Opioid literacy in physical therapy education and practice is paramount, and complements APTA’s Mission Statement: “Building a community that advances the profession of physical therapy to improve the health of society.” Supporting patient health and wellness efforts is the APTA Code of Ethics for the Physical Therapist Principle 8: “Physical therapists shall participate in efforts to meet the health needs of people locally, nationally, or globally,” and APTA Standards of Ethical Conduct for the Physical Therapist Assistant Standard 8: “Physical therapist assistants shall participate in efforts to meet the health needs of people locally, nationally, or globally.” The recently adopted APTA House of Delegates position RC 62-19: Naloxone Availability Where Physical Therapy Services Are Provided further supports the need for advocacy, education, and training.

Learning Objectives

1. Discuss the role of the physical therapist (PT) and physical therapist assistant (PTA) in advocacy, education, and training to address the opioid problem in the United States.

2. Identify the potential signs of opioid addition and available patient treatment options including differentiating between a drug overdose and cardiac arrest.

3. Reflect on your personal role and responsibility to address emergency events such as cardiac arrest resulting from opioid overdose, including accurately identifying indications for naloxone use.

4. Discuss approaches to pain alternatives and resources available to PTs, PTAs, and patients.

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. 

Need Assistance?

For assistance logging in, accessing activities, claiming credit, or for other questions or concerns, please e-mail learningcenter@apta.org. 

The pre-Recorded content and the recorded live Q and A are now available for viewing and listening.

Pursuant to the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 Section 53107, beginning on January 1, 2020, outpatient therapy providers are required to use a modifier (CQ or CO) to denote when outpatient therapy services are furnished in whole or in part by a PTA or OTA, respectively. In 2022, payment for outpatient therapy services furnished in whole or in part by a PTA or OTA will be reimbursed at 85% of the fee schedule. The reduced payment rate is applicable when payment is made under the PFS to therapists in private practice, outpatient hospitals, rehab agencies, SNFs, HHAs, and CORFs.

This webinar will focus on what outpatient physical therapy providers need to know in order to comply with Medicare’s new regulation regarding application of the CQ or CO modifier on the claim, including the 10% de minimis standard and how to determine whether services are considered furnished in whole or in part by a PTA or OTA. The final policy, as promulgated in the 2020 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Rule, will be discussed and possible billing scenarios will be reviewed.

This course is free and is open to members and non-members.

Course Instructions

1. Click on the Contents tab to watch the course recording.
2. 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.
3. 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. 

Need Assistance?

For assistance logging in, accessing activities, claiming credit, or for other questions or concerns, please e-mail learningcenter@apta.org. 

The JOSPT Low Back Pain Clinical Practice Guidelines clearly state, “that clinicians should not use patient education and counseling strategies that either directly or indirectly increase the perceived threat or fear associated with low back pain, such as education and counseling strategies that promote…in depth, pathoanatomical explanations for the specific cause of the patient’s low back pain.” Unfortunately, many low back pain courses teach clinicians a biomedical approach in explaining low back pain symptoms which directly contradicts the clinical practice guidelines. This course will help clinicians educate low back pain patient to avoid iatrogenic effects and optimize outcomes.

Learning Objectives:

1. Explain the importance of treating low back pain patients using a bio-psycho-social framework vs. a biomechanical approach
2. Review the importance of reassurance and movement in the treatment and education of non-specific low back pain patients
3. Cite two ways to avoid the iatrogenic effects in low back pain education
4. Reframe the language used in radiographic findings for non-specific low back pain

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. 

Need Assistance?

For assistance logging in, accessing activities, claiming credit, or for other questions or concerns, please e-mail learningcenter@apta.org. 

A growing body of evidence suggests that physical therapists are at a moderately high risk for burnout, compassion fatigue, and career dropout. These factors have been correlated with poor patient safety and outcomes, practitioner physical and mental health problems, and poor revenue and marketing outcomes. Fortunately, the evidence shows that these problems are lower in entrepreneurial physical therapists with strategic foundational business, marketing, and health coaching skills. However, many entrepreneurs often lack the support, knowledge, and personal accountability to apply these foundational practices without sacrificing their lives, health, and finances to get there. This is a problem on a consumer level, as it affects patient care, outcomes, and safety. In this session, physical therapists will receive specialty training and coaching to establish fundamental personal branding and marketing skills so that they can work smarter, not harder, eliminate the tendency towards compassion fatigue and burnout, and meet their professional and business goals. They will learn practically applicable skills to incorporate coaching and wellness services within their own lives, and also their practices. In doing so, attendees will learn to cultivate an environment of healing and sustainable practice not only for their patients, but also for themselves.

