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. . . . . S P R I N G 2 0 1 5 , V O L U M E 7 0 , N O . 1

Inside This IssuePRESIDENT’S MESSAGEEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S NOTEBOOKMEMBERSHIP MATTERS PT BOARD OF EXAMINERSDISTRICT NEWSMOTIONSAWARD NOMINATIONSURODYNAMICS

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Nearly 1,000 Attend TPTA Legislative Day

ON FEBRUARY 17TH IN AUSTIN, NEARLY 1,000 PHYSICAL THERAPISTS, PHYSICAL THERAPIST ASSISTANTS, STU-DENTS AND PATIENTS VISITED THEIR ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES TO SUPPORT A HEALTHCARE BILL THAT IM-PACTS THE MILLIONS OF TEXANS WHO SEEK PHYSICAL THERAPY FOR INJURIES AND AILMENTS. HOUSE BILL 1263, SPONSORED BY REP. RICHARD PEÑA RAYMOND OF LAREDO, WOULD ALLOW ACCESS TO PATIENTS SEEKING TREATMENT BY PHYSICAL THERAPISTS.

Currently Texas Law requires a referral from a physician, dentist, chiropractor, podiatrist, physician assistant or advanced nurse practitioner to see a physical therapist. “HB 1263 is about giving patients a choice,” says Michael Connors, PT, DPT, OCS, President of Texas Physical Therapy Association (TPTA) and Professor at the University of North Texas Health Science Center in Ft. Worth. ”Currently 47 other states have a choice to seek out the services of a physical therapist without being directed to do so by a referring provider.” “The whole idea would be able to start patients sooner with physical therapy, closer to their illness or injury so they can get better faster,” says Joan Firra, PT, PhD, who has been a practicing physical therapist in Dallas for more than 60 years. “When you consider how much training physical therapists have, current Texas law is behind the times.” Numerous studies show current Texas law does nothing more than limit a patient’s choice while increasing their wait times and cost. The Coalition of Texans with Disabilities is among the Texas organizations supporting HB 1263. “For those of us in the disability community, having direct access would decrease the time to get in to see a physical therapist,” says Chase Bearden, Director of Advocacy for the Coalition of Texans with Disabilities. “HB 1263 would help make people healthier. We all know that if people can stay healthy, the more cost effective it is in the end.”

View the TPTA Legislative Day Video

By Paul Hardin, CAE Executive Director/CEO

Visit http://www.MyChoicePT.com for more information on HB 1263, and to sign the petition for Patient Access.

Volume 70, Number 1A publication of the

Texas Physical Therapy Associationwww.tpta.org

P U B L I S H E RTexas Physical Therapy Association

E D I TO RPaul Hardin

E D I TO R I A L S TA F FTiffany Downey

For more information, email Tiffany Downey or call (512) 477-1818. Synergy is digitally published quarterly by the Texas Physical Therapy Association, Inc., a chapter of the American Physical Therapy Association, 900 Congress Avenue, Suite 410, Austin, TX 78701, (512) 477-1818. Sub-scriptions at $30 per year are included in the Texas Chapter membership dues. Yearly subscriptions for APTA members are $50 and for non-APTA members are $115.

TPTA does not endorse the products nor services of any of its advertisers or exhibitors.

SYNERGY ADVERTISING RATESA 10% discount is available with prepaid advertising commitment of two to three issues; 15% discount for prepaid commitment of four issues.

DISPLAY ADSAll display ads must be camera-ready. Prepayment and a signed contract are required. (All dimensions are width x height)• $175 for 1/12 Page Ad (2 1/4” x 2 5/16”)• $259 for 1/6 Page Ad (2 1/4” x 4 5/8”)• $391 for 1/3 Page Ad (2 1/4” x 9 1/2” or 4 3/4” x 4 5/8”)• $563 for 1/2 Page Ad (7 1/4” x 4 5/8”)• $777 for 2/3 Page Ad (4 3/4” x 9 1/2”)• $995 for Full Page Ad (7 1/4” x 9 1/2”)To receive a contract or for details on advertising opportunities and deadlines, contact Tiffany Downey at the TPTA chapter office; e-mail tiffany@tpta.org or phone (512) 477-1818. Synergy is a quarterly digi-tal publication.

