Differential Diagnosis for Direct Access PTs: The 5 W's (and the H!)
Direct access to physical therapy is now available in nearly every state with varying levels of restrictions. States like Pennsylvania and Virginia, Iowa and Kentucky who offer direct access require their DA PTs to complete rigorous direct access continuing education in order to maintain certification. Screening courses such as Differential Diagnosis allow direct access physical therapists to properly evaluate patients and determine when referring them to an alternate healthcare professional is the right course of action.
Here are a few things that direct access physical therapy professionals (and those interested in certification) need to know about differential diagnosis.
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Hi I am a private practice owner in Texas and am interested in your Differential Diagnosis course. https://www.homeceuconnection.com/blog/differential-diagnosis-direct-access-pt/
With the Governor’s signature last week, HB29 became law giving Texans Direct Access to Physical therapy for a limited time as delineated below:
In order to provide treatment without a referral to a patient for ten (10) consecutive business days, a PT must possess a doctoral degree in physical therapy or have completed thirty (30) continuing competence units (CCUs) in differential diagnosis. If a PT with a doctoral degree has completed a fellowship or residency, the number increases to 15 consecutive business days.
Because two of my therapists have DPTs, we both meet the requirement for treating without a referral for 10 consecutive business days. However, as flawed as this is, our two therapists who have been practicing the longest and have advanced training, do not qualify for the treatment without a referral unless they complete the 30 CCUs in differential diagnosis.
FAQs:
Do the 30 CCUs in the area of differential diagnosis need to be in 1 course/activity?
No, the 30 CCUs can be from several courses/activities and can be tickled out of a larger course as long as there is documented evidence supporting the number of CCUs in the area of differential diagnosis. 7/22/2019
Does the differential diagnosis course/activity need to be approved through the Continuing Competence Approval Process (CCAP)?
No, any course/activity in the area of differential diagnosis or with differential diagnosis content can qualify toward the requirement. However, without CCAP approval, the CCUs cannot be used to meet the renewal requirement.
My question to you is, would your Differential Diagnosis course, as outlined above, meet the 30 CCUs requirement?
Thank you,
Amy Goddard, PT, DPT, OCS, CSCS, PRC
214.557.5098 cell
Hi Amy,
Thank you for the great question! Yes, our Differential Diagnosis courses are approved. We are a Texas Physical Therapy Association Approved Provider of Continuing Education, and our current provider number is 2201002TX.
You can see the approved courses here:
https://www.homeceuconnection.com/continuing-education-course-catalog/state/texas/discipline/pt/format/all/instructional-level/all/clinical-topic/differential-diagnosis-evaluative-procedures/contact-hours/all/keyword/all/author/all/
Have a great day!