In this News Brief:

• Staff Contact Information

2024 Award Recipients

Please join us in congratulating our 2024 awardees! They will be honored at the Awards Luncheon at the Annual Education Meeting in Cedar Rapids, Iowa!

 Outstanding Service Award 

Missy Anthony, OH
Mario Baker, OH
Teresa Briedwell, MO
Megan Certo, IN
Claire Covert-ByBee, NE
Susan Gile, KS
Sheri Hale, PA
Ruth Maher, GA
Craig Miller, MI
Danette Neikirk, FL
 

Academy of Advanced Item Writers 

Annmarie Fewkes, NJ
Dana Kahl, AR 

July Candidate Forum

The Nominating Committee is pleased to announce the slate for this year’s elections, to take place virtually during the Annual Education Meeting, October 31–November 2. Please read the Candidate Statements to get to know the candidates.

The Nominating Committee will hold a Candidate Forum on Tuesday, July 2, in conjunction with the 2024 Leadership Issues Forum, to introduce 2024 candidates for the Board of Directors and the Nominating Committee. This will be followed by a Candidate Forum in the fall.

Please join FSBPT in thanking the 2024 Nominating Committee Members, Ron Barredo (Chair), Robert Friberg, and Adrienne (Stacy) Price for their work this year.

Stephen Curley (KY) Secretary	Deanne Grier Yates (KS) Secretary
Steven Scherger (MN) Treasurer	Krista M. Wolfe (PA) Treasurer
David Harris (TN) Director #1	Craig Thomas Miller (MI) Director #1
Bernardine Spaulding Evans (DC) Nominating Committee Member	Kristina Lounsberry (LA) Nominating Committee Member

Model Practice Act Moment

Each month, we will focus on a different statute section from the Model Practice Act and its accompanying commentary. 

  Statute
1.02 Definitions As specifically used in this [act], the following terms have the meanings set forth below, unless the context requires otherwise. 

9. “Onsite supervision” means supervision by a physical therapist who is continuously onsite and present in the department or facility where services are provided. The supervising therapist is immediately available to the person being supervised and maintains continued involvement in the necessary aspects of patient/client care. 

20.“Supervision” means the process by which a physical therapist oversees and directs safe and effective delivery of patient/client care through appropriate verbal, written, or electronic communication. This may be accomplished with the physical therapist located onsite or remotely as deemed appropriate based on the patient/client needs.

Commentary
“Onsite supervision” is an important inclusion in the definitions section. Some practice acts have very specific definitions where, for example, “onsite” is further defined as meaning direct visual contact, or defining “immediately available” within a time parameter of so many seconds or minutes. Such definitions are overly restrictive. The supervising physical therapist remains professionally and legally responsible for care rendered under the physical therapist’s license, as discussed under the previous definition for “Supervision.” When onsite supervision is appropriate, the Model Practice Act language recommends that the supervisor should be within close proximity—in the department or facility—and immediately available. “Immediately available” is a term frequently used in healthcare statutes and in Medicare rules. It denotes a sense of urgency in delivery of care, not a sense, necessarily, of standing next to the person being supervised at all times. The phrase, “maintains continued involvement in the necessary aspects of patient care,” is emphasized and underscores that supervising physical therapists are responsible for provided physical therapy interventions. Supervising physical therapists should remain actively involved with those persons who are under their care and supervision. The definition has been broadened to be inclusive of various types of onsite supervision and may include but not limited to the supervision of physical therapist assistants, physical therapy aides as well as supervision of personnel under restrictive licensure.

Version 7 of the Model Practice Act has added a definition of “supervision” to underscore the fact that the physical therapist is ultimately the party responsible for the safe and effective delivery of patient care, and that the physical therapist is responsible for determining the level of supervision and direction that is appropriate. While some sections or rules may specify onsite supervision is required, this underscores that even if not required in statute or rule, onsite supervision may be appropriate and therefore necessary based on the needs of the patient/client. It is also important to note that within patient management, “direction” and “supervision” are functions that belong solely to the licensed physical therapist. The physical therapist assistant shall receive help from a physical therapy aide when performing certain tasks or procedures, but the physical therapist assistant does not assume the responsibility to “direct and supervise” the provision of care. That responsibility remains with the supervising physical therapist and, by law, cannot be relinquished to another.