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Board Of DirectorsPRESIDENT Michael Connors, Fort Worth (michael.connors@att.net)

VICE PRESIDENT Denise Gobert, Austin (d.gobert@alumni.utexas.net)

SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY Lois Stickley, Canyon Lake (lois.stickley@txstate.edu)

SECRETARY Venita Lovelace-Chandler, Garland

(venita.lovelace-chandler@unthsc.edu)

TREASURER Lynne Hughes, San Antonio (lchpt@yahoo.com)

CAPITAL AREA DISTRICT CHAIR Mark Milligan, (cad.apta@gmail.com)

CENTRAL DISTRICT CHAIR Martha Acosta, San Antonio (acostamm@uthscsa.edu)

COASTAL BEND DISTRICT CHAIR Jan Spigner, Corpus Christi (jspigner@delmar.edu)

EAST TEXAS DISTRICT CHAIR Carla Gleaton, Lone Star (cgleaton@kilgore.edu)

GREATER EL PASO DISTRICT CHAIR Bryan Boyea, El Paso (bryanpt1@hotmail.com)

HEART OF TEXAS DISTRICT CHAIRS Kristi Trammell, Clifton (trammell.kristi@gmail.com)

MIDWEST DISTRICT CHAIR Kimberly Mayes, Tuscola (kimmer45@hotmail.com)

NORTH TEXAS DISTRICT CHAIR Meredith Brunette, Plano (meredith.brunette@gmail.com)

PANHANDLE DISTRICT CO-CHAIRS Misty Miller, Canyon (mistymmiller@suddenlink.net)

Marla Ehly, Canyon (mehly1999@yahoo.com)

PERMIAN BASIN DISTRICT CHAIR vacant

SOUTHEASTERN DISTRICT CHAIR Collete Pientok, Houston (cpientok@gmail.com)

SOUTH PLAINS DISTRICT CHAIR Brad Allen, Lubbok (brad.allen@ttuhsc.edu)

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE REP Kristi Trammell, Clifton (trammell.kristi@gmail.com)

CHIEF DELEGATE Michael Geelhoed, San Antonio (geelhoed@uthscsa.edu)

PTA CAUCUS REPRESENTATIVE Nicole Volek, Richmond (nicole@volek.us)

Staff LiaisonsFor information in the areas listed below, contact the appropriate person via e-mail or by calling the TPTA chapter office at (512) 477-1818.

Paul Hardin Government Affairs; Political Action Committee; Executive Director/CEO Ethics and Practice Committees; Administration (paul@tpta.org)

Jenifer Leans Professional Development; Special Projects; Director, Meetings and Education APTA House of Delegates; Bylaws Committee; (jeni@tpta.org) Nominating Committee; Membership

Nancy Rennaker Finance/Accounting Bookkeeper (nancy@tpta.org)

Tiffany Downey Conferences and Expositions; PTA, Student Special Interest Manager, Membership and Groups; Advertising; Newsletters Communications (tiffany@tpta.org) Stacey Mather Continuing Competence Approval Program; Director, Payer Relations Payment Policy Committee; Practice Committee; Private and Payment Policy Practice SIG CCAP Administrator (stacey@tpta.org)

Amber Townsley Continuing Competence Approval Program; Public Relations CCAP Administrator Committee (amber@tpta.org)

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P R E S I D E N T ’ S M E S S A G E

AS I WRITE THIS MESSAGE FOR THIS SPRING ISSUE, WE ARE ANXIOUSLY AWAITING A DECISION ON WHETHER OR NOT WE WILL BE GRANTED A HEARING IN THE TEXAS HOUSE PUBLIC HEALTH COMMITTEE FOR OUR PATIENT ACCESS BILL, HB 1263 PATIENT ACCESS TO PT SERVICES.

The road to this juncture in 2015 has been a little rockier then in past years with many new challenges facing our profession on a multitude of levels. In addition to the usual challenges we face regarding the improvement of a Texan’s access to PT services, we now face significant challenges with payment policy in the work comp and Medicaid programs. With all of these challenges on the horizon, we have a need more now than ever to come together as a unified profession and more effectively address these issues in a collaborative manner.

The House Public Health Committee holds the fate of the forward progression of HB 1263 in their hands but we need to have as many House members supporting our bill as possible for the moment the bill reaches the house floor. The physicians are putting an increasing level of opposition forward to thwart the advancement of our patient access bill, and we are noticing some of their efforts have been effective in changing the support statements of legislators and large health systems. So, you might ask yourself, how can I make a difference or surely one person cannot make a difference? The answer is simply one person can make a difference, and collectively, we can improve access to our services in Texas. John F Kennedy once said “One person can make

a difference, and everyone should try.” So, I ask, no beg, you to stand up with us to support HB 1263 and help improve a Texan’s right to directly access Physical Therapy services. This issue is not setting or provider related as much as it gives our patients the RIGHT to choose the best provider to meet their needs in a time when they need to access the healthcare system.

