APTA North Dakota QA Bulletins

QA Bulletin - ND APTA Did You Know

Lyndsi Klundt — Mon, 06 Oct 2025 14:20:06 GMT

ND Physical Therapists did you know?

Please click on the link below to learn more!

QA Bulletin Quarter 4 - ND APTA did you know.png

QA Bulletin - BIG WIN

Lyndsi Klundt — Tue, 26 Aug 2025 01:54:18 GMT

Check out the BIG WIN for North Dakota Imaging!

QA Bulletin - BIG WIN.png

QA Bulletin - Clinical Practice Guidelines

Lyndsi Klundt — Thu, 27 Mar 2025 19:26:05 GMT

Please click on the link below to read more about our clinical practice guidelines.

QA Bulletin - Clinical Practice Guidelines.pdf

QA Bulletin - CPT codes

Lyndsi Klundt — Wed, 26 Feb 2025 01:33:43 GMT

Click below to find out more about the most underutilized CPT codes in physical therapy and why!

CPT codes graphic.png

QA Bulletin - Clinical Practice Guidelines

Lyndsi Klundt — Sat, 19 Oct 2024 12:45:33 GMT

Learn more about heel/Plantar Fasciitis treatments, Hamstring straing, and Lateral Elbow pain treatments by clicking the link below!

QA Bulletin Sept-Oct 2024 - Clinical Practice Guidelines.pdf

QA Bulletin - HIPAA and Children

Lyndsi Klundt — Thu, 08 Aug 2024 00:46:22 GMT

Under HIPAA, parents of guardians of minors are typically recognized as the "personal representatives" of their children, granting them rights to access and manage their children's protected health information (PHI).

Please click the link below to read more about HIPAA and children.

QA Bulletin Q3 2024.pdf

QA Bulletin - Remote Therapeutic Monitoring

Lyndsi Klundt — Thu, 04 Jul 2024 00:37:59 GMT

Our healthcare landscape is constantly evolving and pushing towards the era of value-based care. We shoot to achieve optimal patient outcome at a lower cost to both the patient and the payer, and now we can do this beyond the walls of the clinic–and bill for it. Remote therapeutic monitoring (RTM) codes were introduced to PTs, OTs, and SLPs in 2022.

Please click on the link below to find out more information!

QA Bulletin Q2 2024.pdf

QA Bulletin - Interventions to Consider

Lyndsi Klundt — Tue, 16 Apr 2024 15:31:44 GMT

Please click on the link below to learn more about the current interventions to consider when treating your patients.

QA Bulletin Q1 2024.pdf

QA Bulletin - Caregiver CPT codes

Lyndsi Klundt — Fri, 01 Mar 2024 12:12:42 GMT

QA Bulletin 2024.png

Please click on the link below to learn more!

https://www.medbridge.com/blog/2024/01/new-caregiver-training-cpt-codes-for-pt-ot-slp-a-care-and-reimbursement-opportunity/#:~:text=New%20Incentives%20to%20Provide%20Caregiver%20Training&text=The%20CY%202024%20Physician%20Fee,a%20group%20caregiver%20training%20code.

Direct Access

Lyndsi Klundt — Mon, 15 Jan 2024 04:17:20 GMT

“Direct access restrictions cause unnecessary delays for people who would benefit from treatment by a PT. Delays in care result in higher costs, decreased functional outcomes, and frustration to patients seeking physical therapy treatment. Eliminating arbitrary barriers results in timely, more effective care. Allowing individuals to make decisions regarding their healthcare is good policy. Eliminating the referral requirement makes healthcare more accessible to more people.”

Read more about how PT can help by clicking the link below!

QA Bulletin Q4 2023.pdf

Prevention and Wellness

Lyndsi Klundt — Mon, 20 Nov 2023 14:40:07 GMT

"Physical therapists play a unique role in society in prevention, wellness, fitness, health promotion, and management of disease and disability by serving as a dynamic bridge between health and health services delivery for individuals and populations."

To learn more about prevention and wellness in physical therapy, please click on this link!

QA Bulletin Q2 2023.pdf

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion with updates

Lyndsi Klundt — Mon, 06 Nov 2023 14:45:54 GMT

What is it?

