Episodes

Wednesday Jan 27, 2021
#THIRDTHURSDAY: Neurologic Foundations: Trauma and Anxiety (January 2021)
Wednesday Jan 27, 2021
Wednesday Jan 27, 2021
This session will explore manual therapies for trauma reduction and anxiety management. The Instructor demonstrates each treatment technique with before and after assessment for postural improvement, pain and spasm reduction.
This course is ideal for both clinic and telehealth instruction by physical therapists and assistants. Caregivers can use these techniques for all populations as it is gentle enough for infants through geriatric populations.
Suzanne Joseph, PT, DPT shares her insight and expertise on "Neurologic Foundations: Trauma and Anxiety."
What to expect:
Objectives:
By the end of this lecture participants will be able to:
- Receive instruction in neuroanatomy as rationale for techniques
- Learn postural and manual evaluation to assess impact of treatment techniques
- Receive written and pictured demonstration of manual techniques for trauma and anxiety
- Receive manual treatment protocols to enhance efficacy and address time constraints of patient management
About the Speaker
Dr. Suzanne Joseph, PT, DPT has spent over 45 years as a physical therapist pioneering the profession toward manual diagnostics and treatment. She was the first Integrative Manual Therapist in the Midwest United States. Her education includes a Doctorate in Physical Therapy, certifications in Integrative Manual Therapy, Women’s Health, Manual Therapy and Autism.
She has taught nationally and internationally for Northeast Seminars, Connecticut School of Integrative Manual Therapy and Munich Seminars.
Suzanne was a Master Instructor for the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary. She educated Coast Guard personnel in techniques used in Search and Rescue missions.
Her private practice, Hands on Health, is a multi-disciplinary manual physical therapy practice for children and adults serving Chicagoland. She emphasizes employment of special needs population within her practice. With commitment to community service, Ms. Joseph volunteers her time to teach seniors Fall Prevention. She provides special-needs parents with calming manual therapies for each family member.
This program was originally recorded January 21, 2021.
You can even earn 2 Hours of CE:
- Purchase the recording by visiting IPTA's Virtual Library . (FREE FOR IPTA MEMBERS / CE Subscribers - log in to ipta.org so it knows who you are!) Non-member cost is $35. You can earn 1-2 hours of CE, depending on the length of program.
- Once your transaction is completed, you will receive an email with a link to download a document containing a link to the online recording AND a link to a quiz to complete after you view the recording.
- Watch the recording and complete the quiz. If you score 80% or better, you will receive an email notification of your CE award. If you are an IPTA member/ CE Subscriber, your CE award will also post in your membership profile under Professional Development. If you are not yet a member, an CE certificate will be emailed to you within 7-10 business days.

Monday Oct 19, 2020
Monday Oct 19, 2020
In recent years greater attention has been given by our profession to the role of diagnostic imaging in physical therapy (PT) practice. Educational content related to diagnostic imaging is now required for PT program accreditation. Military PTs and all other civilian first contact providers routinely utilize diagnostic imaging in this critical decision-making process.
As more therapists continue to step into direct access roles, it may be beneficial to evaluate how referral for diagnostic imaging may impact clinical decision making and ultimately enhance patient care.
According to Illinois law, PTs are required to determine what conditions fall outside our scope of practice and to make referrals to appropriate healthcare providers when necessary. At times, a radiologist will be the most appropriate provider to refer to.
This session will explore how the referral for diagnostic imaging studies by PTs can impact clinical decision making and ultimately lead to enhanced patient care. Multiple cases will be reviewed in which imaging results directly led to an alternative course of management.
Aaron Keil PT, DPT shares his insight and expertise on "Direct Referral for Diagnostic Imaging in Physical Therapist Practice."
What to expect:
Objectives:
By the end of this lecture participants will be able to:
- Cite appropriate research that supports granting physical therapists privileges to order imaging studies directly.
- Describe the impact diagnostic imaging can have on clinical decision making when ordered appropriately.
- Prepare effectively to answer common questions and concerns over granting therapists diagnostic imaging privileges at your institution.
About the Speaker
Aaron Keil PT, DPT currently serves as clinical associate professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago. He has spoken at national conferences on the topics of direct access and diagnostic imaging and has provided guidance to several institutions across the country who are pursuing these initiatives.