Our goal as providers, regardless of the setting we are employed in or the patients we serve, should be to provide patients with the opportunity to seek the best trained provider at the right time to effectively meet their needs.

Access is imperative, but without proper payment, enhanced access to PT becomes a moot point. The Payment Policy committee is working tirelessly and diligently to help disseminate imperative payment information to our members to ensure all are in compliance with ever changing policy. We are facing challenges to the payment methodology in the pediatric Medicaid population. Again, TPTA will continue to work diligently with the Texas Health and Human Services Commission to ensure our patients in this arena receive the appropriate level of care they require while providing our members with contemporary payment policy updates.

So, now let me bring it back to the positive. Even though we have some challenges that lie ahead for Physical Therapy in Texas, we do have to take a moment to recognize all of the tremendous opportunities that exist for PT here in our great state. How do we realize these opportunities? We need to get out at the grassroots level and educate

By Michael Connors, PT, DPT, OCSTPTA President

If Not You, Then Who? If Not Now, Then When?

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our consumers about what Physical Therapy is and what we do for our patients on a day to day basis. I often joke that PT has become the ‘Fight Club’ of this decade, and the first rule of PT is not to talk about PT. So my take away challenge for all of us, please get out there in the next week and educate two people about what PT is and what PT does for our patients.

Lastly, I envision a chapter, TPTA, that represents the majority of licensees in our state. How do we get there? What if we could all agree, PT and PTA, members and non-members, on the one common attribute we all have in common, Physical Therapy. Direct access is not a PT or PTA issue nor is it a member versus non-member issue, but rather it is a profession issue. Many have heard me quote national statistics where PTs and PTAs outnumber Orthopedic Surgeons and Chiropractors 10 to 1. So, why don’t we have universal direct access? Why don’t patients immediately think PT when they have low back pain? The answer lies in a unified front. So, in conclusion, I ask you to join me in a unified professional front to help improve a consumer’s right to access Physical Therapy services. It’s 4th and 10, the ball is on the one yard line, the game is tied, there are three seconds remaining, and the physicians are our opposition... What are YOU going to do to help us drive this ball into the end zone? If not you, then who?.... If not now, then when?....

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Everyone Gets It But UsBy Paul Hardin, CAE Executive Director/CEO

E X E C U T I V E D I R E C T O R ’ S N O T E B O O K

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IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS, YOUR PRESIDENT MICHAEL CONNORS AND I HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT 10 OF THE TWELVE TPTA DISTRICTS ACROSS THE STATE, ALONG WITH HALF A DOZEN OR MORE SCHOOL VISITS.

Granted, these are the folks most likely to “get it.” What do I mean by “get it?” I’m referring to the investment/membership in one’s own professional organization. The physicians get it, with nearly 85% of licensed physicians in the state as mem-bers of their professional association. Athletic trainers get it, with right at 85% of licensed ATs as members. Heck, even realtors get it, with about 70% of licensed realtors as members of the TAR.

Yet here we are with about 27% membership for PTs and 10% membership for PTAs. If you are reading this, you probably “get it.” So, how we do reach the other 73% of PTs and 90% of the PTAs? The PT profession is one of the most educated professions around, with a significant amount of capital invested in said education, not to mention the time commitment of seven years for PTs. Is this just a job? Or is it a profession?

We must change the way the profession thinks, and instill that professional responsibility. TPTA must also do a better job of toot-ing our own horn. We do a lot, yet we don’t always do a good job of letting the profession, or even our own members, know our accomplishments. It is cliché, but there is strength in numbers. One of our strategic plan goals is to achieve 51% membership of all licensees in Texas. That way, we can say we represent the majority of profession. This gives you power in the legislature, with regulatory agencies, with payers and with all other stakeholders. I will challenge you to discuss TPTA/APTA with one non-member. There is no reason at all that we shouldn’t have more than 10,000 members. It all starts with you, the professional…

As always, if I or any of the staff may be of assistance in any way, please contact me at 512-477-1818, or paul@tpta.org.v

