Statement of Purpose

  1. The Physical Therapy Working Group (PTWG) was formally established in October of 1987 to support the mission of the National Bleeding Disorders Foundation (NBDF) and to serve as mentors and resources to physical therapists that treat persons with bleeding disorders.
  2. All members of the PTWG shall comply with the NBDF’s Conflict of Interest Policy.

 

Goals

  1. To cultivate and participate in interdisciplinary communication among healthcare providers regarding the management of persons with bleeding disorders.
  2. To provide information on physical therapy and the rehabilitative aspects of bleeding disorders to the Medical and Scientific Advisory Committee (MASAC) of the NBDF.
  3. To identify, act as a resource for, and communicate with other physical therapists involved in the care of persons with bleeding disorders (PWBD).
  4. To educate and provide mentoring opportunities to physical therapists working with PWBD.
  5. To educate other healthcare professionals, students, and the community about physical therapy as it relates to the management of PWBD.
  6. To plan professional educational meetings which include sessions on physical therapy intervention techniques and current research for PWBD.
  7. To support all phases of research: design, participation, publication, and presentations with other team members, treatment centers, and institutions relating to bleeding disorders.
  8. To contribute to the NBDF publication, HemAware.
  9. To assist NBDF in maintaining up-to-date educational materials for consumers and professionals involved in the care of PWBD.
  10. To review and update the MASAC guidelines every two years.
  11. To review and update the PTWG related bibliography every five years.
  12. To review and maintain the PTWG website.

 

Working Group Members

  1. The PTWG will consist of 12 members who are licensed physical therapists.
    1. Each member is required to be an employee of a federally funded hemophilia treatment center with at least two years of experience.
    2. The PTWG is comprised of a chair, 8 regional representatives from the 8 Federal Government Grant Regions, and 3 At-Large members.
  2. The 8 Federally Funded Regions are as follows:
    1. New England: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, Rhode Island
    2. Mid-Atlantic: New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia
    3. South East: Tennessee, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi
    4. Great Lakes: Indiana, Ohio, Michigan
    5. Northern States: Illinois, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin
    6. Great Plains: Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Louisiana, Missouri, Kansas, Iowa, Nebraska
    7. Mountain States: Arizona, Colorado, Montana, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming, Idaho, Washington, Oregon, Alaska
    8. Western States: California, Nevada, Hawaii, Guam, American Samoa, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Marshall Islands, Republic of Palau
       

Working Group Member Roles and Responsibilities

Chair: Serves as executive head of the PTWG and:

  1. Presides over the PTWG business meetings
  2. Represents the PTWG on MASAC
  3. Develops an annual budget with NBDF staff
  4. Develops an annual work plan with PTWG member input
  5. Communicates with PTWG members as needed
  6. Compiles an annual report of PTWG activities
  7. Oversees NBDF task force projects
  • The PTWG, by majority vote, will select the Chair at the annual NBDF PTWG meeting and will submit the name to the Chair of MASAC for approval and official appointment. The Chair may stay on for an additional year if no other member is nominated and elected to replace the position.
  • Term: 2 years.

Vice-Chair: Serves as back-up for the Chair and:

  1. Presides over the PTWG business meetings in the Chair’s absence
  2. Represents the PTWG at MASAC in the Chair’s absence
  3. Records and disseminates minutes of the business meetings through NBDF
  4. Oversees other NBDF task force projects as delegated by the Chair
  5. The PTWG, by majority vote, will select the Vice-Chair. The Vice-Chair will start their term at the following NBDF Annual Meeting. The Vice-Chair may stay on for an additional year if no other member is nominated and elected to replace the position.
  6. Term: 2 years

Membership Coordinator: Serves to coordinate the rotation of the PTWG members and:

  1. Monitors rotation schedules of PTWG members
  2. Coordinates membership nominations, applications, and election process with the NBDF liaison
  3. Contacts HTC’s and other working group members to identify potential candidates to fill vacant positions
  4. Communicates with applicants to discuss PTWG role and PTWG member responsibilities.
  5. The PTWG, by majority vote, will select the membership coordinator.

 

Regional Representative: Conducts the official business of the PTWG in his/her respective region and:

  1. Represents the region to the PTWG and NBDF
  2. Attends and actively participates in the NBDF annual meeting, serving as a moderator and/or program speaker
  3. Attends their regional meetings and assists with PT programming
  4. Attends the bi-annual PTWG business meeting and actively participates in PTWG projects and committees
  5. Submits regional summary reports to the PTWG Chair following each regional meeting
  6. Maintains active communication with PT’s in their region, updating them on national projects/initiatives, MASAC updates, and other communications that affect patient care.
  7. Selects Chair and Vice-Chair at appropriate bi-annual meetings
  8. Facilitates election process, in collaboration with NBDF liaison to the PTWG, for a successor in his/her own region when his/her term is complete.
  9. Term: 3 years

At-Large Member: Participates in the official business of the PTWG and:

