March 2001

Editor's Message

By Kristen M. Pratt

Overcoming the Ferocity of Competition

I recently returned from the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) Combined Sections Meeting in San Antonio, Tex. The show was wellattended?always a good sign for the field of physical medicine and rehabilitation on the whole?and offered the typical workshop topics, ranging from aquatic therapy for the pre? and post?partum woman to understanding health care issues. One of my favorite aspects of attending conferences is the poster sessions. They always cover a wide range of topics and reflect the true interests of the participants.

One particular poster, titled "The Emergence of Two Professions: Physical Therapy and Athletic Training," particularly caught my eye. The poster was done by Gail Jensen, PhD, and and three students in the School of Physical Therapy at Creighton University, Omaha, Neb.

The premise of the poster was a comparison of the evolution of physical therapy and athletic training focusing on practice and education through a model of professionalism. I was not surprised to see this topic addressed because I have been hearing rumblings of a PT vs ATC vendetta at both APTA and National Athletic Training Association (NATA) events. I believe the discord derives from the overlap in the patient populations and in the services provided by both professions, and with limited reimbursement, the competition becomes fierce. A similar situation is occurring between PTs and chiropractors with that battle taking place in federal courts.

Because of the regulatory and legislative changes that have so greatly affected rehabilitation, it is not surprising to see interdisciplinary fields moving into a scarcity mind?set However, rehab seems to be heading toward an upswing so where does that leave physical therapy and athletic training? Is there enough room to accommodate the two fields into a reciprocal and team?building arena?

NATA and APTA are not so different as organizations. NATA was founded in 1950 with a group of 200 athletic trainers. Today, the organization has more than 27,000 members and is represented internationally. There are three avenues to becoming an ATC: graduate athletic training education programs, which are certified by NATA; entry-level (undergraduate) athletic training programs; and entry?level (graduate) athletic training programs both accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs.

APTA represents more than 66,000 members with the goal of fostering advancements in physical therapy practice, research, and education. PT education is strictly university-based and accredited by a PT run body, but there is no unifor mity of degree.

The poster concluded that both professions are still developing. However, because PT education programs are all university?based and there is public and legal recognition (with PT practice acts nationwide) in all 50 states, and because athletic therapy does not have licensure laws in all 50 states and all training is not accomplished through accredited, university?based programs, physical therapy ranked as a more developed profession than athletic training in this particular study.

What does this mean for the two professions? One thing is certain: neither profession can afford to rest on its laurels?there is still work to be done. I hope that the two professions develop a complementary relationship instead of an adversarial one. I eagerly await comment from the key players in this unfolding drama?physical therapists and athletic trainers.

—Kristen Pratt Machado is no longer Editor of Rehab Management. Please address any correspondence to Sarah Schmelling, Senior Editor, at cwolski@medpubs.com.

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