Professional Issues and Clinical Decision-Making 2. 2 Credit Hours

Catalog description

This course introduces ethical principles and models of decision-making relevant to the physical therapy profession, including the ethical and legal standards of care expected of physical therapists and physical therapy students. The APTA Code of Ethics and the Texas Physical Therapy Practice Act serve as foundational references for understanding professional responsibilities, scope of practice, and legal accountability in physical therapy. The course also addresses healthcare fraud and abuse, as well as family violence and physical abuse of vulnerable populations, with attention to professional roles, documentation responsibilities, and required reporting procedures. Overall, the course is designed to prepare students to navigate both the professional standards and the expanding clinical and societal responsibilities of contemporary physical therapy practice. In addition to these foundations, the course examines contemporary and advanced topics in physical therapy practice that reflect the evolving role of the profession. Students will explore current issues such as diagnostic imaging utilization, wellness and health promotion, and emerging models of care. These topics will emphasize clinical reasoning, professional judgment, and evidence-informed decision-making in modern physical therapy practice.