Dr. Keil served on the authorship committee for the APTA-sponsored white paper ‘Diagnostic and Procedural Imaging in Physical Therapist Practice’ and he has published articles on this topic.
He has functioned as a first-contact provider at Georgetown University Hospital in Washington D.C., the Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore Maryland and the University of Illinois at Chicago.
This program was originally recorded October 15, 2020.
You can even earn 2 FREE CE:
- Purchase the recording by visiting IPTA's Virtual Library . (FREE FOR IPTA MEMBERS - log in to ipta.org so it knows who you are!) Non-member cost is $35. You can earn 1-2 hours of CE, depending on the length of program.
- Once your transaction is completed, you will receive an email with a link to download a document containing a link to the online recording AND a link to a quiz to complete after you view the recording.
- Watch the recording and complete the quiz. If you score 80% or better, you will receive an email notification of your CE award. If you are an IPTA member, your CE award will also post in your membership profile under Professional Development.

Monday Sep 21, 2020
Monday Sep 21, 2020
Rehabilitation and recovery from sports-related concussions is a field that is constantly evolving. Although other topics have recently taken center stage, concussions have been hot topic in the media and a source of anxiety and uncertainty among athletes and their parents. This presentation will help therapists understand concussion mechanisms, and the normal course of recovery after concussion. It will provide an update on the role of the physical therapist in the multidisciplinary team including screening and diagnosis, objective assessment and interventional tools to facilitate the safe return of athletes to sport. The presentation includes updates based on the clinical practice guidelines from the Academy of Orthopaedic Physical Therapy, American Academy of Sports Physical Therapy, Academy of Neurologic Physical Therapy, and Academy of Pediatric Physical Therapy of the American Physical Therapy Association.
Paul Bissler, PT, DPT, OCS to share his insight and expertise on "Head in the Game: An Update to Physical Therapists' Role in Management of Sports-Related Concussion."
What to expect:
Objectives:
By the end of this lecture participants will be able to:
- Define concussion
- Describe mechanisms which may produce concussion
- Describe the primary dysfunctions of the neurometabolic cascade following concussion
- Define the role of the physical therapist in concussion management including screening and diagnosis, examination, and interventions
- Understand the on-field assessment and sideline assessment of concussion
- Describe the process of returning to sport following a concussion
- Define post-concussion syndrome
- Identify objective clinical assessment tools for the post-concussion patient
- Describe an exertional protocol and application to patients with post-concussion syndrome
About the Speaker
Paul Bissler, PT, DPT, OCS is the Resource Clinician for Outpatient Physical Therapy at Loyola University Medical Center where he has been employed since 2010. He earned his Doctor of Physical Therapy at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in 2009 and completed a residency in orthopaedic physical therapy at Loyola University Medical Center in 2012. He is a board certified orthopaedic specialist. He has treated patients with concussion since 2011 and is a member of the Loyola interdisciplinary concussion clinic.
This program was originally recorded September 17, 2020.
You can even earn 2 FREE CE:
- Purchase the recording by visiting IPTA's Virtual Library . (FREE FOR IPTA MEMBERS - log in to ipta.org so it knows who you are!) Non-member cost is $35. You can earn 1-2 hours of CE, depending on the length of program.
- Once your transaction is completed, you will receive an email with a link to download a document containing a link to the online recording AND a link to a quiz to complete after you view the recording.
- Watch the recording and complete the quiz. If you score 80% or better, you will receive an email notification of your CE award. If you are an IPTA member, your CE award will also post in your membership profile under Professional Development.

Wednesday Sep 16, 2020
EXTRA CREDITS: Treating the Person; Not the Body Part
Wednesday Sep 16, 2020
Wednesday Sep 16, 2020
As PTs and PTAs we often interact with individuals who do not understand the importance of and the power behind making healthy lifestyle choices and the ability to implement wellness into their lives. The vision of the American Physical Therapy Association is, “Transforming society by optimizing movement to improve the human experience.” Movement can be less than optimal for many reasons, and the human experience can be less than ideal due to various challenges throughout life. The profession of Physical Therapy is well placed to identify the multitude of issues that may be contributing to the overall presentation of a patient, as well as creating a complete plan of care that will carry a person beyond discharge to become independent and well-informed to stay healthier. As the profession evolves, so should our knowledge about how to best meet the needs of people seeking recovery, health, and true wellness. In this course, the topics of motivational interviewing, risk factor identification, evidence-supported education, and the importance of proper tissue loading will be discussed and synthesized into a lifestyle strategy that will discharge your patient to a life of wellness, not just a home program.
