Colorado Physical Therapy Rules/Regulations

[Guest guest]

Hello all.

I asked Deanna and to clarify some issues that

were raised by previous emails...

" The term veterinary medical clearance came up as a compromise between

the Colorado Chapter of the APTA and the CVMA. Earlier in the meetings

(back in 2004 and 2006) even before the Colorado Chapter of the APTA

became involved, those of us who were practicing animal PT expressed

to the Veterinary State Board and the CVMA we felt it was best for

there to be a vet involved in each case of rehab. In Colorado we have

direct access (to human patients) so we don't have to have a doctor's

order to do human PT - we can evaluate and treat without a doctor's

order. However, the overall sentiment was that the field of animal PT

was too " young " to do this so we indicated we felt it was best to have

a vet refer. Later when the Colorado APTA got involved they didn't

like the term refer and, as it turns out, neither did some members of

the CVMA as they felt refer should be only to a veterinary specialist.

So in the spirit of still wanting a vet to be involved in sending a

patient for animal PT, we (and I mean all of us), came up with

" veterinary medical clearance " and then our PT practice act explained

a bit more what that means.

" Also I want to point out, it was made very clear to us once the

Colorado Chapter of the APTA got involved, that to change anything

regarding physical therapy practice, it needs to be addressed through

the physical therapy practice act - not through the veterinary

practice act and vise versa. Each profession should modify their

practices through their own statutes and regulations. That is why in

the final draft it all became a modification of the PT practice act.

" So there is my best recollection and explanation of what transpired.

We went through many drafts and our State Representaive, Anne McGihon

helped us whittle it down to a bill that could be submitted. "

Veterinary Medical Clearance definition from the final Rules 2007:

C. Prior to performing physical therapy on an animal the physical

therapist shall obtain veterinary medical clearance of the animal by a

Colorado licensed veterinarian and must document such clearance in the

animal patient’s record.

D. Veterinary medical clearance means:

1. The veterinarian has previously examined the animal patient and has

provided a differential diagnosis if appropriate.

2. The veterinarian has cleared the animal for physical therapy.

I hope that this helps to clarify some of the questions that were

raised. The APTA and Animal Rehabilitation Special Interest Group

have always been in support of collaborative efforts between physical

therapists and veterinary medical professionals. In 2005, the APTA

Board of Directors released the following position statement:

The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) acknowledges the

collaborative relationships

of physical therapists and veterinarians and the evolution of

specialized practice by physical

therapists in animal rehabilitation. Consistent with the Mission

Statement Fulfillment adopted by

the House of Delegates to enable physical therapists to improve their

knowledge and skills in the

interest of furthering the profession where allowable by law and

regulation, the practice of animal

rehabilitation by physical therapists is permissible.

Respectfully,

Amie L. Hesbach, MSPT

President, Animal Rehabilitation SIG, Orthopaedic Section, APTA