FREE ADVERTISING OFFER!
Would you like to advertise for free?  If you have a continuing education course or job posting, you can advertise for free with the Long Beach/South Bay District.  Just forward the information to our email at [email protected]. We will send out an individual email, post it on our website at http://www.geocities.com/lbsbapta and list it on our upcoming events in our newsletter.

JOB OPPORTUNITY
Looking for a Full-Time Physical Therapist for a dynamic outpatient-orthopedic clinic in Torrance.  Interest in spine a (+).   Good benefits(Insurance fully covered/continuing education funds).  New grads welcome to apply.  If interested, fax resume to Erik at (310)325-8116

Welcome to Cheryl Resnick, PT, DPT, our District’s CPTA Board Liaison!! 

We look forward to our collaborations!!

Welcome to our newest members!

Minerva Abad, Lori Asato, Marcelino Ruiz, Rosario Asayama, Cristy Borboa,Christina Cambra, Lucie Carancho, Erin Darnforth, Kristen Domingo,Lindsey Fong, Oliver Fuentes, Tiffanie Gomez, Joan Jacobs, Amanda Lynch,Erica Pablo, Leesha Perryman, Jenna Rosenberg, Angelo Urquico,

Christy Van Cleave, Kathy Wachtman, Jeanne Yu, Sara Zubke

We’re Looking forward to getting to know you!!

IN THE NEWS!!!

Mei Lee Chapple, PT, MHA has been appointed to a 3-year term as  a member of the CPTA Education Committee.  This 5-member panel is one of several committees at the state level.  Chapter committees serve many different functions which include program development and implementation, providing recommendations to the chapter board, tracking and follow-through of pertinent professional issues, etc.  In this coming year, the Education Committee will likely be involved in dealing with the issue of mandatory continuing education as a condition of licensure in California.

    Welcome to 2003. I am looking forward to another year of growth and development for the Long Beach/South Bay District. Last year, the     outstanding members of the membership committee and executive board of this district worked hard to bring us up to speed with the 21^st century. We have an email database for timely communication, send out our newsletter electronically and developed a website (www.geocities.com/lbsbapta).  
    We also hosted three general membership meetings last year with record turnouts (Seating and Positioning for the high risk client with Alicia McLellend, Current Concepts in Patellofemoral Rehabilitation with Chris Powers, and Vestibular Rehabilitation with Debbie Struiksma).  In 2003, the plan is simple…continue to communicate with the membership. This will allow the district to grow, not only in numbers of members, but to offer and foster opportunities for involvement.
    In early January, the executive board will be meeting to develop a strategic plan for the district over the next few years and identify topics of interest for upcoming district meetings. If you would like to offer any suggestions or direction for the district, please join us for the meeting or email the district at [email protected] with your input.
    Please feel free to send me an email anytime at [email protected] or [email protected].
Sincerely,
Stephanie Kaplan, PT, DPT
2003 Chair, Long Beach/South Bay District, APTA

The $1,500 therapy cap implementation was deferred by a December 23 memorandum from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to Medicare contractors. The memo states that it “expects to implement the provision in a prospective manner.” This has been assessed to imply that services provided between January 1 and the unspecified implementation date will not apply toward the cap.  For more information please refer to: http://www.apta.org/govt_affairs/cap_resourcectr/current_status/CMS_memo

This delay will give Congress an opportunity to  to restore a moratorium that would prevent the cap from going into effect. Additionally, there currently is good collaboration between agency officials willing to work with APTA and other therapy organizations on legislative remedies when Congress reconvenes.  For more information, along with how you can contact Congress to help prevent the cap from being implemented, please see APTA’s $1,500 Therapy Cap Resource Center. 

Direct access in every state is a national agenda item. It is at the state level  that the legality of direct access is established.  This past year 35^th state gained direct access!  However, for this to be actualized,  insurers and other third-party payers must recognize that  patient care delivered under direct access should be reimbursed
            The Medicare Patient Access to Physical Therapists Act ("PAPTA"), was introduced in the House of Representatives in late 2001.  This initiative is intended to secure payment for direct access under Medicare--the nation's largest insurer.  Medicare recognition would likely be followed with reimbursement by other payers  Support for the initiative culminated at the end of 2002 with 51 sponsors from the House.  In 2003 APTA will be endeavoring to have Congress revisit the legislation!  For more on direct access: <http://www.apta.org/Govt_Affairs/Medicare_DirectAccess  You can support these initiatives by visiting APTA's online Legislative Action Center<http://www.apta.org/Advocacy

What’s new for the Ca Chapter APTA for 2003? 

Key focal items for CPTA  for the new year are Modernization of the Practice act, Communication, communication, communication, Direct access, recognition of physical therapists as movement specialists in the community,  membership development, and payer support for PT services. 

 Want to hear more?  Turn to Ca Chapter website, ccapta.org, contact Ca chapter office at (916)929-2782, or email Jennifer Whitney, District Member Services Liaison and newsletter editor, for a review of these items as discussed at the  December, 2002, Orientation and Planning  meeting held in Sacramento for Ca Chapter, district and chapter officers.  Other LBSB attendees were Stephanie Kaplan, 2003 LBSB District Chair, and Kelley Kubota, LBSB 2003 treasurer.  Any of your local leadership would be happy to share the NEWS!