TPTA Member Receives Academy of Geriatric Physical Therapy Award

Myles Quiben, PT, PhD, DPT, GCS, NCS, CEEAA, a Tom Waugh Leadership Program mentee and member of the North Texas District, received the 2015 President’s Award from the Academy of Geriatric Physical Therapy. The award recognized Dr. Quiben for Exceptional Service and Commitment to the Academy, a Section of the APTA. She received the award at the Combined Sections Meeting in Indianapolis. Myles currently serves as the Director of Education for the Academy and has served many roles with the Academy and APTA in-cluding Chair of the Geriatric Specialty Council, member of the Specialization Academy of Content Experts, journal reviewer, CI Trainer, and presently, as a Director on the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties (ABPTS). Dr. Quiben recently also learned she was accepted as an APTA 2015 Education and Leadership Institute (ELI) Fellow. Dr. Quiben obtained her PhD in Physical Therapy and post-professional DPT from the Uni-versity of Central Arkansas, a BSPT from the University of the Philippines, and recently, an MS in Clinical Investigation with completion of a Fellowship in Geriatric Research from the UT Health Science Center in San Antonio. Currently, Dr. Quiben is an Associate Professor at the Department of Physical Therapy at the University of North Texas Health Science Center. She is among a very small group of therapists with dual clinical specialization, be-ing certified in both Geriatric and Neurologic Physical Therapy.

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M E M B E R S H I P M A T T E R SHELLO! My name is

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REACH 100 and Facility Challenge UpdatePHYSICAL THERAPY SCHOOLS*

Hardin-Simmons UniversityTexas State University - San MarcosTexas Woman’s University - Dallas

Texas Woman’s University - HoustonUniversity of the Incarnate Word

University of North TexasUniversity of St. Augustine - Austin

University of Texas - El PasoUniversity of Texas Southwestern Medical Center - Dallas

FACILITIES**

Baylor Institute for Rehab-McKinneyMcKinney, TX

Blinn College Physical Therapist Assistant Program Bryan, TX

ConcentraBurleson, TX

East Texas Physical TherapySulphur Springs, TX

El Paso Community College Physical Therapy Assistant Program

El Paso, TXEl Paso Physical Therapy - East

El Paso, TX El Paso Physical Therapy Services - Horizon Valley

El Paso, TX El Paso Physical Therapy Services - West

El Paso, TXHardin-Simmons University, Department of PT

Abilene, TXHunter Professional Therapy

Arlington, TX

Meehan Sports Therapy & PediatricsSouthlake, TX

Scott & White Rock Prairie Sports Medicine & RehabCollege Station, TX

Spine & Rehab Specialists - EdgemereEl Paso, TX

Texas Physical Therapy Specialists Austin, TX

Texas State University Department of Physical Therapy San Marcos, TX

Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Department of Rehabilitation Services

Lubbock, TXUniversity of Texas at El Paso Physical Therapy Program

El Paso, TXUniversity of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio

San Antonio, TXUT Southwestern Medical Center

Dallas, TX

**The facilities listed achieved 100% membership prior to the publication of this newsletter. If your facility is not listed and has reached 100% membership for the current year please register here.

PHYSICAL THERAPIST ASSISTANT SCHOOLS*

Blinn CollegeDel Mar College

Concorde Career CollegeEl Paso Community College

Kilgore CollegeSouth Texas Community College

Western Technical College

*The programs listed achieved 100% student and faculty membership prior to the publication of this newsletter. If your school is not listed and has reached 100% student and faculty membership for the current year please contact Tiffany Downey at tiffany@tpta.org.

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P T B O A R D O F E X A M I N E R S

Renewals Transitioning to Birth MonthAT ITS JANUARY 30, 2015 MEETING, THE TEXAS BOARD OF PHYSICAL THERAPY EXAMINERS (TBPTE) ADOPTED AN AMENDMENT TO §341.1. REQUIREMENTS FOR RENEWAL WHICH CONVERTS LICENSE RENEWAL DATES FROM AN AN-NIVERSARY METHOD TO A BIRTH-MONTH SYSTEM. CURRENTLY, LICENSES ARE RENEWED ON THE TWO-YEAR ANNI-VERSARY OF THE LICENSE’S FIRST ISSUANCE.

In the new birth-month system, all renewals will occur every two years at the end of the birth-month of the licensee. The transi-tion will not only make it easier for licensees to track when they need to renew but will also eliminate agency workload spikes in renewals caused by fixed-date testing.

The conversion began on March 1, 2015. When an individual’s license is renewed after that date, the renewal date will auto-matically update to the last day of the licensee’s birth month. During the transition period, no renewal period will be less than twenty-four (24) months, and some renewal periods will increase to up to thirty-five (35) months.

Here’s how it will work.• If a PT or PTA has a license which expires 3/31/2015 and a birth month of August, the new expiration date will be 8/31/2017

if he/she renews after March 1, 2015.

