2010 Mobility Winter Part 2.pub

15 Pages·2010·1.14 MB·English

Official Newsletter of the Mobility
American Kinesiotherapy Association
Winter 2010
this issue
Presidential Greetings P.1
By-Law Changes P.3
Letter from the Editor P.4
2009 Conference Recap P.5

Public Health Letter to Congress P. 8
t
Conference Awards P. 9
n
CEU’s P. 8
Reimbursement P. 9
e
Past President Statement P. 10
m KT Connection “ 2009 Conference ” P. 11
e
v
o
M
Greeting from California and Happy New Year! As I begin presidency, I would like to first
express my greatest gratitude to our immediate past president, JT Magee. There is no doubt that due
to his superior leadership, JT has further strengthened our association and provided me with guidance
h
during my tenure as president elect. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Cecy Ordonez,
Melissa Ziegler, JT Magee and the conference planning committee for all their hard work and efforts
g
for the tremendous success we experienced at our second annual AKTA/MFA joint conference in
u Orlando, FL. The conference content was outstanding and the lectures were well represented by
Kinesiotherapist from all over the nation. I would also like to express my sincere thanks to our
o
outgoing board members: Deb Daimaru and Ramon Bieri for the outstanding work they completed
r during their tenure. I also look forward to serving with our newly elected officers: Lori Shuart
(President- Elect), Kate Swett (Treasurer), Terry Roach (Member at Large-West) and Cynthia Howell
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(Secretary). I am confident that their input and knowledge will only strengthen our ability to achieve
further success. Lastly, I would like to personally thank all the members that attended this year’s
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conference and express my appreciation to the MFA for continuing this joint venture for another year.

t When I took the presidential oath this past December, it affirmed that old traditions remain
n true while marking the start of a new beginning. I am honored and humbled to have the opportunity
to serve as the president of the American Kinesiotherapy Association where so many of our past
e leaders have come before me and so many will follow. As I deliver my address, I stand eager to
embark on the tasks set before our association, mindful of the sacrifices borne by my respected
m
predecessors and grateful for the trust you have bestowed upon me to lead this great association. I
consider it an honor and a privilege to follow in the footsteps of the past leaders of this association
e and it is clear that we would not have made it this far without their vision, dedication and
commitment.
v
As I begin my tenure as president, I often think about my career as a Kinesiotherapist and
o without exception, the most important development that has facilitated my development as a therapist
is the attendance and involvement in national conferences. My attendance at these conferences did
r
not only provide the opportunity to learn and grow as a therapist but also kept me abreast of issues
p relevant to our profession. There is no doubt this has been a tremendous asset in forming decisions as
chairman of the KT field advisory board for VA central office while also assisting me as an executive
m
board member of the AKTA.
I remember as a student attending the National conference, I felt motivated and inspired by
I the leadership and knowledge that was conveyed and comfortable amongst my peers that share
common mission and goals. I realized that we have a place, all of us, in a long and rich history of the
AKTA. I realized that we are part of an ongoing story. It is the story of an association that began as a
Continued on Page 3
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MOBILITY at a Glance Submission Deadlines
can be sent electronically. Camera ready art should
for 2010 accompany text and payment.
Send to:
Issue Pub. Date Submission Melissa Ziegler, MA, RKT
Spring 3rd week of March 3rd week of February 118 College Drive #5142
Summer 3rd week of June 3rd week of May Hattiesburg, MS 39406
Fall 3rd week of September 3rd week of August [email protected]
Make checks payable to American Kinesiotherapy
Association
Questions? Phone [phone]
Submissions of professional news articles and
letters by AKTA members, as well as commercial
advertisement, is welcome and encouraged.
Editor
Mail or fax contributions and inquires directly
to the Editor.
Cecilia Ordonez, RKT
[email protected]

Kinesiotherapy is defined as the application of
scientifically based exercise principles
adapted to enhance the strength, endurance,
and mobility of individuals with functional
limitations or those requiring extended
physical conditioning
Members are also encouraged to visit the
The Council on Professional Standards for American Kinesiotherapy Association Blog
Kinesiotherapy (COPSKT) is an organization site at:
http://motionakta.blogspot.com
whose function is to ensure that

Kinesiotherapy practitioners meet the
The purpose of this blog is to provide
standards for education, credentialing and members information of interest concerning
professional competence that the Council as Kinesiotherapy and the AKTA.
established.
We will post member updates, important
news and information, job updates and
anything else that AKTA members would
like to see.

