If you attended APTA Combined Sections Meeting in San Antonio, you probably came away with plenty of new insights, inspirations, and memories of good times. Couldn't make it? You still have a chance to take part through on-demand sessions available for viewing during the month of March. Sign up by March 11 to get access to more than 100 sessions across a range of topics. (And mark your calendar for APTA CSM 2023 in San Diego Feb 22-25.)
To keep that APTA CSM spirit going, we asked several members who attended the conference to share their top picks — what inspired them, what was cool, their top session, and more. Here's what they had to say (Note: links are provided for sessions available in the on-demand package).
Katie Myers, PT, DPT
Assistant Professor and Director of Clinical Education at Duke University's Doctor of Physical Therapy Program.
The most dynamic speaker I saw was …
It's got to be Gail Jensen's Cerasoli Lecture!
The coolest thing I learned was …
… updates about the work being done on competency-based education in physical therapy education ("Competency-Based Education in Physical Therapy 101")
My top session was …
… "Recognizing and Managing Microaggressions in the Clinical Learning Environment"
One thing I learned that I plan to put into practice is …
… working with our clinical education team to modify our CE preparatory sessions and incorporate practice and preparation for challenging situations of bias and discrimination that our learners may face
Allison Lieberman, PT, MSPT
Clinical Manager, acute physical and occupational therapy department at Hackensack Meridian Health-JFK Johnson Rehabilitation Institute. Allison also is a member of the editorial advisory group for APTA Magazine.
The most dynamic speaker I saw was …
… the team from Educating for Ethics and Professionalism: Lessons Learned During the COVID-19 Pandemic." Rebecca Edgeworth Ditwiler, Laura Lee Swisher, and Dustin Dean Hardwick were brilliant!
The coolest thing I learned was …
… fascinating information about PASC (long hauler syndrome) in the "PICS vs PASC: Making Our Way Through Post-ICU Recovery" session. There were several strategies provided that I can immediately implement into practice.
My top session was …
"Clearing the Fog: Navigating Cognitive Decline After Treatment for COVID-19, Immune-Based Disorders, and Cancer."
One thing I learned that I plan to put into practice is …
… the importance of verbal handoffs from one care setting to another when patients are progressing along the continuum of care. The presenters in "Partnering Across the Continuum of Care: The Role of Physical Therapy in InterprofessionaL Wound Management" emphasized the role of the physical therapist in enhancing interprofessional communication across care care settings — a great reminder!
Iva Domitrovich, SPT
Second year DPT student, Ohio State University.
The most dynamic speaker I saw was …
… Adriaan Louw, PT, PhD. His passion for physical therapy and pain neuroscience was contagious. He kept his audience engaged throughout his presentation, " Examination and Treatment of Cervical Radiculopathy and Neuropathic Arm Pain."
The coolest thing I learned was …
… How to implement aspects of CrossFit exercises into adaptive sports training ("Functional Fitness for the Adaptive Athlete: Transitioning Your Patient From the Clinic to the Gym"). The overall purpose and function of the exercise can be carried out regardless of the patient's physical capabilities. So inspiring!
My top session was …
… "When Sex Hurts: Why Christian Women Experience Higher Rates of Pain and What To Do." The speakers were fantastic and presented a potentially uneasy topic with such grace, wisdom, and evidence-based research.
One thing I learned that I plan to put into practice is…
…Encouraging youth athletes to play multiple sports and not specialize at a young age. A variety of movements and sports is beneficial in so many aspects of health.
Robert Latz, PT, DPT
CIO, Trinity Rehab Services. Bob is also a member of the editorial advisory group for APTA Magazine.
The most dynamic speaker I saw was …
… Jamey Schrier, PT, DPT, and Jimmy McKay PT, DPT, presenting "7 Steps to a 7-figure Practice" on Saturday!
The coolest thing I learned was …
… the ability to look in a Tableau database and see progress per visit, based on collecting outcome data every single visit. This is happening at one very large organization and, IF this were happening elsewhere, we could truly demonstrate the value of physical therapy in a very important way! What made it especially cool was that I learned it through networking at the conference — it's one of the real pluses of attending CSM.
My top session was …
… "Health Informatics in Physical Therapy: Current Practice and Preparation for the Future of Our Profession." Yes, I am a little biased here as I was on this panel — however, we had two panelists join us (Stephen Hunter PT, DPT, FAPTA, and Roland Perreault PT, DPT, MBA, MA, who, along with Sang Pak, PT, DPT, created an idea of how we can use data to demonstrate the value of physical therapy to healthcare.
One thing I learned that I plan to put into practice is …
… working with our (now expanded) TechSIG Informatics Workgroup to explore how to create a crosswalk between PROMIS, AM-PAC, and Section GG scores.
Mary Ann Wharton, PT, MS
Adjunct faculty member in the physical therapist assistant program at the Community College of Allegheny County-Boyce Campus, Pittsburgh; Faculty for University of Pittsburgh Medical Center's Geriatric Physical Therapy Residency Program; Chair of APTA-Pennsylvania's Practice & Research Committee. Mary Ann also is a member of the editorial advisory group for APTA Magazine.
The most dynamic speaker I saw was …
… Dolly Swisher, PT, MDiv, PhD, FAPTA, who delivered the Mary McMillan Lecture. Dolly inspired the audience with wisdom, wit, and humor as she addressed ethical challenges that we face as a profession.
The coolest thing I learned was …
… how to look at data in new ways ("Using Data to Revolutionize the Practice of Physical Therapy"). The session really stretched my comfort level, but provided important information on how collect valuable data to be innovative in evaluating patient outcome measures, health care analytics, and quality improvement initiatives in value based care models.
My top session was …
… the McMillan Lecture. Dolly Swisher not only inspired us to remember the ethical foundation of our profession and keep focus on a caring relationship with our patients, but she challenged us not to abandon professionalism as healthcare delivery shifts more and more to a "business model viewed through a corporate lens."
One thing I learned that I plan to put into practice is …
… how to use osteoporosis screening tools with older adults ("Osteoporosis Screening Tools: GeriEDGE Scoping Review Results"). The speakers provided an analysis of how to choose appropriate screening tools to evaluate patients suspected of having low bone mineral density or osteoporosis.