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) All Versions of this Article: ptj.20060236v1 87/6/641    most recent Submit a response Read responses to this article 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 Coffin-Zadai, C. A Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Coffin-Zadai, C. A

Disabling Our Diagnostic Dilemmas

CA Coffin-Zadai, PT, DPT, CCS, FAPTA, is Coordinator, Transitional Doctor of Physical Therapy Program, Graduate Programs in Physical Therapy, MGH Institute of Health Professions, Boston, MA 02129 (USA)

Address all correspondence to Dr Coffin-Zadai at: czadai{at}mghihp.edu

The physical therapy profession's diagnostic dilemma results from its confused response to competing issues that affect the physical therapist's role as a diagnostician. The major components of the diagnostic dilemma are: (1) the competition among new ideas, (2) the complexity of the diagnostic process and language used to describe the outcome, (3) the profession's lack of consensus regarding the diagnostic classification construct to be embraced, and (4) the rapid evolution and impact of new knowledge. The interaction of these 4 components results in "diagnostic disablement." Whether managing a patient, creating a curriculum to educate new physical therapy practitioners, or applying for research funding to study the science or practice of diagnostic classification, physical therapists face a real challenge in understanding and complying with all the current diagnostic requirements of the US health care system and the physical therapy profession. This article traces the 4 components and considers the strategies the profession can use to resolve its diagnostic dilemma. The first step would be to standardize the language that physical therapists use to describe or diagnose phenomena within their scope of practice.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				K. Helgeson and A R. Smith Jr Process for Applying the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health Model to a Patient With Patellar Dislocation Physical Therapy, August 1, 2008; 88(8): 956 - 964. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				B. J Norton Diagnosis Dialog: Progress Report Physical Therapy, October 1, 2007; 87(10): 1270 - 1273. [Full Text] [PDF]