Contest Sway

i don't understand what this is for. why do PTs want to be autonomous?

galaxiathat supports advocacy for physical therapists and move us closer to being autonomous practitioners!

dont want to be rude but that does that mean.

Peter.i don't understand what this is for. why do PTs want to be autonomous?

Combination for medical insurance billing and seeing patients directly (without referral) and for having the ability to use ones own knowledge to determine what is best for their patient and act upon that knowledge. Autonomy is the shiz dude! If your a M.D. or a hospital admin, you might not be psyched, but if youve ever worked with a PT or received physical therapy you should be!

SFBdont want to be rude but that does that mean.

See above post :) basically it allows Physical therapists to use their knowledge and education to best serve their patients

gotchaa.

^^^

galaxiaCombination for medical insurance billing and seeing patients directly (without referral) and for having the ability to use ones own knowledge to determine what is best for their patient and act upon that knowledge. Autonomy is the shiz dude! If your a M.D. or a hospital admin, you might not be psyched, but if youve ever worked with a PT or received physical therapy you should be!

i dont understand the need for autonomous PT, as everyone really should have a referral from a primary care doc before going and doing PT

Peter.i dont understand the need for autonomous PT, as everyone really should have a referral from a primary care doc before going and doing PT

If that is truly what you believe, then you would be correct in not supporting autonomy for physical therapists - and that is your right! However, I do think Doctors of Physical Therapy have the expertise to conduct primary evaluations and make sound medical decisions, and that, in some cases (not all, not none) a primary MD referral is an unnecessary step that creates extra billing and slows down the process.

galaxiaIf that is truly what you believe, then you would be correct in not supporting autonomy for physical therapists - and that is your right! However, I do think Doctors of Physical Therapy have the expertise to conduct primary evaluations and make sound medical decisions, and that, in some cases (not all, not none) a primary MD referral is an unnecessary step that creates extra billing and slows down the process.

yeah but it's like do DPTs really have the training to make a solid diagnosis? like it's 2 years of schooling vs. 4 years plus 3 of a residency (for a family doc), and even more for orthopedic surgeons and stuff

Peter.yeah but it's like do DPTs really have the training to make a solid diagnosis? like it's 2 years of schooling vs. 4 years plus 3 of a residency (for a family doc), and even more for orthopedic surgeons and stuff

I must say that if you don't support the cause, that's totally fine. It seems like you are raining on my parade a bit, and that this is probably not the most appropriate venue to talk about this - kinda draws away from the thread. Feel free to PM me to further discuss!

However, a DPT degree is 3 years of schooling with an additional 1 year of residency for an OCS (if u insist on the ortho comparison). A lot of that time is spent on cardio and neuro training, but plenty is dedicated to physical exam and dx, which includes radiological interpretation. Compared to a GP, a DPT has more formal education about ortho disorders and spends a considerably larger portion of his or her day dealing with these ailments (when compared to a GP). Again, I agree that many problems require a physician referral, but every ankle sprain? Every MCL sprain? Every case of LBP? Every epicondylitis, tendonopathy, or soft tissue ailment? I wholeheartedly disagree

I gave her a like. Honestly, I don't sit on one side of the fence or the other on this issue.

galaxiaI must say that if you don't support the cause, that's totally fine. It seems like you are raining on my parade a bit, and that this is probably not the most appropriate venue to talk about this - kinda draws away from the thread. Feel free to PM me to further discuss!

However, a DPT degree is 3 years of schooling with an additional 1 year of residency for an OCS (if u insist on the ortho comparison). A lot of that time is spent on cardio and neuro training, but plenty is dedicated to physical exam and dx, which includes radiological interpretation. Compared to a GP, a DPT has more formal education about ortho disorders and spends a considerably larger portion of his or her day dealing with these ailments (when compared to a GP). Again, I agree that many problems require a physician referral, but every ankle sprain? Every MCL sprain? Every case of LBP? Every epicondylitis, tendonopathy, or soft tissue ailment? I wholeheartedly disagree

i'm not trying to be mean really, i'm just trying to see where this is coming from. will that lead to more money for DPTs? are they not adequately compensated now?

Contest is over, and my friend won - by a nice size margin no less! Thanks to all who voted!

galaxiaCombination for medical insurance billing and seeing patients directly (without referral) and for having the ability to use ones own knowledge to determine what is best for their patient and act upon that knowledge. Autonomy is the shiz dude! If your a M.D. or a hospital admin, you might not be psyched, but if youve ever worked with a PT or received physical therapy you should be!

