Advanced Practice Certification

Our primary goal is to prepare physios to gain the skills to be considered for the growing APP roles including tertiary medical / surgical triage and primary care family health settings.  KCS has been selected by major public and private health organizations in BC, Alberta, Ontario, and Nova Scotia to deliver our APP training to their existing APP staff. We have had over 250 individuals undertake the APP training program with many securing APP positions following completion.

Advanced practice syllabus
• Regional Medical Screening
• Systems Medical Screening
• Fundamentals of Lab Tests
• Clinical reasoning
• Pharmacology for Physios
• Foundations of Medical Imaging
• Medical Imaging of the Spine
• Medical Imaging of the Extremities
• Medical Imaging Utilization
• Medical / surgical triage

These courses are all self-paced, online programs that are broken into 10 sub-units. They are delivered as a dictated PowerPoint presentations that run for approximately 8-10 hours each. You are encouraged to take your time, reflect and review each program repeatedly. You will receive access to 250–350-page downloadable handouts for each course to keep as a reference.

Certification program:

1. On-line courses

• Pharmacology for Physiotherapists
• Regional Medical Screening
• Systems Medical Screening
• Medical Laboratory Testing
• Diagnostic Imaging for Physiotherapist

Investment:

CAD $1899

 Lead instructors:

The developers of this program have post-professional Doctor of Physical Therapy degrees from the USA and work as Advanced Practice Physiotherapists.
Jack Miller BSc(PT), Dip. MT(NZ), MClSc, DPT, FCAMPT
Rob Werstine BSc(PT), Dip. MT(Can), MSc, DPT, FCAMPT

Advisement:

The Advanced Practice Certificate program is a series of professional development courses on topics relevant to Physiotherapists wishing to apply for employment roles that are currently being termed “Advanced Practice Physiotherapist”.  This program of study is not an externally accredited qualification and does not provide any professional designation. The term “APP Certification” indicates that a participant has completed the program course of study and received a printed certificate of completion that they can then include in their professional portfolio.

If you have any queries regarding the use of the term “Advanced Practice Physiotherapist” Key Clinical Skills recommends you contact the professional practice adviser of your regulatory college.

Appendix One

Advanced Physiotherapy Practice Certification Syllabus:

1. Medical Imaging Foundations

 Course Description

New practice opportunities are currently emerging for Physiotherapists with the expansion of existing surgical triage pathway programs and the emergence of Advanced Practice Physiotherapists in Family Health Teams. This distance-learning program has been developed to prepare you to take on these evolving practice roles that may include the selection of patients appropriate for medical diagnostic imaging. This program provides over 8 contact hours of self-paced learning through 10 comprehensive audio-visual modules, reflective case studies, selected readings and an online self-examination quiz.

A continuous intake allows you to begin the program at any time. You have eight full weeks of access and a downloadable 230-page handout to keep as a reference tool. Participants will appreciate benefits and limitations of conventional radiographs and advanced imaging. Physiotherapy practice integration of imaging is emphasized. A certificate of completion is provided on completion of a knowledge appreciation quiz.

 Program length

10 hours distance learning

Program:

1. Key concepts in radiology
2. Standard x-rays
3. Basics of radiology evaluation 1
4. Basics of radiology evaluation 2
5. Advanced imaging 1
6. Advanced imaging 2
7. Fractures 1
8. Fractures 2
9. Practice integration 1
10. Practice integration 2

2. Medical Imaging for the Extremities

Course Description

New practice opportunities are currently emerging for Physiotherapists with Family Health Teams, and the expansion of existing triage and arthritis care pathway programs. This distance-learning program has been developed to build on the KCS Medical foundations programs and expand your knowledge of imaging for the extremities. This program provides over eight contact hours of self-paced learning through 10 comprehensive audio-visual modules, reflective case studies, selected readings and an online self-examination quiz.

Participants will be grounded in medical diagnostic imaging concepts for the musculoskeletal systems including the imaging views and modalities and common pathologies. Clinical utilization guidelines, practice recommendations are delivered with quick reference summary tables provided in the 270-page handout, which may be downloaded and kept for future reference. A certificate of completion is provided for your professional portfolio. 