As a discipline, DEI is any policy or practice designed to make people of various backgrounds feel welcome and ensure they have support to perform to the fullest of their abilities in the workplace.

Click on this link to find out more!

QA Committee Quarter 3 .pdf

QA Bulletin - First Stop: PT!

Lyndsi Klundt — Thu, 16 Feb 2023 02:20:46 GMT

Currently, Physical Therapists are unable to sign off on permits and return to work documents due to not being recognized as a practitioner.

Senate Bill 2191: This bill would allow physical therapists as providers who can sign statements for applications for mobility impaired parking permits, has passed the North Dakota senate vote!

Click on the link below to learn more!

QA Bulletin Q1 2023.pdf

QA Bulletin - Diversity, Equity, Inclusion

Lyndsi Klundt — Wed, 18 Jan 2023 02:53:27 GMT

As a discipline, DEI is any policy or practice designed to make people of various backgrounds feel welcome and ensure they have support to perform to the fullest of their abilities in the workplace.

Click on the link to learn more.

QA Committee Quarter 4 2022.pdf

QA Bulletin - Clinical Instructor

Lyndsi Klundt — Fri, 19 Aug 2022 16:54:30 GMT

Clinical Instructor Tips and Tricks.

Click below to find out how to use soft skills to help with being a Clinical Instructor.

QA Bulletin Q3 2022 Clinical Instructor.pdf

QA Bulletin - Advocacy

Lyndsi Klundt — Tue, 17 May 2022 17:44:15 GMT

What if there was no APTA? Click here to find out more about what the APTA does!

QA Bulletin Q2 Advocacy.pdf

QA Bulletin - Burnout

Lyndsi Klundt — Sat, 05 Mar 2022 20:19:33 GMT

77% of Physical therapists have experienced burn out in their careers. A large majority of the therapists reported paperwork as the largest source of stress. (Elgelid, 2020)

Q1 2022 Burnout.pdf

QA Bulletin - APTA North Dakota President

Lyndsi Klundt — Wed, 29 Dec 2021 18:49:05 GMT

Get to know our Leadership roles starting first with our President!

Click on the link below for more information!

QA Bulletin Q4 2021.pdf

QA Bulletin - Imaging and Leadership

Lyndsi Klundt — Tue, 12 Oct 2021 01:25:20 GMT

On March 31^st, 2021, Governor Doug Burgum signed into law that physical therapists in the state of North Dakota can order radiographs. This law became effective August 1, 2021. To be able to order x-rays, North Dakota therapists need to have taken continuing competence activities to qualify. Information on these courses can be found at the NDBPT.org website under board minutes (August 10 and June 30).

QA Bulletin Q3 2021.pdf

QA Bulletin - Centennial Scholar and Leadership Roles

Lyndsi Klundt — Fri, 11 Jun 2021 12:44:47 GMT

This quarter bulletin is all about our Centennial Scholar and Leadership Roles.

QA Bulletin Q2 2021.docx

QA Bulletin - Centennial Scholar and Leadership Roles

Lyndsi Klundt — Sun, 18 Apr 2021 16:43:10 GMT

Here is a review of the committees with the APTA of ND.

Centennial Scholar and Leadership Roles.pdf

QA Bulletin - APTA History in the making

Lyndsi Klundt — Thu, 04 Mar 2021 14:22:44 GMT

APTA 100 years. History in the making. Read about the history of the APTA here!

QA Bulletin Q1 2021 (1).pdf

QA Bulletin - Motivational Interviewing

Lyndsi Klundt — Tue, 22 Dec 2020 18:36:56 GMT

What is motivational interviewing?

Techniques that assist patients in recognizing discrepancies between their current behavior and core values. Physical Therapists can provide support for self-efficacy, and reinforce an individual's belief that he or she is capable of initiating and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.¹

Q4 2020 Motivational Interviewing.pdf

QA Bulletin - Falls Prevention

Lyndsi Klundt — Tue, 15 Sep 2020 18:39:49 GMT

Regular physical activity is one of the most important things that you can do for your health. The good news is that you don’t have to spend hours at the gym or purchase expensive equipment to meet the recommended physical activity guidelines!

