Orthopaedic Clinical Practice Guidelines: Low Back and Neck Pain

Course Description

Presently the country is locked in a heated debate over healthcare reform. It is generally accepted that healthcare reform will focus on clinical outcomes, patient satisfaction, and value. Third party payers will no longer reimburse for services for which no proof of efficacy is reported and the efficacy of treatments will be constantly monitored and updated. As physical therapists we are not immune to these new practice guidelines and must ensure we are delivering appropriate and cost-effective treatments.

Clinical practice guidelines are a common way of summarizing the evidence based recommendations for the management of disorders and conditions. The evidence is mounting and each year more and more guidelines come into existence. Most healthcare practitioners as well as 3rd party payers think these well researched guidelines are an excellent idea.

This program will focus on the value of evidence based treatment guidelines and present the APTA’s clinical practice guidelines for low back and neck pain. Utilizing multimedia and lecture the guidelines will be described in detail with accompanying relevance to the practice of physical therapy. By the conclusion of this course the participant will be able to implement a physical therapy plan of care for patients with low back and neck pain based on the best available evidence.

Contact Hours (CEUs)

11 Total: 8 live hours + 3 hours online home study (Post Course)

To Earn 3 Hours Home Study:

After completing the live course, the participant will be given access to the online portion. The online portion will consist of related course material that reinforces key points and expands on material not presented in the live course. After reading and reviewing the material, the participant must achieve a passing score on a multiple choice exam in order to earn the 3 additional contact hours.

Cost

$149.99 for physical therapists and physical therapist assistants.

Course Objectives

At the conclusion of this course the participant will be able to:

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• Identify the etiology, prevalence, risk factors, and healthcare utilization related to low back pain
• Discuss common imaging modalities and indications for patients presenting with low back pain.
• Identify “red flags” that may suggest serious pathology in patients presenting with low back pain.
• Place patients into the ICF based categories for low back pain.
• Discuss the current clinical practice guidelines developed by the orthopaedic sections of the APTA for the treatment of low back pain with rationale and implications for physical therapist practice.
• Implement a physical therapy plan of care for patients with low back pain based on the best available evidence.
• Identify the etiology, prevalence, risk factors, and healthcare utilization related to neck pain.
• Discuss common radiological assessments and indications for patients presenting with neck pain.
• Place patients into the ICF based categories for neck pain.
• Discuss the current clinical practice guidelines developed by the orthopaedic section of the APTA for the treatment of neck pain with rationale and implications for physical therapist practice.
• Implement a physical therapy plan of care for patients with neck based on the best available evidence.

Course Outline (8 AM – 4 PM)

Upcoming Classes

Location	Date
Pinellas Park, FL	March 21st, 2015 Saturday 8AM- 4PM ($149.99)
Pinellas Park, FL	November 7th, 2015 Saturday 8AM – 4PM ($149.99)