What's the Board Been Up To?

The Washington State Board of Physical Therapy continues to care for the safety of people in Washington and the integrity of licensed clinicians’ scopes of practice. The board is enjoying a productive year and we are excited to share our work, and a glimpse into our related functions and activities.

Notable Actions and Changes:

• WAC 246-915-120 Foreign Educated Applicant Rules:
  • The board approved changes to application requirements, including TOEFL scores, at a December rules workshop. We expect a rules hearing on this at our June meeting.
• WAC 246- 915-085 Continuing Competency for PTs and PTAs:
  • The board approved changes to the continuing competency rules to implement ESSB 5229 health equity training requirements at a February rules workshop. The rules hearing on this will happen later this year.
• WAC 246-915A Compact Commission:
  • The board approved updating the effective date of the Physical Therapy Compact at a February rules hearing.
• The board met in October and drafted the new Mission and Vision statements for the Washington State Board of Physical Therapy and approved them at a subsequent PT Board meeting. (See the related article in this newsletter.)
• We drafted and approved a new Outreach Notice to be sent to PT and PTA schools informing them about the board’s availability to give presentations to their students.
• The board completed and reviewed the FSBPT Board Assessment tool results as part of the October retreat. This exercise will guide future board member training and strategic planning.
• The 2023 chair and vice chair were elected in the October board meeting. They are:
  • Kathryn Dale – Chair (maintained)
  • Rodney Copes – Vice Chair
• Governor Jay Inslee appointed Celeste Misco, PT, DPT, to serve on the board. The board welcomed her enthusiastically at its October meeting. (See “meet our new board member” article in this newsletter.)

Current Issues: Review and Discussion

• The board is discussing how it may collect and use workforce data to further its mission.
• The board is committed to improving transparency through its newsletter and assessing opportunities to gather feedback from the public, clinicians, and students.

Ongoing Activities:

• Bi-monthly regular board meetings that include:
  • The opportunity for public comment
  • Review of correspondence from other professional boards, licensees, and other stakeholders regarding concerns and questions related to practice.
  • Review and action on requests for disclosure of ‘Lists and Labels’ (mailing lists) based on qualifying criteria.
  • Reviews of fiscal reports and associated trends in the profession that impact budgeted items.
  • Informational presentations for board members and staff
• Bi-weekly disciplinary calls to review complaints regarding licensees

Other Activities:

• Participation by individual board members in the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy training and annual educational assemblies, including:
  • LIF Conference – Alexandria, Virginia, in July.
  • Annual Education Meeting – Anaheim, California in October.
• Participation by individual board members in weekly Department of Health meetings during legislative session covering current house and senate bills that could affect health professions and physical therapy practice if passed.
• Regular presentations by individual board members given to local schools regarding the PT and PTA regulatory framework.