Competency: Laboratory Values Interpretation Resource

The APTA Acute Care Practice Committee Task Force on Lab Values has reviewed and revised the previous version of the basic Lab Values Competency. The updated competency resource will allow clinicians to utilize the 2023 Laboratory Values Interpretation Resource and Point of Care document to clinically reason through scenarios that physical therapists and physical therapist assistants may encounter within acute care settings. The competency is intended to demonstrate how the Lab Values Interpretation Resource can be applied to assist in clinical decision-making, improve collaboration with the healthcare team, and provide excellent patient care.

The competency allows acute care facilities to select questions that apply to the adult patient population and the time constraints of their setting. Each question is supported by the references used in the APTA Acute Care 2023 Laboratory Values Interpretation Resource. An appendix with answer key and rationale for all questions can be found at the end of the document.