Professiona Case Study

Similarly, a PT should only recommend a product if they have objectively determined that it would benefit the patient. If, say, a vendor offers monetary incentive in exchange for recommending their product, the PT many not be able to objectively judge the quality and effectiveness of the product. As described in APTA Guide to Professional Conduct, Principle 4.4, “A physical therapist shall not invite, accept, or offer gifts, monetary incentives, or other considerations that affect or give an appearance of affecting his/her professional judgment.” However, if the product is indeed effective, supported by sufficient evidence, and the PT would recommend it regardless of the incentive, the PT can legally accept the vendor’s offer as long as they are transparent with their patients about their “financial interests,” as explained in the APTA Guide to

If a patient has reached their goals but discontinuing intervention would result in a decrease in functional level, then continued care would be necessary. However, if the patient could sustain their functional level with or without intervention, the PT should terminate treatment to keep in line with the Guide to Professional Conduct, Principle 4.1.H, stating, “A physical therapist shall determine when a patient/client will no longer benefit from physical therapy services” and 7.1.D: “When a physical therapist’s judgment is that a patient will receive negligible benefit from physical therapy services, the physical therapist shall not provide or continue to provide such services if the primary reason for doing so is to further the financial self-interest of the physical therapist or his/her employer. A physical therapist shall avoid overutilization of physical therapy services.” PTs should only treat those in need of PT intervention and not waste resources on healthy