APTA Colorado’s Strategic Plan Addresses Priorities and Challenges

The APTA Colorado Board met in October of 2021 to address the budget and strategic plan for the Colorado chapter, which includes goals and objectives prioritized over the next three years. 

The strategic plan aligns with the APTA Colorado mission statement: “Committed to a culture of excellence and leadership in health care, education, advocacy and research.” The strategic plan does not reflect the totality of APTA Colorado’s activities on behalf of physical therapists, physical therapist assistants and students of physical therapy. Rather, the plan identifies three elements of the board’s strategic vision and includes measures to address expenses and generate additional revenue over the next three years. 

The three elements of our strategic vision are “Enhance and Invest,” “Empower Inclusivity” and “PT Advocacy.” We identified key actions and tactics for each of the elements. 

Enhance and Invest 

APTA Colorado is working to improve membership communications and strategic marketing and communications efforts. We are also identifying ways to address APTA Colorado’s current budget challenges.As part of our strategic plan, APTA Colorado is working to:

• Improve processes for membership communication with the chapter and its leadership through our management company. 
• Update our data-driven strategic marketing and communication plan with our contracted service AFM Communications. 
• Identify measures to decrease expenses. 
• Generate additional revenue and value for membership. 
• Recognize the need for continuing education opportunities at the district and Special Interest Group (SIG) levels. 
• Increase education modules on the Association’s Learning Education Management System and through additional virtual opportunities. 
• Return of the Bob Doctor Event, which raises funds for scholarships. 
• Identify additional non-dues revenue opportunities. 

Empower Inclusivity 

We are excited about diversity, equity and inclusion efforts at the state and national level.

In 2021, we codified in our bylaws a new standing committee, the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion (DEI) Committee. Dr. Michael Harris-Love, professor and program director of the Physical Therapy Program at CU Anschutz Medical Campus, and Dr. Melissa Hoffman, assistant professor at Regis University School of Physical Therapy, are the new DEI co-chairs. The committee is in the process of identifying member volunteers. 

Our chapter is participating in APTA National’s PT Moves Me Ambassador Program. The goals of the Ambassador Program are to increase awareness of the profession of physical therapy, recruit the next generation of physical therapists and physical therapist assistants, and increase the diversity of the applicant pools, and ultimately, the profession. Two student recruits, Dr. Magnusson and Ms. Parker, were selected as Chapter Ambassadors for Colorado. 

PT Advocacy 

We are identifying and pursuing legislative and regulatory efforts to create a better future for the profession of physical therapy and are working to improve our presence on social media. APTA Colorado is committed to:

• Facilitating practice by PTs at the highest level of PT licensure. This will be a focus of our advocacy efforts when sunset legislation for PT licensure comes before the legislature in 2023-24. 
• Identifying and pursuing legislative efforts to improve PT reimbursement. 
• Address site of service utilization management.
• Develop grassroot member advocate pool to assist in legislative efforts. 
• Address requirements associated with insurance intermediaries/utilization review.
• Elevating member engagement on social media and APTA Colorado’s website.
• Elevating our outward-facing promotion of physical therapist services to the public.