Ron, Thanks for highlighting the PT scope of practice issue in your newsletter. This year alone we expect scope of practice legislation in Alabama, Indiana, Kansas, Mississippi, New Jersey, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, Wisconsin, Vermont and the Virgin Islands. Action in other states is anticipated.
The argument being made by many state OT associations and AOTA is that the expansion of the scope of practice of physical therapy to place new emphasis on functional training in self care and in home, community and work reintegration should clarify that the primary focus of physical therapy intervention is on physical movement and mobility. Many health professions promote or facilitate "functional independence" through their interventions with consumers. The term "function" has many meanings. Physical therapists have traditionally focused on motor impairments and related functional limitations, with an approach to intervention based on therapeutic exercise. Occupational therapists assess all dimensions of the patient's functional skills---physical, cognitive, sensorimotor, and psychosocial--- and use purposeful activity or interventions to maximize an individuual's level of independence within the context of the patient's home, work, and community environment. AOTA believes that it is important to clarify the distinct role of each profession in state practice acts. A profession's domain or scope of practice is based on the components of the scope being included historically in educational preparation and clinical application within the profession. Expansion of the physical therapy scope of practice to place new emphasis on functional training in self care and on home, community and work reintegration should clarify that the primary focus of physical therapy intervention is on physical movement and mobility Additional dimensions of function which are addressed integrally as a part of occupational therapy education, training and practice, such as cognition, perception and context, are not a focus of physical therapy preparation. AOTA is committed to monitoring this issue in the states and working with state OT associations. By the way, if any OT list members practice in the Virgin Islands please let me know as there is one of these bills pending before the VI legislature. Chuck *********��*********** Unsubscribe? Send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] In the message's *body*, put the following text: unsubscribe OTlist ** List messages are archived at: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected] *********��***********
