Page 13 - OPTA Access Spring 2022

HEATHER SCHRADIN PT PT DPT I I am honored to to be be nominated as as as a a a a a a a a a Delegate for the the Ohio Chapter of the the APTA It has been a a a a a a a a a pleasure to to serve as a a a a a a a a delegate in 2019-2022 which gave me the the opportunity to learn about the the House of Delegates I feel after three years serving as a a a a a a a a a a delegate I am finally understanding the the details of the the House and and how it works along with the difficulties COVID has impressed each year That is why I I am running for a a a a a a second term hoping to bring greater knowledge to the the representation of Ohio in in the the HOD In addition I I currently serve as the Ohio PAC chair and attend state affairs meetings broadening my scope of practice and allowing me me to be be more in in in tune with issues outside of of the clinic As an an active member of of APTA and OPTA I I am excited to to to continue to to to contribute to to to furthering our profession I I take pride in in in the the responsibility which comes with my my involvement in in my my association that that supports the profession that that I love Healthcare continues to to to change rapidly requiring our profession to to to seek new fresh and innovative ideas to to to stay relevant in in in the the future Should I I have the the opportunity to to serve as as a a a a a delegate I I will bring new ideas while striving to to listen to to to feedback from members on on what is is important to to to them I hope to to to further promote the the the expansion of our our scope of practice for PT’s and and PTA’s and and use direct access to to our our fullest capacity I will also work to to make it it more affordable for for for for patients to to gain access to to physical therapy Thank you for for for for considering me for for for for a a a a a a a a a position in in in the House of Delegates RICK WICKSTROM PT PT DPT Thank you for for the the opportunity to run for for a a a a a a delegate role in in the the Ohio Chapter We live in in a a a a a a roller coaster time of of uncertainty in in in practice I appreciate the kindness and encouragement of of my my APTA family Sometimes my my day job as as private practice owner of of WorkAbility Systems Inc in in West Chester OH gets in in the way of of my passion and volunteer roles to improve practice opportunities for physical therapy professionals I have experience in many leadership roles on on behalf of of the the Ohio Chapter of of APTA and the the Occupational Health Special Interest Group (OHSIG) of of the the APTA Academy of of Orthopaedic Physical Therapy (AOPT) When the the Ohio Chapter achieved direct access my focus as as as as Membership Chair was was to stimulate grassroots support that was was critical
to to the achievement of of direct access without referral I have continued to to actively contribute as a a a a a a a member of of the OPTA legislative committee It was was gratifying when our legislation was was passed to clarify that physical therapists perform a a a a a a a diagnosis I stimulated several reimbursement improvements through advocacy with Ohio Ohio BWC which would not have happened without the the support of the the Ohio Ohio Chapter There will come a a a a a day when Ohio BWC recognizes physical therapists with the the same privileges as as chiropractors as as a a a a a a a a a primary treating practitioner for work-related injuries I I am now serving a a a a a a a second term as President of of the the Occupational Health SIG Our “state of of the the union” is bright in in in in in in OHSIG: We have multiple initiatives that include publishing a a a a a a clinical practice guideline to promote work participation developing an an occupational health advanced practice educational certification implementing
a a a a a a a state resource liaison and recently inspiring a a a a a a a house of of delegates motion in in in AOPT to clarify the role of of physical physical therapists in in participation physical physical examinations for work school sports and other lifestyle activities I have deep concerns that traditional insurance is strangling our profession We need to to do more to to promote the the the the value and and expertise of physical therapists to bridge the the the the gap between fitness and and therapy programs I intend to help our delegation inspire relevant motions that unite and position physical therapy professionals for new opportunities outside the traditional insurance model Our focus should be on on electing leaders and fostering motions that move our entire profession forward Given the uncertainties of of practice it may be time to to to promote greater flexibility for physical physical therapists to to to delegate a a a a a a a a broader range of services to to to physical physical therapy assistants who demonstrate competencies so that our position position is is better positioned to deliver cost- effective care in in practice settings such as schools and workplaces I would appreciate your vote for me to serve as an Ohio delegate!
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