Last week more 11,000 Physical Therapists from around the nation converged on Anaheim, California to participate in the American Physical Therapy Association’s Combined Sections Meeting, and Magee was well represented. The APTA has 18 specialty sections including Neurology, Geriatrics, Orthopedics, and Health Policy and Administration. Every year, the top researchers, clinicians, and educators in their areas of specialty present the latest information at CSM.
Six Magee staff members attended the exciting meeting. Deb Kucera, Director of Therapy, was part of a five-person faculty team for the Institute for Leadership in Physical Therapy that provided two two-day pre-conference courses for personal and advanced leadership development. The team helps develop leaders in Physical Therapy throughout the country through the Institute’s Leadership Development Certificate Program. Deb is also involved in the Health Policy and Administration Section. She staffed the information booth and voted on new by-laws in the business meeting.
Deb Kucera, PT, MSPT (second from left) with the LAMP Faculty
Staff physical therapist Rachel McClelland presented a poster entitled “Diagnosing the Dizzy Patient in Acute Care: Why Health Professionals Should Utilize the Physical Therapist.”
Rachel McClelland, PT, DPT presents her poster at CSM
Staff physical therapist Samantha Adams presented a poster entitled “Outcomes in Fibromyalgia: Mapping Patient and Clinician Perspectives Using an ICF Approach”
Samantha Adams, PT, DPT with her poster
NES Program Coordinator Colleen Sullivan and Therapy Manager Carol Owens also presented a poster, “A Two Week High-Intensity Outpatient Therapy Program for Patients with Chronic Stroke: A Case Series”
Colleen Sullivan, PT, DPT, NCS and Carol Owens, PT, DPT, GCS with their poster
In addition to exceptional programming, there were numerous opportunities to network with clinicians from other areas of the country who work in similar settings to share challenges and successes. The enormous exhibit hall featured information on services and provided the ability for therapists to try cutting edge equipment.
Attending conferences like CSM is energizing for clinicians. The sessions provide an opportunity to hear the current research and discuss how the research can be included in the treatments provided at Magee to help our patients achieve the best possible outcome. It also allows clinicians to directly interact with the engineers designing new technology and products to provide feedback on how to further improve it. Magee continues to have a strong presence nationally at this and other conferences. Stay tuned to this page for updates on future presentations by Magee staff.
