| Join SCAPTA
Thank you for your interest in the South Carolina Chapter of the American Physical Therapy Association (SCAPTA). I encourage to read the detailed information below to learn more about valuable benefits of membership, such as:
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benefits, opportunities, and tools for seasoned and new professionls and students
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educational resources and publications
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tools for navigating payment policy, advancing your career, clinical practice guideliness
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Employer benefits for sponsoring staff membership
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financial and insurance benefits for members,
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and more!
To become a member of SCAPTA, click on the following link: APTA Membership. When registering, please use SCAPTA source code: SC111
For questions regarding membership, contact:
Adam Smith, PT, OCS
SCAPTA Membership Chairman
Membership in the South Carolina Chapter
The South Carolina Physical Therapy Association is a chapter of the American Physical Therapy Association, which represents more than 80,000 physical therapists, physical therapist assistants, and students nationwide. Membership dues includes membership in APTA, SCAPTA and your local district.
Association membership is an investment in both your current professional status and your future financial well-being.
Get Involved
Many people ask how they can get involved in the association. Here are some ways to get involved and some of the benefits of being involved. People usually think of volunteering as giving of themselves, but there's much to be gained, both personally and professionally, through raising your hand.
The best way to start getting involved is to attend a District Meeting. There are 6 geographic districts in the SCAPTA. You are assigned a district based on where you live. People that are active in the association attend district meetings and this is the best place to get started. Volunteer to be an officer, committee chair, or committee member in the district.
- Gain experience outside of your job responsibilities: Is there something you've always wanted to do but you aren't qualified for it at this point in your career? Do you need more experience in an area before you're ready for a promotion? If the answer is "yes," volunteering may be the answer. Let's say you want to move into a management role but have had no experience with budgets. Working on a finance committee or as the treasurer of an organization may be just what you need to fill that gap.
- Enrich yourself personally: Experiences like organizing or coordinating an event for the District or Chapter will help you grow and assist a cause you care for. And, as an added benefit, it will show your employer that you're interested in using your skills to help others. A well-rounded person is always a more desirable hire.
- Attend CE courses sponsored by a District of SCAPTA. The six districts of SCAPTA conduct approximately 2-3 meetings per year, most of which provide for CE opportunities and information sharing on latest issues in physical therapy.
- Attend the SCAPTA Spring Conference
- Become a Clinical Instructor: Enhance your professional image. Let people know that you know your stuff. Your unique combination of experience and education provide you with a background and perspective that is unlike anyone else's. Share what you know. You'll benefit yourself while benefiting others
- Become a mentor of a student or new graduate
- Network, Network, Network! Connect with people whether you're speaking at a district meeting or working on a committee, you never know whom you might meet. A positive impression may turn into a job opportunity down the road. And, you'll develop stronger interpersonal skills that will serve you well in anything you do
- Affect Change: If the profession is going to accomplish Vision 2020, then we must rely on ourselves to do it. Contribute to the success of a conference. Work on the campaign for you favorite local candidate or contribute to the SCAPTA political action committee. Serve on the district's or chapter's board of directors. Whatever you choose to do will create a positive impact on the profession.
Benefits of Membership in SCAPTA
SCAPTA membership gives you access to APTA tools and resources as well as opportunities within South Carolina that benefit you and the profession.
Advocating for you in South Carolina and beyond. SCAPTA partners with APTA's State Government Affairs to reach state legislative goals and defend the PT scope of practice from infringement. Efforts include tracking and analyzing state legislation, meeting with state representatives, developing grassroots efforts, formulating legislative strategies, and maintaining a strong relationship with the State Board for Physical Therapy. Recent major accomplishments include the monitoring and tracking potential legislation that would infringe upon or restrict physical therapy practice in the state, such as:
- Physician-owned physical therapy services and referral for profit
- Legislation that would impact the ability of PTs to perform spinal manipulation
- Workers compensation
- Ensuring that physical therapy was not cut as a covered service under the South Carolina Medicaid program.
Navigating payment policy for high-quality patient care.
