In the News

President's Message

Posted: April 8, 2021

Know. The. Facts.

I have anxiously awaited the release of the APTA/AOTA jointly funded Therapy Outcomes in Post-Acute Care Settings (TOPS) Study...and it is here! This first-of-its-kind study has been a labor of love for many on the post-acute work group over the last 1-2 years.  This study reviewed data from 1.4 million Medicare cases that CSM made available for the first time.  The TOPS study measured therapy utilization, change in the reported need for assistance with core activities of daily living from the start to the end of a PAC stay, and readmission to an acute care hospital.

According to Dr. Jason Falvey, TOPS has shown “there is a significant potential for harm in cutting therapy aggressively in response to any payment change” that CSM may consider or pursue in the future.  Additionally, Dr. Falvey states, “TOPS shows the value of what we do as PTs and PTAs, not only in improving function, but in reducing readmissions for our patients.”  This is true across a wide variety of patients with neurologic, orthopedic and cardiopulmonary conditions.

“There is value in what we do as PTs that goes beyond exercise.  Home Health therapists practicing at the top of their license can reduce unmet needs of the Medicare patient and promote high quality aging in place.”
– Jason Falvey, PT, DPT, PhD

For more information on TOPS, stay tuned for a series of podcasts that will be coming soon!

I would like to thank Home Health Academy members who have joined me and served as resources and provided feedback to guide this project – Michele Berman, Matt Janes, Cindy Krafft, Bud Langham and Ellen Strunk.  

A tremendous debt of gratitude to Dr. Jason Falvey, for his contributions of time and expertise with the data to provide you, the home health therapist, with useful information.  INFORMATION IS POWER.  Use it wisely.

As always, be vigilant.  Be prepared.  Stay informed.  Get vaccinated. . . .#IAmVaccinated!

Sincerely,

Dee Kornetti
President
APTA Home Health Academy
 

Call for Proposal and Abstract Submissions, CSM 2022

APTA CSM 2022 will be held Feb. 2-5, 2022 in San Antonio, Texas.

The 18 specialty sections of the American Physical Therapy Association invite you to submit a proposal or abstract for the 2022 APTA Combined Sections Meeting, the profession’s leading conference and career-building event of the year.
 
Session Proposal Submission Options:
• Two-hour education sessions.
• One- or two-day preconference courses.
DEADLINE EXTENDED: April 14, 2021
 
Poster presentations: Posted for discussion during an assigned two-hour time slot.
Platform presentations: Oral presentations assigned to a time slot of five to 15 minutes.
DEADLINE: July 19, 2021
 
For more information and to submit, click here.
 

Participate in an Interview About Your Professional Experiences During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Researchers at the University of South Florida School of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences are conducting a study to discover new professional and ethical issues facing physical therapists and physical therapist assistants resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic (STUDY000969). Recruitment for volunteers is focused on those impacted professionally by COVID-19 in both home health and outpatient settings. If you are interested in participating in the study, please see the attached flyer to see if you are eligible. Contact [email protected] if you have questions or would like to participate.

Interviews last about 1 hour and you will receive $25 if you complete the interview.
 

Home Health Care Research

Effects of a 16-Week Multimodal Exercise Program on Physical Performance in Individuals With Dementia: A Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial
Abstract: Dementia affects physical as well as cognitive performance. In individuals with dementia (IWD), decline in physical performance increases with disease progression and is associated with higher functional dependence and decreased quality of life. It is paramount to examine factors that potentially preserve physical performance in IWD, particularly in light of conflicting findings on the effectiveness of physical activity interventions on physical performance of IWD, mainly due to limited number of high-quality studies, large heterogeneity in methods used, or insufficient reporting of methods. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of a 16-week multimodal exercise program (MEP) combining physical and cognitive tasks on physical performance in IWD, and to identify individual characteristics of MEP responders.

 
 

Opportunities Exist in Projected Workforce Demand

APTA's new workforce analysis projects PT supply and demand through 2030. The imbalances offer opportunities for the profession.

What does the physical therapist workforce — both its numbers and its demographics — look like? How is it likely to change over the next 10 years? And why is this important for the profession, for patients, and for society?

APTA set out to address these and other questions in its recently released APTA Physical Therapy Workforce Analysis. Published in December 2020, the association's report explains that by analyzing and forecasting workforce supply and demand, it's possible to identify shortage areas, evaluate employment potential, and bolster advocacy that improves health care delivery.

Click here to read more. 
 
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