Program length

8 hours distance learning

Program

1. Hip region
2. Thigh & knee regions
3. Ankle & foot regions
4. Shoulder region 1
5. Shoulder region 2
6. Elbow & forearm regions
7. Wrist region
8. Hand region
9. Practice integration 1
10. Practice integration 2 

3. Medical Imaging for the Spine

Course Description

New practice opportunities are currently emerging for Physiotherapists with Family Health Teams, and the expansion of existing spine triage and care pathway programs. This distance-learning program has been developed to build on the KCS Medical foundations programs and expand your knowledge of imaging for the extremities. This program provides over 8 contact hours of self-paced learning through 10 comprehensive audio-visual modules, reflective case studies, selected readings and an online self-examination quiz.  

Participants will be grounded in medical diagnostic imaging concepts for the musculoskeletal systems including the imaging views and modalities and common pathologies. Clinical utilization guidelines, practice recommendations are delivered with quick reference summary tables provided in the 300+ page handout, which may be downloaded and kept for future reference. A certificate of completion is provided for your professional portfolio. 

 Program length

8 hours distance learning

Program

1. Cervical 1
2. Cervical 2
3. Thoracic
4. Cranium
5. Lumbar 1
6. Lumbar 2
7. Lumbar 3
8. Pelvis
9. Practice integration 1
10. Practice integration 2

4. Medical Imaging practice integration

Course Description

New practice opportunities are currently emerging for Physiotherapists with Family Health Teams, and the expansion of existing spine triage and care pathway programs. This distance-learning program has been developed to build on the KCS Medical foundations, extremity and spine imaging programs with a focus on appreciating the appropriate clinical utilization of diagnostic imaging. This program provides over 12 contact hours of self-paced learning through 10 comprehensive audio-visual modules, selected readings, reflective case studies and an online self-examination quiz. 

Participants will be grounded in the utility and utilization of medical diagnostic imaging concepts for the musculoskeletal systems including the imaging views and modalities and common pathologies. The Canadian Association of Radiologists and the American College of Radiologists appropriateness guidelines are presented in full along with published clinical practice guidelines, and recommendations are delivered with quick reference summary tables provided in the 200-page handout, which may be downloaded and kept for future reference. A certificate of completion is provided for your professional portfolio. 

 Program length

18 hours distance learning

Program 

1. Legalities in imaging
2. Ordering investigations
3. Errors in investigations
4. Canadian Association of Radiologists Guidelines 1
5. Canadian Association of Radiologists Guidelines 2
6. American College of Radiologists appropriateness guidelines 1
7. American College of Radiologists appropriateness guidelines 2
8. American College of Radiologists appropriateness guidelines 3
9. Clinical practice guidelines
10. Case studies in imaging

5. Essentials of Laboratory testing

This 10-unit distance-learning program has been developed specifically for Allied Health Professionals. The program is not designed to prepare you to order test but rather to understand what the test do and how the results impact on your practice. This program provides 12 contact hours of self-paced learning through 10 comprehensive audio-visual modules, selected readings, and reflective case studies. 

The program is self-paced with 10 weeks of access and a downloadable 150-page handout with quick reference cheat sheets covering the common tests, reference ranges and potential implications of abnormal findings for Hematology, Coagulation, Blood glucose, Urology and Metabolic chemistry. A certificate of completion is provided for your professional portfolio. 

Program length

12 hours distance learning

Program:

1. Relevance to physiotherapy
2. Principles of lab testing
3. Hematology 1
4. Hematology 2
5. Body fluids 1
6. Body fluids 2
7. Inflammatory markers
8. Blood glucose
9. Electrolytes
10. Resources

6. Pharmacology for Physiotherapists

This 10-unit distance-learning program has been developed specifically for Allied Health Professionals. The program is not designed to prepare you to prescribe medications but rather to understand medications actions on the body and how commonly prescribed medications impact on your practice.

This fully online distance-learning program is delivered in 10 modules using dictated power point presentations, supported by external web links, downloadable quick reference sheets and a 250-page handout that you can keep for your future reference. This program provides 10 contact hours of self-paced learning through 10 comprehensive audio-visual modules, selected readings, and reflective case studies.  A certificate of completion is provided for your professional portfolio. 