Available Funding Opportunities

The FSBPT Board is committed to supporting its member jurisdictions in their mission to protect the public. Join the ranks of states, including Alabama, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Minnesota, Nevada, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Virgin Islands, and Texas, that have all taken a big step toward both administrative efficiency and protecting the public. They are currently leveraging FSBPT Grants to enhance the ELDD, improve compact privilege implementation, and collect workforce data.

Your state should be next! Learn more about our available grants to help jurisdictions with enhancing your participation in or communication with our Examination, Licensure, and Disciplinary Database (ELDD), improving compact privilege implementation, or collecting workforce data.

FSBPT offers grant funding to support its member jurisdictions in their mission to protect the public. If you are interested in receiving a grant, please send an email to FSBPT's CEO, William A. Hatherill summarizing what you would like to have funded and why it is important or how it can improve efficiencies for your board.

Upcoming Webinars

We are hosting multiple upcoming webinars within the FSBPT Portal, allowing you to easily access member resources, groups, and events all in one place! Be sure to register for these upcoming webinars:

Navigating Multi-State Investigations: Best Practices and Strategies

• Wednesday, August 7, 2024, 4:00 p.m. ET

August 2024 Regulatory Hour Don't Say A Word: Speech vs. Conduct

• Wednesday, August 21, 4:00 p.m. ET

To register, please log in to the FSBPT Portal, select "Events," and click on the event you'd like to register for.

Send Us Additional Recipients

Do you know of any individuals or groups that would be interested in receiving our monthly News Brief? Or, did someone forward this to you and you'd like to be on our list?

Please send any referrals our way! Contact us via email at communications@fsbpt.org with information, ideas, or suggestions.

We appreciate your collaboration in our effort to further our mission to protect the public.

FSBPT Forum: Revised Model Practice Act: Spotlight on Animal Physical Therapy

The revised seventh edition of the Model Practice Act includes information and guidance on animal physical therapy and offers appropriate legislative language to reflect an emerging practice area. This article is by Kirk Peck, Vice Chair of the Nebraska Board of Physical Therapy.

Spotlight on Member Resources: Regulatory Modernization

The Jurisdiction Licensure Reference Guide is a resource that compares some of the major similarities and differences among the jurisdictions. Developed by FSBPT, the guide is used as a reference for educational programs, students, licensing boards, professional associations, and others.

Many Thanks to Our Volunteers

This month, we thank our generous volunteer members for their support of our mission.

• Exam Development Committee - PT

FSBPT Welcomes Seksit Niltub as our new Chief Financial Officer!

Seksit brings a wealth of experience in financial management to FSBPT. He holds a bachelor's and master's degree in accounting from the University of Florida and was previously the CFO at the Boys & Girls Club of Central Florida in Orlando, Florida. He will officially begin his role at FSBPT in August, but we also look forward to his attendance at the Leadership Issues Forum in July, where he will have the opportunity to meet FSBPT members and volunteers. 

Linda Michelsen, our current CFO, will depart FSBPT this summer and begin her retirement in Charlottesville, Virginia. We are grateful for her many years of service and wish her a bright and happy retirement

In the News

FSBPT provides the following links for your education and awareness but does not endorse the content.

"61% of US Adults will have cardiovascular disease by 2050, American Heart Association says," Becker’s Hospital Review, Ashleigh Hollowell, June 4, 2024
"A majority of adults in the U.S. — around 61% — are likely to be diagnosed with a form of cardiovascular disease by 2050, according to new American Heart Association data. The increased burden will cost the U.S. health system $1.8 trillion in the time frame."

"A New Heritage ‘Backgrounder’ Addresses the Mix of Doctors, But Not the Overall Supply," CATO Institute, Jeffrey A. Singer, May 14, 2024
"Last March, a report from the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) projected a shortage of up to 86,000 physicians, including as many as 40,000 primary care physicians. The report noted that, as of 2021, as many as 17 percent of active physicians were over age 65, with an additional 25 percent of the physician workforce between age 55 and 64, concluding, ‘it is very likely that more than a third of currently active physicians will retire within the next decade.'"

"Occupational Licensing Reform Remains Priority for State Legislators," LexisNexis, Brian Joseph, June 18, 2024
"For years now, state legislatures across the country have been focused on reforming their occupational licensing laws. Since 2017 the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), in cooperation with The Council of State Governments and the National Governors Association, has tracked thousands of occupational licensing bills, which seek to balance the competing values of consumer protection and eliminating barriers to employment."

