CHCS - Perspectives Winter/Spring 2016

48 • NOVA SOUTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY R ecent legislative efforts from the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) and its Florida chapter (FPTA) have aimed to tackle big issues such as the Medi- care therapy cap and Florida’s direct-access limitations. These legislative activities will have lasting effects on the practice of physical therapy, and the students of the Hybrid D.P.T. program in Tampa are taking notice. One of the goals of the Tampa Student Physical Therapy Association (SPTA) is to increase stu- dent awareness of professional issues and advo- cacy. This is difficult, as advocacy is often pushed aside in the life of a busy student due to the time it takes to stay up on current events, make phone calls, and write emails and letters to legislators. Advocacy keeps our profession moving forward and falls right in line with our core value of professional duty. As our profession moves to a Doctor of Physical Therapy model, all of us—students and future students—have the accountability to not only focus on excellent care for our patients, but to make a broader impact by weighing in on issues that affect current and future patients. Our service, as SPTA leaders, is not only to the student body at NSU, but also to the physical therapy profession. To improve the ease of advocating for the profession, the APTA has introduced the APTA Action app. As a result, the Tampa SPTA members are leading a charge to get their fellow students to use it. Through this app, users can be informed of federal issues, such as the Medicare therapy cap, and subjects specific to Florida—such as the recent Senate Bill 710, which removes barriers to care caused by the current 21-day limit on direct access. The APTA Action app allows users to reach their legis- lators in less than a minute with a smartphone, which makes it a great tool for busy students and profession- als. Other app features allow users to make donations to the APTA’s Political Action Committee, sign up for advocacy events like PT Day on Capitol Hill, and read about talking points regarding current health care issues. The Tampa SPTA members used their most recent on-campus weekend to get as many of their fellow students and faculty members as possible to download the app. Faculty members allowed SPTA class repre- sentatives class time to showcase the app, which many students downloaded immediately. One of the greatest legacies student leaders can leave is one of advocacy for their profession, because it helps advance health care to an ideal view for the treatment of patients. ■ Chavez serves as past vice president of the Tampa SPTA. Masullo is the past president. Smartphones Put to Work for the Profession Physical Therapy TAMPA BY KATHERINE CHAVEZ, PT STUDENT; LAUREN MASULLO, PT STUDENT; AND MELISSA LAZINSKI, D.P.T., PT, OCS, ASSISTANT PROFESSOR