Do You Struggle With...

  • Feeling like you're just asking questions in your patient interview - without understanding why?

  • Feeling like you don't have a systematic way to see the "big picture" of your patient and their overall health?

  • Understanding what action to take if you detect a problem? When should you refer a patient for imaging and when should you send them to the ER?

Watch Intro Video

Video

8 Week Virtual Experience

  • Watch Weekly Masterclass

    Every week you'll have a high-quality documentary-style video to learn about current best practices for diagnosis and examination of various systems and conditions.

  • Meet Weekly

    Meet with your cohort and instructors on a weekly basis to discuss the topic, ask questions, and hear about real-life clinical scenarios.

  • Become a Primary Care PT

    Graduate as a provider knowing what to do and when for your patients with non-musculoskeletal pathology.

Instructor(s)

Faculty

John Heick, PT, DPT, PhD, NCS, SCS, OCS

Dr. Heick is a recognized expert in differential diagnosis and primary care physical therapy. Prior to physical therapy, Dr. Heick spent 12 years as a medic in the Air Force. He completed his doctoral research on concussion and continues to research and teach on this topic. Dr. Heick is also the Editor of Goodman and Synder's Differential Diagnosis for Physical Therapists, Orthopedic Practice, and has co-authored a series of monographs on differential diagnosis for the Academy of Orthopaedic Physical Therapy. Dr. Heick has won numerous awards for his work, including the James A Gould Award for Excellence in Teaching Orthopaedic Physical Therapy.

Faculty

Seth Peterson, PT, DPT, OCS, CSCS, FAAOMPT

Seth Peterson is a board-certified orthopedic clinical specialist (OCS) and Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapists (FAAOMPT). He is a full-time clinician and owner of The Motive, a private practice in Oro Valley, AZ, where he has mentored residents and fellows. Seth has 30 peer-reviewed publications and has co-authored monographs and textbook chapters on differential diagnosis in addition to his role as Associate Editor for JOSPT Cases. He has been awarded the Emerging Leader twice, by APTA and AAOMPT. Seth is also the founder of The Movement Brainery and hosts several podcasts, including "Masters in Motion," "Hands on/Hands off" and "Thoughtlight."

Course curriculum

  • 1

    Welcome to Primary Care PT

    • Welcome to the course!

  • 2

    Week 1: What is Primary Care?

    • John and Seth: What is Primary Care?

    • Childs 2005_PT Knowledge

    • Clark_2022_Direct Access
  • 3

    Week 2: Thinking About Diagnosis

    • Diagnostic Thinking

    • Finucane et al_2020_Red Flags

    • Croskerry_14_Universal_Model_of_Diagnostic_Reasoning copy

    • Greenhalgh et al_2020_Safety Netting

    • Diagnostic Excellence and Patient Safety

    • Slides
  • 4

    Week 3: Cardiopulmonary

    • Cardiopulmonary

    • Lab: Auscultation of the Heart and Lungs

    • Lab: Artery Palpation

    • Lab: Carotid Auscultation

    • LAB: Ankle Brachial Index (ABI)

    • Severin et al_2020_Blood Pressure Screening

    • Maselli_2021_Pneumonia as LBP

    • Hutting et al_2021_Assessing Vasculalr Function

    • Step by Step Guide to Testing PAD of Lower Limb

    • Slides
  • 5

    Week 4: Neurological

    • Neurological

    • Lab: Quick, Functional Neuro Exam

    • Lab: Reflexes

    • Lab: Myotomes

    • Lab: Sensory Exam

    • Lab: Cranial Nerve Exam

    • Taylor et al_2021_Guide to Cranial Nerve Testing

    • 5-minute-neuro-exam-handout

    • Slides
  • 6

    Week 5: Autoimmune

    • Autoimmune

    • Autoimmunne_Flachenecker

    • Magrey et al 2020 - Recognizing AS in Primary Care

    • Early Dx and Tx of RA

    • Primary Care - Lupus

    • Primary Care - Multiple Sclerosis

    • Slides
  • 7

    Week 6: Trauma/Concussion

    • Concussion

    • Lab: Oculomotor Examination

    • Concussion in Primary Care_2019_JOSPT

    • Concussion CPG 2020_JOSPT

    • Slides
  • 8

    Week 7: Endocrine and Fracture

    • Endocrine

    • Role of PT in Diabetes_2020_JOSPT

    • Bosch_2021_B Calcaneal Fractures

    • Calcaneal stress fractures_Case

    • Slides
  • 9

    Week 8: Neoplasm

    • Neoplasm

    • Cook_Red Flags_

    • Peterson_2017_PT Clinical Reasoning and Action 3 LE Tumors

    • Slides
  • 10

    Test

    • Post-Course Test

Your Learning Plan

WEEK 1: What is Primary Care PT?
WEEK 2: Diagnostic Thinking
WEEK 3: Cardiopulmonary
WEEK 4: Neurological
WEEK 5: Autoimmune
WEEK 6: Trauma/Concussion
WEEK 7: Endocrine/Metabolic
WEEK 8: Neoplasm

*other topics (fracture, mental health, and others) will be presented in weekly meetings
Cranial Nerve Assessment

Stop Not Understanding.

Become a trusted provider for people in your local community.