Continuing Education

The St. Ambrose University Physical Therapy department is providing advanced level courses in the area of orthopaedics. 

Therapists who successfully complete the 6-course sequence will earn a Certificate in Manual Therapy (CMT) and may use the designation CMT. These courses will involve lectures, laboratory sessions, pre-course readings, and post-course assignments.

The overall purpose of this course series is to:

1. Enhance therapists' knowledge of musculoskeletal patient management and manual therapy treatment philosophies and approaches.
2. Develop therapists' clinical reasoning and manual therapy skills for the management of patients with musculoskeletal disorders.
3. Prepare therapists to analyze, synthesize and apply current evidence in the management of patients with musculoskeletal disorders.

All courses will be offered in conjunction with our Orthopaedic Clinical Residency Program.

Courses will be limited to 32 physical therapists, and there is an expectation that attendees complete reading assignments prior to each course. Participants must take Manual Therapy I prior to enrolling in other any other courses.

Primary Instructors
Candi Gardner, PT, DPT, OCS, CMT
Jill Hipskind, PT, DPT

The St. Ambrose University Physical Therapy department is providing advanced level courses in the area of pediatrics. The pediatric residency program prepares licensed physical therapists from SAU with advanced knowledge and clinical practice skills in the specialty area of pediatric physical therapy.

A series of two pediatric therapeutic courses will be offered annually. The courses utilize classroom and laboratory training relevant to the specialty area, as well as study groups, case presentations, and clinical research. Advanced Pediatric Therapeutics I will be offered in January each year and Advanced Pediatric Therapeutics II will be offered in July each year, repeating annually as a new cohort begins the St. Ambrose Residency in Pediatrics.

Courses will be limited to 20 physical therapists, and there is an expectation that attendees complete reading assignments prior to each course. Participants must take Advanced Pediatric Therapeutics I prior to enrolling in Advanced Pediatric Therapeutics II.

Primary Instructors
Katie Powers, PT, DPT
Rebecca Wilson, PT, DPT

• All Lunch and Learns are Noon - 1 p.m., except Wednesday, Nov. 8, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. CST
• Registration is open until 8 a.m. the morning of each event.
• Registrants will receive the Webex link within 1 week prior to this event.
• Free CEUs

Wednesday, August 23
Fostering the Clinical Instructor and the Student

Presenters: Dr. Lynn Frank and Dr. Kristin Ryan, Directors of Clinical Education, St. Ambrose University Physical Therapy Department

Course Description
A clinical instructor (CI) is an experienced physical therapist who facilitates application and the hands-on growth of DPT students. St. Ambrose University DPT program values clinical practice and supports the clinicians who choose to participate in the education of our students. This 1-hour Lunch and Learn will provide information for the CI's growth and development. Discussion will include clinical education from the DCE's perspective, the new CPI 3.0 assessment tool, resources to promote a collaborative model of clinical education, and support to help DPT students' progress towards entry level status. Please join the St. Ambrose Directors of Clinical Education for this free event and help us maximize learning during patient care.

Objectives
At the completion of this course, attendees will be able to:
1. Discuss the current clinical education environment including updated CPI 3.0 assessment.
2. Recognize aspects of the clinical education experience that may be adjusted to assist with productivity and the student's progress toward entry-level performance.
3. Summarize the evidence and tools to support the collaborative model of clinical education during early and terminal experiences.

Wednesday, November 8 - 6:30 to 7:30 pm. - *Note time difference
Imaging for PT's: "Everything You Should Know About Imaging in One Hour

Presenter: Dr. Bob Wiederien
Board-Certified Clinical Specialist in Sports Physical Therapy

Course Description
In this course on Imaging, information will be shared in two parts. Part 1: "Imaging Terminology: The Language of Fractures" will discuss how to speak the imaging language to and from an ortho surgeon's and radiologist's perspective. Part 2: Will discuss how to systematically view an image through the ABCs of Radiographs, the ABCDs of MRI and discuss other advanced imaging modalities including CT, Nuclear Bone Scan, & Ultrasound. We will discuss how to clinically manage patients with or without imaging, when imaging is appropriate, and when to refer as shared from a Board-Certified Sports Clinical Specialist (SCS) perspective. Case examples will be discussed.

