Burnout among rehabilitation professionals has reached crisis-level prevalence, yet the dominant cultural narrative gets the cause wrong. This session challenges the assumption that caring deeply is the problem and replaces it with a neuroscience-based distinction that changes everything: the difference between empathy and compassion. Participants will learn to recognize Occupational Distress Syndrome as a measurable dysfunction of the human well-being system itself, mapped precisely onto the six dimensions of Ryff's eudaimonic well-being model. They will leave with a concrete, evidence-supported, four-minute daily practice shown in randomized controlled trials to reduce burnout in comparable clinical populations, and the conceptual framework to understand why it works.

Course Objectives:

Upon completion of this session, participants will be able to:

1.     Distinguish between empathy and compassion as neurologically distinct processes and explain why that distinction determines burnout risk in high-acuity clinical environments.

2.     Describe Occupational Distress Syndrome as a dysfunction of the human well-being system, identifying which of Ryff's six eudaimonic dimensions (autonomy, environmental mastery, personal growth, positive relations with others, purpose in life, and self-acceptance) are most directly impaired by chronic occupational distress in acute care rehabilitation practice.

3.     Identify the primary causal pathways through which Occupational Distress Syndrome accumulates in rehabilitation therapy staff, including empathic distress, demand-resource imbalance, and unanswered occupational calling, and connect each pathway to its corresponding well-being system disruption.

4.     Summarize the current evidence base supporting Loving-Kindness Meditation as a feasible, brief, and high-leverage intervention for burnout reduction, with particular attention to its mechanism of action on Ryff's dimensions of self-acceptance, positive relations, and purpose in life.

5.     Demonstrate a brief, structured Loving-Kindness Meditation practice suitable for independent use within the scheduling constraints of an acute care setting.

Not an APTA Acute Care member and want to register? Create a free LMS user account here - https://academy.aptaacutecare....

In this virtual event, you will have the opportunity to hear from APTA Acute Care Student Leadership as well as PTs and PTAs who are currently working in the field of acute care. You will learn about how to prepare for an acute care clinical, pros and cons of acute care residencies, and strategies for a job search in the acute care setting. Student leaders will also highlight the newly published Student Toolkit, made by students for students, and other benefits of APTA Acute Care membership. 

Not an APTA Acute Care member and want to register? Create a free LMS user account here - https://academy.aptaacutecare....

Per the American Cancer Society, there are more than 20 million cancer survivors living in the United States, and more than 70% of those diagnosed with cancer will survive their cancer for 5 or more years. With the increase in people living beyond their cancer treatments, there becomes an increased need to address the late and long-term adverse effects of cancer treatment. Cancer survivors can experience a myriad of physical side effects including ongoing fatigue, pain and impaired mobility which can inhibit their return to their prior level of function. Additional concerns such as fear of cancer recurrence, body image concerns, and financial toxicity are within the scope of practice of physical therapists to screen for and address. This session will review the current state of cancer survivorship in the U.S., describe several models of survivorship care where physical therapists play a crucial role in addressing the late effects of cancer treatment, and empower physical therapists to address the needs of cancer survivors.

Learning Objectives:

1. The learner will be able to define cancer survivorship and recognize the significance of cancer survivorship along the cancer care continuum
2. The learner will identify three common concerns in cancer survivorship
3. The learner will describe ways that physical therapists can screen for and address the late effects of cancer treatment in cancer survivorship

Check out the Handouts tab to review resources/"pre-reading" if you would like to become more familiar with the topic prior to the talk.

Not an APTA Acute Care member and want to register? Create a free LMS user account here - https://academy.aptaacutecare....

Physical mobility and exercise prescription for individuals with spinal metastasis has historically been approached with caution due to concerns about fracture risk, neurologic compromise, and disease progression. However, emerging evidence suggests that appropriately selected and monitored mobility and exercise interventions may be both safe and feasible for this population.

This 1-hour webinar will present and critically examine the findings of the instructor-authored systematic review, The Safety and Feasibility of Exercise Intervention for Adults With Spinal Metastasis. Participants will gain an overview of the current evidence base, including types of exercise studied, reported safety outcomes, feasibility measures, and key gaps in the literature. The session will translate evidence into clinical decision-making frameworks to support physical therapists and rehabilitation professionals working with individuals who have metastatic spine disease across acute, outpatient, and oncology care settings.

Not an APTA Acute Care member and want to register? Create a free LMS user account here - https://academy.aptaacutecare....