Jeffrey A. Damaschke PT, DPT, PhD, OCS and Sarah J. Haag, PT, DPT, MS share their insight and expertise on "Treating the Person; Not the Body Part: Making a Lasting Difference in the Human Experience".
What to expect:
Objectives:
By the end of this lecture participants will be able to:
- Define the complete plan of care
- Identify questions that should always be asked to inform the complete plan of care
- Understand the essential role of evidence supported education in the complete plan of care
- Understand the importance of our patients getting loaded!
- Describe and apply the concepts of lifestyle health care in a variety of physical therapy settings.
About the Speakers
Jeffrey A. Damaschke PT, DPT, PhD, OCS received his BS in Physical Therapy from The University of Texas Medical Branch. He subsequently completed his MS in Physical Therapy with an emphasis in orthopedics at Finch University of Health Sciences and his Doctor of Physical Therapy from Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science. In 2016, he completed his Doctor of Philosophy from Cardinal Stritch University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin with a degree in Leadership for the Advancement of Learning and Service in Higher Education. His dissertation focused on the assessment and acquisition of knowledge related to prevention, health promotion and wellness in the health professions. Dr. Damaschke’s clinical practice has been performing primary musculoskeletal care and prevention, health promotion and wellness within the United States Navy for 20 years, and he served for two years aboard the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis-CVN 74 as the Ship’s Physical Therapist and Health Promotion Officer. He has given a variety of invited presentations in the community and continuing education programs in the areas of musculoskeletal kinesiology and functional anatomy, health promotion and wellness, primary musculoskeletal care, diagnostic imaging for rehabilitation specialists, and differential diagnosis.
Dr. Damaschke is a Board Certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialist through the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties. He currently serves as the Secretary for the IPTA Board of Directors and an Illinois delegate to the APTA House of Delegates. He is an active member of the APTA and IPTA and serves as an Assembly Representative for the Northern District to the IPTA Assembly of Representatives.
At the University, Dr. Damaschke serves as the Vice Dean in the College of Health Professions, one of the faculty representatives to the RFUMS Board of Trustees, is acting Chair of the Department of Physical Therapy, and is an active faculty member teaching in the Doctor of Physical Therapy program in the areas of prevention, health promotion and wellness; orthopedics; kinesiology; anatomy, anatomic imaging; and physiology. He developed and implemented RFUMS’s inaugural health promotion and wellness initiative-Healthy U! for students, faculty and staff and co-chairs the Healthy U! Wellness Council.
Sarah J. Haag, PT, DPT, MS graduated from Marquette University in 2002 with a Master of Physical Therapy. Sarah has pursued an interest in treating the spine, pelvis with a specialization in women’s and men’s health. Over the years, Sarah has seized every opportunity available to her in order to further her understanding of the human body, and the various ways it can seem to fall apart in order to sympathetically and efficiently facilitate a return to optimal function. Sarah was awarded the Certificate of Achievement in Pelvic Physical Therapy (CAPP) from the Section on Women’s Health. She went on to get her Doctor of Physical Therapy and Master of Science in Women’s Health from Rosalind Franklin University in 2008. In 2009 she was awarded a Board Certification as a specialist in women’s health (WCS). Sarah also completed a Certification in Mechanical Diagnosis Therapy from the McKenzie Institute in 2010. Sarah has completed a 200-hour Yoga Instructor Training Program and is now a Registered Yoga Teacher. Sarah is an active member of the American Physical Therapy Association, and has served as Director of Financial Development. Sarah is also active in the Illinois Physical Therapy Association and serves and an Assembly Representative for the Eastern District.
