PHYT 8901 - Clinical Decision Making 1
Fall 2026 Syllabus, Section 01, CRN 41666,
Credit hours: 6
Course Meeting Times
Log in to view more
Instructor
Mark Raseta
Email: msraseta@ysu.edu
Edmund Ickert
Email: ecickert@ysu.edu
Rebecca Riblet
Email: rsriblet@ysu.edu
Erin Shilling
Email: eashilling@ysu.edu
Shannon Dudash
Email: sstarr@ysu.edu
Richard Haybarger
Email: rshaybarger@ysu.edu
Omar Ross
Email: oaross@ysu.edu
Course Description
8901. Clinical Decision Making 1. Decision-making process for clinical management of uncomplicated cases in practice patterns. Emphasis on posture and movement assessment, safety, body mechanics, and monitoring physiological status. The course includes integrated hands on practice into lectures and class sessions.
Course Readings
| Group | Title | Author | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|
| Required | Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Physical Therapy 6th Edition | Frownfelter, D | 9780323624718 |
| Required | Acute Care Handbook for Physical Therapists 6th Edition | Panasci, K | 9780443116056 |
| Required | Physical Rehabilitation 8th Edition | O'Sullivan, S.B. | 9781719646918 |
| Required | Writing Patient/Client Notes 5th Edition | Kettenbach, G | 9780803638204 |
| Required | Text and Atlas of Wound Diagnosis and Treatment 3rd Edition | Hamm, RL | 9781264923106 |
| Required | Mobility in Context: Principles of Patient Care Skills 3rd Edition | Johnsson, C | 9781719642866 |
| Required | Therapeutic Exercise: Foundations and Techniques 8th Edition | Kisner, C | 9781719640473 |
| Required | Neurological Rehabilitation: Neuroscience and Neuroplasticity 2nd Edition | Nichols-Larsen, DS | 9781260461398 |
| Required | Therapeutic Modalities in Rehabilitation 6th Edition | Prentice, WE | 9781264264551 |
| Optional | ACSM's Guidelines for Exercise Testing and Prescription 12th Edition | Ozemek, C | 9781975219208 |
| Required | Guide to Physical Therapist Practice, 3.0 | American Physical Therapy Association | Online |
| Optional | Differential Diagnosis for Physical Therapists: Screening for Referral 6th Edition | Goodman, CC | 9780323478496 |
The following are a list of publications that are used in the course as supplementary reading material. These publications are not textbooks but are research articles published on select topics to help augment current textbook readings.
- Sizer PS Jr, Brismée JM, Cook C. Medical screening for red flags in the diagnosis and management of musculoskeletal spine pain. Pain Pract. 2007;7(1):53-71. doi:10.1111/j.1533-2500.2007.00112.x
- Murphy DR, Hurwitz EL. A theoretical model for the development of a diagnosis-based clinical decision rule for the management of patients with spinal pain. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2007;8:75. Published 2007 Aug 3. doi:10.1186/1471-2474-8-75.
- ATS Committee on Proficiency Standards for Clinical Pulmonary Function Laboratories. ATS statement: guidelines for the six-minute walk test. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2002;166(1):111-117. doi:10.1164/ajrccm.166.1.at1102.
- Hillegass E, Lukaszewicz K, Puthoff M. Role of Physical Therapists in the Management of Individuals at Risk for or Diagnosed With Venous Thromboembolism: Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guideline 2022. Phys Ther. 2022;102(8):pzac057. doi:10.1093/ptj/pzac057.
- Murdock, K., & Ciesla, N. (1999). Lines, Tubes, Catheters, and Physiologic Monitoring in the ICU. Cardiopulmonary Physical Therapy Journal, 11(1), 16–25.
- Page P. Making the Case for Modalities: The Need for Critical Thinking in Practice. Int J Sports Phys Ther. 2021;16(5):28326. Published 2021 Oct 1. doi:10.26603/001c.28326.
- Smith, B. A., Fields, C. J., & Fernandez, N. (2010). Physical therapists make accurate and appropriate discharge recommendations for patients who are acutely ill. Physical Therapy, 90(5), 693–703. https://doi.org/10.2522/ptj.20090164
The course readings are subject to change in the event of extenuating circumstances, research developments, current events, and/or to ensure better learning.