"Artificial intelligence viewed through the lens of state regulation," ScienceDirect, Sarvam TerKonda, Eric Fish, Volume7, 2023
"The role of state medical boards in regulating the practice of medicine and intersection of this role with artificial intelligence is explored."

"Closeup on an attack: Why rural hospitals need extra cybersecurity help," Nextgov.com, John Breeden II, June 21, 2024
In addition to weaker cybersecurity protections, another concern is the oversized impact that the loss, even temporarily, of a rural hospital has on the people who live in the area.

"What if your ‘physician’ wasn’t actually a doctor at all? Beware this new reckless experiment," The Guardian, Rachel Clarke, June 20, 2024
The NHS says it’s not trying to replace qualified doctors with physician associates. But we can see the terrifying truth.

"An A.I. Robot Named Sophia Tells Graduates to Believe in Themselves," The New York Times, Jesus Jiménez, May 15, 2024
D’Youville University in Buffalo had an A.I. speak at its commencement on Saturday. Not everyone was happy about it.

Board Report

Recently, to advance the business of FSBPT, the board approved the motions listed. Please contact your jurisdiction board liaison if you have any questions or would like additional information.

MOTIONS APPROVED

Motion: To award the Outstanding Service Award to the following:

• Missy Anthony, OH
• Mario Baker, OH
• Teresa Briedwell, MO
• Megan Certo, IN
• Claire Covert-ByBee, NE
• Susan Gile, KS
• Sheri Hale, PA
• Ruth Maher, GA
• Craig Miller, MI 

Motion: To award the Academy of Advanced Item Writer to the following:

• Dana Kahl, AR 
• Annmarie Fewkes, NJ 

Motion: To ratify grant to PT Compact/South Dakota - $2,250

FSBPT Board of Directors

Members of the board of directors serve as liaisons to multiple jurisdictions.

Ruggie Canizares Colorado, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, Utah	Ellen Donald Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee	Cynthia Potter Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont	David Relling Hawaii, Iowa, Michigan,  North Dakota, Puerto Rico, South Dakota, Virgin Islands
Steven Scherger Arkansas, Kentucky, Minnesota, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, Virginia	Michelle Sigmund-Gaines Alaska, Arizona, California, District of Columbia, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, Wyoming	Michele Thorman Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Missouri, Ohio, West Virginia, Wisconsin	Charles E. Reiter The public member of the board does not serve as a liaison to jurisdictions

Did you know...?

FSBPT’s Board of Directors wants members to know staff is available to assist any jurisdiction with writing statutory or regulatory language. When you are crafting new laws or regulations/rules, especially involving FSBPT products such as the NPTE or Coursework Tool, or controversial topics such as dry needling, FSBPT is a resource to remember!

Staff Contact Information

Subject	Point of Contact/Email Address
ADA accommodations	Christine Sousa
Assessment or examination development questions	Lorin Muelle Susan Newman npte@fsbpt.org
Continuing competence	Jeffrey M. Rosa
Credentials review	Jaime Nolan, FCCPT
ELDD- Exam, Licensure and Disciplinary Database participation	eldd@fsbpt.org
Exam registration processing	Christine Sousa
Foreign educated issues	Leslie Adrian
Immigration	Jamie Nolan
JAM- Jurisprudence Assessment Module	JAM@fsbpt.org
Legislation or Model Practice Act	Leslie Adrian
Meeting arrangements	Paul Delaney
NPDB reports/questions	Angela Burnham
PTC- Physical Therapy Compact	compact@fsbpt.org
PEAT®- Practice Exam & Assessment Tool	peat@fsbpt.org
Reimbursement of expenses Other financial matters	Linda Michelsen
School reports	schoolreports@fsbpt.org
Score transfer & reporting	Christine Sousa
SCP PET- Supervised Clinical Practice Performance Evaluation Tool	scppet@fsbpt.org
Security issues	Susan Newman security@fsbpt.org
Anything else, including news to share with members	William A. Hatherill Caitlin Jennings Communications@fsbpt.org

 

 

From the daisey-covered banks of the Potomac, where the fish are faster, the fishing boats are longer, and the fishermen are still full of stories. William A. Hatherill, CEO