VIII.      Practice

      A.   Composition: The Committee shall be composed of members representing varying areas of practice in the state such as private practice, institutional practice, education, home health, etc., and shall have as permanent members the Chapter Vice President and the Chairpersons of the Quality Assurance and Reimbursement Committee.

      B.   Purpose: To be responsible for exploring, cataloging, and disseminating information concerning the practice of Physical Therapy in Missouri and to assist by giving direction when questions of practice and the ramifications of practice arise.

      C.  Committee Meetings: There shall be at least two meetings of the committee each year at the annual conferences and at the winter and summer board meetings as needed.

      D.  General Duties/Functions:

            1.   To respond to inquiries about practice with up-to-date direction and references.

            2.   To evaluate inquiries to provide appropriate direction.

            3.   To seek clarification on unexplored issues of practice.

            4.   To catalog and update reference sources and procedures that influence practice.

            5.   To establish a liaison with agencies that influence practice.

      E.   Specific Duties:

1.    Duties - Chairman

                  a.   To convene all meetings.

                  b.   To act as focal point for all inquires of the membership with questions of practice.

                  c.   To attend all B.O.D. meetings as a voting representative for the Practice, Quality Assurance, and Professional Developmental and Evaluation Committees.

                  d.   Suggestion members for the committee.

                  e.   Collect information significant to current issues of practice.

                  f.    Prepare reports for the B.O.D.

                  g.   To insure and promote discretion and confidentiality in delicate issues of practice by following the Practice Committee Procedural flow chart when handling inquiries.

                  h.   Develop and maintain a reference manual to help in identifying appropriate procedures such as filing complaints, seeking clarification, attempting to influence decision making concerning practice, etc.

            2.   Duties - Members

                  a.   To attend all meetings.

                  b.   To assist in evaluation of practice issues.

                  c.   To act as resource persons in their specific area of expertise or location of practice.

      F.   Reports:

            1.   A report shall be prepared by the chairman for each M.P.T.A. Board of Directors Meeting and each chapter Membership Meeting. Reports to the Board of Directors or the Chapter Membership shall use utmost discretion to maintain confidentiality on delicate issues of practice.

            2.   The Chapter Vice-President shall make reports to the executive Committee on the volume and nature of inquiries handled by the Practice Committee.

      G.  Expenditures/Budget:

            1.   Prepare and submit the budget to the chairman of the Finance Committee.

            2.   Approve expenditures of members of the Practice Committee and sub-committees.