As a recent graduate and new physical therapist, I am beginning to look at continuing education courses.  Rather than just take courses that look interesting, I would like to direct my efforts toward a particular subject area in order to set myself apart from other new grads.

I am not really certain which area of physical therapy I would like to specialize in and therefore am having difficulty selecting the appropriate continuing education courses to take.  I am sure I am not the only one having this problem so I began to search for continuing education courses offered.

The first and most obvious spot I started was the APTA.  You can find continuing education information in their learning center by following this link:  http://learningcenter.apta.org/

While looking for more continuing education courses, I came across physicaltherapycontinuingeducation.org.  This site is compiled of a series of interviews of experts in their respective fields on various topics.  I found these quite interesting and informative and thought I would pass along the link to our rehabstudents.com friends.

Another useful tool I found was through rehabedge.com.  Through rehabedge, you can search for continuing education courses by topic, state, format, provider, instructor, or dates.  You can access their site through this link:  http://www.rehabedge.com/Search.aspx.

These are just a few sites I came across in a brief search.  If you have others please by sure to let us know!

In physical therapy school, we were taught the importance of evidence based practice on our profession.  Through this we more effectively serve our patients by providing therapy that is backed by clinical research.  While this is seen to be a crucial part of our profession, there is one question I have regarding this topic.  Why is research that will assist us in serving our patients oftentimes not accessible without paying a subscription fee to a journal or website?  I came across this question while conducting research in school.  The most difficult part was not finding the articles; it was finding articles that you could see in their entirety and not just an abstract.  I know these journals want to make money just like everyone else, but some of the subscription fees are borderline ridiculous.  Through the APTA’s journal you can access full articles from 1980 through one year prior to the current date absolutely FREE.  For access to the last 12 months of articles, you have to be a member of the APTA of which you should be anyway.  As for accessing other journals, many of the colleges you attend have included in their tuition free access to numerous electronic journals. Be sure and use the resources provided by your schools while they are available.  I have already used them on numerous occasions while on clinicals and will continue to find and print other articles for my own personal archive until I graduate and this resource is no longer available.

Congressional Action is Needed to Prevent Cuts to Medicare/TRICARE

For the last several years, APTA has invested considerable effort in pushing Congress to change the statutory formula that imposes cuts in Medicare and TRICARE payments to physical therapists each year.

Congress has responded with a series of one-year fixes and in 2010, a series of one-month and two-month fixes.

The Continuing Extension Act of 2010, enacted on April 15, 2010, extended the 2009 payment rates with a zero percent update to the 2010 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) through May 31, 2010.

Without Congressional action, payments will be cut by 21.29% on June 1, 2010. Read the full story

The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) has endorsed MEDebt Solutions, a comprehensive personal and education finance resource from Education Association Services (EAS) Group LLC.

MEDebt Solutions provides APTA members personalized education and finance information, tools, strategies, counsel, options, and solutions to successful decision-making in managing student loans and consumer debt.

“Understanding debt, making it affordable, and protecting assets, is a prime requisite for physical therapists and physical therapist assistants, perhaps second only to obtaining a degree,” remarked APTA President R. Scott Ward, PT, PhD. “Many physical therapy students are currently looking at principal loan balances that exceed three to four times their gross income for their first postgraduate job. It was incumbent upon us to help our members fund their educational dreams.”

APTA and EAS have collaborated since 2002 to help thousands of physical therapy students obtain and consolidate student loans, as well as receive financial education and money/debt management information, tools, and resources.

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1.  APTA gives you access to valuable member benefits at significantly reduced rates both while you are in school and when you are working clinically after graduation.

As a member, you’ll have the tools and resources you need as you begin your education and career – all at a discount of at least 40% off nonmember prices. Your APTA membership entitles you to BIG savings on professional development resources, like the Guide to Physical Therapist Practice, Second Edition, The Primer on Measurement and Writing Case Reports. And, of course, members get special discounts on registration for conferences and seminars too.

