Applying the 2022 Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Entry-Level Physical Therapist Competencies to Physical Therapist Education and Practice

Abstract

Background and Purpose. Competency-based education (CBE) is an emerging topic within physical therapy (PT). It has emerged to assure all stakeholders that physical therapist education program graduates are proficient in the requisite knowledge, skills, and behaviors (KSBs) essential for entry-level practice. Competencies have existed within cardiovascular and pulmonary (CVP) PT since 1980, updated in 2008, and most recently updated in 2022. This article discusses how individuals should apply the 2022 CVP competencies to clinical practice and education. Position and Rationale. The 2022 CVP competencies were developed using a modified mixed-method Delphi approach. These competencies set a level of proficiency for KSBs used within entry-level CVP PT practice following the patient–client management model. The position put forward in this article describes how and why multiple stakeholder groups should apply these entry-level competencies specifically for graduates of physical therapist education programs who are entering practice (entry level). The competencies provide a more detailed description of expected proficiency for entry-level CVP PT practice than currently available documents. These competencies may form the basis for developing entrustable professional activities (EPAs). Discussion and Conclusion. The establishment of entry-level competencies is essential for use by multiple stakeholders to inform physical therapist curriculum, provide clinical instructors with a reference for expected levels of proficiency during final student clinical experiences, guide content on the Federation of State Boards of PT national licensure examination, and prepare employers to provide needed continued professional development, based on the clinical environment. These competencies lend themselves to the future development of EPAs in the PT profession for CVP PT.

Self-Reported Confidence of DPT Students in Assessing and Treating Different Body Regions Within Musculoskeletal Physical Therapy Practice

“…27 Additionally, there are increasing discussions surrounding competency-based education in Physical Therapy. 28,29 A competency-based framework has recently been developed to guide entry-level DPT education related to cardiovascular and pulmonary content, 3 but no such framework for musculoskeletal curriculum has been created. The information gathered in this research may be of speci c value to build such a framework of needed competencies related to musculoskeletal PT.…”

“…Over the recent years, literature has surfaced in Physical Therapy education, exploring content evaluation in areas such as wound care 1 , pediatric populations 2 , cardiopulmonary issues 3 , and palliative care 4 .…”