In 2013 Sarah founded Entropy Physiotherapy and Wellness with Sandy Hilton, in Chicago. Entropy was designed to be a clinic where people would come for help, but not feel like ‘patients’ when addressing persistent health issues. In 2018, entropy became a strategic partner with the Illinois Physical Therapy Association.
In 2019 Sarah was appointed Assistant Professor at Rosalind Franklin University. In her roles at Rosalind Franklin, she will be acting as the physical therapy faculty liaison for the Interprofessional Community Clinic, and teaching in the College of Health Professions.
This program was originally recorded September 15, 2020.
You can even earn 2 FREE CE:
- Purchase the recording by visiting IPTA's Virtual Library . (FREE FOR IPTA MEMBERS - log in to ipta.org so it knows who you are!) Non-member cost is $35. You can earn 1-2 hours of CE, depending on the length of program.
- Once your transaction is completed, you will receive an email with a link to download a document containing a link to the online recording AND a link to a quiz to complete after you view the recording.
- Watch the recording and complete the quiz. If you score 80% or better, you will receive an email notification of your CE award. If you are an IPTA member, your CE award will also post in your membership profile under Professional Development.

Thursday Sep 10, 2020
EXTRA CREDITS: Current Federal Legislative Efforts and the Effect on our Profession
Thursday Sep 10, 2020
Thursday Sep 10, 2020
Rick Rausch, PT presents an overview of the APTA’s current public policy priorities, an in depth discussion of which bills we are supporting in Washington and end with a discussion of what efforts should be changed/added for the 2021-2023 Congress.
IPTA's Payment Chair Rick Rausch, PT, DPT, MBA shares his insight and expertise on "Current Federal Legislative Efforts and the Effect on our Profession".
What to expect:
Objectives:
By the end of this lecture participants will be able to:
- To understand the federal legislative calendar.
- To understand the current APTA Public Policy Priorities and their effects on the current legislative efforts.
- To understand the current federal legislative efforts and the effects on our profession.
- To understand what you can individually due to support our legislative efforts.
About the Speaker
Rick Rausch, PT, DPT, MBA is currently the President of Sovereign Rehabilitation, which is a local consulting company, and holds an Adjunct Faculty position at the University of Illinois Chicago, Department of Therapy. He serves as the APTA Advisor to the AMA RUC committee and just started his second term on the APTA Public Policy Advisory Committee. Locally, Rick also serves as the Chair of the IPTA Reimbursement Committee.
This program was originally recorded September 9, 2020.
You can even earn 2 FREE CE:
- Purchase the recording by visiting IPTA's Virtual Library . (FREE FOR IPTA MEMBERS - log in to ipta.org so it knows who you are!) Non-member cost is $35. You can earn 1-2 hours of CE, depending on the length of program.
- Once your transaction is completed, you will receive an email with a link to download a document containing a link to the online recording AND a link to a quiz to complete after you view the recording.
- Watch the recording and complete the quiz. If you score 80% or better, you will receive an email notification of your CE award. If you are an IPTA member, your CE award will also post in your membership profile under Professional Development.

Thursday Aug 20, 2020
Thursday Aug 20, 2020
Osteoporosis management in educational curriculum is often limited to general pathology, co-morbid fracture risk, and contradictions for flexion movement patterns. Little is covered regarding what these individuals can do versus what they should not do. Due to the negative language utilized regarding this population, bias and fear are often instilled in clinicians, resulting in suboptimal clinical outcomes for patients. This is largely due to inappropriate exercise under-dosing and poor utilization of other interventions such as manual therapy due to fear of fracture. In this interactive learning course, assessment and management of osteoporosis as well a osteoporosis-related conditions will be reviewed as well as providing ample current research to promote evidence-based practice interventions when treating impairments related to osteoporosis to enhance clinical outcomes. This presentation includes lecture (1 hours), technique demonstration (30 min), and case-based learning (30 min) to cover screening, assessment, exercise dosing, manual therapy applications, and other related information.
Heidi Moyer, PT, DPT, CEEAA & Andrew Thomas, PT, DPT, CSCS, CEEAA, COMT, FAAOMPT to shares their insight and expertise on "Screening and Clinical Management of Osteoporosis in the Older Adult: Beyond the Plumb Line."
