Chris Edmundson, PT, DPT, OCS, FAAOMPT

Dr. Edmundson is running for Delegate at Large in the 2022 APTA Colorado Elections. 

Chris has practiced as a physical therapist in outpatient and homecare settings since 2003. He has completed a residency and fellowship in orthopedic manual therapy and obtained board certification in orthopedics through the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties and fellowship in the American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapy. He is the owner of Integral Physical Therapy with 6 offices in Colorado and co-owner of Olakino Physical Therapy in Maui, Hawaii. He works as affiliate faculty at Regis University and serves as a clinical mentor for DPT students, residents and fellows. Chris currently serves as Secretary of the Colorado PT-PAC, Delegate at Large for the APTA House of Delegates and Co-Chair of the Government Affairs Committee for the Colorado Chapter of the APTA. Chris has a passion for reforming healthcare and believes that all stakeholders should add value to the system if they wish to participate. At this time, insurance companies add little benefit while driving up the cost of care and extracting huge profits. Patients are incentivized to seek higher cost and higher risk forms of healthcare when physical therapy is the better choice. Physical therapists are paid poorly by insurers and we must continue working toward a solution. These are some of the problems that Chris is working to solve along with the leadership team in the Colorado Chapter of the APTA.

What strengths do you bring to the Colorado Chapter and what strengths would you bring to the position you are running for?
I bring a passion for continual forward progress. While I have found that it is naive to expect rapid, radical change within our complex healthcare system, it is possible for a small few to make continual substantive changes. The Colorado Chapter has done this every year at the state and national level and I continue to see so much opportunity for our profession to advance. I will continue to help push the envelope on payment reform, utilization management issues, improved access and affordability for patients and expansion and protection of our scope of practice.

What are weaknesses of the Colorado Chapter and what improvements would you like to make?
The Colorado Chapter has a small group of dedicated volunteer servants who have been a strong force in guiding our Chapter. These people bring invaluable wisdom and experience that we can build on. Now it is essential that we continue to build a "bench" of future leaders along with other individuals who can help complete the work necessary to advance and protect our profession both here in Colorado and at the national level.