PRIMARY CARE

Welcome to the Primary Care Special Interest Group!

Our vision is to work toward advancing Physical Therapists as front line providers in the primary care setting. This group will serve as leaders in advocating for Physical Therapists by providing an avenue for information exchange, networking and professional development from a primary care PT perspective.

The Primary Care SIG serves it members by:

• Discussing the scope of practice regarding primary care physical therapy in the Federal setting.
• Promoting the development and improvement of physical therapy practice and research relative to the primary care setting.
• Identifying, disseminating and exchanging information on evidence-based practice for primary care physical therapy professionals.
• Providing high quality educational content and professional development opportunities for physical therapy professionals in primary care.
• Increasing awareness of physical therapists training and expertise as frontline medical providers in the primary care setting.
• Representing the interests of Physical Therapy clinicians in primary care clinical practice to the decision-making bodies of the Association.

Join this SIG Here!

• Primary Care SIG Strategic Plan

Resources

Research – Primary Care PT

• Primary care physical therapy practice models.
• Practice analysis: defining the clinical practice of primary contact physical therapy.
• Association of Early Physical Therapy With Long-term Opioid Use Among Opioid-Naive Patients With Musculoskeletal Pain.
• The Effect of Timing of Physical Therapy for Acute Low Back Pain on Health Services Utilization: A Systematic Review.
• Physical Therapy as the First Point of Care to Treat Low Back Pain: An Instrumental Variables Approach to Estimate Impact on Opioid Prescription, Health Care Utilization, and Costs.
• Immediate Physical Therapy Initiation in Patients With Acute Low Back Pain Is Associated With a Reduction in Downstream Health Care Utilization and Costs.
• Safety Events and Privilege Utilization Rates in Advanced Practice Physical Therapy Compared to Traditional Primary Care: An Observational Study.

Research – Screening & Other Clinical Relevance

• Role of Physical Therapists in the Management of Individuals at Risk for or Diagnosed With Venous Thromboembolism: Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guideline 2022
• Clustered clinical findings for diagnosis of cervical spine myelopathy.
• Peripheral nerve entrapment and injury in the upper extremity.
• Role of Physical Therapists in the Management of Individuals at Risk for or Diagnosed With Venous Thromboembolism: Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guideline.
• Prevalence and “Red Flags” Regarding Specified Causes of Back Pain in Older Adults Presenting in General Practice.
• Red flags to screen for malignancy and fracture in patients with low back pain.
• Red flags: to screen or not to screen?
• Most red flags for malignancy in low back pain guidelines lack empirical support: a systematic review.

Clinical Pearls

• Clinical diagnosis of vertebrobasilar insufficiency: resident’s case problem.
• Medical screening and evacuation: cauda equina syndrome in a combat zone.
• Differential Diagnosis of a Femoral Neck/Head Stress Fracture.
• Differential diagnosis and management of ankylosing spondylitis masked as adhesive capsulitis: a resident’s case problem.
• Cervical radiculopathy or Parsonage-Turner syndrome: differential diagnosis of a patient with neck and upper extremity symptoms.
• Differential diagnosis of a patient referred to physical therapy with low back pain: abdominal aortic aneurysm.
• Upper cervical ligament testing in a patient with osodontoideum presenting with headaches.
• Cancer as a cause of low back pain in a patient seen in a direct access physical therapy setting.
• Clinical decision making associated with an undetected odontoid fracture in an older individual referred to physical therapy for the treatment of neck pain.
• Deep vein thrombosis in a young marathon athlete.
• Abdominal aortic aneurysm in a patient with low back pain.
• Skin cancer screening.
• Pulmonary emboli: the differential diagnosis dilemma.
• Physical therapists referring patients to physicians: a review of case reports and series.

Other Resources

• Wells Criteria calculator DVT – (DVT Calculator)
• Wells Criteria calculator PE – (PE Calculator)
• Ottawa Ankle Rule – (Ottawa Ankle Rule Calculator)
• Ottawa Knee Rule – (Ottawa Knee Rule Calculator)
• Canadian C-Spine Rule – (Canadian C-Spine Rule Calculator)
• American College of Radiology – Appropriateness Criteria
• Imaging Educational Manual for Doctoral of Physical Therapy Professional Degree Programs. (Orthopaedic Section – Imaging SIG, APTA)
• Screening for Orthopedics (Academy of Orthopedic Physical Therapy – Independent Study Course)

Direct Access

Our profession has made substantial progress in regards to furthering direct access legislation.  Every state and the District of Columbia now has some form of direct access provision.  Unfortunately, some state provisions are still quite restrictive and significant barriers persist at the local and institutional level in regards to implementation.

We’re here to help.

Whether you’re just starting out on your journey to learning more about Direct Access or you are a seasoned veteran looking to help advance the cause in your circle of influence, we’re here for you.

We’ll guide you through navigating the complex world of state and institutional regulations and if you’d like, we’ll work with you to create a customized plan to bring about lasting change.

It takes one person to be the catalyst for change.  Will you be the one?

APTA Imaging Special Interest Group

APTA: Direct Access at the State Level

FSBPT Jurisdiction Licensure Reference Guide Topic: Direct Access

FSBPT Jurisdiction Licensure Reference Guide Topic: Direct Access Language 

SIG Leadership:

• Chair: Evan Kelley
• Co-Chair: Robert Long
• Research Chair: Alyson Cavanough
• Communications Chair: Daniel Kang
• Education Chair: Katie O’Bright
• Practice Chair: Steven Spoonemore
• Advanced Privileging Chair: Steven Wentz
• Primary Care Petition Chair: Ashley Cassel
• Student Liaison: Brady Kurtz

Upcoming Events

• Join our Webinars
• Connect with us at CSM
• Quarterly Membership Meetings: 

Join us on social media for our latest news and events
Facebook: Primary Care SIG APTA Federal APTA

Twitter: @PrimaryCareAPTA Federal