APTA Colorado's Nominating Committee Announces 2021 Ballot

The APTA Colorado Chapter's 2021 elections will OPEN on Wednesday, August 25, 2021 and will conclude on Saturday, September 25, 2021 during the annual conference. The results will be announced during the conference and online. Only CURRENT APTA Colorado Chapter Members (PTs & PTAs) are eligible to vote and will only be allowed to cast one ballot.

The Nominating Committee of the APTA Colorado Chapter presents the following slate of 9 candidates for the 2021 ballot.

Vice President: 
  • Patty Pennell Noel, PT, ScD
  • Raymond Vigil, BSPT, DPT
Secretary
  • Cynthia Rauert, PT, DPT
Director at Large - Practice Director 
  • Tyler Luke, PT, DPT
Director at Large - Young Professionals Director 
  • Samantha Cohen, PT, DPT, OCS
Chief Delegate Elect
  • Rebekah Griffith, PT, DPT, NCS
  • Mary Jane Rapport, PT, DPT, PhD, FAPTA
Nominating Committee Member
  • Kelli Baggett, PT, DPT, OCS
  • Erin Hayden, PT, DPT, OCS

To learn more about the candidates, click here

 

PTs Share Considerable Experience & Expertise at HEADSTRONG Workshop 

This past weekend, August 7-8, 2021, eighteen physical therapists and one occupational therapist from rural areas across the state (and two from Oregon) gathered in the beautiful heart of Colorado at Western Colorado University in Gunnison, Colorado for the HEADSTRONG Workshop on Differential Diagnosis and Management of Concussion Recovery. Nicole Miranda and Heather Campbell shared their considerable experience and expertise, facilitating an intense learning opportunity. Participants discussed many components of mild traumatic brain injury including the spectrum of visual impairments, immune and inflammatory complications, the effects of COVID-19, vestibular and cervical impairments and autonomic nervous system influence on exertion tolerance. Skills both old and new were practiced, and numerous case examples explored. All participants reported being excited about the course style and content, leaving with broader outlooks on how to consult with and assist individuals after a concussive event. Working within a larger medical team as well as being leaders in community health education were emphasized, and participants shared the many challenges presented in rural communities. A silver lining of the ‘Covid Year’ has been widespread telemedicine access, which will serve to open consultation and collaborative channels for professionals everywhere.

We are grateful for the support of the APTA Colorado Chapter, Gunnison Valley Health, and Western Colorado University. Be on the lookout for future events! 

Nicole A. Miranda, PT, DPT
Heather Campbell, PT, DPT, MA, OCS (emerita)
Enhanced Clinical Insight, LLC

   

 

Let's Show Our Communities What Makes Our Profession Shine

Cap off our centennial year by joining APTA, association components, and individual members in a special "100 Days of Service" initiative. Coming this September: join us from wherever you are to participate in "100 Days of Service," an APTA initiative aimed at highlighting a value built into the profession's DNA — commitment to communities.

Beginning Sept. 22, APTA will lead an effort during the last 100 days of our centennial year to make a collective impact on our communities by offering access to various service activities. The activities — available at the national, APTA component, and individual levels — are meant to spark community engagement, collaboration with other APTA members, and increased awareness of the physical therapy profession.

Click here to learn more. 

 

In Case You Missed It – The Fight is On … Again!

The following letter was posted on August 2, 2021 by APTA President, Sharon L. Dunn, PT, PhD: 

The U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is once again proposing payment cuts to Medicare outpatient services, cuts that threaten patients' ability to access needed care and our ability to provide it. Physical therapy isn't alone in these sweeping cuts — some three-dozen other health care professions are affected as well, some worse than ours.

Last year, late intervention by Congress was the only thing that diminished CMS' plans to implement an estimated average 9% cut to physical therapy payment in 2021. Thanks to grassroots activism by our members, Congress appropriated an additional $3 billion to the Medicare fee schedule that reduced the cut to approximately 3.3%.

Without a change in course from CMS or congressional intervention again, the cuts will continue in 2022. CMS is also planning to move ahead with a plan that would reduce payment rates for outpatient therapy services delivered by PTAs and OTAs under Medicare Part B by 15% — the "differential."

It’s time for the APTA community to do everything we can to advocate for our patients and our profession, both on Capitol Hill and at CMS.

You can help by learning the history behind the issues and then making your voice heard through our action centers. Membership matters. Your voice matters – and we are better together in our advocacy.

