Feature Interview - 9-22-08
Below is an online interview with Dr. Barbara Sanders about the trends
and impact that DPT programs will have on consumers and
providers.
Licensed PT since 1972. Director of PT Program. Certified Specialist in Sports Physical Therapy. Specializes in sports injuries - pre-season participation examinations, acute care and rehabilitation. Professor at Texas State University P.T. dept., in the professional course sequence, assists in research courses, and provides special issues lectures.
Q & A
1. With more and more graduating with a doctoral degrees, what impact will there be on the therapists that currently only have a B.S. or M.S. degree, looking out over the next 5 years and even the next 10 years?Barb: We need to remember that to be a physical therapist one must only hold a license so a PT=PT=PT regardless of degree. Those of us with a BSPT will eventually fade out, retire, die or update our credentials. The same will be true of those with the MSPT or MPT. However, the experience that those therapists have will far outweigh the newly credentialed DPTs.
2. How will this trend affect direct access and consequently malpractice insurance?
Barb: The thought is that with the changes in education and not just for the DPTs but also for many of the MSPT/MPT programs that we can prove to the legal entities that PTs are prepared for direct access. If you will review the states that have had direct access for many years, there has been no impact on malpractice insurance or the number of claims,
3. Will this affect salaries in any way? For example, will starting salaries of new doctoral therapist be greater than say a therapist with 2-3 years of experience who has a M.S. degree?
Barb: Employers control the market here – the salary should not be on the basis of degree but on credential (license) and experience. There should be no difference in starting salary. We did not see a difference when we moved from BSPT to MSPT.
4. Why would a practicing (non-doctoral) P.T. seek out and attain a transitional doctoral degree? Will it be worth the cost and what would be the return on investment? Barb: The major reason one would choose to seek a tDPT would probably be for the opportunity to learn and understand recent changes in education. Most educational programs have added emphasis on evidence based practice, clinical decision making, imaging and pharmacology, with perhaps more business/management. One might be interested in developing in these areas. If the PT can find a program that meets their needs and budget it can pay off. Remember that these courses can be used for the annual requirement for CEUs in Texas.
5. Will employers likely choose doctoral graduates over non doctoral graduates, if both are applying for the same job?
Barb: I may be old school but I am more likely to hire the best fit for my opportunity. I think the employer needs to look beyond the degree – at the experience, the maturity, the skills an individual brings to the workplace to make a difference in hiring.
How likely is it that an employer might prefer a DPT over a MSPT (both with 2 years clinical experience), since DPT's may appear more marketable and will not become "outdated"?
Barb: Good question – I really think it will depend on the supply demand issue. AND the Pollyanna in me says that the employer will hire the best individual for the job. Obviously, the DPT might be preferable but that all depends on the changes in the environment – direct access, reimbursement, autonomy, marketing. And so many other things. A good PT should always be marketable and successful and not “outdated”. Look at the BSPT vs the MPT/MSPT – we still hire the experienced individual who is best in our environment. I have never heard that the degree has been a deciding factor in any of the hiring situations I have heard about. In fact, there have been many times in the past few years where at Texas State MSPT grad has gotten a job over a DPT from out of state!!
6. Would a B.S. or M.S. graduate with OCS, or manual cert., or even a McKenzie diplomat be equivalent to a new grad with a doctorate?
Barb: No – I would expect them to have better skills – patient care and decision making. Experience can never be replaced by the didactic education that makes up most of the degree requirements.