The United States of America, the leading employer for physical therapists in the world is in need of more therapists to meet the demand of the American public. This was the pronouncement made by Dr. Jeimylo de Castro, dean, UB College of Physical Therapy and Allied Medical Sciences.
Dean de Castro revealed that the American Hospital Association (AHA) previously declared that physical therapists represent the occupation for which the greatest percentage of vacancies exists in hospitals across the American nation, at 11.4%. Within the span of 8 years, the projected growth for physical therapists employment is 27%. Earlier in 2006, 58% of the hospitals in the U.S. reported that therapist recruitment became more difficult, thus prompted former Congressman Joseph Abrose Sestak Jr. of Pennsylvania’s 7th congressional district to add physical therapists into the “areas of national need”. The said pronouncement was then supported by American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) President R Scott Ward, PT, Phd. who likewise claimed that the demand for physical therapists existed across the nation. The need for more therapists is still prevalent among the states in America.
With the over production of nursing graduates in the country, many students started to shift to physical therapy as another gateway for employment both local and abroad. According to de Castro, Boholanos are very fortunate to have a college on physical therapy in Bohol as it will lessen expenses among students who want to enroll the course. Presently in the province, only University of Bohol offers Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy (BSPT). (L.A.Boncales)
