The Physical Therapy and Society Summit (PASS) Meeting: Observations and Opportunities

Abstract

The construct of delivering high-quality and cost-effective health care is in flux, and the profession must strategically plan how to meet the needs of society. In 2006, the House of Delegates of the American Physical Therapy Association passed a motion to convene a summit on "how physical therapists can meet current, evolving, and future societal health care needs." The Physical Therapy and Society Summit (PASS) meeting on February 27-28, 2009, in Leesburg, Virginia, sent a clear message that for physical therapists to be effective and thrive in the health care environment of the future, a paradigm shift is required. During the PASS meeting, participants reframed our traditional focus on the physical therapist and the patient/client (consumer) to one in which physical therapists are an integral part of a collaborative, multidisciplinary health care team with the health care consumer as its focus. The PASS Steering Committee recognized that some of the opportunities that surfaced during the PASS meeting may be disruptive or may not be within the profession's present strategic or tactical plans. Thus, adopting a framework that helps to establish the need for change that is provocative and potentially disruptive to our present care delivery, yet prioritizes opportunities, is a critical and essential step. Each of us in the physical therapy profession must take on post-PASS roles and responsibilities to accomplish the systemic change that is so intimately intertwined with our destiny. This article offers a perspective of the dynamic dialogue and suggestions that emerged from the PASS event, providing further opportunities for discussion and action within our profession.

Leadership in the profession of physical therapy

“…These challenges included the use of telehealth, virtual practices, development of new technologies and the influences of genomics. 19 Rothstein (2003) described a divide between physical therapy leaders in the clinical environment and physical therapy leaders in academic centres. 20 Considering it from a patient's perspective, Rothstein asked 'in seeking a specialised healthcare service, who among us would seek out a neurosurgeon who works in a department where the chief is known for administrative skills?'…”

Vitalizing Practice Through Research and Research Through Practice: The Outcomes of a Conference to Enhance the Delivery of Care

“…26 The role of the patient cannot be overlooked in the development of new models that might be created as a result of the conference. A focus on the consumer is consistent with the outcomes of the recent APTA Physical Therapy and Society Summit (PASS) 34 and with the focus of APTA's Research Agenda. 35 We realize that the recommendations specifically do not mirror the original anticipated outcomes of the conference.…”

Exposure to, Knowledge of, and Interest in Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy as Career Options

“…This strategic plan specifically targets women between 35 and 70 years of age, as they are considered the key decision makers for family determinations of health care. The APTA also convened a Physical Therapy and Society Summit (PASS) meeting in 2009 where PT leaders and practitioners discussed how the profession could better meet the "current, evolving, and future societal health care needs" (as cited in Kigin, Rodgers, & Wolf, 2010, p. 1556. One of the outcomes from this summit meeting was to implement strategies that enhance the PT profession's public identity, including recognition that the various roles of a physical therapist include "prevention, health and wellness" (p. 1561).…”