| July 2005
Dear Colleague,
The mission of Physical Agent Modalities Practitioner
Credentialing Agency, LLC, (PAMPCA) is to provide a
credentialing process that includes the necessary education,
testing, and monitoring of clinical preparedness for practitioners
who want to use physical agent modalities in their practice.
In so doing, the public is able to identify those healthcare
professionals who are qualified to use physical agent modalities
as part of their routine practice.
PAMPCA was established to educate practitioners in the proper,
safe and judicious use of physical agent modalities in the treatment
of their clients. PAMPCA provides the education, testing and awarding
of an initial credential for physical agent modalities use to practitioners.
We have created an innovative, structured educational system leading
to certifying individuals for using physical agent modalities.
This education process is provided through web based instructional
media (using Blackboard), a two day, hands-on, experiential workshop,
and monitoring supervised clinical experiences. <i>To date,
over 500 occupational therapy practitioners have successfully
completed this certification program offered by PAMPCA, LLC, and
are approved by their respective states to legally use physical
agent modalities.</i>
Our physical agent modalities practitioner-credentialing course
is comprised of twelve modules. Upon completion of this course,
practitioners receive 45 contact hours of continuing education
credit (awarded in conjunction with Saginaw Valley State University,
Michigan). The entire course is comprised of three parts. The breakdown
of the course and continuing education contact hours awarded is
as follows (module objectives can be found as an attachment to
this letter):
Part I: Didactic Coursework (20 hours to complete including
taking module tests)
National and State Rules, Regulations,
Position Papers (1 hour)
Superficial Surface Anatomy (2 hours)
Wound Healing (2 hours)
Pain Theory
a. Part
1: Understanding Pain (1 hour)
b. Part
2: Intervention Strategies (1 hour)
Superficial Thermal Agents (hot packs,
paraffin, fluidotherapy) (2 hours)
Deep Thermal Agents (Ultrasound, Phonophoresis) (2
hours)
Cryotherapy (cold pack, ice massage,
contrasting baths) (2 hours)
Electrotherapy
a. Understanding
the basis for Electrotherapy (2 hours)
b. Transcutaneous
Electrical Nerve Stimulation (1 hour)
c. Neuromuscular
Electrical Stimulation (2 hours)
Clinical Pharmacology (1
hour)
Iontophoresis (1 hour)
Part 2: Two Day Weekend Workshop (16 contact hours)
14 hour hands on lab experience
2 hour comprehensive test
over the didactic and workshop materials
Part 3: Supervised Clinical Application of PAMs (supervision
by either an OT or a PT currently certified to use physical agent modalities
in their state)
10 Thermal applications (4.5
hours)
10 Electrical applications (4.5
hours)
PAMPCA, LLC, was established in 2003 in Tennessee by Scott McPhee,
MS, DrPH, OTR/L, FAOTA and Alfred Bracciano, EdD, OTR/L, FAOTA.
Both have been instrumental in providing educational programs nationally
and internationally in the area of physical agent modalities. Doctor
McPhee developed and taught the web-based certification course
for PAMs in the State of Tennessee since 2000. Both Doctors McPhee
and Bracciano are co-authors of AOTA’s Position Paper on
Physical Agent Modalities (AJOT 57(6), 2003). Doctor Bracciano
is the author of the textbook Physical Agent Modalities: Theory
and Application for the Occupational Therapy (Slack Publishing
Company, 2000). Both have given numerous workshop presentations
on the topic of Physical Agent Modalities and have taught professional
courses and workshops in several states and in Europe and China.
The Physical Agent Modalities Practitioners Credentialing Agency,
LLC, is an AOTA Approved Preferred Provider, a California Board
of Occupational Therapy approved Advanced Practice Provider, the
Florida Board of Occupational Therapy approved continuing education
provider (and registered with ce-broker), and approved by the Kentucky
Occupational Therapy Association, Montana Occupational Therapy
Association, and several others. The credentialing course complies
with all state laws and regulations.
We feel that PAMPCA is of tremendous benefit to occupational therapy
practitioners through the provision of a quality education program
in the proper use of PAMs. The cost for this course
is only $550.00. This cost provides the course textbook,
all handout materials, access to Blackboard (the internet website
for the didactic portion of the course), one weekend lab workshop,
and all testing in the use of PAMs.
The following are the dates for the courses scheduled
for 2005.
Toms River, NJ
4-5 October 2008
Holiday Inn Toms River
290 Highway 37 East
Toms River, NJ 08753
(732) 244-4000
Greenville, NC in partnership with Eastern AHEC
4-5 October 2008
Pitt County Memorial Hospital
Edwin W. Monroe AHEC Conference Center
2000 Venture Tower Drive
San Diego, CA
October 11-12, 2008 (Sat/Sun)
Courtyard by Marriott San Diego- Old Town
2435 Jefferson Street
San Diego, CA 92110
(619) 260-8500
Lawrence, Kansas
October 18-19, 2008
Lawrence Memorial Hospital
325 Maine Street
Lawrence, KS 66044
Omaha, NE
October 24-25, 2008 (Fri/Sat)
Nebraska Methodist Health System
8303 Dodge Street
Omaha, NE 68114
Annapolis, MD
October 25-26, 2008 (Sat/Sun)
Doubletree Hotel Annapolis
210 Holiday Court
Annapolis, MD 21401
(410) 224-3150
St. Louis, MO
November 1-2, 2008 (Sat/Sun)
Saturday-Sunday, 8am-5pm
Franklin, TN
November 8-9, 2008 (Sat/Sun)
Sponsored by NHC
TBD
Philadelphia, PA
November 14-15, 2008 (Fri/Sat)
Embassy Suites Philadelphia- Valley Forge
888 Chesterbrook Blvd.
Wayne, PA 19087-5610
You can access our website (www.pampca.org)
or the Saginaw Valley State University (SVSU) website (www.svsu.edu/oce/programs.htm)
to obtain information about where the course will be offered. You
can also find the courses being advertised in the OT
Advance magazine.