Program length

10 hours distance learning

Program:

1. Basics of pharmacology
2. Cardiac and renal systems
3. Central nervous system
4. Musculoskeletal system
5. Hematological system
6. Gastro-intestinal & respiratory systems
7. Endocrine system
8. Immune system and Cancer
9. Complimentary medicine and recreational drugs
10. Resources

7. Regional Medical Screening

Medical screening is an integral component of the skill set of Physiotherapists wishing to work in the rapidly emerging advanced practice roles. This 10-week fully online program provides over 8 contact hours of self-paced learning through 10 comprehensive audio-visual modules supported by downloadable handouts. This program provides 10 contact hours of self-paced learning through 10 comprehensive audio-visual modules, selected readings, and reflective case studies. 

Participants will be grounded in medical screening concepts from both a regional approach. Clinical utilization guidelines, practice recommendations are delivered with quick reference summary tables provided in the 240-page handouts, which may be downloaded and printed for future reference. A certificate of completion is provided for your professional portfolio.

Program length

10 hours distance learning

Program:
1: Examination testing
2: Regional vs systems approaches
3: Screening the “Big 3”
4: Screening the cranial region
5: Screening the cervical region
6: Screening the thoracic region
7: Screening the lumbar region
8: Screening the lumbo-pelvic region
9: Screening the upper limb region
10: Screening the lower limb region

8. Systems Medical Screening

Medical screening is an integral component of the skill set of Physiotherapists wishing to work in the rapidly emerging advanced practice roles. This 10-week fully online program provides over 8 contact hours of self-paced learning through 10 comprehensive audio-visual modules supported by downloadable handouts. This program provides 10 contact hours of self-paced learning through 10 comprehensive audio-visual modules, selected readings, and reflective case studies. 

Participants will be grounded in medical screening concepts from both a body systems approach. Clinical utilization guidelines, practice recommendations are delivered with quick reference summary tables provided in the 200+ page handouts, which may be downloaded and printed for future reference. A certificate of completion is provided for your professional portfolio.

This course is open to Physiotherapists practicing in all areas of the health care system. A certificate of completion is provided for your professional portfolio. 

Program length:

10 hours distance learning

Program:
1: Introduction & Cardiovascular system
2:  Respiratory system
3: Gastrointestinal system
4: urogenital system
5: Hepato-biliary system
6: Endocrine system
7: Nervous system
8: Inflammatory system
9: Neoplastic system
10: Immune system & resources

9. Advanced clinical reasoning

Clinical reasoning is a key competency at all levels of practice particularly for clinicians practicing at the advanced practice level. This program is designed to assist in the development of information gathering, synthesis and analysis skills. A strong emphasis is made on pattern recognition building and recognition along with bias avoidance and the ability to avoid see the case form a wider vision “the view from 30,00 feet”. This program provides 10 contact hours of self-paced learning through 10 comprehensive audio-visual modules, selected readings, and reflective case studies. 

A certificate of completion is provided for your professional portfolio. 

Program length:

10 hours distance learning

Program:

1. Foundations of clinical reasoning
2. Biases and how to avoid them
3. Screening processes
4. Subjective information gathering and analysis
5. Outcome measures
6. Objective information gathering and analysis
7. Cases to apply information
8. Prognosis formulation

10. Medical / Surgical Triage preparatory

A 10-unit online program with videos demonstrating the optimal method to perform specific tests along with the specificity and sensitivity of the examination procedures used to select appropriate candidates for various MSK medical and surgical interventions. Emergent and urgent referral criteria for medical pathologies masquerading as MSK conditions are reviewed. Medical and surgical intervention criteria and procedures are presented. A regional approach of upper limb, lower limb, cervico-thoracic and lumbosacral examination procedures are delivered along with the documented metrics of sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative likelihood ratios of each testing procedure.

Program length:

10 hours distance learning

Program:

1. Introduction to medical, surgical triage
2. Emergency referrals
3. Urgent referrals
4. Medical interventions
5. Spine surgery interventions
6. Peripheral surgical interventions
7. Cervico-thoracic tests
8. Lumbo-sacral tests
9. Upper extremity tests
10. Lower extremity tests