What are we talking about? II parte

Ayer nuevamente me encontré conversando con José Landreros de algo que ya nos ocupa mucho tiempo de nuestras conversaciones. El futuro de la práctica de la kinesiología. José me argumentaba en la necesidad de un fuerte programa de marketing, de promoción social donde los directivos de la profesión finalmente se hagan cargo de lo que durante tantos años ha sido un diagnóstico confirmado y sin tratamiento. Se trata de tener opinión permanente y autorizada en materias de salud pública. A poco devariar, chocamos en juicios sobre los propios kinesiólogos, en la apropiación y el entendimiento de su práctica y otras cosas ya tratadas con sobrada tinta en estas páginas. Nos miramos con resignación creyendo que esta podría ser una situación compleja de superar y que definitivamente exige un esfuerzo insistente y mantenido de parte del Colegio de Kinesiólogos. Me recordó de una reunión citada para el 23 de Julio relativa a esta preocupación por Leandro Miret, quien a nuestro parecer tiene el empuje que se necesita para acometer la empresa (esa fue pura propaganda gratuita).

Para mitigar nuestro pesimista estado de ánimo en una especie de catarsis de "mal de muchos..." le comenté la situación de los physical therapists americanos y de los esfuerzos de la APTA en la propuesta de marketing que, aunque con las mismas preocupaciones de posicionamiento social, viene desarrollando desde inicios de este año en un petitorio apoyado por sus miembros a lo largo de todo el país.
El petitorio es el siguiente:

We, the undersigned, are concerned about the future of the profession of physical therapy. We are concerned that the public is not aware of the scope of expertise we can provide. We are concerned that they are making decisions on their healthcare without all the necessary information. We are concerned that patients are seeking care from other professions based solely on the marketing provided, and not on the best available evidence. The current and future healthcare environment demands evidence based medicine. Current best scientific evidence supports physical therapy as a first line treatment for many neuromusculoskeletal conditions.
We are imploring that the American Physical Therapy Association initiate a national marketing campaign that focuses on educating the public on the conditions that physical therapists are trained to evaluate and treat (i.e. low back pain, neck pain, and osteoarthritis). Conservative management of neuromusculoskeletal conditions by physical therapists is supported by the evidence, effective for many conditions, and carries virtually no risk for harm. Unfortunately, it is also nearly completely unknown to the general public. We strongly recommend that a greater percentage of our membership dues go directly to marketing our services to the U.S. consumer

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Los comentarios que lo apoyan sorprenden realmente y al leerlos pareciera estar traduciendo pensamientos locales puestos en otro idioma. Al teminar de revisar los cerca de 300 comentarios... si, 300 opiniones de las cuales he destacado algunas que dan luz de los conflictos de identidad (tan inesperados como sinceros ) surgidos a pesar del desarrollo alcanzado, con DPT y todo, me queda la sensación de una gran ilusión que ha sido desvanecida y la reconfortante posibilidad de ser original y de reinventarse desde las propias facultades sin la necesidad de imitar modelos que se derrumban como papel mojado .
Juzgue por usted mismo. No los traduje para respetar el sentimiento original, así que a practicar el "inglich".

The public does not know the difference between PT and personal trainers, we need to educate them so they will understand the value in having a medically trained, licensed individual. Likewise public does not understand the difference between 'certified' and 'licensed' and how licensure protects them by requiring testing prior to licensure and continuing accountability. -- thank-you

Marquita Catallo-Madruga I believe that the marketing currently done is great for in-pt care and hospital based care; however, it does fall short of necessary education about out-pt care and the level of skill we have.

Kevan Whipple, DPT, OCS "Exercise more" for PT month mantras does not even touch justifying our proclamation to be an autonomous, doctoring profession. Marketing needs to show our expertise and what other healthcare professionals see in PT. For example, "Did you know that 9/10 physicians prefer a physical therapist to treat back pain?" would be a powerful message to the public. A TV ad like pharmaceuticals that helps patients choose PT as their first option from slants like, "Ask your doctor if seeing an expert in muscle, joint and nerve injuries, a physical therapist, is right for you" is more in line with what the APTA positions should be slanted towards rather than being portrayed as massage and exercise spas.

Claudia L Miller, PT, OCS A satisfactory marketing plan would distinguish us from other providers and make clear that PTs are the providers of choice for wellness, and prevention and treatment of musculoskeletal conditions and injuries. The public should know that not all "physical therapy" is provided by licensed physical therapists, and should get the message: "Insist upon only a licensed PT/PTA to provide your care." We should also be regarded as "my therapist" and "my family's therapist," similar to "my dentist" or "my attorney.