Stay on top of changing form and code requirements, claim denials, and critical payment topics with the free Medicare Fee Calculator, and more.
Promoting the benefits of physical therapy.
Public relations and marketing tools to help you share the benefits of physical therapy with consumers and other health care professionals. MoveForwardPT.com includes interactive tools and information for consumers and health care professionals, plus consumer-oriented handouts. BrandBeat empowers you to strengthen the physical therapy brand, including guidelines and training to help you live the "Move Forward" brand.
Connecting you with colleagues for networking and collaboration.
From the live events to social networking like the SCAPTA Facebook page, tap into the collective knowledge and expertise among APTA's 80,000+ physical therapist, physical therapist assistant, and student members... making a difference for careers, patients, and the future. Discover more opportunities to connect through your local chapter and special-interest sections.
Get involved on a deeper level by running for an elected position in the chapter or volunteer for one of the many committees.
Students: begin establishing the relationships that will support your career. Get in "The Loop" and build relationships within your program or chapter. Share ideas in The Student Assembly Pulse - written by students, for students. Discuss the issues as a candidate for the Student Assembly Board of Directors.
Saving you money.
Exclusive discounts on state and national conference registrations, publications, and continuing education opportunities. When you add in discounts on continuing education offerings at the chapter levels and the great value on insurance and financial APTA-endorsed member benefits, you'll be amazed at how much you can save. Plus, APTA educational programs and active community members always strive to share valuable tips and strategies to help your business thrive. Students - Profit from scholarships, awards, and grants and learn the ins and outs of effective student loan debt management. Enjoy significant discounts on essential resources like "Firsthand: The Basic Evaluation Kit for Students of Physical Therapy" from APTA's online store. Access high-quality insurance and financial products designed to meet your needs now and in the future.
Keeping you informed.
In addition to SCAPTA's monthly electronic newsletter and legislative updates, your membership gives you online access to PT in Motion magazine, PT Journal (PTJ), PT in Motion: News Now news feed, the online Guide to Physical Therapist Practice, and APTA podcasts provide regular updates on advocacy, education, and more.
Promoting evidence-based practice.
Your membership gives you quick and easy access to clinical research that supports evidence-based physical therapy practice across practice settings and specialty areas. APTA's Open Door: Free online access to text articles and abstracts from more than 2,500 health care-oriented periodicals. PT Journal (PTJ): State-of-the-art research, case reports, technical reports, literature reviews, and perspectives on clinical and professional issues. APTA's Hooked on Evidence: National database on the effectiveness of physical therapy interventions, exclusively available to members online.
Strengthening your expertise with clinical and practice resources.
Connect to a wealth of clinical and practice-related resources that provide the high-quality care to your patients, meet your professional goals, and thrive in your practice. Members enjoy best-practice documentation resources and guidelines on supervision of personnel, health information technology, and more. Specially priced APTA-endorsed insurance and financial benefits will protect your from risk and help you save money. Plus free advertising via Find a PT, APTA's consumer search engine, to connect you with potential patients.
Advancing you to the next level.
Continue your career development in clinical practice and fast track your education and career by completing credentialed post-professional clinical residency or fellowship programs, or beginning the path to ABPTS board certification in any of 8 clinical specialization areas. PTs can also earn recognition as an APTA Credentialed Clinical Instructor. Job seekers can search for positions in physical therapy.
Students: Utilize the resources on the employment page just for students. Ensure that your resume is as thorough and professional as possible. Search among thousands of Red Hot Jobs in physical therapy. Learn what to expect from employment contracts - and what to avoid. Learn how to maximize your clinical rotations.
Recognizing accomplishments.
SCAPTA members have the opportunity to nominate a fellow member for one of several chapter awards presented annually at its spring conference, recognizing excellence in Clinical Awards, Service Awards, Student Award, and Legislative Award.
