The purpose of this course is to enable physical therapists to achieve competency in referral for imaging. A vital function of practicing in a direct access capacity is the ability to refer correctly to other providers in a timely manner. For non-military physical therapists in the USA, referral to imaging may be a new experience. This course provides sufficient imaging modality description and application of current imaging guidelines to facilitate correct referral.

Information, electronic systems, and the “internet of things” are ubiquitous in our personal and work lives. In healthcare, when information is created, utilized and communicated to enhance clinical care, it is called “Clinical Informatics.” Informaticians may work in this arena at a deep level, particularly as it relates to the EHR (e.g. – electronic health record). Clinicians, leaders, and policy makers have a role to play in informed decision making and in the appropriate use of information systems so that they are efficient and of high utility for clinical care.

The purpose of this course is to facilitate learning of fundamental principles associated with the use therapeutic modalities as they apply to the clinical practice of physical therapy. This will be accomplished via a series of self-directed learning modules designed to enhance clinical decision making which guides the appropriate use of therapeutic modalities as well as best-practice approaches for their utilization.

Pain is a common complaint and one of the most frequent reasons people seek healthcare. The person training to be a clinician or the practicing clinician can grow frustrated with management of pain because traditional instruction falls short on providing an adequate understanding of pain. The overall goal of this primer is to supplement traditional instruction by providing content that allows the individual that completes this primer to gain a “transformed understanding” of pain consistent with Institute of Medicine guidelines. Primer content will emphasize examples in musculoskeletal pain from selected studies reported in the peer-review literature. Musculoskeletal pain was selected as the core of this primer because of its overall prevalence and high societal impact.