K Rafferty When I was a PT student we had an in class discussion on whether or not physical therapist should advertise their services. Would this promote the profession or portray us as ambulance chasers? No conclusions were made but the over all sense was as professional healthcare providers we should not advertise our services. Times have changed, I feel we need to advertise who we are, what we do and where we can be found. As a profession we need to educate the public, insurance companies and other healthcare providers, it is not enough to know how great we are. The public needs to know. In todays insurance driven practice setting we often receive the brunt of patients frustration with their healthcare and insurance limitations. I would like to see marketing initiative to include promotion of self pay for comprehensive care. Why are people willing pay out of pocket for trainers, massage and chiro but complain about paying their PT co-pay? Is it a
result of good marketing on their behalf?

James L. Smith in my earlier years i would have viewed marketing as "braggiing" but i think it makes way more sense to spend dollars on marketing and educating the public than it does to spend it on politics and politicians.

Regina Durbin we are missing the boat by not letting the public know what we do. One of my patients asked today, "why don't more people know what PTs do?"

Shannon Logsdon, MSPT Many consumers do not understand what physical therapy entails, the education level of physical therapists, or the difference between PT, ATC, massage therapist, etc. Consumers need to know that they have the right to choose where they have physical therapy.

Sue Lewis This is reaching the "critical" stage for our profession

Deborah A. Granger,PT,MHS peoples' knowledge of PThasn't changed a whit for the past 30 years, despite considerable fees to belong to APTA

Tami Kress I evaluate a lot of people who can not initially tell me the difference between myself and a personal trainer, massage therapist, or other "gym personel" I'd love to see this changed! illinois

Stephen A Barsotti Oregon needs it to contest the Chiropractor Initiative Ballot measure 1

Cynthia Gabriel We need to be effective as a group as are other professionals. The massage "therapists"& chiropractors do better than we in attracting patients when we are well trained with PT involving the skills of both those disciplines & more!

William P. Anderson III, PT, DPT Patients ask me if I am in training to become a physician one day. They have no idea as to the educational background and services we can offer. I went back for the DPT and now studying for GCS but I cannot use the title "Dr.", and my patients and referral sources have NO IDEA what DPT or GCS is and really couldn't care less about it. Chiropractors and exercise physiologists are putting up signs for "rehabilitation services." Consumers are not aware of what we do UNTIL they need us. If we have the public behind us, we will have strength in numbers to deal with the current and future competition to come with less healthcare dollars available

Stephen Goldstein, MS, PT To further transition into a doctoring profession, this petition illustrates not only the importance of effective national marketing, but also reminds me to state that the APTA is too often promoting fringe or rare treatments (incontinence) compared to the mainstream conditions that are treated by the vast majority of therapists. We need to regain our focus and marketing dollars on the true core of our profession and the public's greatest needs.

Kenneth Utzinger I have felt this way for years and have continued to state this to APTA officials. Chiropractors have beaten the Physical Therapy profession in all areas of marketing (i.e. PATIENT AWARENESS of the profession)

Denise Buher I believe the lack of marketing our profession has allowed all others to take the lead in being the choice of care for musculoskeletal healing. New York

Stacey Lane The APTA should invest in marketing professionals who will effectively portray the benefits of physical therapy for various musculoskeletal conditions, especially low back pain. I have read many men's and women's fitness magazines, most of which provide information regarding other solutions (i.e. chiropractic) for readers with low back pain. I feel these magazines would be a great start for some marketing potential.

Leslie K. Marcks We are fighting for our lives in private practice because of low insurance reimbursements. We need people to appropriately access PT directly. People need to know the full scope of PT including PT for babies and children.

Andrew G. Ward PT I am amazed that every week I see patients that either did not know what Physical Therapists do for people or wonder why we need a referral from a MD, DO, DDS, or DC (none of which had helped them with their dysfunction). After the initial evaluation patients often state that the physical therapist spends more time with them than any other person in the health field. I have patients state that they recieved the most help or relief from Physical Therapy than any other discipline.

Cameron S. Lyons On a daily basis I encounter patients who are 'amazed' by physical therapists’ knowledge, abilities, and skills. This is disheartening.

Jeffrey Snyder, PT, MA, OCS, Cert MDT Setting specific goals, assessing outcomes and editing the existing plan accordingly applies to all of our professional activity; not just patient care.