the path to clinical excellence

AMERICAN BOARD OF PHYSICAL THERAPY SPECIALITIES:

Enhancing Professional Development through Certification

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this presentation, you'll be able to:

1. Discuss the role of specialist certification in advancing your clinical practice and importance to our profession

2. Describe the current areas of specialty practice

3. Provide an overview and describe the process for ABPTS certification and Maintenance of Specialist Certification Program • Describe the minimum eligibility requirements and role of clinical

residencies

4. Identify top motivations to pursue ABPTS specialist certification

The Path to Clinical Excellence

Clinical Excellence: Dimensions

Jensen GM et al (2000) Phys Ther 80(1):28–43

Philosophy of PT

Practice

MultidimensionalPatient centered

Collaborative processReflection

CaringCommitment

Central focusCentered on function

Clinical Excellence: Potential Pathways

• Entry level degree• Years of experience• Continuing education• Post–professional residency• Post-professional degrees• Post-professional certifications

• Specialization – board certification!

What is Clinical Specialization?

A formal process established to:

• recognize physical therapists with advanced clinical knowledge, experience, and skills in a special area of practice

• assist consumers and health care community in identifying physical therapists who are specialists

• address a specific area of patient need

Key Elements of Board Certification

What does Clinical Specialization Require?

• Broad based foundation of physical therapy education and clinical practice

• Depth and breadth of knowledge in a specialty area

• Advanced clinical expertise and skills

KnowledgeKnowledge

Purpose of Board Certification• Recognize specialists through established testing methods to ensure a defensible process, and a reliable and valid examination

• Promote• highest possible level of physical therapy care• ongoing development of science and art underlying each specialty practice

• Inform stakeholders of physical therapists who are certified in a specialty area

Areas of Specialty Practice Recognized through ABPTS Board Certification 1. Cardiovascular & Pulmonary (CCS)2. Clinical Electrophysiologic (ECS)3. Geriatrics (GCS)4. Neurology (NCS)5. Orthopaedics (OCS)6. Pediatrics (PCS)7. Sports (SCS)8. Women’s Health (WCS)

Minimum Eligibility Requirements for Clinical Specialization Certification

• Current license to practice physical therapy in the United States, District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, or Virgin Islands

• 2,000 hours minimum of direct patient care as a licensed physical therapist in the

specialty area 25% (500 hrs) of which must have occurred in

the last 3 years.

Minimum Eligibility Requirements

Direct patient care must include activities:• in each element of the patient/client

management model, as defined in the Guide to Physical Therapy Practice

• included in the Description of Specialty Practice (DSP)

Other Eligibility Requirements

Specific to the specialty:

• Emergency care certification (SCS)

• ACLS certification, Data Analysis Project (CCS)

• Patient reports (ECS)

• Case reflections (WCS)

Other Option to Meet the Eligibility Requirements for Specialty Certification

APTA Accredited Clinical Residency• Program of post-professional clinical and didactic education

designed to advance the physical therapist's skill in a defined practice area

• www.abptrfe.org

• Residency Curriculum - designed using the Description of Specialty Practice

• Specialty councils may allow completion of an APTA-accredited clinical residency to replace all or a portion of the practice eligibility requirements

Board Examination

• Developed by the Specialty Councils, in collaboration with the National Board of Medical Examiners

• A rigorous, criterion referenced exam that tests the application and synthesis of:

• advanced knowledge• clinical skills & reasoning

Where to Start?

• Description of Specialty Practice• Self-Assess strengths and

weakness • Consider patient populations that

are familiar and not as familiar

• Develop a plan and strategy to prepare. • Your patients are your best teachers!

Description of Specialty Practice (DSP) • Describes the advanced

knowledge, skills, and abilities for clinical practice in a specialty area

• Based on the results of an extensive practice analysis• conducted by Specialty Councils

and approved by ABPTS

• Guides the development of the certification exam

Components of the Examination*• Patient Care• Teaching• Administration• Consultation• Communication• Interpretation of Research

