This Veterans Day, Americans will give their due appreciation for men and women in the military; among them are allied healthcare professionals, with patients in VA hospitals, and rehabilitation centers across the USA. The odds of a veteran and therapist crossing paths are especially great given that allied healthcare workers make up 60% of those in the medical profession, and treat a large number of retired military and those injured in the line of duty.
Did you know that the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) grabbed headlines in 2008, when it announced the HR 6792 Veterans Physical Therapy Services Improvement Act. The bill improved the recruitment and retention of physical therapists for the VHA—the kind of move that leads to more good things for these patients, like updating VHA amendments so that service dogs are available to the Veterans who really need them. When physical therapists type “Veteran” into search results on the APTA site, they bring up encouraging stories just like this.
Today is not just a day for PTs to reflect; other veins of allied healthcare also deliver critical services to the veterans who need them, i.e. speech language pathologists, respiratory therapists, occupational therapists and more. Their pledge to help all patients has been recognized for centuries; in fact, therapists can look back to President Lincoln’s promise to servicemen, that they would always receive the very best of care in exchange for their bravery, as the impetus behind founding the VHA in 1930.
This is the perfect time to see a historical movie, like Stephen Spielberg’s Lincoln, released on the eve of a long Veteran’s Day weekend. Wherever we all are on a day when banks, schools are closed, Americans will be honoring military service of the men and women who have served our nation. And have a very happy Veterans Day while you’re at it!
Physical, Occupational, and Speech Therapists interested in jobs that offer career advancement opportunities? Call American Traveler Allied at 1-800-617-0608 to speak to a allied healthcare recruiter or simply upload your resume and apply online to get started now.