AMTA Top News Stories of 2003

Richmond Convention Most Successful AMTA Convention Ever

The success of AMTA's 2003 National Convention in Richmond, VA, could be measured in two visible ways:  the all-time high of 958 attendees, and the 127 booths in the Exhibit Marketplace.  In addition, a number of exhibitors commented that they had to order additional inventory flown in overnight after Thursday nights opening event in the exhibit hall.  60 years of professional service to massage therapists and their clients helped to make this so.  See you in Nashville October 6-10, 2004.

Members can view the photo album in the Members Only Section. (password required)

Successful CVOP

In July, chapter volunteers’ suggestions, National Board’s guidance, and many hours of volunteer and staff planning successfully culminated in 72 members from 48 chapters attending AMTA’s first Chapter Volunteer Orientation Program (CVOP) in Evanston, Illinois.  During the three-day span, participants heard presentations from AMTA experts about the member experience, association basics, and legal and financial obligations;  toured AMTA’s National Office; and participated in facilitated discussions on chapter relations basics, volunteer development, financial discussion and board development .

Legislation passed in Kentucky and Arizona

The states of Kentucky and Arizona approved massage laws in 2003. Kentucky Gov. Paul E. Patton signed H.B. 268 on March 12. The law went into effect on June 24.

The timeline of the bill was fairly brief; only 13 months went by from the time initial survey information was gathered to the signing of the bill, and just seven months passed from the time of the first coalition meeting to the bill’s signing.

S.B. 1103 was signed and made law by Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano on May 12, making Arizona the 33rd state (plus the District of Columbia) to regulate massage therapy. The House of Representatives added an amendment, approved by the Senate, that allows for the massage board, by rule, to increase the education hours requirement as of July 1, 2005. Licensing will start out with a 500-hour requirement, but this approved amendment creates an avenue for the hours to increase.

Since 1994, 14 states have passed laws to regulate massage—twice as many as in the previous 10-year span (1984-1993).  

AMTA representative appointed to IOM committee

In May, AMTA was invited to appoint an on-going liaison, as a representative of the massage therapy profession, to attend all of the meetings of the Institute of Medicine Committee on CAM Therapies.  AMTA sent member Claude Gagnon (WI) to the June meeting of the IOM committee for a special presentation on regulatory issues and massage therapy.  AMTA Foundation President John Balletto was appointed AMTA’s ongoing representative. 

AMTA supplies detailed description of the massage therapy profession for AMA directory of healthcare professions

In response to a request from the American Medical Association, AMTA provided an overview of the massage therapy profession and a description of AMTA to the American Medical Association’s Health Professions Career & Education Directory.  This directory lists occupational descriptions, employment characteristics and information on educational programs for more than 60 healthcare professions.  This is the first time they have listed massage therapists. 

AMTA meets with NCBTMB, ABMP, AOBTA and COMTA to discuss common interests in massage legislation

In August, AMTA took part in a cooperative meeting to explore areas of common interest among several stakeholders in the profession surrounding regulatory and legislative issues in massage therapy.  It was the first time AMTA sat down to discuss points of view and explore possible areas of common ground with the Associated Bodywork and Massage Professionals (ABMP), the American Organization for Bodywork Therapies of AsiaTM (AOBTA), the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and BodyworkSM (NCBTMBSM) and the Commission on Massage Therapy AccreditationCM (COMTACM).

AMTA collaborates with AHA on study that shows massage is most-used CAM therapy in hospitals

After seeing in past surveys that massage is used by hospitals more than other complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies, the American Hospital Association (AHA) asked AMTA to provide questions related to massage use for a new survey of CAM use in hospitals.  Of the 1,007 hospitals that responded to the survey, 269 reported using CAM therapies, and 220 reported using massage therapy.

AMTA distributes massage poster to more than 5,000 medical offices

A new poster about the benefits of massage has been distributed to medical group practices.  The poster, produced by AMTA, is designed for physician's exam rooms, and invites patients to discuss massage therapy with their doctors.  The 11x17 posters were distributed starting in September.  In addition to the national mailings, members also purchased varied amounts of the posters and distributed them to local physicians in their area.  To date, over 13,000 posters have been distributed to healthcare professionals and human resource managers for posting in their offices.  Additional mailings are planned for 2004.  The program has been a huge success as repeat orders are coming in.

Media coverage of massage continues to climb

AMTA’s promotions of massage to various audiences have continued to generate interest from the public and the news media.  In the year ending February 2003, there were 13,660 articles published and reports show there will be well over 14,000 articles about massage published in the year ending February 2004!  AMTA’s news release for NMTAW 2003 about the results of recent massage surveys was published in its entirety by at least 3 medical news weeklies as important healthcare news that would be of interest to healthcare professionals.  Various consumer publications, including online news services, and some broadcast media outlets also ran stories that quoted the surveys.  It was clear from all of these media outlets that information about massage from AMTA is viewed as important. 

NMTAW Theme a Big Success

AMTA’s theme of “Relieve Pain with Massage” for National Massage Therapy Awareness Week 2004 was a big success.  Relief of pain is an issue of interest to consumers and healthcare professionals.  The timing was perfect as the American Medical Association began release in 2003 of a series of continuing education modules on pain relief that includes relief from non-pharmacological therapies.  AMTA distributed a special poster called “Talk to Your Doctor About Massage Therapy” to more than 5,200 medical group practices in October.

AMTA Web site wins 3 awards for service to consumers and the healthcare community

Each year since its on-line debut in August, 1997 AMTA has worked to improve it's Web site and the content.  In 2003 AMTA revised the entire Members Section of the Web site.  This work has paid off with the awarding of A 2003 Web Award from the Web Marketing Association, a  2003-2004 Golden Web Award from the International Association of Web Masters & Designers, and a 2003 eHealthcare  Leadership Gold Award for having the "Best Overall Internet Site" among healthcare associations and professional societies.  1200 Web sites were judged on 56 points in the eHealthcare competition.  AMTA has been at work re-designing the Consumer Section of the Web site and will unveil that in early 2004.