A Therapist's Evidence-Based Approach to Acute and ICU Care Rehab

Description

Deciding whether to provide therapy or to withhold treatment is a question that presents itself to an individual therapist on a daily basis. In acute care and other settings, the presentation of the complex patient often creates a difficult scenario to make evidence-based decisions. The ultimate goal of each clinician is to provide every patient with effective interventions to help them progress to their highest functional level. This course will present current evidence- based information and protocols to help assist every clinician to make the best decision for each of their patients.

Through a multi-media course and interactive discussion, each participant will review key anatomy and physiological principles to help create a solid background for patient assessment and effective interventions to improve patient progression and discharge outcomes. By using key indicators from cardiovascular status, medication use, comorbidities and diagnoses, participants will learn skills to enhance their decision-making ability to improve patient outcomes. Participants will leave having a better understanding of improving their role along with a clear multi-disciplinary approach of therapists working together to improve outcomes in the acute care setting.

Highlights

• Take away quick assessment techniques to interpret critical vs. non-critical lab values and vital signs
• Gain step-by-step protocols to early mobilization for improving upon progression of the cardiovascular and pulmonary and other comorbidities patient
• Confidently use and monitor ventilators, lines, tubes and other lifesaving devices
• Special treatment applications for the medically complex patient
• Best practices for skin and wound care treatment: Looking past the dressing to improve quality of life
• Pharmacology considerations and pain management to minimize effects and interactions while identifying special considerations to promote functional outcomes
• Confidently learn accurate clinical reasoning for appropriate documentation

Learning Objectives

1. Classify the meaning of critical lab vs. non-critical lab values and vital signs to promote or prohibit mobility.
2. Interpret key indicators and strategies of when to withhold treatment and when to implement early mobilization of the critical care patient.
3. Recognize vital techniques to optimize function and management of tubes, lines and ventilators.
4. Distinguish key wound care interventions and complications to promote the patients' quality of life.
5. Identify key strategies to establish a functional multi- disciplinary treatment plan within therapists working in the acute care setting.
6. Identify barriers that may prohibit treatment and best practices of the acute care therapist.

Course Content