Learning Objectives:

1. Identify and create a personalized “practitioner brand,” including mission, vision, and core values that reflect what is most important in your life both inside and outside of the clinic.
2. Discover a systematic method to apply and implement simple guilt-free and stress-free self-care and wellness practices and systems, and release stress, so you can practice what you preach and show up as your best self to allow for optimal safety and outcomes for your patients, colleagues, and employees, and also be able to plan your schedule for vacations, holidays, courses and conferences, marketing opportunities, and more.
3. Apply the 80/20 (Pareto) principle to create a heart-centered practice that works for you and reflects your unique, creative personal brand and values, so you can reduce the workload and work smarter, not harder, at growing your practice and your niche.
4. Identify the three major things getting in the way of achieving your professional and practice goals, how to implement projects that move you toward your bigger professional goals, and how to use the rule of three to eliminate all those “distraction projects” that keep you spinning.

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. 

Need Assistance?

For assistance logging in, accessing activities, claiming credit, or for other questions or concerns, please e-mail learningcenter@apta.org. 

APTA and the Veteranʹs Administration have partnered and this is one of the topics provided by the Veteranʹs Administration to our Members free of charge.

The physical therapist’s role is expanding within the current healthcare model. This includes implementation of physical therapy clinics in the primary care setting. Primary care physical therapy leads to efficiency of other medical services by offering immediate access to evaluation and treatment. Contact the presenters at: Brandon.Peterson2@va.gov and Christopher.Rowedder@va.gov.

Learning Objectives:

1. Understand the gap that exists in musculoskeletal healthcare
2. Describe what the Primary Care physical therapy model is
3. Explain the benefits of having PTs in Primary Care
4. Recognize the challenges PTs will face in Primary Care
5. Learn which PTs may be the best fit for Primary Care
6. Review training recommendations for those interested in Primary Care

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. 

Need Assistance?

For assistance logging in, accessing activities, claiming credit, or for other questions or concerns, please e-mail learningcenter@apta.org. 

This session will discuss current evidence-informed trends in concussion as they relate to the cervical spine and vestibular system as well as exertional and activity tolerance. The speakers will review the anatomy and physiology of concussion, as well as the dynamic and individualized aspect of prognostic modifiers for concussion. They also will discuss the evaluation of the cervical spine and vestibular system, and the development of appropriate treatment strategies.

Learning Objectives:

1. Describe the elements of the cervical spine, vestibular system, and brain as they pertain to symptomatic patients with concussion.

2. Perform a thorough evaluation on the cervical spine and vestibular system with a focus on the symptomatic patient with concussion.

3. Apply specific, evidence-based therapeutic interventions for the cervical spine and vestibular system that will aid with the rehabilitation of individuals with concussion.

4. Complete and apply exertional testing results when returning the patient to play and daily activities.

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. 

Need Assistance?

For assistance logging in, accessing activities, claiming credit, or for other questions or concerns, please e-mail learningcenter@apta.org. 

This course will consider the clinical decision-making process and clinical reasoning strategies for incorporating the needs of a diverse patient population. Cultural competence in health care describes the ability of health care providers and systems to provide care to patients/clients with diverse values, beliefs, and behaviors. Cultural responsiveness incorporates a lifelong commitment to responding to the needs of patients with an understanding of contextual factors to achieve maximum patient outcomes. This requires individuals to be aware of their own cultural influences and implicit biases and how they may impact perceptions, diagnoses, and interactions with patients/clients as well as how to address these issues in their clinical decision making and daily practice. Topics will include a brief review of The Guide to Physical Therapist Practice Patient Management Model and the International Classification of Function (ICF) Model. Discussion will highlight the use of these models in clinical practice to support clinical decision making and clinical reasoning with diverse patient populations. Health disparities, and social determinants of health with an examination of culturally appropriate practice issues essential for effective service delivery will also be discussed.

