PT 770 Screening for Medical Disorders

This course addresses PTs’ role, responsibilities, and decision-making processes regarding appropriate referral of a patient to a physician for emergency or non-emergency evaluation of medical conditions outside the scope of physical therapy. A well developed examination scheme guides a structured decision making processes to efficiently and effectively collect and evaluate examination data for an informed differential diagnosis and subsequent referral decision. Proficient communication with the patient and other health care professionals will be emphasized. A series of patient cases are presented as a means of applying differential diagnostic principles and promoting clinical decision making. (2)