Join the APTA Acute Care (AC) Talk with a Doc Series for a session with Dr. Donald Mendoza, a board-certified vascular surgeon at Riverside Health in Southeastern Virginia. Dr. Mendoza specializes in open and endovascular surgical procedures and holds the Registered Physician in Vascular Interpretation (RVPI) credential, reflecting advanced expertise in interpreting noninvasive vascular ultrasound studies.

In this webinar, Dr. Mendoza will share insights into vascular surgery procedures, postoperative considerations, and interdisciplinary collaboration that support safe patient care in the acute care setting. Participants will learn how to interpret vascular surgery documentation, recognize signs of vascular compromise, and apply this knowledge to clinical decision-making to support safe mobility and recovery following vascular procedures.

Discover why gait speed is a powerful indicator of health in older adults and learn practical exercise strategies to improve mobility and independence. These concepts are then applied to engage in discussion of empowered aging, through the lens of preparedness as described by a patient.

Objectives- At the end of the session, the learner will be able to:

1. Recognize gait speed as an indicator of health
2. Describe exercise dosing considerations for the geriatric population
3. Apply gait speed and exercise consideration to preparations senior may make

Not an APTA Acute Care member and want to register? Create a free LMS user account here - https://academy.aptaacutecare....

This resource is jointly sponsored and approved by the APTA Academy of Acute Care Physical Therapy, the APTA Academy of Pediatric Physical Therapy, and the APTA Academy of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Physical Therapy. The Pediatric Vital Sign Interpretation in Acute Care Guide 2025 is a supplemental document to the previously released Adult Vital Sign Interpretation in Acute Care Guide 2021. It includes pediatric-specific values, diagnoses, recommendations, and clinical considerations.  Refer to the Adult Guide for key definitions and foundational information, in addition to the pediatric-specific content within this resource, to guide clinical decision-making.

Not an APTA Acute Care member and want to register? Create a free LMS user account here - https://academy.aptaacutecare....

Join us on December 16 for APTA Acute Care’s virtual End-of-Year Town Hall! We’ll reflect on this year’s major accomplishments, highlight important initiatives on the horizon, and share updates to help you stay engaged and informed. This is also a great opportunity to connect with fellow members from across the country as we wrap up the year together.

Specialization can be a powerful way for physical therapists to deepen their expertise, advance their careers, and improve patient care—but the pathways to specialization have evolved over time. This webinar will explore the history and current options for achieving specialization in Cardiovascular and Pulmonary (CVP) physical therapy, highlighting key differences between traditional pathways and residency or fellowship training. Attendees will also examine the common barriers and challenges faced when pursuing specialization, as well as the personal and professional rewards that come with earning board certification. Whether you’re considering specialization or guiding others through the process, this session will provide valuable insights to help you better navigate the journey.

Not an APTA Acute Care member and want to register? Create a free LMS user account here - https://academy.aptaacutecare....

During virtual events, the use of any AI notetaking tools is prohibited. Participants are expected to rely on traditional methods of notetaking to ensure the confidentiality and security of the discussion.

A clinical reference summarizing thrombolytic indications, key drug characteristics, and emerging evidence supporting tenecteplase as an alternative to alteplase in acute stroke care.

Disclaimer:

The Acute Care Clinician Toolbox has been created by the APTA Acute Care Practice Committee, with contributions and peer review from members of APTA Acute Care. Each topic within the toolbox is based on current evidence-based and peer-reviewed literature and the clinical expertise and practical experience of acute care physical therapists, subject matter experts. References and links to source materials are provided where applicable.

The information presented across all topics in this toolbox is intended for educational and informational purposes only, is not a substitute for clinical judgment, and may change based on current evidence. Users are responsible for ensuring that any interventions or practices derived from this content align with their facility’s policies and procedures, as well as their state’s physical therapy practice act, and completion of relevant competencies.

The content does not represent the official position or endorsement of APTA Acute Care. The authors and contributors do not assume liability for any injury, harm, or damages resulting from the use or application of the information presented.

We welcome user feedback. Please contact us if you believe any information is inaccurate, outdated, or unclear. We are committed to reviewing and updating content as appropriate to ensure its accuracy and relevance.

Disclosure:

The development of the Acute Care Clinician Toolbox was led by volunteers from the APTA Acute Care Practice Committee and contributing members of APTA Acute Care. No external funding was received for the creation of this resource. Contributors have disclosed no relevant financial relationships or conflicts of interest related to the content presented in this toolbox.

Not an APTA Acute Care member and want to register? Create a free LMS user account here - https://academy.aptaacutecare....