• If a PT or PTA has a license which expires 6/30/2015 and a birth month of June, the expiration month will remain the same and the expiration date will be 6/30/2017.

• If a PT or PTA has a license which expires 3/31/2015 but renewed prior to March 1, 2015, the conversion to birth-month will

not occur until the 2017 renewal.

What you need to do. Timely renew your license with all of your required continuing competence. Your new renewal date will be automatically cal-culated for you.

What about fees? The license expiration conversion will not impose any additional license fee and will not increase your continuing competence requirement.

What about Initial Licenses? Any individual approved for licensure as a PT or PTA after March 1, 2015 will be issued a license that will expire the last day of their birth month at least twenty-four (24) months following the date of licensure

TPTA Now Accepting Leadership Interest FormsNominations for Secretary, Speaker of the Assembly, Chief Delegate, PTA Caucus Rep, Nominating and/or Delegate At Large positions which will be on the election ballot for 2015. We are asking that members interested in running for these positions complete an "Interest Form" to give the Nominating Committee basic information in advance. They will use this information to put together the slate of candidates. If you are slotted to be a candidate, we will ask for a Consent to Serve form, a Candidate Statement and a picture at that time.

Information on these positions including who is eligible to run, duties and responsibilities, etc. are available on the "Interest Form" so you may review the position before submitting your form.

Deadline for nominations is July 31st.

If you have any questions, please contact Jeni Leans at jeni@tpta.org.

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D I S T R I C T N E W S & M O T I O N S

BOD 01-10-15:1The Executive Committee moved to ap-point Harry Koster and Brett Tice as Co-Chairs to the Private Practice SIG for a term of 3 years.

BOD 01-10-15:2The Executive Committee moved to re-appoint Brant Capps as Co-Chair of the Government Affairs Committee for a 3 year period.

BOD 01-10-15:3The Executive Committee moved to ap-point Cynthia Fisher as Co-Chair of the Government Affairs Committee for a 3 year period.

BOD 01-10-15:4The Executive Committee moved that Kathleen Manella be appointed as the Texas PT Board Liaison.

BOD 01-10-15:5The Executive Committee moved that the Tom Waugh Leadership Fellows as-sume the title acronym, FTPTA in recog-nition of the fellowship status within the Chapter to receive all associated profes-sional rights and privileges as long as the individual continues in good standing.

Motions Passed By the Board of DirectorsBOD 01-10-15:6The Executive Committee moved that Dr. Lois Stickley be appointed to the position of Speaker of the Assembly to replace Dr. Denise Gobert who is unable to fulfill the rest of her term due to her new elected position of Chapter Vice President.

BOD 01-10-15:7The Executive Committee moved that Cynthia Fisher and Rhonda Abbott be appointed to the Tom Waugh Leader-ship Development Committee for a 3 year term.

BOD 01-10-15:10The Ethics Committee moved to amend the TPTA reference manual to add Sec-tion 5 – Standing Committee: Subsec-tion: Ethics Committee – Ethical Consul-tation to read as follows:

Section 5 – Standing CommitteesSubsection: Ethics Committee – Ethical ConsultationAdopted:Revised:

POLICY:The Chapter Ethics Committee shall be available to consult with members re-garding ethical questions.

PROCEDURES:Questions regarding ethical issues shall be made in writing to the Chapter Ethics Committee (CEC) as necessary.

BOD 01-10-15:11The The Executive Committee moved that $5000 from the Board Advised Funds (surplus from 2013) be used for staff travel in 2015 in addition to the funds already allocated for staff travel in 2015.

BOD 01-10-15:12 The Practice Committee moved that Jon Anderson be appointed as co-chair of the Practice Committee for a 3 year term.

BOD 01-10-15:13 The Executive Committee moved that the BoD designate funds from the 2013 excess funds to launch a public media campaign in support of the patient ac-cess bill for the 2015 legislative session not to exceed $27,000.

BOD 01-10-15:14 The Executive Committee moved that any undesignated 2013 Board Advised Funds be moved into “Cash & Cash Equivalents” Oppenheimer account.

District NewsCOASTAL BEND DISTRICT Coastal Bend District 2015 schedule:

• District meeting and CE course in June in Victoria; date, time, and location TBD. • District meeting and continuing education course in September at South Texas College PTA Program facility in McAllen. • Ethics course offerings at McAllen on March 4th, Corpus Christi on May 6th, and Laredo on November 4th.