What to expect:
Objectives:
By the end of this lecture participants will be able to:
- Identify characteristics in older adult patients/clients that indicate need for osteoporosis screening.
- Evaluate the components of the FRAX tool and understand its role in screening for osteoporosis.
- Appraise and apply 4 outcomes measures to assess osteoporosis and related impairments at the body function, activity, and participation levels of the ICF model to create a comprehensive care plan for managing this patient population.
- Distinguish which manual therapy techniques are safe for each level of the disease process.
- Design and prescribe appropriate intensity of exercise-based interventions within the older adult osteoporotic population.
About the Speakers
Heidi Moyer, PT, DPT Certified Exercise Expert for Aging Adults (CEEAA) Board-Certified Clinical Specialist in Geriatric Physical Therapy (GCS) is actively and thoroughly engaged and dedicated to promoting best care practices for older adults in all care settings. She is a Certified Exercise Expert for Aging Adults (CEEAA) as well as a Board-Certified Clinical Specialist in Geriatric Physical Therapy (GCS). As an active member of APTA Geriatrics, Heidi serves as the Secretary for the AGPT Balance and Falls Special Interest Group and as the Eastern Regional Coordinator for the AGPT State Advocate program. She is the current Secretary of the IPTA Geriatrics Special Interest Group. Dr. Moyer currently works in the home health setting, serving the Western Suburbs of the Chicagoland area.
Andrew Thomas, PT, DPT, CSCS, CEEAA, COMT, FAAOMPThas been practicing the outpatient setting for 5 years. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapists (FAAOMPT) as well as a Board-Certified Clinical Specialist in Orthopaedic Physical Therapy (OCS). He completed his orthopedic manual physical therapy fellowship training through the Manual Therapy Institute in August of 2018. While outpatient orthopedics is his primary setting, Dr Thomas sees many older adult patients in this setting. He is also an active member of APTA and AAOMPT and works as a facility manager for Athletico at their Lisle location.
This program was originally recorded August 18, 2020.
You can even earn 2 FREE CE:
- Purchase the recording by visiting IPTA's Virtual Library . (FREE FOR IPTA MEMBERS - log in to ipta.org so it knows who you are!) Non-member cost is $35. You can earn 1-2 hours of CE, depending on the length of program.
- Once your transaction is completed, you will receive an email with a link to download a document containing a link to the online recording AND a link to a quiz to complete after you view the recording.
- Watch the recording and complete the quiz. If you score 80% or better, you will receive an email notification of your CE award. If you are an IPTA member, your CE award will also post in your membership profile under Professional Development.

Wednesday Aug 12, 2020
EXTRA CREDITS: Connecting The Dots: How to Conduct an Audit
Wednesday Aug 12, 2020
Wednesday Aug 12, 2020
As Medicare audit and assessment efforts increase, PTs are under increasing pressure to ensure compliance with coverage, payment, coding, documentation, and billing requirements. Self-audits are an important way for practice owners and managers to reduce risk of claims denials.
Julie Rosen, PT, CEENA, MBA, CHC hares her insight and expertise on"Connecting the Dots: How to Conduct an Audit."
What to expect:
Objectives:
By the end of this lecture participants will be able to:
- Understand the purposes of different types of audits
- Why does an organization conduct audits
- How to conduct an effective audit
- How to make time to audit Identify various tools/resources to help you audit
About the Speaker
Julie Rosen, PT, CEENA, MBA, CHC currently works as a Compliance Director for Sava Senior Care. She holds a BS in Physical Therapy from University of Wisconsin, a MBA from Loyola University – Chicago, a Certificate in Project Management from DePaul University. Ms. Rosen is also has a certification in Healthcare Compliance from Health Care Compliance Association (HCCA). Ms. Rosen is a member of the IPTA Ethics Committee.
This program was originally recorded August 10, 2020.
You can even earn 2 FREE CE:
- Purchase the recording by visiting IPTA's Virtual Library . (FREE FOR IPTA MEMBERS - log in to ipta.org so it knows who you are!) Non-member cost is $35. You can earn 1-2 hours of CE, depending on the length of program.
- Once your transaction is completed, you will receive an email with a link to download a document containing a link to the online recording AND a link to a quiz to complete after you view the recording.
