On May 1 of this year, we welcomed our third child into the world, a healthy baby boy named Alex. Any parent will tell you that the increase in responsibility and commitment that this change brings is both exciting and stressful, regardless of whether it is your first child or your third. While change can be scary at first, it usually turns out to be for the best... or we do our best to make the most of it.

 

A lot like the changes and gains I see in my personal life, I also think about the changes and gains in APTA Virginia over the last two years and what’s in store for us in the future.

 

The idea of completely redefining the way we offer continuing education was scary, but Virginia is for Learners (VA4L) was born from that. With VA4L, we have made our educational offerings more customized, multifaceted, available to a broader audience, and available on demand.

 

Seeking out a new lobbyist was a tough decision, but in the last six months alone, it has opened up so many doors. This includes the passing of this year’s Direct Access and Dry Needling legislation, expanding opportunities for advocacy and advancement of our profession, as well as laying the groundwork for prospective programs that will increase the ability for every member to be more engaged in our efforts.

 

With the commitment to a new Strategic Plan and planning development, which despite all the man hours, has made our vision for the future much more clear. It has also ramped up collaboration and teamwork with our volunteers.

 

Although some changes may seem to shake things up at first, I'm more than confident they will take our chapter to the next level. I invite you to explore all the new features and opportunities we have available. Motivated individuals are always welcome to contact us for more information about ways to get involved, based on their unique skills and passions.

 

Sincerely,

Tony Grillo, DPT, OCS, FAAOMPT

It was a graduation walk seven years in the making... In May 2016, Khalil Watson suffered a gunshot wound, causing a spinal cord injury that left him paralyzed from the neck down. Due to his injury, he was unable to attend his high school graduation and, instead, watched the ceremony from his hospital bed. His goal was to—one day—walk at his college graduation.

 

With the help of Sheltering Arms Institute’s Ekso Bionics robotic exoskeleton and two of his physical therapists, both of whom are APTA members, Khalil’s dreams came true as he walked across the stage to receive his associate degree in pre-social work from Reynolds Community College.

I'm a loser.

 

I lose my cell phone all the time, much to my husband's chagrin. I lose paper appointment cards before I can write them down in my amazing electronic calendar. I lose my glasses. I lose track of time with patients and get behind schedule. Sometimes, I lose my patience...

 

The loss of these things is not good.

 

But, not all loss is bad.

 

Like losing an election. Do you know what I think is worse than losing an election? Never running for anything in the first place... Read more…

Your one-stop career resource center to prepare you for your next opportunity!

Through the APTA Virginia Career Center, employers within the physical therapy industry can post jobs, search résumés, and connect with top industry talent. PT professionals can find their next career and post their résumés as a step toward finding their next career.

 

Elevate your career with personalized guidance from an experienced and certified career coach, make your résumé stand out from the competition with a comprehensive evaluation from professional résumé writers, improve your skills and boost your confidence with guidance from a professional interview coach, and discover new niche job opportunities you won't find anywhere else! Learn more…

It's no secret... working with dementia patients can be difficult. And beyond the challenge of memory loss, as their movement expert, you also have to learn to navigate behavioral challenges, decreased safety awareness, difficulty communicating, confusion and disorientation, hallucinations, etc.

 

Here's what's even more challenging:

 

Our first instincts are not always the best treatment strategies…

 

But, with the right knowledge and techniques, you can transform challenging moments into patient (and personal) victories, keep patients moving safely, and improve quality of life through hands-on care, patient education, and prescribed movement.

 

This seminar led by Certified Dementia Practitioner Virginia Simmons, CTRS, CDP, CADDCT, CFRDT, founder of Living Active Dementia, can help you gain those skills.

 

Plus, become a Certified Dementia Practitioner (CDP) after course completion! Read more…

The purpose of this brief survey is to gauge interest in and direction for the newly formed Early Professionals Special Interest Group within APTA Virginia.

 

Creating a space for mentorship, discussing career development and professional issues, raising public awareness of the profession, and fostering a community for new grads and early professionals is the goal.

 

Active APTA Virginia members who are less than 5 years post-graduation are eligible to participate.

 

The expansion of direct access in Virginia has new implications for pediatric PTs in the commonwealth. On July 1, 2023, children receiving physical therapy services under IDEA Parts B and C (school-based and early intervention), and services under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 will not need a referral for services. Thank you to all the pediatric PTs in the state who participated in advocacy efforts to move the legislation forward! And a special thanks to the APTA Virginia Legislative Committee for collaborating with the Peds SIG and its members.

 

Until July 1, PTs still must obtain referrals for children under Part C (early intervention) and Section 504.

 

Additionally, PTs still must meet the educational requirements for direct access as outlined in the Virginia Regulations Governing the Practice of Physical Therapy. PTs with an entry-level DPT have direct access privileges. Those with a transitional DPT must apply to the Virginia Board of Physical Therapy, submit their official transcript, and obtain approval from the board. Direct access can also be obtained by PTs bachelor’s or master’s preparation after 3 years of practice, and by completing 15 hours of continuing education that includes medical screening and differential diagnosis, with an application and approval by the board. Please refer to the Virginia Board of Physical Therapy website for all details.