Assignments/Assessments
Log in to view more
Clinical Decision Making I Content Schedule
| Day | Date | Reading(s) | Proposed Topic | Due/To Prepare for Class |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mon | 8/24 | Guide to Physical Therapy Practice Ch 2 and 3 O'Sullivan Textbook Ch 1 and 4 Kettenbach Textbook Ch 11, 12 |
Course Information/Syllabus Principles of Decision Making Overview and Roles of Healthcare Team Members Subjective Exam: Medical Screening and Patient History |
|
| Wed | 8/26 | Murphy and Hurwitz Article Sizer Article |
Subjective Exam: Patient History, Review of Systems, and Systems Review | |
| Mon | 8/31 | Kettenbach Textbook Ch 7 | Principles of General Documentation: Evaluation and Treatment | |
| Wed | 9/2 | Nichols-Larsen Textbook Ch 10 | General Principles of Neurological Evaluation | Quiz #1 |
| Mon | 9/7 | No Class | ||
| Wed | 9/9 | No new readings | General Principles of Neurological Intervention | |
| Mon | 9/14 | Hamm Textbook Ch 3 Goodman Textbook Ch 4 |
General Principles of Integumentary Assessment: wounds, skil review and assessment, volumetric and circumferential measurement, and monofilament lab | |
| Wed | 9/16 | Frownfelter Textbook Ch 18 ATS Statement: Guidelines for 6 minute Walk Test ACSM Guidelines For Exercise Testing: Skim Ch 1-5 |
General Principles of Exercise Testing and Training | |
| Mon | 9/21 | Frownfelter Textbook Ch 6, 13, 14 | General Principles of Cardiopulmonary Assessment and Evaluation General Overview of Cardiopulmonary Medications |
Quiz #2 |
| Wed | 9/23 | Frownfelter Textbook Ch 15, 16, 25 | General Principles of Cardiopulmonary Intervention | Skill Checkoff #1 Due |
| Mon | 9/28 | Panasci Textbook Ch 1, 2, 18, 19 (Reference Only) Frownfelter Textbook: Ch 19 Johannson Textbook: Ch 3, 4 Murdock Article |
Foundations of Acute Care Decision Making Safety, Medical Monitoring, Patient Preparation in Acute Care Decision Making |
Examination #1 |
| Wed | 9/30 | Panasci Textbook: Ch 19, 22 Johansson Textbook: Ch 13 Hillegass Article |
Examination of the Acute Care Patient Wheelchair Equipment and Mobility in Acute Care |
|
| Mon | 10/5 | Johannson Textbook: Ch 6, 7, 10 | Principles of Bed Mobility, Draping, and Positioning in Acute Care with Case Based Application | Quiz #3 |
| Wed | 10/7 | Johansson Textbook: Ch 2, 8, 11, 12 | Principles of Transferring and Body Mechanics with Case Based Applications | |
| Mon | 10/12 | Johansson Textbook: Ch 14, 15 | Principles of Gait Training and Assistive Devices | |
| Wed | 10/14 | Smith Article | Care Transitions and Integrated Clinical Management of the Acute Care Patient Integrated Acute Care Clinical Decision Making: Inpatient Lab Case Simulations |
|
| Mon | 10/19 | O'Sullivan Textbook: Ch 7 - Tables on Rancho Gait Terminology and Deviations | Assessment of Gait and Abnormal Gait Patterns | Skill Checkoff #2 Due |
| Wed | 10/21 | No New Readings | Acute Care Practicals | Acute Care Practical Documentation Due |
| Mon | 10/26 | O'Sullivan Textbook: Ch 30 | Basic Principles of Orthotic Management | Examination #2 |
| Wed | 10/28 | Page Article Prentice Textbook: Ch 1, 2, 3, 4, 16 |
Introduction to Modalities: Principles of Pain, Inflammation, and Treatment Mechanical Energy Modalities: Massage and Soft Tissue Mobilization |
|
| Mon | 11/2 | Prentice Textbook: Ch 14, 15, and 17 | Principles of Mechanical Energy Modalities: Traction, Intermittent Pneumatic Compression, Vibration | |
| Wed | 11/4 | Prentice Textbook: Ch 9, 12, and 13 | Principles of Electromagnetic Energy Modalities: Laser, UV, and Diathermy Principles of Thermal Energy Modalities: Cryotherapy and Thermotherapy |
Quiz #4 |
| Mon | 11/9 | Prentice Textbook: Ch 5 and 11 | Principles of Sound Energy Modalities: US Principles of Electrical Energy Modalities: HVPC, TENS, IFC |
|
| Wed | 11/11 | No New Readings | Principles of Orthopedic Screening - Anthropometrics/Posture/Movement. CLASS MOVED TO 11/13 | |
| Mon | 11/16 | O'Sullivan Textbook: Ch 4 | Principles of Musculoskeletal Examination | |
| Wed | 11/18 | Kisner Textbook: Ch 1-6 | Principles of Musculoskeletal Intervention: Exercise Prescription and Taping | Quiz #5 |
| Mon | 11/23 | No new readings | Clinical Reasoning and Decision Making in Musculoskeletal Evaluation and Treatment | Skill Checkoff #3 Due |
| Wed | 11/25 | No Class | ||
| Mon | 11/30 | No New Readings | Integrated Outpatient Patient Management: Outpatient Case Simulations | |
| Wed | 12/2 | No New Readings No New Readings |
Integrated Outpatient Patient Management: Outpatient Case Simulations Final Outpatient Practical |
Final Practical Documentation Due |
The course schedule, policies, procedures, and assignments in this course are subject to change in the event of extenuating circumstances, by mutual agreement, and/or to ensure better learning.