  1. Attends and actively participates in the NBDF annual meeting, serving as a moderator and/or program speaker
  2. Attends the bi-annual PTWG business meeting and actively participates in PTWG projects and committees
  3. Attends regional meetings
  4. Participates in selection of Chair and Vice-Chair at appropriate bi-annual meetings
  5. Facilitates election process, in collaboration with NBDF liaison to the PTWG, for a successor in his/her own region when his/her term is complete.
  6. At-Large members may be elected to any PTWG position or committee.
  7. Term: 3 years

 

PTWG Regional Representative Election Process:

  1. Representatives to the PTWG will complete their terms on a 3-year rotating basis.
  2. The regional rep will contact the PT’s in their region to inform them of the upcoming opening of the regional rep position at least 6 months prior to the position availability
  3. The regional rep will inform the membership chairman of the PTWG of interest, and the chairman will provide an application and “job description”.
  4. PTWG representative applications will be sent to the NBDF liaison.
  5. If there is more than one qualified applicant for the regional representative position, the PTWG will review applications and select a representative
  6. Applicants will be notified of acceptance or deferral within 1 month of application
  7. Newly-elected representatives will be contacted via email by the NBDF liaison and PTWG membership coordinator
  8. Ideally, new representatives will begin their term at the mid-year PTWG meeting.

 

At-Large Member Election Process:

  1. At-Large members will complete their terms on a 3-year rotating basis
  2. The membership coordinator will inform the PTWG members of an upcoming at-large position opening at the PTWG meeting so that regional reps can inform PT’s in their region of the opening position.
  3. The regional reps will give contact information of interested PT’s to the membership coordinator for application materials
  4. Applications are due to the PTWG membership coordinator, who will forward applications to the PTWG members for review; voting will occur within 2 weeks.
  5. In the event of a tie, the membership coordinator will cast the deciding vote.
  6. Applicants will be informed of acceptance or deferral within 1 month of application.
  7. Once approved, the newly elected member will be contacted by the membership coordinator and NBDF liaison.
  8. New members will be announced at the PTWG meeting
  9. Ideally, new members will begin their term at the mid-year meeting, unless otherwise needed.

 

Exceptions to Term Limits:

  1. In the event that a regional rep is elected to the position of Chair, Vice-Chair or another elected position with term limits, it is possible that the term limits will need to be extended to allow that individual to complete the term requirements for the elected position
  2. A regional representative in an elected position may only run for an elected position that results in the extension of term limits one time
  3. If every effort has been made to replace a regional representative whose term limits have been reached, and no qualified individual applies, it is at the discretion of the PTWG and ultimately the Chair to extend the term of the existing rep one year at a time. Attempts to identify and elect a new representative will be done each subsequent year until one is identified
  4. If needed, a new PTWG member may start at the PTWG NBDF meeting.

 

Task Forces and Committees:

  1. The PTWG will have various task forces and representatives to other NBDF committees as needed or requirement indicates.
  2. Appointees should be, but are not limited to, members of the PTWG.

 

Physical Therapist Excellence Fellowship

  1. To include an elected task force coordinator from the PTWG and at least 2 other members of the PTWG.
  2. Feedback may be solicited from a previous Fellowship recipient or the NBDF research coordinator.
  3. Task force members cannot submit applications for the Fellowship grant.
  4. Members will review applications and select an awardee as established by the NBDF guidelines.
  5. Applicants for the Fellowship grant must submit a letter of intent and subsequent application by NBDF deadlines.
  6. Applications will be reviewed and the recipient selected within 2 months of the final deadline.
  7. The award will be a 1-year grant administered by NBDF beginning the 1st of January each year.
  8. If no Fellowship letters of intent applications are submitted by the deadline, the PTWG members may apply to utilize the funds for NBDF approved programs and projects.
  • New Hire Orientation Manual
    1. A minimum of 3 PTWG members shall maintain the New Hire Orientation Manual
    2. Manual will be updated every 2-3 years as needed (currently in creation)
       
  • Award of Excellence
    1. Physical Therapist of the Year (Named in Honor of Donna Boone, PT)
    2. The task force will include a minimum of 2 elected PTWG members
    3. Task Force will review all nominations and select a single nominee according to the established NBDF guidelines.
       
  • Representative to the Annual Meeting Working Group (AMWG)
    1. Responsible for presenting the PTWG annual meeting draft proposal at the AMWG.
    2. Term: 1 year
       
  • Representative-elect to AMGW
    1. Will assist the representative to the AMWG and will attend the AMWG meeting to assume responsibilities the following year.
    2. Term: 1 year
       
  • HemAware Liaison
    1. Appointed by the NBDF liaison to the PTWG
    2. Responsible for reviewing PT-related articles submitted for publication and is to participate in conference calls as needed
    3. Determined by NBDF liaison
  • Funding
  1. Funding for the PTWG shall be provided by the NBDF
  2. Funding will, at a minimum, support the following:
    1. Attendance of the PTWG members at two business meetings per year
    2. Provide for programming at annual meetings
    3. Allow the routine business of the group to be ongoing

 

Original document written 1/99, revised 12/09 (SK) and approved by the PTWG (1/10), revised 8/17 (JN) and approved by PTWG; revised and approved by PTWG 6/2019