That’s not all! APTA members save more than $25 on the exclusive "First Hand: The Basic Evaluation Kit for Students of Physical Therapy" – designed especially for you! This kit – a "must have" for all students of physical therapy – contains the most frequently used instruments that you’ll need for your clinical education.

2.  APTA student members save even more money with Career Starter Dues.

Your student APTA membership entitles you to future savings on APTA membership the first two years after you graduate. When you renew your APTA membership within 120 days graduation, you pay only one-third dues your first year and two-thirds dues your second year with Career Starter Dues. That’s worth between $186 and $490 to you in your first two years as a professional!

3. APTA keeps you up to date about new trends and hot topics through the Web site, Fax- on-Demand service, PT Bulletin Online, PT Magazine and Physical Therapy Journal.

"Members-only" documents give you the information you need to stay one step ahead! APTA is your best – and most trusted – source for the latest information on physical therapy practice, trends and issues.

4. As an APTA member, you’ll own the Code of Ethics and will have pledged to abide by it.

It’s a pledge you can be proud of because it holds you to a higher standard of practice than nonmembers – something your employers will respect!

5. APTA’s online career center includes detailed "members-only" information on emerging practice areas – areas worth exploring as you begin your job search.

And, you’ll find valuable tips on resume writing, interviewing, and negotiating too! Finding your first job will be much easier with APTA on your side!

6. APTA membership demonstrates your pride and dedication to the physical therapy profession to potential employers – and it gives you an edge over the competition as you begin your job hunt.

When you join APTA, you’re clearly demonstrating your commitment to your profession…and that’s one commitment that employers all over the country will recognize.

7. APTA is your one stop for answers to your physical therapy questions.

APTA is your best source for up-to-the-minute information on professional issues and concerns. One click onto www.apta.org gives you access to a wealth of information – much of which is "members-only." Visit APTA’s award-winning website as your 24-hour-a-day connection to the information and research you need as you study – most of which isn’t even in your textbooks yet.

And as an APTA member, you’ll have access to the Student Assembly’s website at www.aptastudent.org, too. Visit now and visit often for quick access to APTA for all of your questions about physical therapy.

8. APTA gives you opportunities to interact with and learn from colleagues from across the United States.

Whether you attend local or national meetings or participate in "members-only" bulletin boards on the internet, you’ll meet others who may help shape your career. You’ll make new friends and lifelong contacts when you join APTA, and you’ll have a chance to share your ideas with other students at chapter and district meetings…at APTA’s national conferences..at the always-popular National Student Conclave – the only national meeting for students of physical therapy.

9. APTA helps you focus on your interests.

Maybe you’ve already discovered an area of special interest in physical therapy. APTA’s 19 specialty sections give you the chance to develop a greater understanding of particular areas – and to meet and interact with professionals who share your interests.

10. APTA helps you build your leadership skills.

Your involvement in APTA activities as a student can be the start of something big. It’s a great way to learn about the issues affecting the profession, meet experts in the field, develop leadership skills, and become active in making a difference for physical therapy.

The Student Assembly is your voice in the Association. Through the Assembly, you’ll have the opportunity to take an active role in APTA while developing your leadership skills and increasing your peer network. It’s never too soon to begin building your professional reputation!

11. You’ll gain access to high-quality insurance plans and financial programs that have been reviewed by a committee of APTA members to ensure ongoing quality.

Take advantage of the following insurance plans: accident, auto, dental, life, professional liability, short-term medical, and student injury and sickness. And, as a member, you can also benefit from such financial programs as the Personal Credit Card Program, Distinctive Check Program, Investment and Retirement Planning Program and Student Loan Program.

12. You’ll join forces with more than 65,000 other physical therapy professionals to protect the future of the physical therapy profession. The more members APTA represents, the brighter your future will be.

APTA is the voice of the profession. It actively representing the physical therapy profession on Capitol Hill, in state legislatures, and with regulators. APTA is dedicated to advancing physical therapy practice, research, and education.