This is a letter I composed for the Student Assembly's Committee Organizer in hopes of joining the committee for Interprofessional Development (now called Interprofessional Collaboration). This is where I want the Physical Therapy & Health Care Profession to be when healthcare reform finally happens. I welcome any comments or responses.
To Whom This May Concern,
I am interested in serving on the Interprofessional Development Committee of the APTASA. I am finishing my first year at East Tennessee State University (ETSU) and looking to be more involved with the APTA’s Student Assembly. I have a special interest in Interprofessional Development because health care is changing and its imperative the Physical Therapists are at the round table with other medical professional when changes are made. The Doctor of Physical Therapy has potential to be the Primary Care Provider in Musculoskeletal care, as long as we collaborate with other professionals, educating them about our knowledge and training. Having resources available for students that prepare them for meaningful conversations, collaboration & conflict management strategies with other medical personnel, along with assistance locating clinics, continuing education and residency programs, and fellowship opportunities that prepare a PT to be that primary care provider, is what I think the committee should address.
I am currently enrolled in an Interprofessional Education Program (IPE) at ETSU and feel that this model can be used nationwide. Once a semester, I meet with other students of Nursing, Medical, Speech Therapy, Psychology, Pharmacy, Audiology and Social Work for a day of workshops. Last workshop’s focus was on conflict-management strategies at the clinic. This two year program will culminate the final year with a community project. One obvious problem that I see PT students having in the IPE program, is that I am the only one! I am afraid that our role in healthcare is endangered of being pushed out of the inner circle of providers, especially in outpatient care. One way of making sure we are not excluded is by being the creators of the programs and the clinics nationwide.
A common analogy that people use to describe the healthcare system is the “silo” approach to care. This couldn’t be more true. Our health care system has been divided into its own sections and we are at the mercy of this separation. Let us be the change to the system by fostering interprofessional communication. Let us set up clinics where a collaborative approach to care is taken. Medical Professionals may all have different backgrounds due to our education, but using this in the most effective way possible to harness patient-center care is imperative for our broken system to fix itself. Knowing that things can change and that they ARE changing is what gives me hope. I feel our role as students is to make sure PTs are where we envisioned ourselves being in 2020 and we can do that by providing resources and support to fellow students who are driven to be the change.
Sincerely,
Melissa