If you have anything that you would like to
share with the AKTA, please send an email
to [email protected].
Disclaimer:
This web publication, including any attached files may contain material that is proprietary, privileged,
confidential, or otherwise legally exempt from disclosure. This communication is intended solely for
the use of the individual or entity to which it is addresses. If you are not the intended recipient or the
person responsible for delivering this communication to the intended recipient, you are prohibited from
retaining, using, disseminating, forwarding, printing or copying this communication. If you have
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2
Continued from page 1
grass roots movement over 60 years ago creating a culture centered around strong leadership and positive accomplishments. It is a
story of an association that has survived difficult situations in its long history, but rather than becoming weakened and discouraged it
became stronger and more unified. A story of an association that believes in persistence and determination rather than idleness and
doubt. Now I feel fortunate enough to be here today as your president and as those in my position before me, I guarantee that we as
an Executive Board will continue this tradition.
For those of you that do not know me, I don’t believe in the “can’t do, won’t do, won’t try” philosophy that kills many
promising ideas. What I do believe in are common sense, integrity, persistence and bold determination. I believe that we as an
association should not take anything for granted, we should not be complacent with what we have achieved so far but rather use our
successes, our tenacity and our ingenuity to make us stronger, more focused and more determined towards reaching our goals.
I believe in an association where ideas and solutions flow up the bureaucratic ladder and that starts with you, the members.
An association where each one of us has a stake in organizational issues and goals and has a say in its outcomes. An association
where individual responsibility and collective compassion are not only our belief but are the cornerstones of our association. As an
executive board, we are caregivers just like you. We are not disconnected from you, the members, making decisions and goals that
are not in your interest or in the interest of the association. But rather, in the contrary, we are working shoulder to shoulder with you
being equally affected by our successes and challenges and influenced by the needs and wants of our association.
I can tell you that we as an executive board will be there for you, we offer our knowledge, support and leadership to which
strengthening our position in the allied health field is but merely a prerequisite for the larger tasks at hand. I understand that our
numbers may be undersized compared to our fellow allied health professions. But I tell you this, what we lack in size, we more than
make up for in ingenuity, experience, cohesion, knowledge and tenacity. For those that have worked with me in the past, they know
that I will not back down from a challenge and if I set my mind on a goal- it will be accomplished. Today I say to you that the
challenges we face are real. They will not be met easily or in a short span of time. But know this, - they will be met. I can assure you
that as an executive board, we will not back down from a challenge and we are confident in the principles that unite and lead us
onward. Yet, we will not go about this irrationally, but rather, we will be analytical in our approach. We will determine all the
possible ways of achieving our goals and choose the best possible solution. As I start my tenure as president of the AKTA, I will
continue to focus on the goals established by JT and the previous administration as well as establishing new ones to ensure positive
progression and continuous success.
Former U.S. president Dwight D. Eisenhower once said “…The vital necessity of action today will ensure our strength
tomorrow”. I believe in action, I believe in the old cliché that nothing is impossible if you set your mind to it and if you have the
vision of the end result and work towards it, you can achieve it. With the support of the executive board, COPS and you the
members, I am confident that the American Kinesiotherapy Association will continue its extraordinary work.

Thank you
Robert Ordonez, MPA, CDRS, RKT
President, American Kinesiotherapy Association
By-Law Changes
Cecilia Ordonez
Second Vice President AKTA

The proposed By-Law changes were presented to the General Assembly at the 2008
Annual Conference. These changes included the integration of new practices as well as
the removal of outdated language and practices that no longer apply. The Assembly
unanimously voted in favor of the proposed changes. The approved official By-Laws
are posted in the members-only section at www.akta.org. An update of the entire By-
Laws will now be completed every odd year; however, small changes needed to
continue advancing our Association will be presented as needed. If you have any questions please feel free to contact me
at: [email protected].
Letter from the Editor
By Cecilia Ordonez, RKT
Second Vice President
Mobility Editor in Chief
Mobility 2010

Welcome to another full edition of Mobility. With Robert Ordonez
moving into the President position, he can no longer serve as the
Editor. Robert has contributed to many positive changes for Mobility,
including "going green", adding KT Connection and the reimbursement
corner just to name a few. Thanks Robert for all your hard work, efforts
and contribution to this publication!