Falls Prevention Q3 2020.pdf

QA Bulletin - Healthy Lifestyle

Lyndsi Klundt — Mon, 18 May 2020 12:32:52 GMT

Healthy Lifestyle

QA Bulletin Healthy Lifestyle Q2 2020.pdf

Tips and tricks for sleep, nutrition, and other lifestyle habits. Thanks for tuning in!

QA Bulletin - General Exercise

Lyndsi Klundt — Mon, 11 May 2020 23:26:57 GMT

General Exercise

QA Bulletin Q1

Nearly 80% of US adults and adolescents are insufficiently active, leading to more chronic conditions including heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and depression. The good news is, regular physical activity can prevent and improve many chronic conditions!

QA Bulletin - Occupational Health Bulletin

Lyndsi Klundt — Sun, 26 Jan 2020 17:39:16 GMT

Occupational Health

QA Bulletin Q4.pdf

"There is currently no "required" certification or special training for ergonomics."

QA Bulletin - Concussions

Lyndsi Klundt — Wed, 11 Sep 2019 22:00:00 GMT

Concussion

QA Bulletin Q3 Concussion.pdf

"Concussion is recognized as a clinical syndrome of biomechanically induced alteration of brain function, typically affecting memory and orientation, which may involve loss of consciousness (LOC)."

Giz C, Et al. 2013 AAN. Summary of Evidence Based Guidelines Update: Evaluation and management of Concussion in Sports. Neurology 80; June 11, 2013

The Role of Physical Therapy in Concussion Rehabilitation

This article reviews the multi-modal approach to post-concussion treatment. Concussion symptoms are widely variable and recovery is influenced by many factors, therefore, an individualized treatment approach is needed for the best outcomes. The largest predictor for prolonged recovery is the severity of the initial symptoms in the first few hours or days after injury. The recommendation is a combination of graded exercise, vestibular and oculomotor training, and cervicogenic rehab to facilitate a faster return to function and a more complete recovery. Although initial rest is recommended, prolonged rest is linked to slower symptom resolution.

Seminars in Pediatric Neurology (July 2019)

The Role of Physical Activity in Recovery From Concussion in Youth: A Neuroscience Perspective

This special interest article examined studies that use neuroimaging to characterize the complex and dynamic changes in the brain following concussion. The evidence supports participation in physical activity after an initial and brief period of rest (< 3 days) with gradual progression as indicated in the following table.

Journal of Neurologic Physical Therapy (July 2018)

QA Bulletin Spring - the BACK!

Website MGR — Sat, 30 Mar 2019 23:28:44 GMT

Welcome to the QA Bulletin!

Caring for patients with spinal conditions can be complex. Many times, patients come with chronic symptoms that have been with them for many years. In this bulletin you will find articles on therapy for the spine, helpful education tips and social media entities as well as some common certifications that can help increase the therapist’s knowledge and skills to better treat their patients.

“We’ve Got Your Back”

Orthopaedic Care of the Spine

A review of more than 60 RCT evaluating exercise therapy for adults with low back pain found that such treatment can decrease pain, improve function, and help people return to work. The American College of Physicians states that “non-pharmacologic interventions are considered first line options in patients with chronic low back pain.” http://www.apta.org/PTinMotion/2018/10/Feature/Opioid/

Lower Trapezius Muscle Strength

Individuals with unilateral neck pain exhibit significantly less lower trapezius strength in the side of neck pain as compared to the contralateral side. Progressive resistive exercises and core stabilization exercises may help restore balance of normal strength in the lower trapezius muscle may be in important part of successful rehabilitation of patients with cervical pain. https://doi.org/10.2519/jospt.2011.3503

Combined Effects of Thoracic Thrust Manipulation (TTM) and Cervical Non-Thrust Manipulation (CNTM)

Individuals with mechanical neck pain who received both TTM and CNTM plus exercise demonstrated better overall short-term outcomes compared to those receiving only non-thrust manipulation of the cervical spine plus exercise. https://doi.org/10.2519/jospt.2013.422

“Non-pharmacologic interventions are considered first line options in patients with chronic low back pain.” The American College of Physicians

QB Bulletin Issue 14: Neurologic Physical Therapy Specialist Certification

Website MGR — Sun, 20 Jan 2019 00:36:05 GMT

Updating the NDPTA membership on the current best evidence and standards of practice