You can register for this course on line at www.svsu.edu/oce/programs.htm or
call (989) 964-4475. For more information about the program, call
toll free (866) 341-1406. I hope this information has been helpful
to you.
Sincerely,
Scott McPhee, DrPH, CPAM, OTR/L, FAOTA
Executive Director
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Regulations At the end of this module, you
will:
1. discuss the American Occupational Therapy Association, Inc.,
position on physical agent modality use and educational preparation.
2. identify your state’s regulatory agencies which govern
the use of physical agents by occupational therapy practitioners
and read the rules and regulations.
Superficial Anatomy At the end of this module,
you will:
1. define the normal anatomy of the skin.
2. describe the somatosensory system
3. list the function of normal skin
4. detail the affects of aging on the sensory system
Wound Healing At the end of this module, you
will:
1. classify types of soft tissue injuries
2. address the three phases of repair (inflammation, :proliferation,
and maturation)
3. discuss the cellular processes occurring in each phase
4. review appropriate intervention methods based on research findings
5. describe complications that interfere with normal healing.
Pain Theory and Perception At the end of this
module, you will:
1. define the type or category of pain.
2. describe primary causes of the pain.
3. list the factors that contribute to pain.
4. discuss treatments available for the primary cause of the pain.
5. describe other medical or psychosocial conditions which should
influence the choice of treatment of pain
conditions.
Cryotherapy At the end of this module, you
will:
1. list the biophysical and biophysiological changes which occur
with Cryotherapy
2. identify the indications, contraindications and precautions
for the application of cold agents
3. demonstrate the clinical reasoning involved in the application
of cold agents
4. identify commonly used types of cold agents
5. describe the application procedures for each cold modality
presented in this module
Superficial Heat Agents At the end of this
module, you will:
1. define the term superficial thermal agent.
2. differentiate between the two commonly used methods of heat
transfer: conduction & convection.
3. discuss the four biophysical effects of heat.
4. describe the physiologic response to tissue secondary to temperature
elevation.
5. differentiate between mild, moderate and vigorous dosages of
heat
6. list indications, precautions, and contraindications that should
be considered when using superficial thermal agents.
7. describe the proper clinical applications for hot packs, paraffin
bath, Fluidotherapy, whirlpool, and contrast bath.
Therapeutic Ultrasound and Phonophoresis At
the end of this module, you will:
1. discuss the theory and rationale for the application of therapeutic
ultrasound
2. outline and differentiate between the parameters for therapeutic
ultrasound
3. outline current research trends in the utilization of ultrasound
4. demonstrate clinical decision making in the determination of
the appropriate treatment parameters for ultrasound
5. discuss the clinical procedures for the application of us
6. present guidelines for the safe use of us, contraindications
and precautions for treatment
Principles of Electrotherapy At the end of
this module, you will:
1. identify the relationship between technical terminology and
sensory responses
2. discuss the available parameters of electrical stimulation
devices\describe the principles and concepts of electricity
3. identify the physiological effects of electrical stimulation
Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation At
the end of this module, you will:
1. define the therapeutic goals of electrical therapy.
2. identify the physiological events associated with electrical
stimulation.
3. define the distinguishing characteristic and indications and
contraindications of electrical stimulation.
4. distinguish the physiological effects of various parameters
of electrical stimulation (voltage, type, dosage, duty
cycle, etc.).
5. discuss the therapeutic relationship of electrotherapy with
other therapeutic procedures.
Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation At the
end of this module, you will:
1. describe the clinical application of electrical stimulation
in rehabilitation.
2. outline and discuss the clinical reasoning process used to
determine selection of NMES and appropriate parameters.
3. describe the parameters of therapeutic electrical currents
4. identify the biophysiological responses to electrical currents
5. discuss the indications and contraindications for NMES use.
6. identify appropriate electrode placement for treatment protocols.
Clinical Pharmacology At the end of this module,
you will:
1. discuss the following processes in pharmacokinetics: absorption,
distribution, and metabolism.
2. explain the processes of pharmacodynamics as it pertains to
routine drugs used in Phonophoresis and
Iontophoresis.
3. discuss the effects of physical agents, exercise, and manual
techniques on pharmacokinetics.
4. discuss the aging process as it relates to pharmacokinetics.
Iontophoresis At the end of this module, you
will:
1. describe the clinical applications for Iontophoresis
2. discuss the biophysiology and mechanism related to transdermal
delivery of medication
3. identify common medications used in iontophoresis and their
pharmacology
4. outline clinical decision making regarding iontophoresis, indications
and precautions |