I will be serving as your new Editor in Chief. I would like to invite you to join my team and be a part of the
editorial board. I need eyes and ears throughout the nation to help bring information from a more personal
level (e.g. a colleague retiring, a new program, a case study, new equipment, etc). If you have thought about
getting involved, this is an easy way for you to contribute and be part of something that positively affects the
Association.

I hope you enjoy this issue of Mobility. Please take note of the submission deadlines for the next three
Mobility at a Glance issues and submit any articles to [email protected]. 
Kinesiotherapists on FACEBOOK

Join us on Facebook for an easy way to stay updated, network with other KT’s, see photos,
videos, discussions and more! Log on or create your free Facebook profile, look up “American Kinesiotherapy
Association” and become a fan. Its that simple!

**A tutorial was posted on http://motionakta.blogspot.com to help you set up your Facebook profile.
2009 General Assembly
By Cynthia Howell, RKT
Secretary

If you missed the 2009 Annual Conference but are interested in what occurred at the
General Assembly, the unofficial meeting minutes are posted on the members-only sec-
tion at www.akta.org. The minutes include updates on the budget, accreditation of pro-
grams, registration, continuing competency, Mobility, Clinical Kinesiology, awards,
president and past president reports, as well as issues that were brought to a vote. It is
only a click away to keep yourself informed.
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2009 MFA/AKTA
National Conference Recap

Melissa Ziegler, MA, RKT
AKTA Executive Director

The 2009 AKTA National Conference was held at the Orange County
Convention Center in Orlando, Florida, December 2-5, 2009. Once again
the conference was held in conjunction with the Medical Fitness
Association (MFA) conference. This joint effort provided an excellent
opportunity for AKTA members to network with the many health and
fitness professionals who actively support the MFA. This conference
proved to be a rewarding experience for all who attended thanks to all of
the AKTA sponsored speakers and volunteers. We all had the
opportunity to learn valuable work related information from the
inspirational keynote speakers, to test the latest fitness equipment and to
network with KT's and other medical fitness professionals. WOW!
Orange County Convention Center Host for the MFA/AKTA National That’s a lot to accomplish in 4 days. The conference focused on exercise
Conference p r o g r a m m i n g a n d
performance enhancement
2009 AKTA Awards
for every person including those with chronic disease. Over 150 topics Presented during General Assembly
were presented, including an inspirational talk on faith by world
renowned author, Mitch Albom. If you were not able to attend, you The Lou Montalvano Memorial Scholarship is a five
hundred dollar scholarship given to recognize one
missed an exceptional educational and social opportunity.
Kinesiotherapy student who shows
academic excellence, displays
Conference Testimonials: exceptional promise as a clinician and
educator, This student expresses

definite intentions to pursue certification
“The Conference was a great experience, as a new graduate and someone who is
and a career in Kinesiotherapy and
looking to break through into the field, I was very happy with all of the shows potential for professional leadership. This years
information and I look forward to next years conference! All of the speakers recipient is Mr. Carlos Moffett from University of
were very good and there was so much valuable information provided.” Southern Mississippi.
Pamela Kondolios, RKT
The Julian Vogel Memorial Life Membership Award is
presented to a member who has demonstrated unusual
“The 2009 conference was a practical fusion of applied experience and
interest and meritorious service in the Association and
concepts for the future. The integration of KTs with MFA and Athletic Business
who is retired or will retire imminently. This years
Members made for a vast sharing of knowledge that will help the AKTA grow
recipients were: Cheryl Gooding and John Vaughter.
into a stronger organization to service its members into the next decade.” Jon
Kabance, RKT

“The conference was great!! I would like to thank all the AKTA officers for an
outstanding job getting us linked to the MFA. I found the conference to be very
informative with a lot of ideas and information that I will be incorporating into our
programs. I thought the conference was full of great options, very organized and well attended. Thanks again.” Kerry Weipert, RKT

“Attending the MFA Conference as part of the Athletic Business Conference & Expo was a wonderful educational and networking
opportunity to expand knowledge and skills working with diverse patient/client populations and bridging the gap between
rehabilitation and fitness.” Diane Waller, MHA, RKT