In This Issue Resolve to Grow: Neurologic Physical Therapy Specialist Certification

How many PTs are Clinical Specialists?
What is the Neurologic Clinical Specialty?
How can I prepare to become a Clinical Specialist?
What do I need to know to pass the examination?
How much does it cost?
Time limits for the examination/reapplication

Resolve to Grow: Neurologic Physical Therapy Specialist Certification How many Physical Therapists are Clinical Specialists? (As of July 2018). Since last year, the total number of clinical specialists in North Dakota has increased by 8, while there are 98 more clinical specialists in Minnesota. The ABPTS website (www. abpts.org) has a national database of board-certified clinical specialists in physical therapy.

What is the Neurologic Clinical Specialty?

The Neurologic Specialist Certification is the 3rd most common certification with about one in nine of all clinical specialists being certified in neurologic physical therapy. In the United States, there are 2,648 Neurologic Clinical Specialists as of July 28, 2018, with 6 in North Dakota and 63 in Minnesota.

The first step is to become a Neurologic Clinical Specialist is submitting the application. The application and application review fee are both due on July 31 for Neurologic applicants. The examination fee is due November 30. If you are interested in taking the examination in 2019, check the ABPTS website for specific deadlines.

Neurologic applicants must meet one of the following requirements for Direct Patient Care.

Option A: Submit evidence of 2,000 hours of direct patient care as a licensed U.S. physical therapist (temporary license excluded) in Neurologic in the past 10 years. At least 500 of these hours must be completed in the last 3 years. The direct patient care hours only include time practicing in Neurologic physical therapy in the United States or its possessions or territories, and must include activities involving examination, evaluation, diagnosis, prognosis and intervention.

Option B: Submit evidence of successful completion of an APTA-accredited post professional clinical residency in Neurologic in the last 10 years. Applicants currently enrolled in an ABPTRFE-accredited clinical residency, or enrolled in a residency program that has been granted candidacy status, may apply for the specialist certification examination prior to completion of the clinical residency. These applicants will be conditionally approved to sit for the examination as long as they meet all other eligibility requirements pending submission of evidence of successful completion of the clinical residency to the APTA’a Specialist Certification Program no later than one month before the examination window opens.

How can I prepare to become a Neurologic Clinical Specialist?

The ABPTS has a candidate guide for individuals interested in the Neurologic Specialist Certification. http://www.abpts.org/uploadedFiles/ABPTSorg/Specialist_Certification/Neurology/ SpecCert_Neurologic_Application.pdf The ABPTS and the APTA sections all have information for preparing for the examination. ABPTS: http://www.abpts.org/Resources/ExamPreparationMaterials/ Academy of Neurologic Physical Therapy, Inc. www.neuropt.org

What do I need to know to pass the examination?

The ABPTS provides an outline of the content of the examination. www.abpts.org/Resources/ ExamOutlines/Neurology I. Knowledge Areas (20%) II. Professional Roles, Responsibilities and Values (15%) III. Patient/Client Management Model (65%) a. Patient/Client Examination (30%) b. Intervention (30%) c. Outcomes (5%)

How much does it cost to take the examination?

There is a nonrefundable application review fee, which is submitted at the time of application. The examination fee is submitted after the applicant is approved to sit for the examination. For applicants who do not pass the examination the first time, they can retake the test the following year. The fees have increased slightly since the last newsletter. Application Review Fee Exam Fee APTA Member $525 $810 Non-APTA Member $810 $1535

Time Limits for Active Application/Reapplication Eligibility

Your file will remain active for two consecutive exam administrations. If you choose to delay sitting for the exam, if you are not approved to sit for the exam, or if you do not pass the exam, the following requirements exist. You must submit an online reapplication submission, and pay a reapplication review fee and the current examination fee. The reapplication review fee is $170 regardless of your APTA membership status. Reapplicants must meet all current requirements. After two consecutive examination administrations, you must start with a completely new application and initial application review fee.

Taking the examination

The examination is completed online. The complete examination session is seven hours long. There is an online tutorial that can be up to 10 minutes. The examination itself consists of 4 periods. Each period is 90 minutes, and there is an optional break that can be taken after any test period. After the test, there is a post-examination survey if time is available.