath care teams; being a recognized national leader in implementing evidence-based strategies; using standardized collection, analysis, and dissemination of intervention and outcomes data as a regular part of practice to determine what interventions best improve the health of individuals and society; and being a profession that is a central player in devising, evaluating, and implementing cost-effective health care innovations for communities as well as for individuals.

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DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY – A NEW HORIZON TOWARDS ADVANCEMENT IN PHYSICAL THERAPY

Pakistan Journal of Rehabilitation ◽

10.36283/pjr.zu.3.2/001 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 3 (2) ◽

pp. 1

Author(s):

Dr. Nabiha Ahmed

Keyword(s):

Physical Therapy ◽

Medical Science ◽

Bachelor's Degree ◽

Physical Therapy Education ◽

Vision 2020 ◽

Rehabilitation Team ◽

Doctor Of Physical Therapy ◽

Doctor Of Philosophy ◽

American Physical ◽

Therapy Education

Physical therapy is on the rise as it is among the flourishing disciplines of medical science and is an integral part of a Rehabilitation team. It is an independent health care profession that deals in identifying and optimizing quality of life within the spheres of promotion, prevention, treatment and restoration. The need of Physical Therapy education in Pakistan was acknowledged back in 1950’s, when a 2 years diploma was started which over the years advanced into a Bachelor’s degree. Later, this degree was upgraded to 5 years Doctor of Physical Therapy in order to meet the International standard following the “Vision 2020 of American Physical Therapy Association”.

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Opportunities for Regenerative Rehabilitation and Advanced Technologies in Physical Therapy: Perspective From Academia

Physical Therapy ◽

10.2522/ptj.20150057 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 96 (4) ◽

pp. 550-557 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Ryan Norland ◽

Matthew Muchnick ◽

Zachary Harmon ◽

Tiffany Chin ◽

Rumit Singh Kakar

Keyword(s):

Physical Therapy ◽

Clinical Training ◽

Online Survey ◽

Physical Therapists ◽

Medical Knowledge ◽

Vision 2020 ◽

Cell Therapies ◽

Doctor Of Physical Therapy ◽

Rehabilitation Concepts ◽

American Physical

As rehabilitation specialists, physical therapists must continue to stay current with advances in technologies to provide appropriate rehabilitation protocols, improve patient outcomes, and be the preferred clinician of choice. To accomplish this vision, the physical therapy profession must begin to develop a culture of lifelong learning at the early stages of education and clinical training in order to embrace cutting-edge advancements such as stem cell therapies, tissue engineering, and robotics, to name a few. The purposes of this article are: (1) to provide a current perspective on faculty and graduate student awareness of regenerative rehabilitation concepts and (2) to advocate for increased integration of these emerging technologies within the doctor of physical therapy (DPT) curriculum. An online survey was designed to gauge awareness of principles in regenerative rehabilitation and to determine whether the topic was included and assessed in doctoral curricula. The survey yielded 1,006 responses from 82 DPT programs nationwide and indicated a disconnect in familiarity with the term “regenerative rehabilitation” and awareness of the inclusion of this material in the curriculum. To resolve this disconnect, the framework of the curriculum can be used to integrate new material via guest lecturers, interdisciplinary partnerships, and research opportunities. Successfully mentoring a generation of clinicians and rehabilitation scientists who incorporate new medical knowledge and technology into their own clinical and research practice depends greatly on sharing the responsibility among graduate students, professors, the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), and DPT programs. Creating an interdisciplinary culture and integrating regenerative medicine and rehabilitation concepts into the curriculum will cultivate individuals who will be advocates for interprofessional behaviors and will ensure that the profession meets the goals stated in APTA Vision 2020.

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