E-News
SoPAC 2016
The Section on Pediatrics Annual Conference will be held November 11-13 at Keystone Resort, CO, with preconference courses November 9-10. (Note: If you are considering attending the preconference course "Pediatric Neuromuscular Recovery Scale: Competency-based Course for Conducting and Scoring," please review the document posted under News & Information on the SoPAC website.) The website has the full SoPAC schedule, a list of Frequently Asked Questions, and Things You Need to Know About Keystone, as well as:
  • Advance Registration Through October 21: You can register online with a credit card or mail in the paper registration form with a check.
  • Family of Four Applications Due September 1: Free trip to Keystone for a family and free SoPAC registration for you! Applicants must be referred by a PT, PTA, SPT, or SPTA who is a member of the Section on Pediatrics/Academy of Pediatric Physical Therapy of APTA. Applicants must be between the ages of 3 and 21 and have a developmental delay or an impairment.
  • Exhibitor Registration: Register today to secure your spot in the SoPAC Exhibit Hall and more than 600 pediatric physical therapy providers (90% of them practicing PTs!) - only a couple of booths are left!
  • Social Event: You won't want to miss the fun at the Black Mountain Lodge on Arapahoe Basin Ski Area! After a ride up on the ski lift (or snowshoe hike for the bold!), the evening will include a delicious meal and a variety of indoor and outdoor activities for all! You can register for this great event ($75) when you register for SoPAC, or you can add it to your existing registration by calling 800/999-2782, ext 3210. Check out the video! 
  • Housing: Don't forget to book your room and shuttle at  www.sopac.us under Housing!
To get you excited, here is the reason #6 of the top 10 reasons to attend SoPAC: 6. Send a Family to SoPAC: The Academy of Pediatric Physical Therapy will again be sending the family of a child with special needs to Keystone. It could be one of your kids and a free conference registration for you! Applications are due September 1.
APPTAC 2017: Call for Proposals Is Now Open - Seeking Reviewers!
It's time to start thinking about your proposal for the newly renamed Academy of Pediatric Physical Therapy Annual Conference (APPTAC) 2017, to be held November 17-19 (preconference courses November 15-16)in Cincinnati, OH. The link to the proposal submission site can be found at www.apptac.org or via www.sopac.us under Speakers.
 
The APPTAC Planning Committee is seeking volunteer reviewers for proposals for APPTAC 2017. Volunteers must be Academy members and complete all assigned reviews between January 8 and February 5, 2017. If you are interested in reviewing, please contact Cindy Miles by November 5; detailed instructions will be provided.
Advance Registration for Advanced Clinical Practice in Pediatric
Physical Therapy Course Closes August 31
The ACP in Pediatrics Course will be held September 23-25, 2016, in Atlanta, GA. This 2.5-day in-person course is geared toward advanced practice and is intended for experienced pediatric physical therapists who have a strong desire to investigate current theories and evidence-based practice across settings. Physical therapists who are considering taking the ABPTS examination are particularly encouraged to participate as part of their review. For more information or to register, visit the Academy's Professional Development page.
Payment Corner: Billing Insurance for the Infant "At Risk"
By Jeanine Gregoire Colburn PT, DPT, MS, PCS, c/NDT
When billing health insurance for physical therapy services, we must keep some essential communication and documentation conventions in mind, regardless of the status of the child. Early intervention (EI) physical therapists are sometimes asked to see infants "at risk." In EI language, the phrase "at risk" usually means "at risk for developmental delay" (DD). There are many reasons why an infant may be at risk for DD not limited to but including known genetic risk factors, prematurity, weakness, specific medical conditions, environment, or even parental health concerns.
 
"DD" is a term used by standardized tests to compare infant and toddler developmental skills to that of their peers. It is a term recognized by state and federal early childhood organizations to establish criteria for participation in various programs including early intervention programs. "DD" is not typically recognized by health insurance payers as a medical diagnosis. Instead, DD is a symptom that can result from a variety of medical, hereditary, or environmental factors. The point here is that when evaluating a child for physical therapy service to be paid by health insurance, DD should not be the focus of the evaluation except as relates to physical therapy related functional skills.
 
