HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when Rapid Responses are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Rothstein, J. M Articles by Riddle, D. L Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Rothstein, J. M Articles by Riddle, D. L

The Hypothesis-Oriented Algorithm for Clinicians II (HOAC II): A Guide for Patient Management

JM Rothstein, PT, PhD, FAPTA, is Professor, Department of Physical Therapy, College of Applied Health Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, 1919 W Taylor St, 4th Fl, Room 456, Chicago, IL 60612 (jules-rothstein{at}attbi.com). Address all correspondence to Dr Rothstein
JL Echternach, PT, EdD, ECS, FAPTA, is Professor and Eminent Scholar, School of Physical Therapy, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Va
DL Riddle, PT, PhD, is Professor, Department of Physical Therapy, Medical College of Virginia Campus, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Va

In this era of health care accountability, a need exists for a new decision-making and documentation guide in physical therapy. The original Hypothesis-Oriented Algorithm for Clinicians (HOAC) provided clinicians and students with a framework for science-based clinical practice and focused on the remediation of functional deficits and how changes in impairments related to these deficits. The HOAC II was designed to address shortcomings in the original HOAC and be more compatible with contemporary practice, including the Guide to Physical Therapist Practice. Disablement terminology is used in the HOAC II to guide clinicians and students when documenting patient care and incorporating evidence into practice. The HOAC II, like the HOAC, can be applied to a patient regardless of age or disorder and allows for identification of problems by physical therapists when patients are not able to communicate their problems. A feature of the HOAC II that was lacking in the original algorithm is the concept of prevention and how to justify and document interventions directed at prevention.

Key Words: Decision making • Diagnosis • Physical therapy profession • professional issues

This article has been cited by other articles:

				M. Schenkman, J. E Deutsch, and K. M Gill-Body An Integrated Framework for Decision Making in Neurologic Physical Therapist Practice Physical Therapy, December 1, 2006; 86(12): 1681 - 1702. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				I. Edwards, M. Jones, J. Carr, A. Braunack-Mayer, and G. M Jensen Clinical Reasoning Strategies in Physical Therapy Physical Therapy, April 1, 2004; 84(4): 312 - 330. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]