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Reframing the Complex Patient: Overcoming Barriers to Addressing Stress and Adversity in Physical Therapy Care

  • Register
    • Non-Member - $149
    • PT Member - $99
    • PTA Member - $99
    • Student - $99
    • Post-Professional Student - $99
    • Staff - Free!

In this 3-part webinar series Sarah and Andra will explore the benefits of an integrative approach to the complex patient that puts understanding stress at the core of caregiving. Part one dives into the science of stress – the nuances of stress physiology, health effects of chronic stress, biobehavioral coping mechanisms, and the social determinants of health. Part two advocates for shifts in PT assessments and interventions that we can implement when we see our patients through the lens of stress science. This approach is aligned with the principles of trauma-informed care and biopsychosocial models. Part three discusses barriers to adopting this approach, opportunities for the PT profession to implement integrative models, and important boundaries and self-care for practitioners taking on comprehensive caregiving.

Interested in the whole series - click here.

Learning Objectives:

1. Document and address adverse societal and social conditions that effect patients' symptoms, health, and outcomes

2. Effectively document the impact of complexity to facilitate comprehensive care and reimbursement

3. Perform evaluation tests and measures that capture the full complexity of patient presentations

4. Select appropriate ICD-10 and CPT codes to describe the complexity of patient's conditions and interventions provided

5. Identify personal actions to improve complexity care at individual levels

6. Identify global initiatives to improve complexity care at clinic and systemic levels

Sarah Wenger

PT, DPT, OCS, FNAP

Has been a professor at Drexel University’s College of Nursing and Health Professions since 2007. She is the Coordinator of Academic Integration at Stephen and Sandra Sheller 11th Street Family Health Services, an interprofessional community-based federally qualified health center in partnership with Drexel University and Family Practice and Counseling Network where she also provides pro bono physical therapy services 2 days a week. Dr. Wenger enjoys working with chronic biopsychosocial dynamics and teaching students how to care for patients with complex needs. Her treatment focuses on patient education and building self-efficacy to support and empower patients to manage their chronic conditions as independently as possible. As part of an interprofessional team, Dr. Wenger developed a chronic pain clinical reasoning model and psycho-education program. Dr. Wenger has published and presented on a range of topics related to her clinical and academic areas of expertise in chronic pain, underserved populations, clinical reasoning, and interprofessional care and education. She provides clinical mentorship to DPT, orthopedic residency, and creative arts therapy students and teaches Pathophysiology courses. Dr. Wenger also manages student affairs, mentors students on an annual service trip to Guatemala, is on the Physical Therapy Department Curriculum Committee and has served on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Anti-Racism Committees for her department, college, university, and at 11th Street.

Andra DeVoght

PT, MPH

Has been a physical therapist since 1995. After a decade working at Harborview Medical Center, Seattle’s level 1 trauma hospital, she was inspired to pursue a master’s degree in public health that radically changed her approach to physical therapy and led her to open a private practice, Insight Physio PLLC. Andra’s clinical practice at Insight Physio focuses on a biopsychosocial approach to chronic pain, women’s health, and pediatrics. She collaborates with mental health professionals for the care of complex patients. She teaches therapeutic yoga and mindfulness classes for people experiencing chronic pain or other chronic illnesses.

Andra has focused on continuing education course work that integrates a mind-body approach to health care. These include yoga teacher certification with specialty in trauma informed yoga, mindfulness instructor training, NEAR sciences (neuroscience, epigenetics, ACEs and resilience) teacher training, Explain Pain, Postural Restoration Institute courses, Center for Mind Body Medicine facilitator training, and most recently the advanced level course work with the Somatic Experiencing Trauma Institute.

In addition to clinical practice Andra collaborates on community-based projects teaching about the social determinants of health and a biopsychosocial approach to health and healthcare. She has developed curriculum and guest lectures for teachers/special-ed staff and middle school, high school , and midwifery students. Central to her biopsychosocial model is a deep understanding of the stress response and the health effects of stress and adversity. When we view patient care through the lens of the stress response, we begin to connect important dots between symptoms, beliefs, behavior and life circumstances.

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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Assessment
10 Questions  |  3 attempts  |  7/10 points to pass
10 Questions  |  3 attempts  |  7/10 points to pass Please complete the post-course assessment with a score of 70% or better. You have three attempts to obtain a passing score.
Evaluation
12 Questions
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CEU Certificate
Up to 0.20 contact hours available  |  Certificate available
Up to 0.20 contact hours available  |  Certificate available Please download and save certificate for future use.