- Watch the recording and complete the quiz. If you score 80% or better, you will receive an email notification of your CE award. If you are an IPTA member, your CE award will also post in your membership profile under Professional Development. If you are not yet an IPTA member, please allow 7-10 days for staff to issue you a CE certificate to the email address you provided.

Thursday Aug 06, 2020
Thursday Aug 06, 2020
Geriatric syndromes are clusters of symptoms commonly seen within the older adult population. While most clinicians are familiar with the basic concepts of falls, incontinence, pressure ulcers, delirium, and functional decline, the extent to which these phenotypes affect patient care are rarely considered, even by seasoned healthcare professionals. Furthermore, failure to identify, manage, and integrate interventions to address these problems within our patient populations can result in poor patient outcomes, limited sustainable progress, and successful carryover of intervention. This results in patients who are ineffectively managed and become frequent fliers within the system. This course will include a lecture component and case studies to promote understanding of geriatric syndromes and the role of the physical therapist in managing them to promote best patient care and overall outcomes.
Heidi Moyer, PT, DPT, CEEAA, GCS shares her insight and expertise on "Geriatric Syndromes: Identification, Clinical Management, and the Role of the Physical Therapist ."
What to expect:
Objectives:
By the end of this lecture participants will be able to:
- Compare and contrast 5 common geriatric syndromes to effectively identify them within the older adult population.
- Appraise and apply how each syndrome commonly manifests within the context of patient cases.
- Distinguish how each phenotype can impact patient outcomes, progress, and carryover of intervention.
- Design and prescribe appropriate interventions to manage the root causes of each syndrome \
About the Speaker
Heidi Moyer, PT, DPT Certified Exercise Expert for Aging Adults (CEEAA) Board-Certified Clinical Specialist in Geriatric Physical Therapy (GCS) is actively and thoroughly engaged and dedicated to promoting best care practices for older adults in all care settings. She is a Certified Exercise Expert for Aging Adults (CEEAA) as well as a Board-Certified Clinical Specialist in Geriatric Physical Therapy (GCS). As an active member of APTA Geriatrics, Heidi serves as the Secretary for the AGPT Balance and Falls Special Interest Group and as the Eastern Regional Coordinator for the AGPT State Advocate program. She is the current Secretary of the IPTA Geriatrics Special Interest Group. Dr. Moyer currently works in the home health setting, serving the Western Suburbs of the Chicagoland area.
This program was originally recorded August 5, 2020.
You can even earn 2 FREE CE:
- Purchase the recording by visiting IPTA's Virtual Library . (FREE FOR IPTA MEMBERS - log in to ipta.org so it knows who you are!) Non-member cost is $35. You can earn 1-2 hours of CE, depending on the length of program.
- Once your transaction is completed, you will receive an email with a link to download a document containing a link to the online recording AND a link to a quiz to complete after you view the recording.
- Watch the recording and complete the quiz. If you score 80% or better, you will receive an email notification of your CE award. If you are an IPTA member, your CE award will also post in your membership profile under Professional Development.

Wednesday Jul 29, 2020
EXTRA CREDITS: Incorporating Blood Flow Restriction into Clinical Practice
Wednesday Jul 29, 2020
Wednesday Jul 29, 2020
Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) has been around for decades but recently gained popularity in North America in outpatient orthopaedic practice. This presentation will be a combined lecture and lab, exploring the history, mechanism, and safety of BFR but also letting some participants experience a BFR training session. Case studies will also be discussed, focusing on outpatient orthopaedic cases but also discussing application to some cardiopulmonary and neurological cases in addition to a wellness/sports performance environment.
Anne "Anny" Marie Bierman, PT, DPT, SCS, CMTPT, ASTYM- CERT shares her insight and expertise on "Incorporating Blood Flow Restriction into Clinical Practice."
