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    • Newsletter
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  • Special Tests
    • Cervical Spine >
      • Alar Ligament Test
      • Bakody's Sign
      • Cervical Distraction Test
      • Cervical Rotation Lateral Flexion Test
      • Craniocervical Flexion Test (CCFT)
      • Deep Neck Flexor Endurance Test
      • Posterior-Anterior Segmental Mobility
      • Segmental Mobility
      • Sharp-Purser Test
      • Spurling's Maneuver
      • Transverse Ligament Test
      • ULNT - Median
      • ULNT - Radial
      • ULNT - Ulnar
      • Vertebral Artery Test
    • Thoracic Spine >
      • Adam's Forward Bend Test
      • Passive Neck Flexion Test
      • Thoracic Compression Test
      • Thoracic Distraction Test
      • Thoracic Foraminal Closure Test
    • Lumbar Spine/Sacroiliac Joint >
      • Active Sit-Up Test
      • Alternate Gillet Test
      • Crossed Straight Leg Raise Test
      • Extensor Endurance Test
      • FABER Test
      • Fortin's Sign
      • Gaenslen Test
      • Gillet Test
      • Gower's Sign
      • Lumbar Quadrant Test
      • POSH Test
      • Posteroanterior Mobility
      • Prone Knee Bend Test
      • Prone Instability Test
      • Resisted Abduction Test
      • Sacral Clearing Test
      • Seated Forward Flexion Test
      • SIJ Compression/Distraction Test
      • Slump Test
      • Sphinx Test
      • Spine Rotators & Multifidus Test
      • Squish Test
      • Standing Forward Flexion Test
      • Straight Leg Raise Test
      • Supine to Long Sit Test
    • Shoulder >
      • Active Compression Test
      • Anterior Apprehension
      • Biceps Load Test II
      • Drop Arm Sign
      • External Rotation Lag Sign
      • Hawkins-Kennedy Impingement Sign
      • Horizontal Adduction Test
      • Internal Rotation Lag Sign
      • Jobe Test
      • Ludington's Test
      • Neer Test
      • Painful Arc Sign
      • Pronated Load Test
      • Resisted Supination External Rotation Test
      • Speed's Test
      • Posterior Apprehension
      • Sulcus Sign
      • Thoracic Outlet Tests >
        • Adson's Test
        • Costoclavicular Brace
        • Hyperabduction Test
        • Roos (EAST)
      • Yergason's Test
    • Elbow >
      • Biceps Squeeze Test
      • Chair Sign
      • Cozen's Test
      • Elbow Extension Test
      • Medial Epicondylalgia Test
      • Mill's Test
      • Moving Valgus Stress Test
      • Push-up Sign
      • Ulnar Nerve Compression Test
      • Valgus Stress Test
      • Varus Stress Test
    • Wrist/Hand >
      • Allen's Test
      • Carpal Compression Test
      • Finkelstein Test
      • Phalen's Test
      • Reverse Phalen's Test
    • Hip >
      • Craig's Test
      • Dial Test
      • FABER Test
      • FAIR Test
      • Fitzgerald's Test
      • Hip Quadrant Test
      • Hop Test
      • Labral Anterior Impingement Test
      • Labral Posterior Impingement Test
      • Long-Axis Femoral Distraction Test
      • Noble Compression Test
      • Percussion Test
      • Sign of the Buttock
      • Trendelenburg Test
    • Knee >
      • Anterior Drawer Test
      • Dial Test (Tibial Rotation Test)
      • Joint Line Tenderness
      • Lachman Test
      • McMurray Test
      • Noble Compression Test
      • Pivot-Shift Test
      • Posterior Drawer Test
      • Posterior Sag Sign
      • Quad Active Test
      • Thessaly Test
      • Valgus Stress Test
      • Varus Stress Test
    • Foot/Ankle >
      • Anterior Drawer
      • Calf Squeeze Test
      • External Rotation Test
      • Fracture Screening Tests
      • Impingement Sign
      • Navicular Drop Test
      • Squeeze Test
      • Talar Tilt
      • Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome Test
      • Test for Interdigital Neuroma
      • Windlass Test
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Why Being a Clinical Specialist is Worth the Investment

