Course Title: Clinical Decision-Making in Geriatric Physical Therapy - A Case-Based Approach

UNIT GOALS

The course goals identified in the beginning are applicable for each unit. The course goals were as follows:

1. Use inductive reasoning when engaged in clinical decision-making to develop a physical therapy plan of care

2. Appreciate the psychosocial dimension of physical therapist patient management

3. Seek available evidence from peer-reviewed sources to guide physical therapist practice

4. Select, perform, and interpret objective test and measures to guide patient management

5. Identify and carry-out evidence-based physical therapy interventions consistent with the plan of care

Every stated goal is applicable to each and every unit. The applicability of the goals to every unit speaks to the strength of the curricular design of the course. Core ideas and cross-cutting concepts are also applicable to each and every case. They can be embedded in any case, depending on the specific objective of each lesson. The consistency manifested by the applicability of all goals to every unit reflects the overall goal of the course which is for students to consistently engage in inductive reasoning during clinical decision-making.

UNITS:

  1. Case Management of the Patient with Parkinson's Disease

Lesson 1: Patient in a Skilled Nursing Facility after a Urinary Tract Infection

Lesson 2: Patient in a Skilled Nursing Facility after being Hospitalized due to Dysphagia

Lesson 3: Patient Receiving Home Health Services after Hospitalization due to a Fall

Lesson 4: Patient in an Out-Patient Clinic Referred after a Fall

Lesson 5: Patient in a Nursing Home who is Wheelchair-Borne


  1. Case Management of a Patient After Undergoing a Total Hip Replacement (THR)

Lesson 1: Patient in a Skilled Nursing Facility after Discharge from the Hospital after an Elective THR

Lesson 2: Patient in a Skilled Nursing Facility (Re-admission) after Hospitalization due to a Hip Dislocation

Lesson 3: Patient Receiving Home Health Services after an Uncomplicated THR

Lesson 4: Patient in an Out-Patient Clinic Referred after an Uncomplicated THR

Lesson 5: Patient in a Skilled Nursing Facility after a Fall Requiring a THR and when the Patient Fractured their Wrist


  1. Case Management of a Patient After a Total Knee Replacement (TKR)

Lesson 1: Patient in a Skilled Nursing Facility after Discharge from the Hospital after an Elective TKR

Lesson 2: Patient in a Skilled Nursing Facility after a Double Knee Replacement

Lesson 3: Patient Receiving Home Health Services after Uncomplicated TKR

Lesson 4: Patient Who Needs to Transition from Living Independently to Moving to a Nursing Home

Lesson 5: Patient in a Nursing Home who Continues to be Non-Ambulatory After 6 Weeks


  1. Case Management of a Patient After Undergoing a Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG)

Lesson 1: Patient in a Skilled Nursing Facility after Discharge from the Hospital Immediately after a CABG

Lesson 2: Patient in a Skilled Nursing Facility who was in the ICU for 4 weeks after a CABG

Lesson 3: Patient Receiving Home Health Services after Uncomplicated CABG

Lesson 4: Patient in an Out-Patient Clinic Referred after an Uncomplicated CABG

Lesson 5: Patient in a Nursing Home who is Wheelchair-Borne


  1. Case Management of a Patient with Chronic Bronchitis / COPD

Lesson 1: Patient in a Skilled Nursing Facility after Discharge from the Hospital due to COPD Exacerbation - currently ambulatory

Lesson 2: Patient in a Skilled Nursing Facility after Discharge from the Hospital due to COPD Exacerbation - previously ambulatory, currently non-ambulatory

Lesson 3. Patient in a Skilled Nursing Facility with COPD Exacerbation and Severe Anxiety

Lesson 4: Patient Receiving Home Health Services after Discharge from the Hospital due to COPD Exacerbation

Lesson 5: Lesson 4: Patient in an Out-Patient Clinic Referred after Discharge from the Hospital due to COPD Exacerbation