Course Description:

In this two-part course series, watch six real patients, experiencing a variety of common issues, expertly seen by a physical therapist/ physical therapist assistant team. This course series demonstrates effective evaluation and intervention of the older adult in any setting where PTs and PTAs work together. Optimizing the PT/PTA team approach with specific examples of standardized tests and evidenced based treatment techniques allows for effective delivery of best practice for your patients.

PT: As therapists, we face constant demands to provide the best level of care in the most efficient manner, and to document effectively for maximum reimbursement. In this course, you will watch evidence-based, effective, and well documented care as real patients are evaluated by an experienced PT, followed immediately with treatment by a PTA.

PTA: Using appropriate evaluation tools and documenting meaningful results allows the PTA to begin treatment without the need to spend valuable time reassessing the patient on the first treatment visit to determine the course of treatment. Having evidence-based protocols in place provide a starting point for the PTA to jump in and begin the delivery of a great therapy experience. We describe the most effective evidenced based management programs for common diagnoses including lumbar stenosis, knee OA, and peripheral neuropathy. Mike and Kathy provide examples of treatment programs, HEPs, and documentation of each eval and treatment.

Listen to both perspectives as a PT and a PTA provide their unique perspectives on how to work together to get excellent patient outcomes. This course series is a must for both PTs and PTAs working in any setting as a team. Mike and Kathy Fagan evaluate and treat 6 different patients in a clinical setting with focus on effective evaluation tools and EBM programs with progression, and the most efficient documentation of the evals and treatments. Part 2 covers patients experiencing Parkinson's disease, stroke, and dizziness.