That the Oncology Section Board of Directors approve the following timeline for the development of an Oncology Certified Specialist Exam. 

Motion passed by unanimous vote of the Board of Directors on officer conference call, 4/3/06. 

In response to positive feedback from the members of the Oncology Section of the American Physical Therapy Association, and a long-standing desire on the part of past officers, I am excited to announce that the Board of Directors has voted to pursue a specialist certification exam for Oncologic Physical Therapy. 

I had the opportunity to attend the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties (ABPTS) Board and strategic planning meeting in November of 2005.  With information gathered at that meeting, the Oncology Section board has developed a timeline to use as a definitive way for us to move towards the specialization.  This process will have to develop over the course of a 4-5 year period.  By virtue of how the ABPTS procedure is set up for establishing the specialty and the exam, this is an aggressive timeline, and I have every confidence that we can succeed.

Allow me to share some more detail of what this project involves. 

1. The first stage will require an "informal" survey of our membership.  We have the records of 2 surveys done in 1985 and in 1994, both quite scarce in their respondents.  This newest informal survey will give us an idea of in what areas of Oncology PTs are practicing, how much time they are spending treating this population, whether they would support a specialty exam.
2. We will then take this informal report to the ABPTS and file a petition that they recognize that the Section is moving forward with writing the Description of Advanced Clinical Practice in Oncology (DACP).  The ABPTS will then assign a liaison from their board to help guide us through the process.
3. Next, we write the DACP.  This is a rather encompassing document which must address several criteria as outlined by ABPTS.  The section must conduct a formal practice analysis of the current practice of Oncology PTs, both members AND non-members of the section.  The practice analysis will be used as the core outline of the DACP.  The DACP will outline that there is:
   • A need for a specialization for optimal care
   • Sufficient numbers of therapists who will participate
   • Sufficient literature to support a need for specialty training
   • Support from the public and OTHER organizations outside of APTA for this specialty
4. The ABPTS will interview those involved in writing the DACP.  If all goes well, there will be public hearings that must take place within a 300 day time period.  Hearings allow other groups, members, components etc. to weigh in with support/dissention etc. 
5. Once the hearings are held and deemed favorable, the DACP goes to the APTA House of Delegates for them to approve or disapprove the proposed area as a specialty area of practice w/in the PT profession. 
6. THEN...once HOD approves the DACP and recognizes the specialization, the Section can create a specialty council and a specialty test writing committee.  The test writing committee will work with the Board of Medical Examiners to begin writing and validating test questions.  Once this begins, the ABPTS estimates that it is roughly 1 year until the exam can be offered.

 

There is NO doubt in my mind that the Section can not only jump through all of these hoops, but can do it successfully and end up with a specialty exam!  I am currently working with Cindy Pfalzer, PT, PhD and Charles McGarvey, PT, MS, FAPTA to create the informal survey, we are targeting May 2006 to get that out to you.  If all goes well, we may have an ABPTS liaison by the end of summer 2006 and be ready to move ahead from there!

I have procured support letters from the Lance Armstrong Foundation and am currently working on getting one from ACS.  Both exist also as potential funding options for this project.  Personally, I am committing myself to this project.  I will serve as president of the Section until CSM 2008, and will co-chair the Specialist Certification Committee with Cindy Pfalzer, PT, PhD. 

The Section will post updated information on the website regarding this project.  There will be several ways for you to contribute your time and talent:

1. Respond to the initial survey.
2. Involved in an organization that might write a letter of support, or dedicate funds to this project?  E-mail oncology@apta.org. 
3. If you would like to serve on the committee, e-mail oncology@apta.org.  We will use the committee to review the practice survey and the DACP.  There may be other projects, including efforts to build support for our specialty, both in the PT community and among decision makers.
4. Respond to the practice survey.  And get your non-member colleagues to respond as well!  This survey many be lengthy, but we will not achieve specialist certification without a LARGE number of responses.  This will be KEY in the process- thank you in advance for your participation!!!  (This survey should go out in the spring/summer of 2007.  Look for e-mails and mailings from us, or check the webpage!)

Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions or concerns.  I am happy to keep you updated on the progress and even happier to hear your suggestions as we move forward! 

Best regards,

Nicole L. Stout Gergich MPT, CLT-LANA, president
nlgergich@Bethesda.med.navy.mil