AAPM&R Spotlight Series

Join AAPM&R for our latest educational offering, the Spotlight Series. These mini conferences will be focused on targeted clinical or practice topics, to help you navigate and succeed in the changing healthcare environment.

Hear from accomplished experts during these sessions, which will be 2-3 hours in length and follow a traditional format, including:

• Formal slide presentations
• Didactic speakers
• Panel discussions

Attendees will be able to take what they’ve learned in the session and immediately apply it to their practice. Increase your understanding of novel topics or innovative approaches by registering for our next Spotlight Series conference today!

Upcoming Spotlights

Recommendations and Clinical Insights for Implementation of Disorder of Consciousness Practice Guidelines

Tuesday, September 14 from 5 - 8 pm (CT)

Tuesday, September 21 from 5 - 8 pm (CT)

Disorders of Consciousness are complex states that may affect survivors of severe brain injury. Historically, a disorder of consciousness was thought to be indicative of a poor prognosis and precluded patients from further rehabilitation efforts. However, recent long-term outcome studies demonstrate those with traumatic DOC can achieve better functional outcomes and quality of life than previously thought. That is why it is imperative for physiatrists to understand the potential of patients in DOC. Furthermore, physiatrists equipped with the appropriate knowledge and understanding of appropriate interventions can facilitate a positive trajectory of recovery. 

This course will provide an overview of recently published DOC Practice Guidelines with key clinical insights into applications. Our multi-disciplinary team will address guideline-related domains of assessment, diagnosis, medical management, prognosis, and confounders to further clinical treatment for this disorder. Appropriate medical management, rehabilitation interventions, and expectations for recovery will be illustrated with clinical examples. Case studies will be utilized to demonstrate application of the guidelines and to stimulate discussions regarding best practice concepts. Physiatrists will see how clinicians in the field use real-world cases to develop a road map to recovery for the severe brain injury survivors experiencing DOC. Virtual problem-solving case studies will be provided for all attendees. Register today!

Course Objectives

At the conclusion of this activity, attendees will be able to: 

• Describe an overview of the DOC Practice Guidelines (Giacino et al. 2018).
• Describe assessment tools and strategies for accurate diagnosis of DOC.
• Identify interdisciplinary approaches to assessment and treatment of DOC.
• Define behavioral and medical confounders impacting the presentation with DOC.
• Identify common medical complications in the DOC population and describe associated signs and symptoms.
• Develop rehabilitation concepts for promoting early mobility, communication, and cognition.
• Describe long term outcomes and prognosis of prolonged DOC.
• Participate in discussion, problem solving, and plan of care development related to DOC case studies through application of appropriate assessment and intervention strategies.

Attendees can earn up to 6 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. 

Faculty

• Craig D. DiTommaso, MD, FAAPMR
• Alan H. Weintraub, MD, FAAPMR
• Brooke Murtaugh, OTD, OTR/L, CBIST
  
• Amy Rosenbaum, PhD, FACRM
• Katherine O'Brien, PhD

Agenda

• Introduction to Day and Overview of DOC Practice Guidelines
• Quantifiable Assessments, Behavioral Interventions Related to Assessment, Diagnosis
• Medical Management, Confounding Diagnostic and Management Considerations
• Prognostication, Outcomes, and Clinical Pearls
• Interdisciplinary Approach to DOC Assessment and Care Planning
• Caregiver/Family Training: DOC Recommendations & Timing it Right
• Group Case Studies and Group Discussion

Negotiation and Non-Clinical Career Choices for Physiatrists as a Tool to Improve Career Longevity

Saturday, September 18 from 10 am - 1 pm (CT)

During this session, renown faculty will show you how to negotiate contracts to help improve the "fit" of your job to reduce burnout and turnover, ultimately having a job that serves you. This session will prepare you to navigate your next negotiation in a collaborative way and design a job that fits your desires so you can focus on patient care. In addition to being provided with tools and techniques to use during your next contract negotiation, faculty will share their experiences and expertise in various combinations of clinical and non-clinical work. Faculty will give real-life examples on how to augment your current practice or continue to use your medical knowledge to work in a professional setting outside of pratice care. You will be introduced to the broad range of alternative career paths that might help you drastically change your career direction and/or simply diversifying your practice. 

Financial burden and lack of autonomy in clinical practice is related to physician burnout. Very limited education about financial literacy and contract negotiation is provided during residency training, which is why it is so critical to obtain practical tools such as contract negotiation and financial literacy to prevent physician burnout. Additionally, many physiatrists are unaware of the wide range of non-clinical career options that exist. As a physiatrist, you are well equipped to work in various non-clinical career choices because of your unique training and experience. Register today!

Course Objectives

Upon completion of this activity, participants will be able to: 

• Recognize the relationship between financial burden and burnout.
• Identify areas of interest outside their clinical settings and link them to potential career opportunities.
• Compare and evaluate their current career path against alternative paths to design a path that is specific to their needs and goals.
• Describe why negotiation is an essential skillset for physicians.
• Identify limiting beliefs standing between them and a career that serves them.
• Apply three simple steps to navigate any negotiation.

Attendees can earn up to 3 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. 

Faculty

• Sujin Lee, MD, FAAPMR
• Linda Street, MD
• Lisa Varghese-Kroll, MD, FAAPMR

Pricing

Past Spotlights

The Kinetic Chain: Gait Analysis

The study of movement as a whole - the kinetic chain - and the application of this analysis to examination and diagnosis of pathology is what makes physiatry so unique. The goal of this series is to revive your understanding of the principles of kinetic chain analysis and return it to the forefront of your practice.

During our April 24 session, we discussed typical components of gait and its development. Faculty explored how gait is altered in different impairments and how understanding the kinetic chain influences one's assessment of specific injuries and their treatment options. We also provided practical tips on how they can use their respective analyses in the evaluations of their patients.