Neurology Section Sponsored Courses

The Neurology Section is excited to offer three different continuing education courses this year: Neurologic Practice Essentials: A Measurement Toolbox; Expanding Neurologic Expertise: Advanced Practice in Vestibular Physical Therapy; and Neurologic Practice Essentials: Clinical Decision Making as a Foundation for Expert Practice.  These courses will be offered at various locations across the country.  Look for specific registration information back here in the near future and announcements in the Section's e-newsletter.  If you are interested in hosting one of these Neurology Section courses please contact us at: 800-999-2782 x3237 or neuro@apta.org.

Neurologic Practice Essentials: Clinical Decision Making as Foundation for Expert Practice

Course Content Coordinator: Kathleen M. Gill-Body, PT, PhD, NCS

Course Developers: Lee Dibble, PT, PhD, ATC; Lois Hedmand, PT, MS; Julie Hershberg, PT, DPT, NCS; Karen McCulloch, PT, PhD, NCS; Shari McDowell, PT; Andy Packle, PT, NCS; Kristin Parlman, PT, DPT, NCS; Patricia Scheets, PT, DPT, MHS, NCS; Mike Studer, PT, MHS, NCS; Candy Tefertiler, DPT, ATP, NCS; Cindy Zablotny, PT, DPT, MS, NCS

Course Description:

Novices develop clinical competence and evolve into expert practitioners by making decisions that involve the complementary processes of systematic analysis and intuition.  This 2-day course was developed with the overall objective of strengthening skills for all therapists seeking to advance their neurologic physical therapist practice.  Participants will utilize current frameworks for clinical decision making to assist them in analyzing neurologic patient cases in the areas of balance and falls, brain injury, Guillain-Barre syndrome, Parkinson’s disease, spinal cord injury, stroke, and vestibular dysfunction.  Participants will apply current evidence and clinical guidelines in making patient management decisions particularly in the areas of evaluation, prognosis, and intervention.  Given both the breadth and the depth of the course, participation may assist the physical therapist interested in sitting for the Neurologic Clinical Specialist exam.

Expanding Neurologic Expertise: Advanced Practice in Vestibular Physical Therapy

Course Content Coordinator: Susan L. Whitney, PT, DPT, PhD, NCS, FAPTA

Course Developers: Janet Callahan PT, MS, NCS; Rene’ D Crumley, PT, DPT, NCS; Cheryl Ford-Smith, PT, DPT, MS, NCS; Michael Furtado, PT, DPT, NCS, CBIS; Colin R Grove, PT, MS, NCS; Janet O Helminski, PT, PhD; Janene M Holmberg, DPT, NCS; Kristen M Johnson, PT, MS, NCS; Karen H Lambert MPT, NCS; Laura O Morris, PT, NCS; Anne Mucha, PT, MS, NCS; Michael C Schubert, PT, PhD

Course Description:

Developed by a team of clinicians with expertise in vestibular rehabilitation, this course is designed to expand knowledge of complex vestibular pathologies, improve clinical reasoning in differential diagnosis and present innovative intervention strategies.  To facilitate learning, the course uses interactive case-based presentations and video eye movement analyses on complex vestibular diagnoses including migraine, anxiety, atypical BPPV, central vestibular dysfunction, and brain injury.  Specific attention to recent advances in examination and intervention strategies are presented.  Learners will have the opportunity to collaborate with each other to solve specific clinical questions via electronic searches and peer interaction.

Neurologic Practice Essentials: A Measurement Toolbox

Course Content Coordinator: Jane Sullivan, PT, MS, DHS

Course Developers: Bill Andrews, PT, MS, EdD, NCS; Richard Bohannon, DPT, EdD, NCS, FAPTA, FAHA; George D. Fulk, PT, PhD; Desiree Lanzino, PT, PhD; Aimee E. Perron, PT, DPT, NCS; Kirsten Potter, PT, DPT, MS, NCS; Peggy Roller, PT, MS, DPT; Yasser Salem, PT, PhD, NCS, PCS; Teresa M. Steffen, PT, PhD

Course Description:

Just as the master carpenter must use precision measurement in design and construction, so must the physical therapist be equipped to craft intervention guided by precise, meaningful measurement.  Assembling an evidence-based toolbox for this purpose can be a daunting task, but remains essential for master neurologic physical therapy practice and optimal outcome measurement.  This 2-day course, using the ICF model, will discuss essential adult neurologic measurement tools applied across practice settings.  Based on available evidence, emphasis will be placed on the participants' ability to identify the best tool(s) for specific patient groups, measurement interpretation, and tool adaptation for non-standardized situations.

Course Schedule for 2010

All dates are pending contract approval