Presenters: Nancy White, PT, DPT, OCS; Julie Hobbs, PT, DPT, PhD, CHES; Judy Lindsay, PT; Jason Grandeo, DPT, OCS; Susan Chalcraft, PT, MS

APTA and its members have achieved tremendous success over the past 25 years in ensuring a patient's right to directly access physical therapy services. Direct access also provides opportunities for clinicians to practice in innovative ways to meet today's health care demands. The impact of direct access on PT practice is difficult to measure, but appears to be limited to specific practice settings. This session will discuss findings from the 2009 APTA Direct Access in Practice survey, including the extent to which direct access in being used and the barriers and perceived barriers to its use in different settings and geographic locations. Case examples of successful use of direct access in different practice settings will be provided.

-back to top-

Nancy White, PT, DPT, OCS
White is an Associate Director of Practice for the American Physical Therapy Association. In this position, she provides support and consultation to members and staff in the area of practice management. She also works with various APTA components and external organizations and contributes to policy development to advance the practice of physical therapy. Prior to joining APTA, White spent 30 years in direct clinical practice and management. She is a Board Certified Orthopaedic Clinical Specialist and has been an active APTA member since 1979. She has a Master of Physical Therapy degree from the University of Alabama in Birmingham, and a DPT from Marymount University.

Julie Hobbs, PT, DPT, PhD, CHES
Hobbs is Director of Therapy Services in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. In addition, she is an adjunct faculty member in the PT program in the School of Health Sciences within the Mayo Clinic School of Medicine. Dr. Hobbs was recently successful in obtaining direct access privileges for physical therapists at Mayo Clinic.

Judy Lindsay, PT
is CEO and founder of Beyond Therapy Pediatric Group which provides physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech and language services to children in Ridgeland, Mississippi. Beyond Therapy Pediatric Group focuses on meeting the needs of both children and their families and has experienced exceptional growth over the past decade due in part to a strong marketing and social media campaign. Ms. Lindsay reports that at least 70% of the patients seen in the practice come through direct access.

Jason Grandeo, DPT, OCS
Grandeo is a senior physical therapist at Body Dynamics Inc, a multi-disciplinary physical therapy, fitness, and health promotion practice in Arlington, Virginia. The majority of patients at Body Dynamics come via direct access, and the practice has had tremendous success using fitness and health promotion as a way to not only improve the health of its patient population but also to grow the practice and promote the role of physical therapy to the community.

Susan Chalcraft, PT, MS
Chalcraft is a physical therapist at Providence Mt. Carmel Hospital in Carville, Washington. Direct access has been an integral part of Ms. Chalcraft’s practice since the law was first passed in the state of Washington in 1987. She has a diverse practice that includes school based physical therapy services, occupational health, birth to three pediatric programs, and general musculoskeletal services. As recent chapter president for the state of Washington, Ms. Chalcraft is an active promoter of the use of direct access among physical therapists in her state.

-back to top-

Recommended Internet Connection:  The PT 2011 repurposed courses are presented using streaming video technology.  We recommend users have at least a high-speed cable or DSL connection.  Dial up modems and/or Satellite Internet connections are not recommended.

Keywords: Health Policy, Private Practice, Professional Issues

-back to top-