1/17/2019

3 Comments

 
Young clinicians often ask me, "how were you able to start your own cash based practice within 3 years of graduating?" While hard work and passion are at the center of this answer, properly positioning myself around the best mentors and educators early in my career was equally important. These mentors largely came from my Orthopedic residency program, the Harris Health System. My residency program taught me pain science education, manual therapy treatments, improved clinical reasoning, differential diagnosis, and improved patient education/ communication. If you combine all of these components into a patient interaction, you hopefully get an efficient and effective Orthopedic clinician. 
Following my residency, I worked for a large outpatient PT company. Since I was confident, capable, and efficient in the clinic, I was quickly promoted to clinic director, and learned about operating a physical therapy business. Fast forward 1.5 years and I opened Heafner Health Physical Therapy in Boulder, CO. The foundation of my practice is built on clinical excellence and patient communication, both of which were developed through my residency training.
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From opening a cash practice to finding fulfillment, in this post I discuss the need to pursue specialization!


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OPTIM OCS PREP COURSE CURRICULUM
  • Online lectures covering each body region
  • Practice examination with 200+ questions
  • Weekly newsletters with pertinent tips and advice
  • Online Q&A sessions with OCS clinicians
  • Access to 100+ OCS study sheets and infographics
LEARN MORE!

Specializing is Worth It: Your Outcomes Will Improve

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Since the majority of physical therapists are caring and compassionate individuals, it is safe to assume that most people who become Doctors of Physical Therapy have a primarily goal of helping others. Furthering this assumption, I would guess that getting patients healthier as fast as possible is even better! For me personally, I know that this is my primarily goal. Going through a residency program and preparing for the Orthopedic Clinical Specialty examination taught me how to  quickly improve my patient's pain and function. Additionally, I learned how to become a direct access practitioner. As the entry-point diagnostician, it has always been important for me to know when to treat, but more important to know when NOT to treat. As I studied the clinical practice guidelines and APTA monographs, I learned how to incorporate this evidence into my patient interactions. Instead of passively guessing a patient's prognosis, I learned to actively create a plan of care with a predictable prognosis. As my knowledge improved, my outcomes continued to get better!

Specializing is Worth It: You Will Be More Fulfilled

Professional burnout is a serious problem in physical therapy. Each day most therapists have demanding productivity standards, rigorous documentation guidelines, and a wide array of diverse human interactions. It is both mentally and physically stressful. In order to complete their work in a timely fashion, some therapists resort to the same plan of care and exercises for most patients with a specific diagnosis. This approach often becomes under-stimulating and less skilled rather quickly.
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While I am always developing my practice, my training as an Orthopedic Specialist allows me to view each patient from a different viewpoint. I credit my OCS preparation and residency training for providing me with a deeper understanding of pain science, tissue pathology, and biomechanics. This deeper understanding allows me to provide specific education to each patient based on their individual needs. ​

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Want to develop a more efficient examination?
  • A 64 page step-by-step clinical guide to performing an evaluation of the lumbar spine, shoulder, cervical spine, and knee
  • Clinical pearls regarding physical therapy examination and movement based pathology
  • Deeper understanding of regional interdependence and differential diagnosis
  • 'Monday-morning' applicable clinical information
3 Comments
online reviews link
3/8/2024 09:15:21 pm

Becoming a clinical specialist is undoubtedly a substantial investment, both in time and resources, but the returns far outweigh the costs. In today's digital age, where online reviews wield significant influence, the demand for top-tier healthcare professionals is ever-increasing. As a clinical specialist, one gains not only specialized expertise but also a reputation for excellence. Positive online reviews serve as testimonials to the quality of care provided, attracting more patients and opportunities. Moreover, continuous learning and skill refinement inherent in this profession ensure staying ahead in a competitive healthcare landscape, making it a wise investment for long-term career success.

Reply
vidmate link
4/8/2024 11:02:24 am

During the initial visit, I did Trigger Point Dry Needling at the L4-5 multifidus and gluteal muscles. Then, I performed L5-S1 joint PA mobilizations to improve lumbar mobility and a hip long axis distraction manipulation.

Reply
aws cloud migration partner link
10/29/2024 11:13:10 am

Finding the right AWS cloud migration partner is crucial for a successful transition to the cloud. Start by assessing your organization’s specific needs and goals, ensuring you clearly understand your migration requirements. Research potential partners by checking their certifications, experience, and client testimonials. Look for partners with a proven track record in AWS migrations and industry expertise relevant to your business. Engage in discussions to evaluate their approach, support, and post-migration services. Ultimately, choosing the right AWS cloud migration partner can significantly enhance your cloud journey and maximize your return on investment.

