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ACUTE CARE - Clinical Decision Making: the Medically Complex Geriatric Patient with A Cardiopulmonary Diagnosis

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This course includes theory and evidence for, and clinical translation of common laboratory data utilized in the examination, evaluation, and intervention. The student will be expected to demonstrate an understanding of how the various content components of the common laboratory tests inter-relate with the goal of adding to the clinical making skill set of the practicing therapist. This will be accomplished by the provision of a case study of a medically complex patient with a cardiopulmonary diagnosis. Each data point provided is followed by a clinical making decision. The student will be expected to have an entry-level understanding of the basic laboratory testing and with interpretation of vital signs measurements.

Learning Objectives:

  1. Accurately describe and interpret components of a comprehensive physical examination, including screening techniques, taking a patient history, performing systems review and tests and measures for geriatric patients/clients with a select cardiopulmonary diagnosis.
  2. Analyze information gathered during the examination along with the integration of basic science information from geriatric, cardiopulmonary and exercise science to accurately evaluate and form a clinical judgment of a geriatric patient/client with a cardiopulmonary diagnosis.
  3. Determine a prognosis, predict the optimal level of improvement, and assist the therapeutic team on making appropriate disposition/level of care recommendations for a geriatric patient/client with a cardiopulmonary diagnosis in tandem with the spiritual, life expectancy, co-morbid conditions, and patient preferences and treatment goals of the patient/client to be achieved by the physical therapy plan of care as per the appropriate cardiopulmonary and geriatric practice patterns outlined in The Guide to Physical Therapist Practice.
  4. Design a comprehensive, evidence-based, plan of care for geriatric patients with a cardiopulmonary diagnosis that integrates the aforementioned data and complies with the standards of practice.
  5. Demonstrate the ability to link scientific rationale and evidence-based practice to clinical problem-solving in order to design and implement a plan of care to reduce disability and improve functional outcomes for geriatric patients/clients with a cardiopulmonary diagnosis.

Stephen J. Carp

PT, PhD

Dr. Carp has been an assistant professor in the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program of DeSales University since 2016. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in physical therapy, a masters in physical therapy, and a PhD in motor control, all from Temple University. Prior to his faculty positon at DeSales he was a member of the faculty of the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program at Temple.

Carp has over 30 years of clinical experience in many arenas of physical therapy, including acute care, outpatient, wound care, skilled nursing, and acute medical rehabilitation. He is an ABPTS board-certified clinical specialist in geriatric physical therapy. In addition to his clinical work, he has held numerous administrative and consultative positions in hospitals, including vice president of quality, vice president of performance improvement, and interim CEO.

Carp's primary teaching responsibilities include geriatrics, business and management, professional development, and global health.

Carp pursues 3 research lines: nonacademic intelligence metrics related to graduate admissions, the effectiveness of nongovernment support for the poor, and muscle performance and inflammatory biomarkers related to ICU-acquired weakness. He has been extensively published in research journals and as a book chapter contributor and textbook writer. His most recently published textbook, Peripheral Neuropathy, was published in 2015, and Foundations in Physical Therapy will be published in 2018. He has been invited to present at numerous local and state conferences.

Course Instructions

  1. Click on the Contents tab to watch the course recording.
  2. Click the Take Quiz button to complete the assessment. Learners will have 3 attempts to pass and must answer at least 70% of questions correctly.
  3. Click Fill Out Survey under the Evaluation listing to provide valuable course feedback. Scroll down on all questions as there may be answer options that expand past the size of the window.
  4. Click the View/Print Your Certificate button under the Certificate listing. You can view/print your certificate at any time by visiting the APTA Learning Center and clicking the CEU Certificate/Transcript link on the left-hand side of the page. 

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