course information

Discussion topics

TElehealth

As telehealth becomes more prevalent among US healthcare institutions, all practitioners should make it a priority to understand the concept, its limitations and its effectiveness at cost savings. But how can any health professional who works in a "hands on" field utilize telehealth? We will cover the benefits of telehealth, the utilization of telehealth within each scope of practice and current laws and regulations affecting telehealth. We will also test it out!

virtual reality

As one of the most researched fields of "upcoming" technology within the healthcare field, we will explore VR's potential, its limitations and what the research says. We will also explore cost-efficient ways into implementing it in your professional practice and of course, test it out!

augmented reality

Augmented Reality (AR) has become very popular in the gaming world (see Pokemon Go!, etc) as the technology has become exponentially cheaper to work with since its introduction into the world. That sounds great, but how could you use it in your practice? We will explore clinical options, including AR vs VR and how it could benefit telehealth. We will certainly let you test this out too (with Lab)!

wearables

Just 15 years ago, this list would have ended with "heart rate monitor." Now wearables include fitbit, smart watches, pedometers, sleep monitors and running sensors. Combine these easy to wear and relatively affordable sensors with an easy-to-use database for tracking and monitoring and you have breakthrough technology that anybody who wants to use can. We will discuss the benefits and limitations of wearables and how they fit into your practice. (with Lab)

artificial intelligence

What sounds like a sci-fi nightmare, machine learning/artificial intelligence (AI) may actually accelerate success in your profession. From accounting, to documentation, to helping you with your clinical screens, AI is a must-have for any serious clinician. We will explore how AI can help you out within your given profession. We will test this out (with Lab)

gamification

What is gamification? It is a use of gaming (usually electronic or video gaming) to encourage engagement with a product or service, but has been more recently used to do the same for improvement in outcome measures. Why? Research shows that gamification can actually improve clinical outcomes through entertainment and competition. What type of gamification concept is right for your clinic, your client or your concept? We will attempt to guide you into that answer. (with Lab of course!)

3d printing

Imagine a world where you can make anything you want, just by pressing "print!" We will discuss the clinical potential of 3D printing and implications for rehab, along with the limitations and the current 3D printers and 3D printing techniques.

smartphones

The power of a computer, camera, compass, video camera, barometer, magnetometer, gyroscope, accelerometer, proximity sensor, light sensor and GPS all in the same phone and you can carry it in your pocket! When you put it this way, it's obvious your smartphone can actually do some pretty great things! We will explore what it can do for you in your PT, OT or personal training practice, what types of apps are already available for you to use and cover how you can create your own, for free, without any real coding!

Voice ASsistants

Alexa, Siri, Google. Household names that can literally help you with your day. From music choice to updating your calendar, to keeping your grocery list, these voice assistants can do all of this just by asking them. But what can they do for your practice? We will explore the opportunities and the limitations of these voice assistants and how they can benefit you professionally as well as improve client outcomes. (with Lab).

course objectives

✅ After completing this course, participants will be able to:

  1. Define innovation in physical therapy practice and explain how emerging technologies can enhance clinical reasoning and patient outcomes.
  2. Describe the role of artificial intelligence in rehabilitation, including ethical and privacy considerations, appropriate clinical use cases, and limitations.
  3. Apply foundational AI prompting strategies to improve patient communication, documentation, education, and clinical decision support.
  4. Interpret wearable and movement-based data (e.g., steps, cadence, HR) to inform treatment planning and patient progress monitoring.
  5. Demonstrate familiarity with ambient listening tools for note-assist workflows, while maintaining compliance with HIPAA and professional standards.
  6. Complete a competency-based assessment to demonstrate foundational understanding of ethical and effective AI-assisted clinical workflows.