With any physical therapy referral you must put on your physical therapy hat and evaluate that child from a physical-motor perspective. For example, you should look at strength against gravity, posture in various positions, normal versus abnormal motor patterns and activity, balance reactions, responses to handling, as well as the influence of vision and hearing on motor patterns. The health insurance payer wants to know why this particular child does or does not need physical therapy. A simple concern around DD is not a rationale for physical therapy.
 
In most cases, a referred infant "at risk" has already demonstrated a behavior that has caused the referral. It is likely that rather than simply being at risk, the child you evaluate will have a treatable condition. It is up to the skilled physical therapist to evaluate the child, discover an underlying condition and to determine if, in fact, physical therapy is the best treatment for that condition. Health insurance covers physical therapy treatment of the child, not treatment of the environment or other risk factors. If the child requires physical therapy, you can briefly mention confounding external factors that may slow progress, but the problems and goals in your evaluation must be patient focused. You can bill insurance for the evaluation of an infant at risk, even if you determine that physical therapy is not required at this time. You can also recommend a different or additional service as a result of your evaluation. Furthermore, if you do determine physical therapy is not required at this time, you can recommend a future re-evaluation or follow-up visit to ensure the child is progressing as expected.
Free Webinar for APTA Members on New Codes
This 1.5-hour course on September 22 is designed to introduce physical therapists to the new evaluation and reevaluation codes, and teach therapists how to select the appropriate evaluation code based on patient presentation. The new evaluation codes are split into 3 levels: low complexity evaluation, moderate complexity evaluation, and high complexity evaluation. Physical therapists will need to select the appropriate evaluation level based on 4 components: patient history, examination, patient presentation, and complexity of clinical decision making. This course includes patient scenarios specific to a variety of physical therapist practice settings, including cardiovascular and pulmonary, geriatrics, neurology, orthopedics, pediatrics, and private practice. For more information, visit the APTA Learning Center.
APPT Offers Research Grants, Mentored Research Grants, and Planning Grants to Academy Members (Submissions Due September 1 and April 1)
APPT research grants provide funding to assist physical therapist investigators and to encourage research that will add to the body of knowledge related to improvement of pediatric physical therapy. Research Grants (RG1 up to $30,000 or RG2 up to $10,000) are available to assist with a 1-year research study that investigates questions of importance to pediatric physical therapy. Mentored Research Grants up to $10,000 can be used to support post-professional thesis, dissertation, or other student research, and are also appropriate for new and emerging clinical researchers. Periodically, Planning Grants up to $30,000 are available to support the development of multi-site clinical research related to the topic of an APPT Research Summit. A list of available Academy grants, application forms, and details of each grant can be found on the Academy website. Any questions concerning your proposal may be sent to the Research Committee Chair.
2016 APPT Member Needs Assessment Results Summary
Thank you to the 135 Section members who took time to complete the 2016 Member Needs Assessment! Your responses will be used to support strategic planning for APPT when the Strategic Planning Committee meets in early September. Topics ranged from continuing education, knowledge translation, clinical resources, dues, to working with adolescents and adults with developmental disabilities. Unfortunately, these 135 members represent only 2.5% of our overall membership. Please encourage all colleagues to participate in next year's Member Needs Assessment survey, so that a larger share of members' preferences and suggestions can be incorporated into future planning for the Academy. Respondents were mostly graduated PTs (97%), 2 PTAs, and no students, and 41% of those who responded indicated that they work in the schools. If you have any questions or comments regarding the Member Needs Assessment survey or its topics, please contact Section Membership Chair Britta Battaile.
IV STEP Summary
The IV STEP Conference, held at Ohio State University in Columbus July 13-19, was a resounding success. With more than 700 in attendance, the conference focused on 4 themes: Prediction, Plasticity, Prevention, and Participation. The Planning Committee has a full menu of dissemination products and events to assure that those not at IV STEP will be able to access the information presented at the Conference. These include:
  • At SoPAC 2016 in Keystone: A session on the Pearls of IV STEP presented by members of the IV STEP Planning Committee
  • At CSM 2017 in San Antonio: A 2-day preconference course developed and presented by the Dissemination Team of the Pediatric and Neurologic academies; a 2-hour session during regular programming summarizing the conference, presented by the IV STEP Planning Committee
  • Published Proceedings that will be released in January 2017 available free to members through Pediatric Physical Therapy and Journal of Neurologic Physical Therapy
  • An E-book that also will be released in early 2017 that will be available for purchase and include the Proceedings as well as the Case Narratives used to illustrate application and promote discussion of the information presented at the conference. Links to Case Videos will be provided in the E-book. The E-book could serve as a teaching tool for students and a resource for practitioners.
  • Additional regional and online courses are also being developed using the recorded content from IV STEP.
APPT Award Submissions Due October 1
The Academy of Pediatric Physical Therapy encourages its members to nominate a coworker, friend, someone in their program, or themselves for an Academy award. Nomination forms and additional information regarding awards may be found on the Awards & Scholarship page.
 
