Direct Access & Medical Screening
Direct Access & Medical Screening:
Instructor: William Boissonnault, PT, DPT, DHSc, FAAOMPT, FAPTA
| Registration Rates (per person): | ||
|---|---|---|
| Early Bird (by Sept. 1st) | After September 1st | |
| Individual: |
$400 Discount Code: EarlyBird |
$475 |
|
Group*: |
$375 | $475 |
|
Messiah DPT C.I.'s & Alumni**: |
$380 | $380 |
|
* 5 or more clinicians from 1 company. DO NOT register through the registration link. Email dpt@messiah.edu for registration instructions. ** Email dpt@messiah.edu for Messiah DPT C.I.'s & Alumni discount code. Cannot be stacked with early bird or group discounts. |
||
Course Description:
Earn 10 pre-approved contact hours for PA direct access in evaluative procedures in one engaging course.
Although established decades ago, the direct access health care delivery model continues to evolve. The integration of more and more physical therapists into primary care and emergency department settings has led to expanded roles and responsibilities. The result is physical therapists working at the “top of their education/training”.
Direct access is marked by:
- fewer opioid prescriptions
- decreased need for expensive medical tests and invasive medical procedures
- decreased health care costs
- enhanced patient outcomes
- enhanced patient and practitioner satisfaction
These benefits will be rendered meaningless if patient safety is compromised. The responsibility to refer patients presenting with concerning examination findings is heightened when patients seek physical therapist services directly. This course is designed to provide contemporary research and clinical practice guidelines related to effectively screening patients for red flags that warrant physician referral.
Course Schedule:
Virtual Session #1 (1.5 hours) - recorded session will be sent to attendees
- Course Introduction
- Direct Access: Opportunities and Challenge
- Review of Systems: The Missing Link
- Patient Cases
Virtual Session #2 (1.5 hours) - recorded session will be sent to attendees
- Review of Systems: The Missing Link continued
- Screening for Traumatic Fractures
- Patient Cases
October 24, 2026: On-site Session
- 7:30 am - 8:00 am: Registration (coffee and light breakfast will be available)
- 8:00 am - 8:30 am: Session Introduction and Patient Case
- 8:30 am - 9:15 am: Screening for Deep Vein Thrombosis and Pulmonary Embolus
- 9:15 am - 10:00 am: Screening for Pathological Origins of Joint Pain
- 10:00 am - 10:15 am: Break (light snacks and refreshments will be available)
- 10:15 am - 11:15 am: Screening for Visceral Origins of Back Pain
- 11:15 am - 12:00 pm: Abdominal Lab
- 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm: Lunch (not provided)
- 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm: Screening for Pathological Fractures
- 2:00pm - 2:10 pm: Break (light snacks and refreshments will be available)
- 2:10 pm - 3:30 pm: Lab #2 – Peripheral Vascular screening and Cranial Nerve Screening
- 3:30 pm - 4:00 pm: Patient Cases, Course Wrap Up