RE: Changing designation from PT to DPT for everyone in AZ

[Guest guest]

Interesting ideology/rationale presented in the AzPTA newsletter indeed.

However, I would question who, or what, is really the underlying issue at hand;

is it the welfare of the general public, or therapist egos. After reading the

newsletter, I would like to pose the following questions/scenario for this

listserv to think about regarding Arizona's proposal to universally sweep/change

all PT credentials to " DPT " :

If you could clone yourself right now and send one of you away to a t-DPT

program (keep in mind, you will still be working clinically at your job during

the DPT program so there won't be any loss of clinical experience), at the end

of the program, how would you answer or respond to the following questions:

1) With both of you having the same good looks, mannerisms, taste in clothes,

hairdo, prior physical therapy education, years of clinical experience, with

the exception now being that the " DPT you " has expanded knowledge and skills

of evidenced based practice, clinical decision making, and medical sciences, I

would ask, which one of you is more qualified to treat/diagnose the general

public?

2) Would the DPT you feel violated if the non-DPT you was freely awarded the

title " DPT " without having put forth the time, effort, and sacrifice?

3) Would animosity arise between the two of you if the one freely given the

DPT allowed themselves to be addressed as " doctor " ? -- and no, we are not

referring to the abuse of the term to imply one as a physician, but rather, the

legal and justified use of the word " doctor " since it is a doctoral credential.

So, with regard to who (or whom) is better served with a universal sweep to

change all titles to DPT, in light of especially question # 1 above, is it the

general public who is at risk, or our egos.

And by the way, 1) please do not assume I am a t-DPT candidate, and 2) my

questioning is not about " new grad DPT's " vs seasoned veterans with

certificates,

diplomas, bachelors, or master degrees in physical therapy.

Happy thinking!

Babich, MSPT, MS, CSCS

Ancillary Services Program Manager

Ohio State University Medical Center

University Home Care Services

[Guest guest]

Thanks for this link!

I have a couple thoughts:

1. I am not from Arizona so I have ro right to the opinions I express.

2. This was not as much a factual article as it was an infomercial

for the opinions of the writer.

3. Arizona has an excellent newsletter. I like it. Going to send

it to land to see if we/ they can improve ours!

4. I am not sure how the relationship between AZ and the national

chapter is, and what happens if a component goes in one direction

that is not the direction of the national professional association.

5. Case studies, single episodes, and anecdotal issues should never

produce enough evidence to change law.

6. To answer your question, this is more of an ego issue than an

issue of consumer protection. The issue is so emotional, at so many

levels and on so many different fronts.

- Simonetti, PT, DPT

Yep the DPT me tried to answer the question for the non DPT me that I

used to be.

Have a great day!

Interesting ideology/rationale presented in the AzPTA newsletter

indeed.

> However, I would question who, or what, is really the underlying

issue at hand;

> is it the welfare of the general public, or therapist egos.

[Guest guest]

Jim and group-

Wow.

I'm not a PT, let alone a DPT. But maybe my outside look is valuable too.

Setting aside personal biases against the " mandatory " DPT for PTs by 2020,

I'd be a bit shocked if the AOTA " gave " me a doctorate in OT without the

work. I'm not sure I understand the state's stance on why the change is

needed. Changing the name without having people do the work doesn't seem

like it elevates the PT profession in that state, but rather weaken it.

Didn't the Germans try to just print more money when they ran out of it

around WWI? It only ruined the economy...supply and demand still has some

value right?

Jim- I was out in AZ for OT work in 1998. I loved it. Cheaper than NYS,

and MUCH better weather. Imagine my PT buddies from here just paying the

moving costs and money for AZ licensure...and voila...they're DPTs! Gotta

be cheaper than paying all that tuition!

I think it stinks.

dc

Cormican, OTR/L

Director of Clinical Services

Rehabilitation Services, Inc.

Vestal, NY

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[Guest guest]

I have read this debate with great interest. Having been in private practice

for the last 16 years, I have seen several changes in the field of Physical

Therapy. The rapid transition from the MPT to the DPT has been amazing.

Any Physical Therapist would tell you that, in the real world, the difference

between a PT with a B.S. or M.P.T. was minimal. Therefore as a person with

a B.S., how do I know if there will be a benefit from a " real world "

perspective, in obtaining a DPT.

From talking with some people in the academic world, my understanding is that

the move towards a DPT is not merely a " clout " thing. The move towards the

DPT has more to do with the transition of our profession of Physical Therapy

into autonomous practice as entry points into the health care system. The

Doctor designation gives us equal standing in the public's eyes with other

similar

providers of health care. This strategy is good for the outpatient focus as

Physical Therapy transforms itself. The DPT may not be as important in other

institutional settings.

The " grandfathering " approach in Arizona is good for some, and not for

others. The problem is not a legislative problem it is an ACADEMIC and APTA

problem!

The transitional programs offered by the academic world don't work for many

of us with our Bachelors degrees. There have been no considerations for life

experiences. Some offer CEU credit, however this is not a real indicator of

life experience. I think most good Physical Therapists are willing to pursue a

DPT if there were reasonable programs available that take life experience into

consideration and only require a few necessary courses or projects. What we

need is a credentialing process for those of us without DPT's. A program that

offers some core courses, and identifies certain essential criteria (not

purely academic) to qualify for a DPT.

The problem with this is that the academic world is stuck on itself. The

Universities need to offer excessive work at excessive costs to justify their

existence. There has always been a disconnect between academia and the " real

world " . This is what is causing issues like in Arizona.

We need the APTA and the Academic world to work together and develop a

credentialing process that levels the playing field and keeps some meaning for

the

" D " in DPT. Until then State legislatures will do what is necessary to give

their constituents what they want.

Chad Novasic P.T.

Chad Novasic P.T.

President - P.T. Plus

5605 Washington Ave.

Racine, WI 53406

e-mail: ChadNov@...

Phone:

Web Site: PTPLUS.com

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