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The Clinically Complex Geriatric Patient

Presented by Tamara N. Gravano

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Video Runtime: 79 Minutes; Learning Assessment Time: 34 Minutes

Many patients have clinically complex presentations that fluctuate in severity or affect their ability to participate in physical therapy. These patients typically have high medical risk, or their conditions affect multiple organs or systems. This course will assist the learner in developing sound rationale for a skilled treatment plan of care. This course is primarily intended for physical therapists but may also be useful for other inpatient health care providers.

Meet your instructor

Tamara N. Gravano

Tamara N. Gravano is a board-certified geriatric physical therapy clinical specialist and the DPT program director at Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She earned her BHS, MSPT, and transitional DPT from the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida, and an EdD in leadership studies from Marshall University.…

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Chapters & learning objectives

The Typical Atypical Complex Patient

1. The Typical Atypical Complex Patient

This chapter is a general introduction to the various body systems and their interactions with each other during changes in activity level and the severity of pathology.

Risks and Benefits of Physical Activity

2. Risks and Benefits of Physical Activity

This chapter is an overview of the overall and system-by-system risks and benefits of participation in physical activity.

Modification of Treatment Approaches and Goals

3. Modification of Treatment Approaches and Goals

This chapter will breakdown various strategies to recognize segmental changes in function and modify treatments and goals based on the patient presentation.

Case-Based Application

4. Case-Based Application

This chapter will focus on application of the course content in a stepwise clinical decision-making fashion, with rationales for each intervention and/or goal.

Documentation and Final Considerations

5. Documentation and Final Considerations

This chapter will focus on documentation of progress during an evolving plan of care and wrap up any final considerations.