• On-line elections for the District Delegate and Secretary will be held in June. Please consider running for one of these district leadership positions.

Contact Jan Spigner, PT, Coastal Bend District Chair, jspigner@delmar.edu, for details on elections.

For information on the CE courses and Ethics courses contact CE Chairs:

Christina Cayce at caycepta@gmail.com or Dee Ellis at darshanaaprem@gmail.com

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A W A R D N O M I N A T I O N S

AWARDS HONORING PTS, PTAS AND STUDENTS ARE GIVEN OUT ANNUALLY AT THE TPTA ANNUAL CONFERENCE REC-OGNITION DINNER. CLICK THE AWARD TO VIEW NOMINATION CRITERIA AND TO NOMINATE A PEER. Ruby Decker AwardThis award honors a physical therapist whose primary responsibility is in direct patient care and who contributes to the growth of the profession and community.

Joy Davenport AwardThis award recognizes an outstanding physical therapist assistant with emphasis on the clinical setting, community and profes-sion.

Jeanette Winfree AwardThis award honors a TPTA member who has made contributions of exceptional value to the Chapter.

Outstanding Physical Therapy Researcher AwardThis award acknowledges an individual who has made significant contributions to physical therapy through excellence in re-search.

William Gould Memorial Outstanding Physical Therapy Faculty AwardThis award acknowledges a faculty member in physical therapy education who has demonstrated excellence in that role.

Outstanding Physical Therapist Assistant Faculty AwardThis award acknowledges a faculty member in physical therapist assistant education who has demonstrated excellence in that role.

Rex Nutt Physical Therapy Student AwardThis award recongizes a physical therapy student who has exhibited excellence in both leadership and clinical skills.

Student PTA AwardThis award is given to a physical therapist assistant student who has demonstrated personal and professional growth through service to patients, classmates, school, and profession.

Warren C. Smythe Outstanding Service AwardThis award is given to a physical therapy private practitioner in recognition of such things as professional clinical and educational expertise, innovative delivery of care, participation in the association, commitment to private practice, and community service.

Membership Awards

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For questions regarding award submission, please contact Amber Townsley at amber@tpta.org. Deadline for nominations is July 31st.

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U R O D Y N A M I C S

Physical Therapists in Northeast Texas Pioneer into the Field of UrodynamicsSubmitted by: Tricia Blalock, PT, DPT and Kate Farr, PT, DPT

Tricia Blalock, PT, DPT and Kate Farr, PT, DPT, physical therapists at Titus Regional Medical Center in Mount Pleasant, TX, have formed a partnership with local urologists Dr. Roger Stuart and Dr. Herbert Watkins to provide urodynamic studies for their community and surrounding areas. This is a pioneering relationship as Dr. Stuart and Dr. Watkins recognize the unique expertise physical therapists can contribute to the evaluation--and when appropriate, con-servative treatment of lower urinary tract conditions.

Blalock and Farr are uniquely qualified to perform urodynamic studies based on their doctor of physical therapy education as well as their understanding of bowel and bladder function/dysfunction and pelvic floor anatomy. Training for Blalock and Farr included skills check-offs, on-site training from the urodynamic equipment repre-sentative, and attendance at a comprehensive urodynamics course.

In early 2014, Dr.’s Stuart and Watkins approached physical therapists Blalock and Farr, along with hospital administration, about the possibility of the physical therapy department purchasing urodynamic diagnostic testing equipment and performing the technical component of the urodynamic study under their supervision. Previously, due to the rural location of the facility, the urologist had to use a mobile urodynamics unit or refer patients out of the community. Now that Blalock and Farr are per-forming these tests on-site at Titus Regional Medical Center, test results can often be read the same day, cutting down the wait time while improving patient care and satisfaction.

Blalock and Farr began conducting urodynamic studies in April 2014 and are making a significant contribution to their hospital, physicians, physical therapy profession, and most importantly to their patients. The information gathered through urodynamic testing provides Dr.’s. Stuart and Watkins with vital information critical to developing an individualized treatment program which may include medications, surgical interventions, or pelvic muscle rehabilitation.

Blalock and Farr have extensive training in pelvic muscle strengthening and re-education for the management of stress and urge incontinence. Adding diagnostic urodynamics testing to their skill set allows Blalock and Farr to provide much needed education to patients regarding bladder function as well as develop a dynamic relationship with referring physicians to promote optimal patient outcomes.

From L to R: Kate Farr, PT, DPT; Tricia Blalock, PT, DPT, Herbert Watkins, MD; Roger Stuart, MD

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