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  • Home
  • About Us
  • TSPT Academy
  • Resources
    • Newsletter
    • Orthopedic Blog
    • Featured Articles
    • Research Articles
    • Residency Corner
  • Special Tests
    • Cervical Spine >
      • Alar Ligament Test
      • Bakody's Sign
      • Cervical Distraction Test
      • Cervical Rotation Lateral Flexion Test
      • Craniocervical Flexion Test (CCFT)
      • Deep Neck Flexor Endurance Test
      • Posterior-Anterior Segmental Mobility
      • Segmental Mobility
      • Sharp-Purser Test
      • Spurling's Maneuver
      • Transverse Ligament Test
      • ULNT - Median
      • ULNT - Radial
      • ULNT - Ulnar
      • Vertebral Artery Test
    • Thoracic Spine >
      • Adam's Forward Bend Test
      • Passive Neck Flexion Test
      • Thoracic Compression Test
      • Thoracic Distraction Test
      • Thoracic Foraminal Closure Test
    • Lumbar Spine/Sacroiliac Joint >
      • Active Sit-Up Test
      • Alternate Gillet Test
      • Crossed Straight Leg Raise Test
      • Extensor Endurance Test
      • FABER Test
      • Fortin's Sign
      • Gaenslen Test
      • Gillet Test
      • Gower's Sign
      • Lumbar Quadrant Test
      • POSH Test
      • Posteroanterior Mobility
      • Prone Knee Bend Test
      • Prone Instability Test
      • Resisted Abduction Test
      • Sacral Clearing Test
      • Seated Forward Flexion Test
      • SIJ Compression/Distraction Test
      • Slump Test
      • Sphinx Test
      • Spine Rotators & Multifidus Test
      • Squish Test
      • Standing Forward Flexion Test
      • Straight Leg Raise Test
      • Supine to Long Sit Test
    • Shoulder >
      • Active Compression Test
      • Anterior Apprehension
      • Biceps Load Test II
      • Drop Arm Sign
      • External Rotation Lag Sign
      • Hawkins-Kennedy Impingement Sign
      • Horizontal Adduction Test
      • Internal Rotation Lag Sign
      • Jobe Test
      • Ludington's Test
      • Neer Test
      • Painful Arc Sign
      • Pronated Load Test
      • Resisted Supination External Rotation Test
      • Speed's Test
      • Posterior Apprehension
      • Sulcus Sign
      • Thoracic Outlet Tests >
        • Adson's Test
        • Costoclavicular Brace
        • Hyperabduction Test
        • Roos (EAST)
      • Yergason's Test
    • Elbow >
      • Biceps Squeeze Test
      • Chair Sign
      • Cozen's Test
      • Elbow Extension Test
      • Medial Epicondylalgia Test
      • Mill's Test
      • Moving Valgus Stress Test
      • Push-up Sign
      • Ulnar Nerve Compression Test
      • Valgus Stress Test
      • Varus Stress Test
    • Wrist/Hand >
      • Allen's Test
      • Carpal Compression Test
      • Finkelstein Test
      • Phalen's Test
      • Reverse Phalen's Test
    • Hip >
      • Craig's Test
      • Dial Test
      • FABER Test
      • FAIR Test
      • Fitzgerald's Test
      • Hip Quadrant Test
      • Hop Test
      • Labral Anterior Impingement Test
      • Labral Posterior Impingement Test
      • Long-Axis Femoral Distraction Test
      • Noble Compression Test
      • Percussion Test
      • Sign of the Buttock
      • Trendelenburg Test
    • Knee >
      • Anterior Drawer Test
      • Dial Test (Tibial Rotation Test)
      • Joint Line Tenderness
      • Lachman Test
      • McMurray Test
      • Noble Compression Test
      • Pivot-Shift Test
      • Posterior Drawer Test
      • Posterior Sag Sign
      • Quad Active Test
      • Thessaly Test
      • Valgus Stress Test
      • Varus Stress Test
    • Foot/Ankle >
      • Anterior Drawer
      • Calf Squeeze Test
      • External Rotation Test
      • Fracture Screening Tests
      • Impingement Sign
      • Navicular Drop Test
      • Squeeze Test
      • Talar Tilt
      • Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome Test
      • Test for Interdigital Neuroma
      • Windlass Test