Presenter(s) Name(s) and Email Address(es): 

Kara Kobal [email protected]

Jim Moore [email protected]

Module Description: 

This module will provide an overview of the role of pediatric physical therapy specialists as advocates for children and families at the individual, systems, and societal/political levels. According to Merriam-Webster, an advocate is “one who supports or promotes the interests of a cause or group.”  This module will include examples of current advocacy efforts that the Academy of Pediatric Physical Therapy is involved to support children and families. 

APTA’s Mission Statement: “Building a community that advances the profession of physical therapy to improve the health of society.” Societal Responsibility is the APTA Code of Ethics for the Physical Therapist Principle 9: “Physical therapists and physical therapist assistants shall participate in efforts to meet the health needs of people locally, nationally, and globally,”

Learning Objectives:  

Upon completion of this module, participants will:

• Describe how pediatric physical therapists advocate on behalf of children and families
• Discuss resources and methods to advocate on behalf of children and families
  • for children and families (individual)
  • in various healthcare settings (systems)
  • in federal, state, and local healthcare legislation, rules, and regulations (societal/political)
• Discuss the role of the pediatric clinical specialist in child and family advocacy, healthcare reform, and societal health

Estimated Educational Hours: 

• Asynchronous narrated lecture: 1.5 hours
• Resident required readings and assignment: 3 hours
• Knowledge translation worksheet: 1 hour

Presenter Bio:  

James (Jim) Moore PT, PhD, Board Certified Pediatric Clinical Specialist - Dr. Moore is an Associate Professor and Vice Chair for Residency Programs at the University of Miami, Department of Physical Therapy. He is Program Director for the University of Miami - Nicklaus Children's Hospital Pediatric Residency Program. He currently serves as chair of the Residency and Fellowship Special Interest Group in the Academy of Pediatric Physical Therapy. He teaches professional and post professional physical therapist education with a focus in Pediatrics and Neurorehabilitation. His focus in educational research is DPT and Residency education, specifically in the area of pediatrics.

Kara Kobal, PT, DPT, DHSc  - Dr. Kobal is an Associate Professor and serves as the Program Director of the Residential DPT option in the Department of Physical Therapy at the University of Pittsburgh.  She was the Founder and past Director of the Pediatric Physical Therapy Residency Program at Saint Francis University.  Dr. Kobal is active in the American Physical Therapy Association-Pennsylvania where she has served in various leadership roles over many years. Dr. Kobal also serves on the Pediatric Physical Therapy Residency Program Consortium and works to plan and develop shared pediatric residency program content. Her research area of interest is entry-level and post professional physical therapy education. 

Collaborator Acknowledgement:

This course was originally developed in collaboration with Mary Jane Rapport, PT, DPT, PhD, FAPTA.   Dr. Rapport is a Professor in In the Department of Physical Therapy at Hawaii Pacific University. Prior to HPU, Dr. Rapport was faculty and Associate Program Director of the Physical Therapy Program at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus (Aurora, CO). Dr. Rapport was in various faculty roles, including Student Services Coordinator, Director of Admissions and Director of both a Pediatric Residency and a Faculty Residency, during her tenure as a Professor at the University of Colorado. Dr. Rapport has received numerous professional honors and awards, including the Susan B Effgen Advocacy Award from APTA Pediatrics, and is well published in her discipline with over 50 peer-reviewed manuscripts and several book chapters. Her research focuses on pediatric physical therapy services, IDEA law and policy, and physical therapist education.

Confidentiality Agreement: 

• Please respect intellectual property rules. All content is intended for your use only. 
• All registered participants are required to sign a confidentiality agreement, which requires that they DO NOT distribute course material.  

Asynchronous Content:  

• Participants should view the narrated lecture prior to the virtual meeting if one is scheduled.  
• A handout is included with the slides from the presentation video.  

Resident Assignment: 

• Complete the following required readings: Review related chapters on legislation and policy from Campbell text (5th edition) and/or Effgen text. If you have the 6^th edition, consider reading Chapter 2 - Social Determinants of Health and Pediatric Health Care and identify opportunities for advocacy based on this.
• Read the following assigned articles:
  • McSpadden C, Therrien M, McEwen IR. Care Coordination for Children With Special Health Care Needs and Roles for Physical Therapists Pediatr Phys Ther, 2012;24:70–77.
  • Ng SL, Lingard L, Hibbert K, Regan S, Phelan S, Stooke R, Meston C, Schryer C, Manamperi M, Friesen F. Supporting children with disabilities at school: implications for the advocate role in professional practice and education. Disabil Rehabil, 2015; 37(24): 2282–2290
  • Schwartz L. Is there an advocate in the house? The role of health care professionals in patient advocacy. J Med Ethics 2002;28:37–40
• Complete the assignment case study: Kim.
• Review website: https://www.apta.org/advocacy 
• Consider 3 ways in which the pediatric PT could advocate for the patient.
• Find at least 1 other website, resource, article or other tool that could be used in the advocacy process.

Knowledge Translation Reflection: 

• Complete a Knowledge Translation Reflection (see worksheet posted with other course materials) and discuss with your residency mentor(s). 

Please email the presenters if you have any questions about the content or assignments.

If you have questions about registration or the Consortium, please contact Elena Bradley at [email protected].