Learning Objectives:

1. Employ clinical decision-making and clinical reasoning strategies that result in better rehabilitation and educational services for patients and clients by utilizing ICF and applying the Physical Therapist Patient and Client Management Model to patient management.
2. Identify the influence of clinical and non-clinical factors on clinical decision-making in a diverse patient population.
3. Assess ways that environmental factors, personal factors, and culture impact participation.
4. Identify the role of cultural responsiveness in clinical decision-making and clinical reasoning to maximize successful patient outcomes.
5. Identify disparities in health and healthcare for diverse patient populations seen in physical therapist practice.
6. Recognize how culture and ethnocentrism affect personal and institutional prejudice and how these factors may impact patient/client participation.
7. Explain the importance of diversity in health care and the challenges and opportunities it poses.
8. Identify and appreciate how bias and stereotyping can affect interactions with patients and the link between effective patient centered communication and quality care.

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. 

Need Assistance?

For assistance logging in, accessing activities, claiming credit, or for other questions or concerns, please e-mail learningcenter@apta.org. 

Across the United States, there has been an increase in diversity education and investment. Many organizations, including the APTA, have invested significant time, money, and resources into furthering their diversity initiatives. Given this investment, it is crucial to understand the differential effects that diversity may have on outcomes and how it can be managed most effectively. This course will introduce physical therapy professionals to the concept of Diversity Climate and its relationship to positive organizational outcomes. It will also provide participants with practical suggestions for how to implement these constructs into practice.

Learning Objectives:

1. Describe factors that may undermine diversity efforts

2. Define Diversity Climate and describe how it offers a solution to diversity management 

3. Utilize Diversity Climate research to generate workplace interventions for better diversity management

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. 

Need Assistance?

For assistance logging in, accessing activities, claiming credit, or for other questions or concerns, please e-mail learningcenter@apta.org. 

Cultivating Unified Lives Through Understanding, Reflecting, and Educating, or CULTURE, is a student-driven organization established in spring 2019 by two University of Lynchburg DPT students. Optimal practice within physical therapy requires not only professional knowledge, but also empathy toward diverse patient populations. With additional diversity education and cultural encounters, PTs are more likely to provide and meet the health care needs of underrepresented populations. Creating a group similar to CULTURE in any health care setting supports APTA values and initiatives to improving cultural knowledge and understanding within health care. For academic programs, this group promotes recruitment and retention of minority students, enhances classroom discussions, challenges racial conflicts, and prepares all students, including nonminority students, to work more effectively with diverse patients. This presentation will give PTs and students strategies to develop similar groups, and to create opportunities for conversations that will help foster equitable care to underrepresented populations.

Learning Objectives:

1. Create active and experiential learning opportunities for entry-level DPT students that allow exposure to unique patient populations.
2. Integrate self-awareness of implicit and explicit bias into professional interactions.
3. Contrast culturally sensitive approaches to patient care interactions with insensitive approaches that may be prohibitive to establishing the therapeutic alliance.
4. Choose culturally proficient approaches when working with underrepresented patient populations.

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. 

Need Assistance?

For assistance logging in, accessing activities, claiming credit, or for other questions or concerns, please e-mail learningcenter@apta.org. 

This course will focus on compliant documentation utilizing the Medicare’ Documentation Requirements as published in the Medicare Benefit Policy Manual and the APTA Defensible Documentation. It will not only address specific content requirements but also the consequences of not complying with these regulations. Special attention will be afforded to effective drafting of Plans of Care, differentiating the evaluation from a progress report, the purpose of the treatment encounter note and ultimately how to document in a way that tells the ‘whole’ story without writing a book.

Learning Objectives:

1. Explain the difference between the "evaluation in the initial examination with that" in the progress report

2.Articulate when and how to use the "Delayed Plan of Care" provision

3. Execute a compliant Treatment Encounter Note

4. Capture relevant evaluative findings and document to justify skilled intervention

5. Identify documentation deficiencies that lead to denials, refunds, and/or sanctions

You can purchase Part 2 here.

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. 

Need Assistance?

For assistance logging in, accessing activities, claiming credit, or for other questions or concerns, please e-mail learningcenter@apta.org.