Congratulations to the following Long Beach-South Bay members on their election to office for 2003-04

• Karen Frederick - Chairperson-elect
• Kelly Kubota - Treasurer
• Azmina Haji - Chief Representative
• Marianne Patino - Nominating Committee
• Covey Lazouras - Nominating Committee

The following people were elected to serve as District Representative pending the final membership count for 2003:

• Alicia McLelland

• Lynn Jones (alternate)

• Cuong Pho (alternate)

The 2002 Nominating Committee wishes to thank and acknowledge the following District Members who were willing to run for office but were not elected this year:  Mollie O'Niell,  Lisa Haubert, and Stephanie Jones.  To all current and future leaders of the Long Beach - South Bay APTA District, the members of the 2002 Nominating Committee thank you for your dedication and your pride in serving your Profession in this capacity.  We look forward to another successful year in 2003!   And finally, thank you to the 2002 Nominating Committee for all the time and effort you put in to this past Fall's election! Allyn Izu, Stephanie Kaplan, Marianne Patino, and Denise D. Diener.  Additional note: 3 district committees have formed.  If you are interested in participating in Membership or the Newsletter committees please contact the committee Chair, Jennifer Whitney at [email protected], or for the finance committee please contact committee Chair and Treasurer, Kelley Kubota at [email protected] .

Hello, and wishing all of you a productive new year!!  As your District Member Services Liaison, I want to invite you to contact me so that I may help you maximize your membership.  Whether you are considering membership and have questions about how it may benefit you,  if you are a veteran and want latest updates, or as a  member you just want to learn more, contact me, Jennifer Whitney, with any questions you may have so that I can help you get the most out of membership.  As representative for your voice, please let me know  your wants and concerns so that I relay those comments and suggestions to district leadership and to CPTA Member Services Liaison, Stacy DeFoe.   You will be receiving a  survey of your wants and concerns.  When you do, take a moment so that we might hear your expectations for membership and suggestions for improvements and .  Additionally, be on the lookout for the new CPTA website offering innovations for the new year, including discounts at many retailers, product news, and contact and networking opportunities.  Let us help you navigate the changes!  If you would like to participate more directly at the district level, many committees are open for participation.  Please feel free to contact me at [email protected] .

It’s my job to make your concerns heard, let me communicate your needs!

For more CPTA membership services : http://ccapta.org/Membership.htm

The Hooked on Evidence project is moving forward!!  All volunteer groups are searching for articles to assess the effectiveness of a physical therapy intervention on a given diagnosis .  The APTA has hired a full-time librarian to help groups with their searches.  After an exhaustive review of the literature has been conducted and entered into a structured online abstract form, an expert panel will be convened to determine if there is evidence in the literature to support the intervention and these decisions will be disseminated to the practitioners.  Chris Powers, with the help of local representatives, is coordinating volunteer groups from California with the national APTA to ensure that there is no redundancy in the topics that groups are selecting.  Please go to www.ccapta.org or contact Mike Bennett at [email protected] for more information about the project and about joining core research groups to participate.  The link is listed on the CPTA website, ccapta.org. 

Along with the Hooked on Evidence research database, Evidence in Practice submissions in the Journal of Physical Therapy provide the model for incorporating evidence in daily practice.  For a more direct participation in chapter interests related to research, consider joining the Research Special Interest Group.  A link can be found on the CPTA website for more information., or contact Denise Diener through the district email [email protected] for more information.

PT/PTA students at CSULB and Cerritos College enjoyed a presentation regarding the benefits of belonging to the APTA in November.  The presentations were done by Julie Maher, Student Liaison and Secretary for the district.  Oliver de la Paz, Affiliate Representative joined her at Cerritos College to talk to the students at his Alma Mater.  We’d like to welcome our 2003 student representatives, including Amber Ricketts and Kristin Domingo at CSULB and Megan Hiatt and Kim Rieff at Cerritos College.  The district looks forward to working with these representatives in the upcoming year and in keeping the student involvement going strong!

CPTA offers mentorship to students.  The purpose of the program “is to provide students with guidance on getting, and staying, involved in activities at the District, Chapter and National levels of the APTA and act as a liaison and/or assist in the transition from student to clinician”. For more information contact Stacy DeFoe at the CPTA Office (916) 929-2782 or check out the CPTA website ccapta.org

Let us know if you or your colleagues have done something notable.  We want to help recognize our local celebrities!! Did you travel to assist in volunteer aide programs, support a local charity, innovate the practice, had a new addition to the family? Let us know about your milestones and landmarks so that we can share the news with the district and state.  Email newsletter editor : [email protected]

Do you have something to say?
Do you know of an upcoming event, continuing education opportunity, editorial or have good news to share with the district?  Email the district at [email protected] and have it printed in the next newsletter.  The newsletter is produced quarterly each year. If you would like to receive this newsletter electronically please email [email protected].  Type in your name, professional designation and email address.

Have you recently changed your mailing address or email address?
Help us keep updated records. Send an email to [email protected] so we can better serve you.

See Us on the World Wide Web  http://www.geocities.com/lbsbapta.  Or email us for newsletter and membership items: [email protected] or district business: [email protected].