• All Lunch and Learns are Noon - 1 p.m. 
• Registration is open until 8 a.m. the morning of each event.
• Registrants will receive the Webex link within 1 week prior to this event.
• Free CEUs

Spring/Summer Courses

Wednesday, April 3 - Noon to 1 p.m.
Register: Differentiating Peripheral Vestibular Disease from Stroke

Presenter: Dr. Nora Riley, PT, PhD
Board-Certified Clinical Specialist in Neurologic Physical Therapy

Course Description: To enhance the clinician's ability to recognize concerning findings in patients that present with dizziness. The lecture will review disorders of the central nervous system that may present with vestibular-related symptoms such as vertebro-basilar insufficiency, cerebellar-related dizziness, multiple sclerosis and white matter disease.
Videos of ocular impairments will be used to illustrate concerning examination findings. The indications, application and interpretation of the HINTS exam (Head Impulse Nystagmus Test of Skew) will be reviewed to increase awareness of signs indicating central nervous system differentiation of vestibular symptoms.

Course Objectives:
1. Differentiate the clinical signs and symptoms of focal lesions of the central vestibular system.
2. Identify traits of nystagmus of central nervous system origin in individuals presenting with dizziness.
3. Identify the target population for HINTS testing in individuals with dizziness.
4. Incorporate the use of HINTS testing when indicated in individuals with dizziness.
5. Interpret HINTS testing appropriately in individuals with dizziness

Thursday, June 13 - Noon to 1 p.m.
Register: Nutrition Education for Physical Therapy Practice

Presenter: Lauren Zust, MPP-D, RD, LD
Rock Valley Health Registered Dietitian

Course Description: This course will provide background information regarding the profession of dietetics, the nutrition scope of practice for physical therapists, as well as evidence-based nutrition guidelines for therapists to include in everyday practice. Nutrition guidelines will include an overview of basic macronutrients and food groups and details of an anti-inflammatory dietary approach to improve outcomes for physical and occupational therapy patients. Lauren will also highlight popular nutrition topics including fiber and gut health, hydration, supplements, fad diets and common nutrition myths.

Course Objectives:
1. Describe the difference between a registered dietitian vs. nutritionist.
2. Define nutrition scope of practice for physical therapists.
3. Implement general, evidence-based nutrition guidelines into daily practice to improve overall wellness of physical/occupational therapy patients.

Monday, April 22, 2024 - Doors Open: 5:30 p.m.
Event: 6:00 - 8:30 p.m.
Open to PT and PTAs only

The St. Ambrose University Physical Therapy department is hosting their annual Evidence-Based Practice Symposium held by second year DPT students.

This course will provide an overview of utilizing evidence based physical therapy practice in the clinical environment. Critically appraising evidence about interventions and the integration of evidence with clinical expertise and patient values and beliefs will be explored in a series of clinical case studies.

Upon competition of this course, participants will be able to:

    Critically appraise evidence about interventions used in clinical practice for applicability.
    Critically appraise evidence about interventions used in clinical practice for quality.
    Integrate critically appraised evidence with clinical expertise and patient values and beliefs.

This event is free and provides 2.5 contact hours of continuing education.

Capacity is limited to 100 seats; once full, registration is closed and walk-ins will not be accepted.

Location
St. Ambrose University, Center for Health Sciences Education, 1320 W. Lombard St., Davenport, IA 52804

Registration is open and will remain open until 6 p.m., Sunday, April 21, 2024.

Registration link.


Questions?
Call (563) 333-6403 or email pt@sau.edu

Monday-Tuesday, January 8-9, 2024

Level I
This course addresses planning and implementing clinical education experiences for physical therapy and other health care field students.  The program is divided into two parts: (1) clinical instructor education for all participants and (2) credentialing for PT/PTAs in the course thru Assessment Centers.

Level II
From 2007 to 2017, the APTA offered the Advanced Credentialed Clinical Instructor Program (ACCIP), which was available to credentialed physical therapists to advance both clinical teaching and best practice when providing student clinical education.  The ACCIP has now been replaced with the Credentialed Clinical Instructor Program Level II (CCIP Level II), which is open to a wider audience.  The CCIP Level II both applies and goes beyond the concepts of the structured and effective learning environment from CCIP Level I to allow participants to further develop their clinical teaching skills and construct a clinical curriculum.  The program's unique philosophy and design will enable clinical educators to achieve the best outcomes for student learning. 

Registration Information

APTA CI Course Level I and APTA CI Course Level II NOT using a voucher MUST register through St. Ambrose (using this LINK) AND at APTA (using this LINK).

Payment is made through the St. Ambrose link. 

A limited number of Clinical Education Vouchers will be accepted for these courses. Course registration using vouchers please contact Lynn Frank, FrankLynnM@sau.edu.

If you have any questions you can reach the Physical Therapy office at pt@sau.edu or 563-333-6403.