F.A. Davis Company

Prepare for the clinic with confidence!

Here's the perfect go-to text for developing the critical-thinking and clinical-decision making skills you need to transition from the classroom to the clinic—specifically designed for PTAs.

From common to complex, thirteen real-life case studies represent a variety of practice settings and age groups. Identify, research, and assess the pathologies and possible treatments.

Photographs of real therapists working with their patients bring concepts to life. Reviewed by 16 PT and PTA experts, this comprehensive resource ensures you are prepared to confidently make sound clinical decisions.

Perfect as a stand-alone text or integrated throughout the curriculum!

• Thirteen real-life case studies, organized from simple to complex, help you develop the must-have critical-thinking and clinical-decision making skills needed to assess the most common to complex situations and articulate the rationales for your choices.
• A consistent presentation of case studies including…
  • A physician’s history and physical.
  • Imaging and lab reports.
  • Physical therapy evaluation.
  • Patient records relating to speech, occupational therapy, social work, nursing and psychology.
  • Lists of terminology consistent with the APTA’s Guide to Physical Therapist Practice.
  • Possible ethical dilemmas.
  • Critical-thinking questions.
  • Space to take notes and record ideas.
  • Instructions on how to create accurate documentation, including SOAP notes.
  • Coverage encompassing ages across the lifespan, gender differences, a variety of practice settings, and socioeconomic and cultural challenges. 
  • Photographs of actual patients featuring mini-scenarios with explanations for their treatments.
• A focus on pathology and its implications for intervention.
• Definitions for abbreviations as well as a comprehensive list of abbreviations in the appendix.
• Chapter outlines summarizing the information in each chapter.
• Discussions of alternative solutions for various case studies offered in the Appendix.
• Additional case studies online at DavisPlus familiarize you with computerized documentation.

1. Essentials of Clinical Decision Making
2. Mr. Anderson: A Patient with Myocardial Infarction
3. Ms. Brown: A Patient with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
4. Mr. Davis: A Patient with Rotator Cuff Repair
5. Mr. Garcia: A Patient with Laminectomy
6. Ms. Harper: A Patient with Bilateral Total Knee Replacement
7. Mr. Jenkins: A Patient with Total Hip Replacement
8. Mrs. Martin: A Patient with Diabetes Type II and Transtibial Amputation
9. Todd Norton: A Patient with Traumatic Brain Injury
10. Amy Parker: A Patient with Spinal Cord Injury
11. Mrs. Ramos: A Patient with Cerebrovascular Accident
12. Mr. Jones: A Patient with Parkinson’s Disease and Hip Fracture
13. Katie Wilson: A Patient with Cerebral Palsy
14. Joshua Fletcher: A Patient with Down Syndrome

1. Comments on Selected Cases
2. Index to Cases
3. Abbreviations List