Elite News

Elite Therapy, PC to host Continuing Education Course

Elite Therapy, PC located at 285 South Main Street in Mansfield, PA will be hosting a continuing education course for physical therapy April 24-27, 2008. The course is offered through the Institute of Physical Art in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. The course is offered to physical therapists, physical therapy assistants, and occupational therapists to fulfill continuing education requirements set forth by the state licensing board in the state in which they practice. The instructor for the course is Cheryl Wardlaw of Atlanta, Georgia. Mrs. Wardlaw is Manager of Inpatient and Outpatient Rehabilitation Services at Emory University Hospital. She has been an instructor through the Institute of Physical Art since 1980.

The course Mrs. Wardlaw will be teaching is Functional Orthopedics I. Functional Orthopedics I presents a systematic and integrated approach for treatment of musculoskeletal dysfunction and pain, with emphasis on soft tissue mobilization. Elite Therapy, PC has brought this course to the area to offer continuing education opportunities to the local rehabilitative services staff. According to Chris Jones, PT OCS SCS, a board certified specialist in sports and orthopedic physical therapy and co-owner of Elite therapy PC, one of the barriers to taking continuing education for professionals is the travel costs associated with taking courses in metropolitan areas for meals, lodging, and travel.

By offering the course locally, professionals can take the course without the travel expenses and leaving home for the weekend. Also, some professionals from the surrounding area from Elmira to Hazelton have registered for the course. Comparing the cost of lodging in Mansfield, PA to Philadelphia or New York City reveals a much better value for the continuing education dollar. Offering this course locally is consistent with the Elite Therapy, PC mission.

Marc Riley, PT OCS ATC CSCS, co-owner of Elite Therapy, PC states that part of the mission is to take a leadership role in advancing health and wellness in our region. This course will advance the treatment skills of the rehabilitation specialists serving our community; which benefits all the members of our community who need rehabilitation services. Riley feels that if this course is successful, Elite Therapy, PC will offer 1-2 continuing education courses per year in the future.

The Institute of Physical Art (IPA) offers 7 continuing education courses and in coordination with Integrative Manual Therapy Solutions (IMTS) of Long Island, NY offers a certification in Functional Manual Therapy (CFMT). The certification requires completion of nine courses (2 through IMTS of Long Island, and then 7 through the IPA), and then a week long written and oral exam. Jones has taken 8 of the 9 courses and plans to sit for the exam in 2009 or 2010. Jones started taking the IPA courses in 2000 and has progressed through the program over the last eight years.

"After taking my first course through the IPA, my professional path changed. I began helping patients that were told they were never going to get any better. I was able to help some patients that had been in pain for years. The IPA demonstrated that no matter how good you think you have become as a clinician, you must constantly strive to improve your knowledge and clinical skills to better serve your patients."

Jones' hope is that all the therapists who attend the course will leave feeling the same way he did after his first course through the IPA. If so, the patients in our community and our region will benefit.