April 2009

The 6th April saw the successful launch of the new WCPT website. We have received much positive feedback and look forward to receiving your further comments or suggestions.

All users should now have received an introductory email with a login name and password. Please take the time to login and select your particular areas of interest to receive e-alerts whenever new information is added. Encourage your colleagues to visit and sign up to receive WCPT News, E-update or press releases issued. To register please visit http://www.wcpt.org/user/register.

To coincide with the launch of the new website, next week sees the publication of the first issue of WCPT News in its brand new web-based format. You will receive an email giving you a taster of the top three articles along with a contents list. One click will then take you to the publication on the website. It is also still available as a PDF for those who wish to download and print or read at leisure.

Another World PT Day is swiftly approaching and after the success of last year, we are looking for suggestions on items you would like WCPT to produce to make 8th September 2009 an even greater event. Keeping within the Movement for Health theme we will continue to focus on lifestyle related diseases. Please email mlockner@wcpt.org with your suggestions for types of material that would be helpful, eg more ready-made articles, facts & figures, posters.

The International Classification for Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF) Research Branch of the WHO FIC CC (DIMIDI) is currently embarking on the development of ICF Core Sets for Vocational Rehabilitation.

ICF Core Sets are short lists of ICF health domains which are relevant to most patients with a specific health condition. They can be used by clinicians and health professionals for the assessment of patients and the evaluation of treatment. As part of the development of the core sets project research, a worldwide survey of experts and resource persons who are engaged in vocational or work rehabilitation is being undertaken.

To take part in the survey please click here. All experts taking part must meet the following criteria:

• be a health professional
• have at least 5 years of experience in vocational rehabilitation
• be able to communicate in English

As part of WCPT’s ongoing collaboration with Educata, a provider of online CPD courses, we are requesting feedback on the subject areas you would like to see on offer. For information on current offerings go to the WCPT website at www.wcpt.org/educata. Please email your suggestions to mlockner@wcpt.org.

Registration is now open for the Direct Access and Advanced Scope of Practice in Physical Therapy summit to be held 22-24 October 2009, Washington DC, USA. Please go to http://www.directaccesssummit.com/. The call for posters will be issued in May with details appearing on the website shortly.

The International meeting Ethics, Disability and Justice is to take place in Milan, Italy,on 18 June 2009. The primary aims of the conference are to discuss relevant topics related to health and disability from different perspectives and define an ethical framework in light of the UN Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities and of the WHO-International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health. Please go to the website or email centrodibioetica@unicatt.it.

The second World Health Professions' Conference on Regulation will be held on 18-19 February 2010 in Geneva, Switzerland. For a report of the first conference and information on the 2010 conference as it becomes available, please go to www.wcpt.org/practice/regulation.