Assessment of the Dizzy Patient in the Acute Care Setting

Kara Rawlings PT, DPT, NCS

Online Course

Includes all course content in digital format

Prerequisites Required
2 hours - Provided by Summit Professional Education

Item: physi-VIDEOGDIZKR12CREDIT

Description

Dizziness accounts for up to 11% of emergency department visits each year in the United States. Approximately 40% of these patients have peripheral vestibular dysfunction. Physical and occupational therapists can play an important role in the acute care setting by helping to identify the presence of a peripheral vestibular disorder, thus potentially saving money on unnecessary testing and lengthy hospital stays. This course will outline evidence- based bedside assessment strategies, that the therapist is uniquely trained to perform, to help in the evaluation and management of patients presenting with vertigo and dizziness. The therapist will also learn basic treatment interventions for vestibular hypofunction and BPPV and when to refer their patients for continued treatment.

Highlights

  • Evidence-based bedside assessments to help identify central and peripheral sources of vertigo
  • Immediately improve your patient’s symptoms with evidence-based treatment interventions aimed at resolving BPPV

Learning Objectives

  1. Examine the key signs and symptoms from a patient's subjective history to help guide your assessment and lead to a differential diagnosis.
  2. Interpret findings from a bedside oculomotor examination and positional testing to determine a cause of the symptoms and formulate a therapy plan to address the identified deficits.

Course Content

Assessment of the Dizzy Patient in the Acute Care Setting
SCORM Package
Next Steps
Module
  1. Pathophysiology and Subjective History
    1. What is the vestibular system – anatomy and physiology
    2. Vestibular hypofunction (Neuritis)
    3. Central sources of dizziness
    4. BPPV
  2. Oculomotor Assessment and Positional Testing for BPPV
    1. Subjective history
    2. Bedside oculomotor exam
    3. Positional testing
    4. Initial treatment and when to refer

Kara Rawlings, PT, DPT, NCS, is a Physical Therapist specializing in the assessment and treatment of patients with vestibular and neurological disorders. She graduated from Ohio University's Doctorate of Physical Therapy program in 2008 where she learned the basics of vestibular rehabilitation during both course work and clinical experiences. Kara was awarded the Susan Herdman Certificate of Competency in Vestibular Rehabilitation in 2014 from Emory University. Kara currently works with patients with a range of neurological disorders within OhioHealth's neurological multi-disciplinary outpatient clinics.

Kara has worked to establish and build a cross-continuum vestibular rehabilitation team at OhioHealth with goals of improving patient identification and access to effective treatment. Kara has instructed continuing education courses in vestibular rehabilitation and also management of the post-concussive patient and has served as a guest lecturer in physical therapy assistant programs in Ohio. Kara is also a board-certified clinical specialist in Neurologic Physical Therapy and is an APTA Credentialed Clinical Instructor.


DISCLOSURES

FINANCIAL: Kara Rawlings is compensated by Summit as an instructor.

NONFINANCIAL: Kara Rawlings has no nonfinancial relationships to disclose.

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