Service Awards: Fischer Distinguished Mentorship Award, DeHaven Service Award, Effgen Advocacy Award, Distinguished Service Award for External Advocates
 
Clinician Award: Outstanding Pediatric Clinical Practice Award
 
Research Awards: Dissertation Award, Haley Research Award
 
Scholarships & Grants: Dichter Memorial PCS Scholarships, Diversity Development Scholarship, CSM Student/New Professional Attendance Scholarships
 
Awards with an October 1 deadline will be presented at the Academy Business Meeting at the Combined Sections Meeting in San Antonio, TX.
Call for Nominations for Linda Crane Memorial Lecture Award
The Linda Crane Memorial Lecture Award acknowledges an individual who has made outstanding and enduring contributions to the practice of physical therapy as exemplified in the professional career of Linda Crane. Eligibility criteria include membership in Cardiovascular & Pulmonary, Education OR Pediatric sections. Demonstration of expertise in clinical practice, academic practice, or research, and contributions to APTA at the state, section, or national level are required. Additional information is posted on the Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Section website.
Academy of Pediatric Physical Therapy Draft Slate
The Academy of Pediatric Physical Therapy is pleased to announce the draft slate for elections this fall:
 
President: Cindy Miles, Mary Jane Rapport
 
Region II Director: Katie Laubscher
 
Region IV Director: Karen Gage Bensley, Jamie Greco

Region V Director: Connie Johnson, Mary Swiggum
 
Nominating Committee Member: Cheryl Jabara, Amber Lancaster
 
The slate will be finalized September 1 and voting will open in the fall. If you would like to consider running for a position, please contact Laura Case, the Academy's Nominating Committee Chair.  
We Need Your Help to Educate the Public on APPT
The Academy is seeking short (less than 15 second) video clips answering:
  • What is the Academy of Pediatric Physical Therapy?
  • What is pediatric physical therapy?
  • Why you love pediatric physical therapy?
Clips can be sent to [email protected] or shared via Picasa (Google's photo sharing app; just click the share button and put in the email)! Videos are due no later than August 1. Please do NOT film any patients. If you would like to be featured in the film, you are welcome to film your empty gym. Thank you for your help! As a team, we can "transform society by optimizing movement to improve the human experience!"
Physical Therapy Industry Outcome Utilization Survey
APTA is collecting data on the level of participation in collecting and reporting on clinical outcomes and in the specific tools members' are currently using. They are looking to measure the industry's adoption of clinical outcomes as a whole and to assess the uses for these measures, as well as the barriers for adoption. We are hopeful that this information will assist in improving and standardizing industry adoption of clinical outcome measures. Please take a few moments and complete this brief survey.
Online PPT Journal Article Courses Available for CEUs
The Academy has a new text-based course available through the Learning Center based on the following article in the most recent issue of Pediatric Physical Therapy: Benefits and Enjoyment of a Swimming Intervention for Youth with Cerebral Palsy: An RCT Study. This joins the text-based course based on the following article from the April issue of PPT: Timed Floor to Stand-Natural: Reference Data for School Age Children. The courses provide 1-2 contact hours.
2016 Measuring Outcomes of Pediatric Physical Therapy
