Multidisciplinary Diagnostic Reconciliation as a Domain of Hospital Physical Therapist Practice

Abstract

An axiom repeated in health care is that they eyes are unable to see what the mind does not yet know. As diagnosticians trained to evaluate functional capacity, identify the impairments that produce functional limitations, and synthesize knowledge of pathophysiology and psychosocial context, physical therapists enjoy opportunities to function as clinicians uniquely valuable to their patients. The more information that a therapist possesses about a disease state or movement disorder, the better-informed will be their patient examinations, the more readily will they identify the subtle abnormalities that become persuasive constellations, and the greater will become their capacity to help their patients.

Adapt and Fear Less

“…John is an avid medical writer who is known for challenging the profession and society, not only in the Journal of Acute Care Physical Therapy but also in community newspapers. His works include "Maximizing Effectiveness of Examination of Patients With Acute Dizziness in the Emergency Department," 23 "Multidisciplinary Diagnostic Reconciliation as a Domain of Hospital Physical Therapist Practice," 24 and a letter to the editor "The Fourth Aim: Care of the Provider: President's Message-Making Work More Satisfying by Advancing Clinical Practice," 25 where he writes that he spends 25% of his time doing what he wants to be doing in acute care. While interviewing John, who works at Cape Cod Hospital in Massachusetts, I asked him about his motivation for change and advances in the profession first as a single author, not common in practice, and second from a community hospital perspective.…”