Wait I know that the contest is over but why would someone who isn't as qualified as a doctor have the ability to do what a doctor does? Cause i think that is what you are saying isn't it?

Also don't respond with PT's have to go to school for it too, cause it isn't as intensive as Med School.

North.WestWait I know that the contest is over but why would someone who isn't as qualified as a doctor have the ability to do what a doctor does? Cause i think that is what you are saying isn't it?

Also don't respond with PT's have to go to school for it too, cause it isn't as intensive as Med School.

Hey guy, thank you for the question. Im assuming that by asking this, you either a) are doing it just to get a rise out of me or b) didnt read the other posts, but I'll happily answer anyway :D.

First off, unless you have been through both Med School and earned your DPT, I would kindly ask you to stop comparing the intensity of each program. Programs vary (even within discipline!) and everyone has their individual strengths and weaknesses! Are you familiar with the prerequisites and core curriculum of each program? As well as the clinical requirements of a DPT compared to just "Med School"? I think you will be pleasantly surprised to see the similarities (as well as some extra clinical time by SPTs!) when compared to a "Med School". If you wish to compare a DPT to an ortho specialist - they are completely separate degrees (a similar comparison would be OCS to ortho :D)

Now, by your logic, why would a dentist (a Doctor of Dentistry) be able to examine an diagnose a patient with (insert dental disorder here) when a doctor has dental training as well? How about a Chiropractor (Doctor of Chiropractic) diagnosing an alignment issue, when a doctor has some training in musculoskeletal aliments? Doctors of Physical Therapy are extensively trained to be able to examine, diagnose, and treat movement disorders that apply to almost every body system (MS, NM, INT, CV) - even when "doctors" have some of the same training. In fact, because the scope of a general practitioner (or "doctor" :)) is so large, a DPT commonly has more extensive training in many of the MS disorders commonly seen by both professions. There are many aliments that require specialist examination (see post above), but plenty that do not need additional referral. Those additional referrals create unnecessary waste of man hours and money!

galaxiaHey guy, thank you for the question. Im assuming that by asking this, you either a) are doing it just to get a rise out of me or b) didnt read the other posts, but I'll happily answer anyway :D.

First off, unless you have been through both Med School and earned your DPT, I would kindly ask you to stop comparing the intensity of each program. Programs vary (even within discipline!) and everyone has their individual strengths and weaknesses! Are you familiar with the prerequisites and core curriculum of each program? As well as the clinical requirements of a DPT compared to just "Med School"? I think you will be pleasantly surprised to see the similarities (as well as some extra clinical time by SPTs!) when compared to a "Med School". If you wish to compare a DPT to an ortho specialist - they are completely separate degrees (a similar comparison would be OCS to ortho :D)

Now, by your logic, why would a dentist (a Doctor of Dentistry) be able to examine an diagnose a patient with (insert dental disorder here) when a doctor has dental training as well? How about a Chiropractor (Doctor of Chiropractic) diagnosing an alignment issue, when a doctor has some training in musculoskeletal aliments? Doctors of Physical Therapy are extensively trained to be able to examine, diagnose, and treat movement disorders that apply to almost every body system (MS, NM, INT, CV) - even when "doctors" have some of the same training. In fact, because the scope of a general practitioner (or "doctor" :)) is so large, a DPT commonly has more extensive training in many of the MS disorders commonly seen by both professions. There are many aliments that require specialist examination (see post above), but plenty that do not need additional referral. Those additional referrals create unnecessary waste of man hours and money!

Well I did read your posts and they didn't answer my question.
First off you allow a dentist to examine and diagnose a dental disorder because they went to dental school, and spent 3 years learning about a very small part of your body (your mouth). And they don't treat all oral problems, mostly just cosmetic things. ALSO your chiropractor argument is nonsense because the only thing you could really compare a chiropractor to is maybe an orthodontist? and I don't see either of those as needing to be autonomous practitioners. I am willing to bet the 4 years of medical school plus years of residency after it to become an actual MD are more intensive that the three years it takes to get a DPT.

What are actual ailments that a PT can diagnose?

Like don't get me wrong I have had to do PT and I see value init. But you actually answered what I wanted to know which is why should a PT have the ability to make decisions currently made by an MD? Like what is wrong with having to get referrals from an MD?