“This is the first conference that I attended and I felt it was truly a great experience. It was encouraging to see and meet so many
people with a degree in Kinesiotherapy working across the country. I would recommend anyone thinking about attending the
conference to go next year. Besides, who wouldn’t want to spend some time in the winter in SUNNY California!”
Byron Washington, RKT.
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A Photomontage of the 2009 MFA/AKTA
National Conference - Orlando, Florida
Mitch Albom, is a world renowned author and a keynote
Orange County Convention Center Host for the MFA/AKTA
speaker at the conference. The topic of discussion was: Have
National Conference The Westin served as the Host
a Little Faith: How in the End, Our Differences May Be the
hotel for KT’s and the AKTA
Things That Pull Us All Together.
Presidential reception.
Terry Roach was one of the AKTA sponsored speakers that discussed how
Joe Kabance, RKT was an AKTA sponsored speaker that gave an
to Move Strong; Weight Training for Injury Prevention.
informative interactive lecture on Injury Prevention in the
Workplace.
KT's learning strengthening and balance exercises in a class
titled: From Perception to Reality: An Integrated Approach to
Bodyweight Training The early morning workout sessions gives
The early morning workout sessions gave you an opportunity you an opportunity to try the latest
to try the latest machines: Angela Black trying a wheelchair machines: Veronica Russell using a
friendly Matrix crank machine. stretching machine.
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Meet your 2010 Executive Board.
Left to Right Top: Dusti O’Berry (Member at Large, East) Lori Shuart (President-Elect), Art Morris (First Vice-
President) J.T. Magee (Past President), Cecilia Ordonez (Second Vice-President), Cynthia Howell (Secretary),
Robert Ordonez (President).
Left to Right Bottom: Kate Swett (Treasurer), Terry Roach (Member at Large, West),
Melissa Ziegler (Executive Director)
A class offered by International Council on Active Aging discussed the latest research on the Bridget Collins learning how to teach pole walking in indoor, outdoor, level,
benefits of pole walking. graded and stair terrains.
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The Countdown

Your CEU deadline (June 30th) is around the corner. If you need
classes to complete your CEU’s, there is a list of pre-approved
Continuing Education Programs posted at www.akta.org. If you
have any questions regarding a class you are interested in taking
qualifies as CEU's, contact Bridget Collins at [email protected].

The AKTA will again partner with the MFA for the 2010 Annual
Conference. Start saving to attend the 16th annual 2010 MFA
Medical Fitness and Healthcare Conference Uniting the Industries.
Make an investment to advancing your knowledge and attend the
conference to get the latest information . There will be clinical
seminars led by AKTA selected speakers that will provide the
latest in research and outcomes to enhance your facility programs and services. The Annual
Conference will be held December 1-4, 2010 at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego,
California.

Would you be interested in volunteering to represent
the AKTA during this year’s conference as a speaker/
presenter in your field of expertise?

As a seminar presenter for MFA, you have the opportunity to
demonstrate your knowledge of the medical fitness industry
and share strategies for success with colleagues throughout
the world. The MFA Annual Conference is attended by
hospital administrators, facility managers, physicians, and many
other healthcare professionals, including
Kinesiotherapists. Presenters are provided complementary
conference registration fees from the AKTA. If interested
please send and email to [email protected] before
February 17, 2010 with the following information:
• Seminar Title
• Lecture Summary
• Learning Objectives

The AKTA will choose 4 speakers that we feel best represent the AKTA and the objectives of the
MFA conference. Once chosen you also must fill out the MFA paperwork and submit in an
appropriate time frame.

Kinesiotherapy week this year is September 6 – 10,
2010. This week is designed to highlight the services
Kinesiotherapy provides; to salute the professional
who provide these services and to call attention to the
rehabilitative and fitness needs of the community. Get
involved and get the word out about who you are and
what you do. Stay tuned, we will be posting a KT week
ideas for you to incorporate.
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Reimbursement Corner
By Jon VonderHaar, RKT

Last issue I told you about two pending actions, an
application for HCPCS codes, and an application to the
Virginia Board of Health Professions. In early
November, AKTA was notified by CMS that our
application for Kinesiotherapy specific codes had been
denied, and we were advised to seek guidance from
CPT. Several reasons for the denial were given, but all
related to the absence of a national need for such
codes being identified (by CMS, third party payors, and
healthcare systems). We are following CMS advice to
seek guidance from CPT, which we believe will lead to one of two results – 1) CPT will issue guidance
on the appropriate mechanism to code services provided by Kinesiotherapists using existing codes; or
2) CPT will acknowledge that no correct mechanism exists, which should (hopefully) provide support
for our efforts to obtain KT-specific codes.

