Interpretation of Lab Values in Acute Care Rehabilitation
Presented by Ashley Poole
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Nonfinancial: Ashley Poole is a member of the American Physical Therapy Association's Academy of Acute Care Physical Therapy, Academy of Cardiovascular & Pulmonary Physical Therapy, and Academy of Education. She has no competing nonfinancial interests or relationships with regard to the content presented in this course.
Due to medical advances and emerging research, patients are living longer with more complex medical needs. As a result, clinicians are treating and mobilizing patients with increasingly complex needs in the acute care setting. It is important that clinicians possess a basic understanding of lab values and their reference ranges to determine an appropriate and safe plan of care for their patients. This course will guide clinicians in lab value interpretation to identify potential causes, patient presentations, and clinical implications for values outside the reference ranges, as well as safety considerations when mobilizing these patients. Information in this course could be applicable to any health profession that treats and mobilizes patients in the acute care setting, including physical therapy and occupational therapy.
Meet your instructor
Ashley Poole
Ashley Poole, PT, DPT, holds a full-time faculty appointment in the Doctor of Physical Therapy division at Duke University. She has more than 20 years of clinical practice experience and was awarded board certification as a cardiovascular and pulmonary clinical specialist by the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties…
Chapters & learning objectives
1. Lab Values: Foundational Concepts
This chapter will provide an overall understanding of the role of lab values in the acute care setting. It is important for a clinician in the hospital to have an awareness of the factors that affect lab values, including demographic considerations, when making clinical decisions.
2. Complete Blood Count (CBC) and Electrolytes
This chapter will examine the lab values that are included in a complete blood count and electrolyte panel. It is important for clinicians to identify reference ranges as well as clinical implications when patients are outside these reference ranges.
3. Kidney, Liver, and Endocrine Function
This chapter will cover lab values that assess kidney, liver, and endocrine function. It is important for clinicians to identify reference ranges as well as clinical implications when patients are outside these reference ranges.
4. Acid-Base Disorders
This chapter will familiarize the audience with arterial blood gas interpretation. A systematic approach to arterial blood gas analysis, including case examples, will be introduced to help clinicians identify specific acid-base disorders. It is important for a clinician to understand the significance of a patient’s acid-base status when making clinical decisions.
5. Lipid Panel, Cardiovascular Labs, and Coagulation Tests
This chapter will explore lab values that test cholesterol levels, cardiac function, and coagulation. It is important for clinicians to identify reference ranges as well as clinical implications when patients are outside these reference ranges. Guidelines for mobilizing patients with venous thromboembolism will also be discussed.
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