itp midterms

• Key requirements for a skilled decision process for physical therapists

  • Clinical Assessment
  • Diagnostic Skills
  • Evidence-Based Practice
  • Patient-Centered Approach
  • Critical Thinking
  • Problem-Solving Skills
  • Communication Skills
  • Ethical Considerations
  • Cultural Competence
  • Continuing Education
• Clinical Assessment


  Physical therapists must be adept at conducting thorough assessments of patients, including gathering medical history, evaluating current symptoms, and performing physical examinations
• Diagnostic Skills


  The ability to diagnose musculoskeletal and movement disorders accurately, including recognizing patterns of dysfunction, identifying contributing factors, and ruling out differential diagnoses
• Evidence-Based Practice


  Decision-making should be informed by the latest research and evidence-based guidelines
• Patient-Centered Approach


  Effective decision-making involves actively involving patients in the decision-making process, including discussing treatment options, addressing patient preferences and goals, and considering factors such as lifestyle and psychosocial aspects
• Critical Thinking


  Physical therapists must be able to analyze complex clinical situations, weigh the pros and cons of different treatment approaches, and make informed decisions based on the available evidence and patient needs
• Problem-Solving Skills


  Skilled physical therapists should be able to adapt their approach, troubleshoot issues, and modify treatment plans as needed to achieve optimal outcomes
• Communication Skills


  Clear and effective communication is essential for conveying information to patients, collaborating with other healthcare professionals, and ensuring that patients understand their treatment options and plan of care
• Ethical Considerations


  Decision-making in physical therapy should adhere to ethical principles, including respecting patient autonomy, confidentiality, and informed consent
• Cultural Competence


  Physical therapists should be sensitive to the cultural, social, and individual differences among patients, and understand how cultural beliefs and practices may influence health behaviors and treatment preferences
• Continuing Education


  Physical therapists should engage in ongoing professional development and continuing education activities to maintain competence and stay abreast of advancements in the field
• Key principles of patient management for physical therapists

  • Holistic Approach
  • Patient-Centered Care
  • Evidence-Based Practice
  • Assessment and Diagnosis
  • Goal Setting
  • Treatment Planning
  • Therapeutic Alliance
  • Progress Monitoring
  • Education and Empowerment
  • Interdisciplinary Collaboration
• Holistic Approach


  Physical therapists take a holistic approach to patient management, considering not only the physical impairments but also the psychological, social, and environmental factors that may influence a patient's condition and recovery
• Patient-Centered Care


  Patient management should be individualized and centered around the needs, preferences, and goals of the patient
• Evidence-Based Practice


  Treatment decisions and interventions are based on the best available evidence from research, clinical expertise, and patient preferences
• Assessment and Diagnosis


  Accurate assessment and diagnosis are essential for effective patient management, utilizing a variety of assessment techniques to evaluate impairments, functional limitations, and contributing factors
• Goal Setting


  Patient management involves setting realistic and measurable goals in collaboration with the patient, providing a framework for tracking progress and evaluating outcomes
• Treatment Planning


  Based on assessment findings and patient goals, physical therapists develop comprehensive treatment plans that address the underlying impairments and functional limitations
• Therapeutic Alliance


  Building a strong therapeutic alliance between the physical therapist and the patient is essential for effective patient management, involving trust, rapport, and open communication
• Progress Monitoring


  Physical therapists continually monitor patient progress throughout the course of treatment, adjusting interventions as needed to optimize outcomes
• Education and Empowerment


  Patient management includes providing education to patients about their condition, treatment options, self-management strategies, and injury prevention techniques
• Interdisciplinary Collaboration


  Physical therapists often collaborate with other healthcare professionals to provide comprehensive care for patients with complex needs
• Communication


  The art of transferring or exchanging information, ideas or thoughts easily and correctly through verbal or non-verbal language
• Goals of Therapeutic Communication

  • Establishing a therapeutic provider-client relationship
  • Identify client's concerns and problem
  • Assess client's perception of the problem
  • Recognize client's needs
  • Guide client towards a satisfying and socially acceptable solution
• Qualities of a good Communicator

  • Respect and empathy for the client
  • Good communication skills
  • Tolerance of values and beliefs different from one's own
  • Unbiased attitudes
  • Patience
  • Awareness of gender issues
• Oral/Verbal communication


  Most prevalent style used, terms and concepts should be presented in language the listener understands, tone, volume, and inflection of your voice can destruct from or add to your message, maintaining eye contact allows both persons to relate non verbal cues
• Written Communication


  Should be brief, concise and specific and should use language the reader will be most likely to understand, typed or printed instructions are more easily read than handwritten, diagrams, drawings and pictures are useful to show specific positions or the sequence of movements
• Non-verbal communication


  Makes up majority of the human communication and maybe more effective than verbal communication, done through: facial expression, posture, gestures, body movements, or changes in body responses, use of touch by the caregiver is another form of NVC
• Various barriers to communication should be recognized, documented and avoided whenever possible
• Patient-caregiver rapport can be established quickly through the use of effective communication or delayed by the lack of it
• Communicating with a Person with a Disability

  Caregiver must maintain the person's self-esteem by considering the person first in your words and thoughts, the persons disability must be described accurately but it is more important to emphasize the person's abilities rather than disability, person who is visually impaired will appreciate knowing who is speaking, remember it is not necessary to increase the volume of voice when speaking with a person who is visually impaired, when speaking with a person who is seated, stoop or squat and position yourself in front and at eye level with the person, person who is hearing impaired will need to have a tactile and visual cueing from you before you speak
• Basic Elements of Communication

  Communication consists of a sender, a message, a receiver, and feedback
• Failure to Communicate


  • Prejudice or lack of empathy
  • Lack of privacy inhibits the patient's responses
  • External distractions like traffic, crowds, loud music, EMS radios, TVs
  • Internal distractions like thinking about things other than the situation
• Hallmarks of a good communicator

  • Patience
  • Flexibility
  • Trust and Rapport
• Trust and Rapport


  Use the patient's name, address the patient properly, modulate your voice, be professional but compassionate, explain what you are doing and why, keep a kind, calm expression, use an appropriate style of communication
• Professional Behaviors


  • First impressions are crucial, be neat and clean, practice good hygiene, stay physically fit, maintain an overall demeanor that is calm, capable, and trustworthy, be confident, not arrogant, be considerate
• Communication Techniques


  Getting down to a patient's level can help improve communications on a pediatric call, an open stance is better than a closed stance, use eye contact as much as possible, remove sunglasses while working with patients, use an appropriate compassionate touch to show your concern and support
• Questioning Techniques


  Use open-ended questions, use direct questions, do not use leading questions, ask one question at a time and listen to the complete response before asking the next, use language the patient can understand, do not allow interruptions
• Observing the Client


  Overall appearance, clothing, jewelry, mental status, speech, mood and energy level
• Effective Listening and Feedback


  • Silence, Reflection, Facilitation, Empathy, Clarification, Interpretation, Explanation, Summarization