Best, 

Sharon L. Dunn, PT, PhD
Board-Certified Orthopaedic Clinical Specialist
APTA President

Take Action

Latest Information

History of the Fight

 

Denver Mandates COVID-19 Vaccination for Healthcare Workers, Educators & Others

ORDER WHEREAS, on March 12, 2020, the Mayor of the City and County of Denver declared a state of local disaster emergency pursuant to C.R.S. § 24-33.5-701, et seq., due to the risk of spread of the COVID-19 virus.

WHEREAS, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control (“CDC”), COVID-19 continues to pose a serious risk, especially to individuals who are not fully vaccinated, and certain safety measures remain necessary to protect against COVID-19 cases and deaths.

WHEREAS, vaccination is the most effective way to prevent transmission and limit COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths.

WHEREAS, this Order is based upon evidence of continued community transmission of COVID19, in particular the rise of Delta variant cases, within the City and County of Denver.

WHEREAS, the primary intent of this Order is to continue to protect the community from COVID19 and to increase vaccination rates to reduce transmission of COVID-19 long-term, so that the community is safer and the COVID-19 pandemic can come to an end. All provisions of this Order shall be interpreted to effectuate this intent.

Due to the recent surge of Delta variant COVID-19 cases and epidemiological evidence that shows low rates of vaccination fuel increased rates of community transmission, this Order hereby requires personnel of the following entities, or types of entities, to be fully vaccinated by September 30, 2021:

  • the City and County of Denver;
  • care facilities;
  • hospitals;
  • clinical settings;
  • limited healthcare settings;
  • shelters for people experiencing homelessness, including day and overnight shelters;
  • correctional facilities, including jails, detention centers and community corrections sites and residences;
  • schools, including post-secondary and higher education;
  • childcare centers and services;
  • any entity providing home care to patients; and
  • any entity providing first responder services.

This Order further requires the entities or types of entities listed above to ensure that all personnel are fully vaccinated by September 30, 2021, and to ensure that all personnel hired thereafter are vaccinated. Until a person’s vaccination status is ascertained, that person must be treated as not fully vaccinated. Personnel who decline to provide vaccination status must also be treated as unvaccinated. The entities, or types of entities listed above, with the exception of hospitals, must complete their initial ascertainment of full vaccination status for all personnel by September 30, 2021 and must maintain corresponding records that are available to the health authority upon request. Hospitals may meet their ascertainment of full vaccination status in conjunction with meeting their flu and other vaccination requirements.

“Personnel” means employees of the entities or types of entities listed above, as well as individuals who provide services onsite and/or in the field to or on behalf of the entities or types of entities listed above on a contractual or volunteer basis. Entities and individuals who provide onsite services to or on behalf of the Denver International Airport on a contractual basis shall not be considered “personnel” for purposes of this Order. Employers shall provide reasonable accommodations for any personnel who have medical or religious exemptions from the COVID19 vaccination.

“Employees” of the City and County of Denver shall mean all persons in the employ of the City and County of Denver, including on-call employees; interns (paid or unpaid); volunteers; appointed officers, board members and commissioners; elected officials; at-will appointees of elected officials and the Department of Aviation; hearing officers appointed by the Career Service Board; employees of the Denver County Court including judges and magistrates; and employees of the Independent Monitor’s Office, City Council, Library Commission, the Denver Public Library, and the Civil Service Commission.

“Care facilities” means nursing facilities, assisted living residences, intermediate care facilities and group homes.

“Childcare centers and services” does not include foster care.

“Clinical settings” means ambulance service centers, urgent care centers, non-ambulatory surgical structures, clinics, dentist offices, doctor offices, and non-urgent care medical structures.

“Fully vaccinated” means two weeks after a person’s second dose in a two-dose series and two weeks after a single-dose vaccine.

“Limited healthcare settings” means those locations where healthcare services are provided including but not limited to acupuncture, audiology services, services by hearing aid providers, chiropractic care, massage therapy, naturopathic care, occupational therapy services, optometry, ophthalmology, physical therapy, and speech language pathology services.

This Order shall be effective immediately and shall remain in effect until rescinded, superseded, or amended in writing by the Executive Director of DDPHE.

Issued by: Robert M. McDonald

Public Health Administrator, City & County of Denver Executive Director, Denver Dept of Public Health & Environment

 
<< first < Prev 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 Next > last >>

Page 90 of 172