The other application, to the Virginia Board of Health Professions, is still in process. We have gone
back and forth with the board providing additional information to supplement our application, and we
are currently on the agenda for the Regulatory Research Committee’s next scheduled meeting on
2/9/10. At the same time, Gary Bolden, Michael Minor, and Harry Jackson have continued meeting
with legislators and other key officials to build the legislative support necessary to implement any
regulatory actions.

By now, everyone has some familiarity with the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA)
that President Obama signed into law on 2/17/09. What you may not be aware of are the changes to
HIPPA privacy and security rules included within this act. Many of these provisions become effective
on February 17, 2010, and impose new requirements for covered entities and their business associates.
If you are an independent practitioner or practice owner, you may have additional requirements under
these new rules. Health Care Consulting Services has prepared several papers detailing the full impact
of these changes on Health Care, which will be available shortly in the Members section of the AKTA
website. You will also find general coding and reimbursement information. Until then, feel free to
contact me with any questions at [email protected].
Job Board Announcement
The AKTA now has a job board located under
Members and non members may access this site;
the Careers section of www.akta.org. The
however, AKTA members will have priority with
program allows for job posting, resume posting
their resumes appearing above non-members on
and resume viewing by potential employers.
the list. Please share this information with your
To log into the Job Board simply enter
colleagues and supervisors. Resume posting is a
www.akta.org and Click the “Careers”
free service; there will be a small fee for job
section. There you will find two boxes
posting and resume viewing. A portion of the
if you are a member of the AKTA under “I am
proceeds from these fees will go to support the
an AKTA Member” click “Click here to
AKTA.
Continue”. That should bring you to a log-in

page. To log in enter your member id (1st initial,
Please email [email protected] with any questions or
middle initial and last name) and password. (The
password will be ‘akta’ or the one you created). problems.
Non members should use the “I am NOT a
AKTA member” and “Click here to Continue”
and then follow the instructions to create an
account.
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Thank you to all

J.T. Magee Jr. RKT
AKTA Past-President

Happy New Year to all of the AKTA! I hope 2010
brings excitement and joy to each and every one of
you! We certainly ended 2009 with a huge success at
our MFA/AKTA joint conference in Orlando, FL.. For
those who made the trip, I want to thank you for your
support and I'm positive your experience was a
meaningful and professionally satisfying. For those who couldn't make it out, really give this next year's
conference serious consideration. The conference location for this year is San Diego, CA and if you've
never been to San Diego, you are in for a real treat. The beaches, the food and the weather are
consistently wonderful! The conference committee is already hard at work planning to ensure that the
2010 conference is even better, which is hard for me to believe. I can't wait to see, and I hope to see
you all there again!

Let me also share with you some of the exciting things we are striving for in Virginia. State licensure
has been a dream of many Kinesiotherapists over the years in many states. Many times before, the
efforts for licensure were unsuccessful, but in the true sense of what and who we are, we continue to
try and continue to move forward. With the strong leadership and support of a very dedicated and
passionate licensure team, the Virginia Board of Health Professions has heard our arguments and has
been receptive to our ideas of why we should be regulated and licensed in the Commonwealth. Mr.
Gary Bolden, Mr. Michael Minor, Dr. Bennett Edwards and Mr. Henry Jackson have all been
monumental in the project and without their vision, consistent energy and professionalism, the process
would have never been initiated. I would also like to thank Mr. Chuck Smith for his efforts and strong
support in our cause. The entire team has gone above and beyond working towards our ultimate goal.
Being a part of that team has been and will continue to be a positive experience for me. On February
9th, 2010 we will meet with the Virginia Board of Health Professions Regulatory Research Committee
to find out if the KT's in Virginia will be recommended for regulation and licensure. This is a huge first
step and it will be greeted with excitement, jubilation and continued hard work. The possibilities for
employment and professional growth will be much deserved for many. Stay tuned for the good
news!!!!

In closing, I would like to again THANK my Executive Board and our Executive Director Melissa
Zeigler foe the past few years and for their dedication and commitment to our profession. Having
such a supportive and hard working group of individuals come together as one to succeed day in and
day out was a joy to be a part of. A tremendous THANK YOU goes out to the membership of the
AKTA as well, for your continued vision and leadership. With each and every one of you striving for
excellence, along with our new President Mr. Robert Ordonez's leadership and ideas, means that the
sky is the limit on what we can accomplish together. I look forward to seeing that future unfold.

Best Regards,
J.T. Magee, Jr. RKT
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