Foundational and Clinical Sciences
- Use knowledge in the foundational and clinical sciences related to structure, movement dysfunction, response to injury and disease and promotion of health and wellness to enhance physical therapy outcomes.
Communication
- Expressively and receptively communicate with patients/clients, family members, caregivers, practitioners, other consumers, payers, and policymakers.
Individual and Cultural Differences
- Display sensitivity to individual and cultural differences in all professional interactions.
Professional Behavior
- Demonstrate professional behaviors that are consistent with a doctoring profession in all aspects of practice.
- Adhere to legal practice standards, including all federal, state, and institutional regulations related to patient/client care and fiscal management.
- Practice in a manner consistent with the professional code of ethics.
- Participate in peer-assessment activities.
- Internalize responsibility and accountability as a member of the doctoring profession.
Critical Inquiry and Clinical Decision Making
- Participate in the design and implementation of decision-making guidelines. (Guidelines include patient care management and administrative areas).
- Demonstrate clinical decision making skills, including clinical reasoning, clinical judgment, and reflective practice.
- Understand and apply the disablement and patient/client management models in physical therapist practice.
- Critically evaluate published studies related to physical therapy and demonstrate the ability to apply knowledge from these studies in a scientific manner and to appropriate populations.
- Secure and critically evaluate information in a timely manner related to new and established techniques and technology, legislation, policy, and environments related to physical therapy practice.
- Participate in scholarly activities to understand or contribute to the body of physical therapy knowledge (ie, case reports/collaborative research).
Education
- Understand and apply educational theory (ie, teaching, learning and assessment) to practice in the community, clinical, and educational settings.
Professional Development
- Manage an organized plan of professional development, which includes ongoing assessment, goal setting and implementation.
Screening
- Identify health risks when patients/clients need further examination or consultation by a physical therapist or when they need to be referred to other health professionals or community resources.
Examination
- Examine patients/clients by obtaining a history, by performing systems reviews, and by selecting and administering valid and reliable age-related tests and measures.
Evaluation
- Synthesize data from the examination and analyze data to make clinical judgments regarding patient/client management.
Diagnosis
- Determine a diagnosis that guides patient/client management.
- Develop a diagnosis (es) based on the disablement model.
- Engage in the diagnostic process to establish differential diagnoses across systems & across the lifespan.
Prognosis
- Determine patient/client prognosis.
Plan of Care
- Establish and manage a Plan of Care that:
- Is safe and effective.
- Is acceptable realistic and culturally sensitive.
- Reflects collaboration with patient/client, family and payers.
- Reflects collaboration with other health professionals.
- Identifies patient goals and expected outcomes that reflect available resources.
- Includes appropriate utilization of other services.
- Includes appropriate referral for additional professionals and diagnostic services.
- Includes the anticipated discharge plan.
- Complies with administrative policies and procedures of the practice environment.
- Monitor and adjust the plan of care in response to patient/client status.
Intervention
- Provide physical therapy interventions to achieve patient/client goals and outcomes.
- Provide instruction to patients/clients and others to achieve goals and outcomes.
- Complete documentation that follows professional guidelines, guidelines required by health care systems, and guidelines required by the practice setting.
- Practice using principles of risk management and cultural competence.
- Take appropriate action in an emergency in the setting where practice occurs.
Outcomes Assessment
- Implement a method to assess individual and collective outcomes of patients/clients using valid and reliable measures that take into account the setting in which patients/clients are receiving services, the variables of cultural competence, and the effect of societal factors such as reimbursement.
- Select patient/client variables that allow research evidence to be collected and applied.
Prevention, Health Promotion, Fitness, and Wellness
- Provide services that are culturally sensitive to individuals, groups, and communities that reduce risk for injury or illness.
Management of Care Delivery
- Manage primary, secondary, and tertiary care using the patient/client management and disablement models.
- Incorporate evidence/consensus-based practice in the management of patients/clients.
Administration/Business Management
- Use effective principles of business and current and emerging technologies to strategically manage and develop resources and personnel.
- Use creativity in developing, promoting, and enhancing physical therapy services.
- Understand health care delivery systems to enhance patient/client access to quality care and to ensure reimbursement.
Consultation
- Provide consultation to businesses, schools, government agencies, or other organizations.
Professional Responsibility and Advocacy
- Engage in professional activities to advance practice, research and education in physical therapy.
- Demonstrate social responsibility, citizenship, and advocacy including participation in community and human service organizations and activities.