APTA Colorado Attracts 19 New Members During January

Posted February 23, 2017 

Please join APTA Colorado in welcoming the following new members: 

• Mark Ferrer, PT - transferring from Jacksonville, Florida
• Brian Burkhardt, MS - Niwot
• Erin Gonzalez, PTA - Grand Junction
• Carol Whittenburg, PT, MPT - Grand Junction
• Sarah Lashley, SPT - Parker
• Heather Granzella, PTA - Colorado Springs
• Staci Leigh Cost, DPT, MTC, OCS - Golden
• Jennifer Churchill, PT- Fort Collins
• Megan Courtney Holmberg, PT, DPT - Brighton
• Jacki Ann Gilpin, PT - Colorado Springs
• Cristina Fernandez Brassil, PT - Colorado Springs
• Christi Michelle Brock Hutchison, PT, NCS - Westminster
• Jennifer Erin Strange, PT, DPT - transferring from Olathe, Kansas
• Jacquelyn Hughes, PT - Colorado Springs
• Melissa Fielding, PT - Colorado Springs
• Laura Joy Voth, PT - Colorado Springs
• Austin Lake, SPT - Grand Junction
• Taylor Janee Sisneros, SPT - Grand Junction
• Anna Kallin, PT - Grand Junction

Remember, the bigger the number, the bigger the voice. We are excited these members have joined APTA Colorado to let all of our voices be heard.

Be sure to connect with these new members if you're in the same region. Remember -- you can search all APTA Colorado members on the website.

APTA Colorado Has Important Dry Needling Announcement For Members 

Posted: Feb. 23, 2017

APTA Colorado members are encouraged to read a new members-only update on the practice of dry needling in the state. You must be signed in as a member to view it. Not a member of APTA Colorado? Join us!

To encourage discussion on the topic, APTA Colorado has established a special "dry needling discussion circle" to its new website so that people with high interest in dry needling in Colorado can be well-informed. 

Join the circle (you must be signed in as a member).

Also, linked here is a survey on the utilization of dry needling by physical therapists in Colorado. We will need your input!

PTs Invited to DORA's Practice Monitor Training on March 17

Posted: Feb. 17, 2017

The Department of Regulatory Agencies and Peer Assistance Services, Inc. have invited physical therapists and physical therapist assistants to attend a professional practice monitor training session on Friday, March 17th. The event will be 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at DORA's offices on the 19th floor of 1560 Broadway, Denver. 

The training is geared professions regulated by the State Physical Therapy Board, the Colorado Dental Board, the State Board of Chiropractic Examiners and the State Board of Veterinary Medicine. As a trained practice monitor, licensees will have an opportunity to ensure consumer protection by helping colleagues who have experienced health-related or practice issues that require rigorous monitoring to practice their profession safely. 

Who Should Attend

- Licensees interested in becoming a practice monitor and serving their respective professional community

- Current practice monitors interested in sharing their experience and expertise 

Criteria to Become a Practice Monitor

- Minimum of five years of experience in area of practice

- Current understanding of professional standards of care and practice act

Objectives

- Describe the relationship between the regulatory boards, the peer health assistance program, and the practice monitor

- Understand the regulatory complaint process

- Describe the practice monitor role, obligations of monitoring, and required documentation

- Identify strategies for addressing common difficulties as a practice monitor

- Determine how to set fees for practice monitoring services 

To Register:

Email Katherine Garcia at [email protected] or call 303.369.0039 extension 230.

APTA Colorado Approves A Special Interest Group For Clinical Educators

Posted: Feb. 9, 2017

APTA Colorado's board agreed to the creation of a seventh Special Interest Group, this one for Clinical Educators.

The purpose of the Clinical Education SIG, its organizers said, "shall be to provide a means by which Colorado clinical educators, academic clinical coordinators and students, who have a common interest in providing effective, evidence-based clinical education, may meet, confer and promote the interests of its membership."

While new to APTA Colorado, the group isn't new. In fact, the Clinical Educators Forum, or CEF, has a 30-year history in Colorado. Its mission was “to build relationships within the Physical Therapy education community by sharing experiences, knowledge and resources in order to provide students, Clinicians, and academic programs with excellence in all aspects of clinical education.”

Forum members felt that becoming a SIG of APTA Colorado would increase awareness of the group. APTA Colorado's board agreed, voting unanimously to embrace the new SIG, which joins CAReSIG (Colorado Acute/Rehab SIG), Pediatric SIG, Private Practice SIG, PTA SIG, Student SIG and Sport SIG.

The initial Clinical Education SIG chair is Shelene Thomas, PT, DPT, EdD, GCS. The initial treasurer is Laura Sage, PT, DPT, MEd, WCC. The Clinical Education SIG currently seeks candidates for the positions of Vice President and Secretary to conform to the chapter's SIG policy.

The Clinical Education SIG plans quarterly meetings of approximately two hours in length at various Denver locations.

You must be an APTA Colorado member to join the new SIG, but non-members are welcome to participate in meetings (although at higher rates than are charged to members). 

More information on the new SIG will be released shortly.