Background: Complications from chronic disease as patients age can impact the quality of life and independence for many older adults in the United States. Managing the increasing prevalence of multiple chronic comorbidities in an aging population has had an impact on the healthcare system and Medicare spending. Case Description: This case describes a patient who has recently had a decline in health due to multiple chronic comorbidities and has been receiving ongoing physical therapy treatment for the past two years. She was transitioned to a plan of care that utilized short term bouts of therapy to address specific goals and improve self-management of health and wellness. Outcome Measures: The outcome measures used in this case reports are the 6-minute walk test and 2 balance measures, the BERG balance scale and the Dynamic Gait Index (DGI). Discussion: An episodic model of physical therapy care may be an effective method to help foster independence and promote long term management of health and wellness in patients who are aging with multiple comorbidities. There are multiple factors that play a role in helping physical therapists determine a plan of care. The predictive value of outcome measures as well as influence from insurance companies, referring providers, and patient desires can help determine appropriateness of patients for episodic care as compared to a long- term continuous model of care.
Dissertation
Episodic Physical Therapy Care for the Management of a Patient Aging with Multiple Chronic Comorbidities
University of Iowa
Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) , University of Iowa
Summer 2020
Free to read and download, Open Access
Abstract
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Episodic Physical Therapy Care for the Management of a Patient Aging with Multiple Chronic Comorbidities
- Creators
- Emily Geison - University of Iowa
- Contributors
- Laura Frey Law (Advisor)Michael Petrie (Advisor)
- Resource Type
- Dissertation
- Project Type
- Case Report
- Degree Awarded
- Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) , University of Iowa
- Degree in
- Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation Science
- Date degree season
- Summer 2020
- Publisher
- University of Iowa
- Number of pages
- 9 pages
- Copyright
- Copyright © 2020 Emily Geison
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Doctor of Physical Therapy Case Reports
- Record Identifier
- 9984201418402771
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