What to expect:
Objectives:
By the end of this lecture participants will be able to:
- Discuss the history of BFR
- Explain the mechanism of BFR
- Apply BFR to various patient’s exercises
- Experience (or observe) a BFR training session
- Summarize the literature with regards to BFR in various cases
About the Speaker
Anne "Anny" Marie Bierman, PT, DPT, SCS, CMTPT, ASTYM- CERT Anne Marie Bierman (“Anny”) received her Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science, a Masters of Physical Therapy, and a clinical Doctorate of Physical Therapy all through Saint Louis University (SLU). At SLU, she was an All-Conference and All-Region soccer player, and Female Athlete of the Year in 2004. She is also a board-certified clinical specialist in sports physical therapy and certified in both dry needling and Astym.
Dr. Bierman is skilled in manual therapy for the spine and extremities. She is experienced in treating a wide variety of orthopedic conditions and sports diagnoses but specializes in hips and knees. In addition to young athletes, Dr. Bierman especially enjoys treating patients with sacroiliac joint dysfunction. Her treatment approach involves hands-on, functional, one-on-one training to patients.
Dr. Bierman is an active member of both the Illinois and the American Physical Therapy Associations and represents the Eastern Central District on both Nominating Committee and as a State Assembly Representative. She holds a National D soccer coaching license and is very active in the western suburban soccer community. She has been with Athletico Physical Therapy since 2005 and currently is manager of clinical programs, coordinator of the EIM Sports and Orthopedic Residency Programs, program manager for the ACL 3P program, and program manager for the hip preservation program.
She resides in Naperville with her husband Brian and sons Benjamin, Peter, and William.
This program was originally recorded July 28, 2020.
You can even earn 2 FREE CE:
- Purchase the recording by visiting IPTA's Virtual Library . (FREE FOR IPTA MEMBERS - log in to ipta.org so it knows who you are!) Non-member cost is $35. You can earn 1-2 hours of CE, depending on the length of program.
- Once your transaction is completed, you will receive an email with a link to download a document containing a link to the online recording AND a link to a quiz to complete after you view the recording.
- Watch the recording and complete the quiz. If you score 80% or better, you will receive an email notification of your CE award. If you are an IPTA member, your CE award will also post in your membership profile under Professional Development.

Wednesday Jul 29, 2020
EXTRA CREDITS: Current Challenges in Physical Therapy Reimbursement
Wednesday Jul 29, 2020
Wednesday Jul 29, 2020
This course will present up to date information on issues impacting payment, including the new dry needling codes, the COVID-19 business environment and current challenges related to Illinois insurers including BCBS. It will also discuss the 2021 Medicare rates as well as offer insight into alternative payment models of the future.
IPTA's Payment Chair Rick Rausch, PT, DPT, MBA shares his insight and expertise on "Current Challenges in Physical Therapy Reimbursement."
What to expect:
Objectives:
By the end of this lecture participants will be able to:
- Understand how the CPT codes we utilize as Physical Therapist are valued by the AMA RUC process.
- Understand the definitions and values of the new Dry Needling codes.
- Be aware of the proposed reductions to the 2021 Medicare fee schedule and the effect on Physical Therapist practice.
- Identify Alternative Payment Models that could affect physical therapy practice including bundled payment and capitation payment
- Identify the recent decisions by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois that affect physical therapy reimbursement.
- Understand the financial impact of COVID-19 on Physical Therapy practice and reimbursement.
- Identify the role of telehealth during a pandemic and understand some options going forward.
About the Speaker
Rick Rausch, PT, DPT, MBA is currently the President of Sovereign Rehabilitation, which is a local consulting company, and holds an Adjunct Faculty position at the University of Illinois Chicago, Department of Therapy. He serves as the APTA Advisor to the AMA RUC committee and just started his second term on the APTA Public Policy Advisory Committee. Locally, Rick also serves as the Chair of the IPTA Reimbursement Committee.
This program was originally recorded July 22, 2020.
You can even earn 2 FREE CE:
- Purchase the recording by visiting IPTA's Virtual Library . (FREE FOR IPTA MEMBERS - log in to ipta.org so it knows who you are!) Non-member cost is $35. You can earn 1-2 hours of CE, depending on the length of program.
- Once your transaction is completed, you will receive an email with a link to download a document containing a link to the online recording AND a link to a quiz to complete after you view the recording.
- Watch the recording and complete the quiz. If you score 80% or better, you will receive an email notification of your CE award. If you are an IPTA member, your CE award will also post in your membership profile under Professional Development.

