Perinatal Primary Care PT

Course overview

Part 1: The Primary Care Model for the Perinatal + Early Childhood Population This is an 1.5-hr module designed for direct access physical therapists interested in being a primary care provider for perinatal and early childhood populations. The course is intended to enhance their evaluative skills in screening, differential diagnosis, assessment and management of mothers and children as a unit. There is not a pre-course but this is designed specifically for primary care providers interested in treating both populations and being an advocate for maternal and early childhood health in general. The live course will include understanding the potential for in-depth care and holistic care with this population, review of health domains/systems body systems review and the importance of pelvic health experience in this population. Students will be challenged to develop differential diagnoses and most appropriate initial management strategies, ie. when to initiate PT and outlining the strategies best suited for these populations - which are not the traditional outpatient strategies. Part 2: Screening & Evaluation Considerations Across the Continuum This is an 1.5-hr module designed for direct access physical therapists interested in being a primary care provider for perinatal and early childhood populations. This portion of the course is intended to enhance their evaluative skills in screening, differential diagnosis, assessment and management of mothers and children as a unit. A framework or principles of evaluation is discussed to allow for students to expand on the vital aspects associated with this population. Students will be challenged to develop differential diagnoses and most appropriate initial management strategies in a complicated dual population (ie prioritizing physical and supplemental deficits in a positive manner). Part 3: Primary Care PT Management of the Mother & Young Child Dyad This is an 1.5-hr module designed for direct access physical therapists interested in being a primary care provider for perinatal and early childhood populations. The course is intended to grow their management and re-evaluative skills in ongoing treatment of the perinatal and early childhood population as a unit specifically. This is not a pre-course but this is designed specifically for primary care providers interested in treating both populations and being an advocate for maternal and early childhood health in general. The live course will include understanding the potential for in-depth care and holistic care as you are creating a plan of care for a dyad that is linked but not fully overlapping. Students will be challenged to develop a flexible but appropriate plan of care that includes community support, comprehensive care and behavior change strategies - not only physical improvement in symptoms.