Pitt PT Law & Ethics with Dr. Kirsch

This is an interactive problem-solving course based on current topics facing those engaged in the practice of physical therapy. The course focuses on the challenges of managing practice in the context of today’s health care and social environment including topics such as social media, navigating boundaries, emerging technology, value-based payment the legal duty to report and clinician self-care. It builds on previous ethics and practice act knowledge. The course is designed to integrate the core values of our profession and our legal practice requirements into everyday clinical interactions in the academic and clinical environments. The use of the core documents are the foundation of ethical decision-making and are integrated into the decision-making process used in the course and becomes part of the professional behaviors of the participants. This course requires active participation in problem-solving.

Objectives

At the conclusion of this program, participants will be able to:

1) Analyze a situation to determine if there is an ethical or practice act issue.

2) Apply the principles of ethical decision making to the ethical situations

presented

3) Employ professional core documents and the Pennsylvania practice act in

resolving ethical and legal situations.

4) Consider the challenges of emerging technology, contemporary challenges

and practice dynamics.

Method of Instruction

Powerpoint with lecture

Discussion of Cases and Case Analysis

Topics Covered

The topics planned are as follows: From an Ethics and/or legal perspective. Time frames (in parenthesis below) are approximate as this is a discussion based course and sufficient time is necessary for discussions in large group and breakout session.

Intro to contemporary workplace challenges in physical therapy (10)

The current workplace: Who is working? (15)

Boundary or Barrier? Walking the line (15)

Emerging Technology (15)

Ethical Challenges in Supervision (10)

Social Media (15)

Value Based Payment/Productivity (10)

The Duty to Report (15)

Risk Management, Clinician Wellness (10)

Conclusion(5)

Importance of the Course to Rehab Professionals

Rehabilitation Practitioners are expected to practice in a manner that reflects independent and effective professional judgment. Health Care providers are responsible for their actions. It is expected that they will practice in an ethical manner in accordance with the laws of the State in which they practice. Clinicians have the moral obligation to model appropriate behaviors for students, patients and the public.

Ethical behavior and the ethical decisions that drive that behavior are best developed in an environment where situations can be presented and tools for managing and resolving the situations are utilized by participants. Discussions of ethical situations stimulate growth in ethical decision making.

This course builds on the material delivered in previous courses in Ethics and jurisprudence. Real situations from across the country are used to engage the participants in introspective professional decision-making.