APTA Federal - Primary Care Practice Analysis Survey: Sections 1, 2 and 5 |
Primary Care Physical Therapy Practice Analysis Survey
Survey Purpose:
A workgroup of subject matter experts conceptualized the definition of the "Primary Care PT" as a PT who has a general and diverse practice setting and/or population, and practices at a much higher level compared to a new graduate PT. This may allow PTs who do not have the traditional type of focused specialties currently recognized by ABPTS, but who do have advanced expertise and skill in general practice to be recognized as an expert practitioner.
This new specialty in Primary Care Practice will be defined as an experienced physical therapist practitioner who:
- Instead of specializing and limiting practice to one area of physical therapy, has advanced expertise to practice across the lifespan to both evaluate and treat clients across a wide spectrum of health conditions.
- Has attained this experience through formal post professional education or through many years of experiential learning opportunities.
- May be practicing in a variety of settings including, but not limited to: 1) a rural setting where patient choices for PT services are limited, 2) an acute/urgent care or emergency department setting, 3) a hospital-based outpatient setting, 4) an urban setting and/or population of underserved individuals, or 5) a private practice setting.
- Is practicing at a higher level of care (more efficiently and effectively), including a higher level of decision-making, than non-specialists and experienced physical therapists.
Although Primary Care Physical Therapy may be ABPTS board certified in another specialty, they do not limit their practice to that area of specialization.
The graphs below may be helpful in understanding this Primary Care Physical Therapy Specialty Practice.