*As defined by a specific DSP

Path towards Clinical Specialization

• Board certified specialists

• Knowledge and skills• Continuing education• Post professional

clinical residency• Post professional

education

Preparing for the Board Certification Examination

1. Continuously review and adapt your “path” 2. Use resources from APTA Sections

• Recommended textbooks

• Reading lists

• Advanced Clinical Practice Courses

3. Join a study group4. Seek the guidance of a mentor5. Attend continuing education

ABPTS does not approve or review material or course content

Links to APTA Section Websites

1. Cardiovascular & Pulmonary: http://www.cardiopt.org

2. Clinical Electrophysiologic: http://www.aptasce-wm.org

3. Geriatrics: http://www.geriatricspt.org

4. Neurology: http://www.neuropt.org

5. Orthopaedics: http://www.orthopt.org

6. Pediatrics: http://www.pediatricapta.org

7. Sports: http://www.spts.org

8. Women’s Health: http://www.womenshealthapta.org

Specialist Certification Application Process

Specialist Certification Fees

APTA Member Non-Member

Application Review $515 $860

Examination $800 $1,525

Total $1,315 $2,385

Board Certification is valid for ten years

Possible Sources of Financial Assistance• Continuing education funds through employer• Scholarships

• Section on Pediatrics: Carol Gildenberg Dichter Memorial Fund Scholarship

When is the certification exam administered?

•Once per year, over a two-week exam period

•Candidates may sit for the exam between February and March

●2016 – February 27-March 12

Examination Format

• Computerized exams, administered at Prometric test centers worldwide• www.prometric.com

• Multiple choice questions including case scenarios, videos, and pictures

Recognition of Certified Clinical Specialists

• Opening Ceremony of APTA Combined Sections Meeting

• APTA sections and State chapters

• Inclusion in online Directory of Certified Specialists

• Only individuals who have successfully completed the ABPTS certification process may use the term:

“Board-Certified Clinical Specialist”

Board-Certified Clinical Specialists

Who Are They?

Number of Certified Specialists by YearTotal as of June 2014: 16,138 individuals

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

1800

2000

Certified Specialists by Area

Cardiovascular & Pulmonary CCS 218

Clinical Electrophysiologic ECS 163

Geriatrics GCS 1721

Neurology NCS 1530

Orthopaedics OCS 9505

Pediatrics PCS 1378

Sports SCS 1424

Women’s Health WCS 226

Total in 2014 = 16,138

Certified Clinical Specialists: Age

Data current as of June 2014

Certified Clinical Specialists: Gender

Data current as of June 2014

Certified Clinical Specialists: Work Settings

1. Private PT Offices

2. Health systems or hospital-based outpatient facility or clinics

3. Academic Institutions

Certified Clinical Specialists: Positions Held

1. Supervisor/Director of PT

2. Staff or Senior PT

3. Sole Owner/Partner PT Practice

4. Academic Faculty

Why do physical therapists become Board Certified Clinical Specialists?

Perspective on ABPTS Specialization

Initial Certification = Starting Point

To stay current and advanced in PT practice

To be a lifelong learner

Top Motivations to Pursue ABPTS Certification

• Professional career goal• Personal challenge or achievement

• Earn a credential that reflects advanced practice to patients, physicians, & payers

• Proof of expertise in specialty area

Source: Survey of certified specialists (2013)

Positive Impact of Board Certification

• Sense of personal achievement

• Self-confidence & professional growth

• Patient care, including better outcomes

• Increased credibility with patients & referral sources

• Recognition in clinical, academic and community settings


How has board specialty certification influenced the careers of Specialists?

Opened doors for professional growth• Consultations• Invited Presentations• New job opportunities• Leadership & service• Teaching opportunities• Research collaboration• Networking

Service Opportunities Related to Specialization

Employer Support of ABPTS Certification• 53% pay at least some of the costs associated with obtaining clinical specialization.

• 43% give priority in hiring to job applicants who are board certified.

• Employers value the expertise of specialist.• Have high patient care standards• Serve as mentors for others• Provide team leadership

Value of ABPTS Certification to Certified Specialists

• 79% report that certification is an indicator of clinical competence

• 90% report that certification is an indicator of depth and breadth of knowledge in an area of specialty practice

• High rate (68%) of specialists choose to recertify


Specialist Recertification: Purpose

• Verify current competence as an advanced practitioner in a specialty area

• Encourage ongoing education and professional growth

Specialist Recertification: RequirementsFor specialists certified before 2013:

• Direct patient care hours in specialty (2000 hr)

AND• Professional Development Portfolio

OR• Current written examination

OR• Graduation from a credentialed APTA clinical residency

Professional Development Portfolio (PDP)• Documentation of professional development activities and advanced clinical practice related to specialty practice, since initial certification

• Examples:√ Continuing Education courses√ Clinical Supervision√ College/University courses√ Teaching continuing education or college courses√ Research presentations √ Presentations to professional groups or in-services√ Presentations to community or client-based groups√ Author or editor of book chapters, journal articles, grant proposals√ Committee membership in professional organization√ Consultation

MOSC: Purpose and Model• More effectively verify current competence as an advanced

practitioner in the specialty area

• More effectively evaluate professional development and clinical experience

• Better encourage ongoing education and professional growth

• Keep pace with the rapidly expanding specialty knowledge base and scientific evidence that guides clinical decision-making

• Promote improved health outcomes related to physical therapy specialty services

Maintenance of Specialist Certification

Certification Cycle

3

6

9

Year

10

Minimum Eligibility Requirements of MOSC

1. Professional Standing and Direct Patient Care Hours

• Evidence of Current Licensure as a physical therapist in the United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico or the Virgin Islands

• Direct Patient Care in the Specialty Area

•Evidence of 200 hours of direct patient care in the specialty practice within each three (3) year submission period

•Hours accrued in year 10 applied to the next three year submission period

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• 2. Commitment to Life Long Learning through Professional Development

• Mimics the information captured in the current PDP (professional services, continuing education coursework, publications, presentations, clinical supervision and consultation, research, clinical instruction, teaching)

• Minimum requirements for each three (3) submission period across three (3)designated activity areas

• Minimum of 10 MOSC credits, within 2 of the 3 designated activity categories, in years 3, 6, and 9. By year 9, a specialist must have accrued a minimum of 30 MOSC credits, and demonstrated professional development in each of the 3 designated activity categories.

• A web-based submission/tracking system

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3. Practice Performance through Examples of Clinical Care and Clinical Reasoning

• Online submission of one (1) Reflective Portfolio for each three (3) year submission period

• Demonstrate the clinical care and reasoning utilized and reflect how a patient case(s) has impacted practice

• Not scored, but screened for completion of required information and reflection

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Minimum Eligibility Requirements of MOSC4. Cognitive Expertise through Examination•Recertification examination, comprised of approximately 100 items in year ten.•Exam blueprint will mirror that of initial certification exam/DPS, but will reflect contemporary specialist practice and allow a specialist to demonstrate continued competency in general areas of the profession (professional roles, responsibilities, values)•Successful completion of requirements 1-3 at each three (3) year submission period are prerequisites•Permitted two attempts without loss of credential

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MOSC: Timeline

Transition & Implementation Phase: 2013-16

• All individuals who are newly certified or recertified as of 2013 will be subject to the new MOSC process.

• This will include a waiver of the first 3-year requirements, meaning that • board-certified specialists certified or recertified in 2013 and 2014, and

those who will certify and recertify in 2015, will be required to fulfill the year 6 (second 3-year) requirements beginning in 2016, 2017, and 2018 respectively.

• As of 2016, all individuals who will newly certify or recertify will be subject to the MOSC process, as described, in its entirety.

Timeline for MOSC Implementation

For more information contact:

APTA

Department of Postprofessional Certification and Credentialing

1111 North Fairfax Street

Alexandria, VA 22314

800/999-2782, ext 8520

www.abpts.org

Questions

Literature about Specialization or Specialists

• Conrad S. Taking on the Specialist Certification Exam - And Winning. Perspectives for New Professionals of the American Physical Therapy Association. February, 2013.

• Stepp DD. Focus your career: Specialist Certification. Perspectives for New Professionals of the American Physical Therapy Association. May, 2010.

• Bryan J, Blake A. How do other health care professionals view specialist certification? PT Magazine. 2004;12(9):54-57.

• Bryan J, Gill-Body K, Blake A. How employers view specialist certification. PT Magazine. 2003;11(1):50-51.

• Thompson M. The role of higher education in the career paths of board-certified clinical specialists in geriatric physical therapy: implications for professional and post professional education. J Phys Ther Educ. 2001;15(2):10-16.

• Hart DL, Dobrzykowski EZ. Influence of orthopaedic clinical specialist certification on clinical outcomes. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2000;30(4):183-193

• Milidonis MK, Godges JJ, Jensen GM. Nature of clinical practice for specialists in orthopaedic physical therapy. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 1999;29(4):240-247

• Ellison J, Becker M, Nelson AJ. Attitudes of physical therapists who possess sports specialist certification. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 1997;25(6):400-406


• Smith LC. The decision to specialize. PT Magazine. 2001;9(6):52-59

• Edmonds MM. What if? PT Magazine. 1999;7(4):44-49• Wynn KE. Why recertify? PT Magazine. 1996;4(11):68-70• Williams DO. Answering the bell: PTs & school sports. PT

Magazine. 1996;4(12):36-39• Woods EN. What’s so special about specialist certification? PT

Magazine. 1994;2(2):46-51• Ferrier MPB. One stage in professional evolution. Clinical

Management. 1991;11(2):66-70


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