There are still spaces left for the 2016 Measuring Outcomes of Pediatric Physical Therapy (dates: September 6, 2016 - December 15, 2016). This intense, fast paced 14- week course offers the right mix of lectures, collaboration, and flexibility. Benefit from 4 self-paced learning modules plus live instructor and facilitator-led online case-based discussions. With deadlines for each module, and structured assignments with due dates, this course will keep you interested and on track. Participation in this course engages you in an online community of practice, where you will share resources and successes, discuss challenges of learning and applying course information, develop knowledge translation strategies, and more. Seize the opportunity to share, challenge, learn, and apply best-practices to benefit you, your profession, and your patients. Some of the content this course will cover:
  • Selecting appropriate tests and measures for diagnostic, prognostic, and evaluative purposes
  • Administering and interpreting pediatric tests and measures
  • Creating a knowledge translation plan
  • Application of course information to your work setting
 Register today to secure your space. The course provides 31 contact hours.
The 2016 APPT Emerging Leader Award Recipient Is Katie Laubscher
Congratulations to Katie M. Laubscher, PT, DPT, PCS, who was selected by the Academy of Pediatric Physical Therapy as a 2016 recipient of the Emerging Leader Award. Katie is 1 of 26 members who were nominated by their component leadership to merit this honor and to be recognized in the October issue of PT in Motion Magazine. The Emerging Leader Award was established to annually honor individuals who have demonstrated extraordinary service to the profession and APTA early in their careers. Katie has served as Oregon and Iowa State Representative. She serves as Academic & Clinical Education SIG Secretary and has been instrumental in helping to develop the ACE SIG, engage and communicate with members via social media. She also serves on the Knowledge Translation Committee. We are grateful for all that Katie has done for the Academy and for APTA.
CSM
CSM Housing is now open. Registration will open in late September. Hot topics from the Academy of Pediatric Physical Therapy include the VanSant Lectureship, Measuring Outcomes for Children with CP across the ICF, and The Final P: Pearls from the IV STEP Conference.
APPT Member Surveys
 
Consistency of referral policies for PT and OT in the NICU: This project aims to study the consistency of referral criteria for PT/OT in ICUs throughout the US by surveying therapists practicing in the NICU. Questions and comments can be directed to Alicia Fernandez-Fernandez. Survey end date: TBD.
Upcoming Events
 
APPT Research Grant Submissions Due September 1

APPT Strategic Planning Meeting - September 9-10, Alexandria, VA

APTA State Policy & Payment Forum - September 17-18, Pittsburgh, PA

Advanced Clinical Practice in Pediatric Physical Therapy Course 2016 - September 23-25, Atlanta, GA - REGISTER TODAY!

APPT Award Sumissions Due October 1

APTA National Student Conclave - October 27-29, Miami, FL

APPT Education Summit - November 9-10, Denver, CO  

Section on Pediatrics Annual Conference (SoPAC) 2016 - November 11-13 (preconference courses November 9-10), Keystone Resort, CO - REGISTER TODAY!

APTA Combined Sections Meeting 2017 - February 15-18, San Antonio, TX

Academy of Pediatric Physical Therapy Annual Conference (APPTAC) 2017 - November 17-19 (preconference courses November 15-16), Cincinnati, OH - SUBMIT YOUR PROPOSAL 
Academy of Pediatric Physical Therapy
See what's happening on our social sites: