APTA moves to boost its role in wound care

Last year the American Physical Therapy Association created a special interest group for members interested in wound care. Among the goals of the new Wound Management Special Interest Group are:

• Establish a national certification examination for a wound management clinical specialty for physical therapists.

• Foster physical therapy management of wound healing based on a scientific foundation.

• Provide standards for entry-level physical therapy education programs regarding the management of wounds.

• Encourage and foster clinical and laboratory research through dissemination, presentation, and mentorship.

• Provide a forum for the discussion of the management of wound healing among physical therapists from the various APTA sections.

• Establish standards for measurement protocols and terminology.

• Provide a framework for interaction of other health care professionals who treat wounds.

• Provide a network for enhancing communication between clinicians, academicians, and researchers in the physical therapy community interested in the management of wounds.

[For more information on the Wound Management Special Interest Group, contact APTA at 1111 North Fairfax St., Alexandria, VA 22314. Telephone: (703) 684-2782.]