Drawbacks of a DPT?

[geronamo26]

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I am currently trying to decide whether to go into physical therapy. I am, however, concerned about where the profession will be in 5-10 years from now. Do any of you know if there is a difference in coursework between MPT and DPT? Is there REALLY a reason for the entry level practitioners to have a DPT? What is the point of having a DPT when there is little to no difference in pay and in course work? Where does one go beyond DPT? Salary growth is low in physical therapy as well! I have been hearing too many people complaining about the high cost of schooling vs. low amount of pay AFTER schooling. I can't stand how some people on here act like money is not an issue in this profession! Be reasonable! DPTs need to be paid more for the amount of time invested in schooling as well as to help pay off their loans! I've also heard that DPT should really be negotiating more as to set the standards of pay higher...not to accept base offers right off the bat. But the most troubling thing is that after DPT and specialized training...whats next??? Oh! Do any of you think that DPTs should be able to prescribe equipment? I've heard that Doctors are the ones that perscribe what kinds of equipment should be used on a client! How will direct access be of any help when PTs? Thanks!

 

[lee9786]

My biggest concern regarding the DPT is that not all PTs are on board for this transition. They will quickly point to the fact that there is no current additional marketable benefit for doing so. So the motivation for doing so lies solely with doing it for the advancement of the profession. One thing to note is that not a whole lot of BsPTs and MsPTs have decided to pursue the DPT even though there are programs which the PT can complete their tDPT online. So the biggest factors for not doing so are money and time it seems. People in general act in their own best interests. That is human nature. Not creating a marketable incentive for currently practicing PTs to pursue the DPT is a mistake in my opinion. They should have incorporated more marketable certifications which would have created more of an incentive for currently practicing PTs for pursuing it.

The future of PT lies in evidence-based practice. With healthcare reform looming and payment restructuring seeming inevitable, PTs need to demonstrate evidence of increasing healthcare efficiency and quality while reducing costs. The time will come where if what you do doesn't show evidence, you won't get reimbursed. PT needs to improve in the utilization of EBP and its practitioners need to incorporate this into their practice more often. From what I hear this research is advancing. I've also heard though that a lot of the research still isn't there. So that's for someone else to comment on. Nonetheless the salary info you see in the bls is likely to change not only for this but other heathcare professions. It could go down and it could go up. All signs in the short term look for it to go down.

From what I see there are plenty of challenges ahead. Your DPT not only carries a student loan burden. As the DPT, you are the new face to this now doctoring profession. How the DPT performs is ultimately going to be the deciding factor regarding whether or not this move was made to increase the efficiency and efficacy of healthcare while reducing costs or simply is just a good example of degree inflation.