Clinical specialization in physical therapy responds to a specific area of patient need and requires knowledge, skill, and experience exceeding that of the physical therapist at entry to the profession and unique to the specialized area of practice. The specialist certification program was established to provide formal recognition for physical therapists with advanced clinical knowledge, experience, and skills in a special area of practice and to assist consumers and the health care community in identifying these physical therapists.
Purposes of the Clinical Specialization Program:
- Promote the highest possible level of care for individuals seeking physical therapy services in each speciality area.
- Promote development of the science and the art underlying each speciality area of practice.
- Provide a reliable and valid method for certification and recertification of individuals who have attained an advanced level of knowledge and skill in each speciality area.
- Assist consumers, the health care community, and others in identifying certified clinical specialists in each speciality area.
- Serve as a resource in speciality practice for the APTA, the physical therapy profession, and the health care community.
As of 2009, there are 204 individuals who have been certified in Illinois as clinical specialists in Orthopedics. And to think...we have two of them at our clinic. (L)
