The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) recently endorsed the new World Health Organization (WHO) International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) Model.
I doubt most physicians consider disability when making a physical therapy referral.
Most medical doctors consider pathology first.
The first line intervention for pathology is usually pharmaceuticals.
Disability , and the physical impairments that lead to disability, is better addressed through physical therapy interventions such as Therapeutic Exercise (CPT 97110), Manual Therapy (CPT 97140) and other active interventions.
In the new model Impairments are replaced with 'Body Function & Structure'.
Functional Limitations are replaced with 'Activities'.
Disabilties are replaced with Participation.
Physical therapists are usually pretty familiar with the concept of disablement.
Medicare, in the United States, specifically pays physical therapists to treat disability, not pain.
The Orthopedic Section of the APTA is using the new ICF model to "Develop Evidence-Based Practice Guidelines for Treatment of Common Musculoskeletal Conditions".
The 'potential benefits of the project are to identify appropriate outcome measures'.
Currently, Medicare recommends the OPTIMAL scale for outcomes in outpatient physical therapy.
Watch OPTIMAL videos to use it for Medicare long term goal setting.
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American Physical Therapy Association
Consistent with the American Physical Therapy Association Vision Statement for Physical Therapy 2020, the American Physical Therapy Association supports exclusive physical therapist ownership and operation of physical therapy services.