JKO DHA US1389 DHA Direct Access to Physical Therapy Clinical Update

This DHA Direct Access to Physical Therapy (DAPT) Clinical Skills Course is an enduring home study course that will provide physical therapists with the knowledge and skills needed to support high-quality DAPT within their clinical settings. Students will review the most current evidence-based literature supporting DAPT, learn appropriate medical screening tools and skills utilized in DAPT, become familiar with Veterans Affairs/Department of Defense and American Physical Therapy Association Low Back Pain Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPGs), learn about appropriate radiology ordering criteria, review pharmacology and laboratory indications supporting DAPT, and conclude with case studies to comprehensively apply all of the skills learned. Upon completion of the course, students will be prepared to perform direct access physical therapy services safely and effectively to continue enhancing readiness and improve patient satisfaction.

Complete the three JKO courses at the following link, obtain the access code from the How to Obtain CE Slide in JKO and return to this page for CE credits certificate: https://jkodirect.jten.mil/html/COI.xhtml?identifier=DHA-US1389

Target Audience

This activity provides continuing education for physical therapists and physical therapy assistants. A certificate of attendance is available for other attendees.

Learning Objectives

  1. Discuss the evidence to support direct access physical therapy.
  2. Describe appropriate medical screening tools, diagnostic imaging and laboratory utilization and management in direct access physical therapy (DAPT).
  3. Examine appropriate pharmacology management of acute neuromusculoskeletal injuries.
  4. List common risk factors and clinical presentations that warrant additional screening in a DAPT clinical setting.
  5. Explain how to conduct a behavioral health screen and how to respond to a positive finding.
  6. Describe regional and systemic concerns when screening for primary care conditions during a physical therapy examination.
  7. Review and apply the VA/DoD and American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) Low Back Pain Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPGs) to assist in acute low back pain (LBP) evaluation and treatment decision-making.
  8. Describe common uses for each laboratory study and for what injury or disease process it is used to detect.
  9. Discuss the American College of Radiology appropriateness criteria.
  10. Describe how to use the ABCs system to analyze lower extremity radiographs.
  11. Identify medications the Physical Therapist may prescribe as part of a typical military treatment facility (MTF) formulary.
  12. Describe appropriate management of red flag conditions to include imaging, lab testing, referral to next echelon of care.
  13. Apply clinical reasoning skills from the overall course to evaluate and treat patients in a military DAPT setting.
  14. Describe the incorporation of diagnostic imaging into a physical therapist’s daily practice within a military physical therapy direct access setting.
  15. Identify the importance of collaborative, multi-disciplinary care within a military DAPT setting.
Course summary
Available credit: 
  • 8.00 American Physical Therapy Association (APTA)
    DHA, J-7, CEPO is an American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) Approved Provider of continuing education. This activity was planned by and for the health care team, and learners will receive 0.8 APTA CEUs. The assignment of APTA CEUs does not imply endorsement of specific course content, products, or clinical procedures by APTA. APTA CEUs are accepted by most state PT licensing boards. Learners are encouraged to check with their local chapter or state board to ensure that they accept APTA accredited courses for licensure renewal.
  • 8.00 Certificate of Attendance
Course opens: 
09/10/2024
Course expires: 
09/09/2026

Dr. Carrie Storer, PT, DPT, OCS. Presenter has no financial or non-financial relationships to disclose.
LCDR Mark Riebel, PT, DPT, DSc, OCS, SCS, CSCS. Presenter has no financial or non-financial relationships to disclose.
LCDR Laura Riebel, PT, DPT, MBA, OCS. Presenter has no financial or non-financial relationships to disclose.
COL Lisa Konitzer, PT, DSc, OCS, FAAOMPT. Presenter has no financial or non-financial relationships to disclose.
LTC Robert J. Halle, PT, DSc, DPT, SCS, OCS, CSCS. Presenter has no financial or non-financial relationships to disclose.
LTC Eliza Szymanek, PT, DPT. Presenter has no financial or non-financial relationships to disclose.
Lt Col Daniel Watson PT, DPT. Presenter has no financial or non-financial relationships to disclose.

Disclosure: DHA J-7 staff, Planning Committee Members and reviewers have no financial or non-financial interest to disclose. All faculty members have no financial or non-financial interest to disclose.

Speaker(s)

Army Colonel Lisa Konitzer, PT, DSc, OCS, FAAOMPT

has no relevant financial relationships to disclose at this time.

Navy Lieutenant Commander Laura Riebel, PT, DPT, MBA, OCS

has no relevant financial relationships to disclose at this time.

Navy Lieutenant Commander Mark Riebel, PT, DPT, DSc, OCS, SCS, CSCS

has no relevant financial relationships to disclose at this time.

Carrie Storer, D.P.T., P.T., O.C.S.

has no relevant financial relationships to disclose at this time.

Army Lieutenant Colonel ELIZA SZYMANEK, PT, DPT, DSc

has no relevant financial relationships to disclose at this time.

Available Credit

  • 8.00 American Physical Therapy Association (APTA)
    DHA, J-7, CEPO is an American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) Approved Provider of continuing education. This activity was planned by and for the health care team, and learners will receive 0.8 APTA CEUs. The assignment of APTA CEUs does not imply endorsement of specific course content, products, or clinical procedures by APTA. APTA CEUs are accepted by most state PT licensing boards. Learners are encouraged to check with their local chapter or state board to ensure that they accept APTA accredited courses for licensure renewal.
  • 8.00 Certificate of Attendance
Please login or create an account to take this course.


Access Codes: Some courses require an access code to register. Please reach out to the point of contact at the organization providing the activity for the registration code. The Continuing Education Program Office (CEPO) does not provide access codes.

Accommodations: CEPO provides captions and transcripts to hearing-impaired learners upon request. For real-time closed captioning, contact CEPO at least three (3) business days before the event. If we cannot arrange for live captioning, a video recording and audio transcript will be provided after the event, typically within ten business days. For events delivered by CEPO’s partners, please contact the course instructor to inquire about accommodations.

For more details, or to submit a request, email [email protected].