Membership Benefits for Employers
As an employer or supervisor, you set the standard for care in your facility. You may also supervise employees, manage budgets, purchase new equipment, oversee facility maintenance - and you haven't even had your first cup of coffee. Managing a health care facility is a demanding job, but APTA can help. Sponsoring membership for your staff will:
- Reduce the need for billing and documentation supervision
- Improve recruitment of new employees and retention of current ones
- Attract clients seeking professional treatment and care
- Decrease your facility's professional development and continuing education expenses
- Ensure your patients receive the highest quality of care
Reduce the need for billing and documentation supervision.
APTA provides our members with the knowledge to succeed in today's age of managed care.
- The Medicare Fee Calculator easily calculates accurate Medicare payment by locality.
- The "Defensible Documentation for Patient/Client Management" resource includes guidelines, samples, setting-specific tips, and more.
- APTA staff experts are available to quickly and clearly answer the most complicated questions regarding payment.
- Podcasts, publications, and e-mail updates provide timely information on changes to billing and coding.
Improve recruitment of new employees and retention of current ones.
Providing membership demonstrates your commitment to professional development and career enhancement.
Attract clients seeking professional treatment and care.
Health care consumers are more likely to find your facility and seek out your staff.
- Notice increased referrals for your facility as your staff builds connections through APTA events.
- The Facility Challenge lets patients know that your facility is committed to the highest quality of health care.
- The Find a PT database connects health care consumers with PTs according to location, practice area and focus, and more.
- Help your patients become knowledgeable about how physical therapists can help them - then enable their activism through the Patient Action Center.
Decrease your facility's professional development and continuing education expenses.
Provide knowledge and education that benefit your facility and staff - and save money in the process.
Ensure your patients receive the highest quality of care.
Help your employees provide the highest quality care by providing them with the highest quality resources.
- Open Door provides instant access to full-text articles in more than 1,000 health care periodicals.
- APTA staff experts are available to quickly and clearly answer the most complicated questions regarding practice.
- Online communities connect your staff with PTs and PTAs across the country.
- The online Guide to PT Practice is free for members and features enhanced functionality.
How to Sponsor Membership for Your Staff
To sponsor membership, visit www.apta.org/Join or download APTA's membership application.
To learn more about the benefits of sponsoring APTA membership, review The Benefits of Sponsoring APTA Membership for Your Physical Therapy Staff (.ppt) or call an APTA staff member at 800/999-2782, ext 3395.
Insurance Benefit Programs for Members
Members are eligible to apply for a full range of cost-saving and value-added products and services.
Members are invited to contact APTA's Member Services Department for assistance whenever questions or concerns arise regarding risk management or member benefits. Reach us at 800/999-2782, ext 3395, or at insfinsvcs@apta.org. We look forward to serving you.
Liability Insurance is designed to protect your assets and cover your expenses in the event of a suit being brought against you for malpractice.
Protecting your health, your family and your livelihood is much easier with APTA on your side.
Long-term care insurance covers the day-to-day care that a patient (typically older than 65) would receive in a nursing facility or residence in old age or following an illness or injury.
The GEICO plans offer competitive rates; free, no obligation rate quotes; customized policies utilizing a variety of coverage combinations; and outstanding nationwide claims service.
Student injury and sickness insurance is designed to help students cover the costs of health care for themselves and their families.
AD&D insurance pays a stated benefit to you or your beneficiary in the event of a bodily injury or death due to accidental means.
Financial Benefit Programs for Members
Members are eligible to apply for a full range of cost-saving and value-added products and services.
Members are invited to contact APTA's Member Services Department for assistance whenever questions or concerns arise regarding risk management or member benefits. Reach us at 800/999-2782, ext 3146, or at insfinsvcs@apta.org. We look forward to serving you.
Simplify the way you do business with The APTA Business Credit Card with WorldPoints Rewards from Bank of America. *
Bank of America/The FIA Card Services, N.A., Platinum Plus Credit Card, now with WorldPoints-the rewards program that absolutely puts you first.
The Education Finance Program is designed to help you fund your educational dream and manage your education-related debt, whether you are a parent who wants to send your child to college, a PT looking to obtain a DPT degree, a PTA seeking a PT or other advanced degree, or a current student or recent graduate looking for assistance in this area.
APTA members save money when you rent a car from partnering companies.
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