American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (AAPM&R)

AAPM&R is a primary medical society that focuses on transforming the healthcare to work function. AAPM&R with its member physicians helps in advancing the specialty of physical medicine and rehabilitation, advocating on public policy issues (in case of people with disabled conditions) and promoting excellence in physiatric practice. The Society of Physical Therapy Physicians was established On September 12, 1938 throughout the annual meeting of the American Congress at the Palmer House in Chicago. In 1939, the Society was headquartered in New York with 40 charter members. At the beginning of 1958, the AAPM&R felt the responsibility of continuing medical education (CME) for their physician members and since that day, formal CME has been offered at each annual meeting. In 1944, the name of the society became ‘the American Society of Physical Medicine’ and in 1955 the name of the society was evolved to ‘The American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation’. The official scientific journal of AAPM&R is PM&R. The journal was launched in 2009 and in 2010 it was selected for MEDLINE indexing.The main aim of the publication is to bring advancement in education, to conduct evidence-based research and to review information. The members of the academy have free access to all journals which includes CME activities and learning activities (SAE-Ps). The academy organizes a variety of webinars, workshops, live events, conferences and job fairs on PM&R topics. The last 2016 webinars were conducted on the topics ‘Preserving Access to Medicare-covered Wheelchairs: Complying with Documentation & Coverage Requirements’, ‘Prevent Medicare Penalties: 2016 PQRS for PM&R Providers’, ‘Overview of Physician Quality Reporting Programs/Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS)’ and ‘2016 CPT Coding Update: What Code Changes Will Affect PM&R Practice?’ in June 8, may 12, march 23 and Jan 20 respectively. The last 2015 webinars were conducted on the topics ‘Fast & Furious Coding and Reimbursement’, ‘Prevent Medicare Penalties: 2016 PQRS for PM&R Providers’, ‘2015 PQRS Made Easy for Physiatrists’ and ‘NIH's National Institute of Arthritis Muskeloskeletal and Skin Diseases: 2015 and Beyond Priorities’ in sept 17, july 17 and march 5 respectively. In upcoming events, AAPM&R is going to organize a workshop on ‘ICD-10 and CPT Coding’ on November 11-12, 2016 in Chicago, IL. Apart from these interactive events, AAPM&R also organizes a job fair which is considered as country’s largest PM&R-specific recruitment event. The AAPM&R job fair is going to be held in New Orleans, Louisiana on Oct 19, 2016.