Minimum Data Set

The Louisiana Physical Therapy Board is authorized by to determine and collect, at the time of new licensure and licensure renewal, a core set of data elements deemed necessary for the purpose of workforce planning (La R.S. 37: §2405.B(15)). The Louisiana Physical Therapy Board is collecting this information using the Physical Therapy Minimum Data Set (PTMDS) survey.  The PTMDS is a collaborative effort between the American Physical Therapy Association, Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy and the Health Resources Service Administration. When requested, PTMDS survey result data will be released only in the aggregate without reference to any person’s name or other individual identifiers.


To view the latest workforce data click here.

 Q&A  

 

  • What is the Physical Therapy Minimum Data Set?

The Physical Therapy Minimum Data Set (PTMDS) is a set of data elements regarding demographics, education, training, licensure, and employment collected on all licensees at regular intervals, typically at licensure renewal. Jurisdictions may collect their own set of data elements which would be referred to as workforce data rather than the PTMDS.

 

  • Who developed the PTMDS?

The PTMDS is a collaborative effort between the American Physical Therapy Association, Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy and the Health Resources Services Administration.

 

  • Why use the PTMDS and not an alternate set of workforce data?

• create a larger comparison base for benchmarking

• contribute to research efforts with consistent data collection over time

• create an accurate picture of national PT/PTA workforce supply

• explain workforce trends

• contribute to national workforce efforts, such as providing support for federal funding initiatives

 

  • Is the PTMDS secure and private?

All licensee information should be released by the Board only in the aggregate without reference to any person’s name or other individual identifiers.

 

  • Why is the PTMDS Important?

The PTMDS helps better understand the current United States Physical Therapy workforce, drive policy, and prioritize research efforts.

 

  • Why should the state board be the one to collect the PTMDS?

Regulatory boards are the only entity that have access to the full population of licensed physical therapists and physical therapist assistants in the jurisdiction. Collecting information from physical therapy providers upon renewal is cost effective and results in larger sample sizes.

 

  • How can PTMDS information impact public policy?

Collecting, analyzing, and reporting of workforce data by regulatory boards helps impact public policy at the jurisdiction level by:

• providing information on the unique demographics of the state

• providing information on access in the state such as counties with no provider or limited providers

• shaping workforce development programs such as diversity in physical therapy

• reporting on trends in the physical therapy workforce that result from state policy

• utilizing physical therapy workforce forecasting models to predict supply and demand at the state and regional levels