Veterans to Recieve More Qualified Physical Therapist

According to a news release from the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) a bill was introduced by Representative Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (D-SD) called the Veterans Physical Therapy Services Improvement Act of 2009 (HR 1036). The news release states that the bill will improve the recruitment and retention of physical therapist (PT) in the Veterans Health Administration. (VHA)

Well it is about time! Some attention is given to our veterans. The people who risk their lives for the safety of this country, they deserve all the best that the country has to offer when they return from wars. The APTA applauds the introduction of this act and welcomes it with open hands. I join the APTA in applauding this introduction; it is a good step in the right way for helping the veterans of this country.

The news release states that the legislation will open a Director of Physical Therapy Service position that will report to the Under Secretary of Health, ensuring that as the profession advances the VHA keeps current with issues related to the physical therapy profession's education, qualifications, clinical privileges, and scope of practice. The release also states that the legislation will create a new fellowship program for physical therapists in the areas of geriatrics, amputee rehabilitation, polytrauma, and rehabilitation research. This will hopefully improve the quality of the service offered by PTs and increase the interacting between these professionals to advance the profession in the right way to help the veterans and other patients. All for the people who deserve it the most, the people who risk their lives to keep us all safe; the veterans.

I am happy to see that a representative is thinking about the veterans and their well being, I hope that this bill is passed that there are a lot more like this to come that will help out the people who risks their lives and sometimes suffers a lot physically and mentally just to keep the great country of The United States of America safe. Thank you!

For more information about the bill visit the website at http://www.apta.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=News_Archive&TEMPLATE=/CM/ContentDisplay.cfm&CONTENTID=55295