Disease Management Models for Physical Therapists: Focus on Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease

This course will provide information and resources on chronic disease management, centering on cardiovascular disease (CVD) and/or diabetes. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, chronic diseases—such as heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes, obesity, and arthritis—are among the most common, costly, and preventable of all health problems. Two of these—heart disease and cancer—together account for nearly 48% of all deaths. Diabetes is the leading cause of kidney failure, lower limb amputations, and new cases of blindness among adults. Physical therapists possess unique skills in examination and intervention within an interprofessional team for the management of patients with chronic disease. This course will present information on the risk factors for chronic disease, lab values for assessment and monitoring, interventions for a healthy lifestyle, and patient education in the self-management of chronic disease. Upon completion, physical therapists will feel confident about chronic disease management and how they fit within interprofessional teams in a variety of practice settings.