Rule out the worst first

Learn the diagnostic inversion: start from the presentations that can hurt a patient within hours, then work down to the mechanical diagnosis. Cardiac, vascular, visceral, neurological, and inflammatory mimics, system by system, with the Wells rules, HINTS, and a cranial nerve screen you can run at the bedside.

Calibrated triage

Turn findings into action with the full flag-color system, a five-level urgency taxonomy, a sequential triage algorithm, and the 48-hour rule for managing uncertainty without premature referral or a missed diagnosis.

Imaging, labs, and the handoff

Know when imaging helps and when it harms, which study answers which question, and the named decision rules. Read a CBC, metabolic panel, A1C, INR, and D-dimer well enough to act safely. Then communicate the concern in SBAR so it gets acted on.

About the course

Course 1 defined primary care physical therapy by function. Course 2 gives you the clinical reasoning that makes first-contact practice safe. Six modules move from the diagnostic mindset through multisystem screening, red flags and triage, diagnostic imaging, laboratory values, and the structured handoff that turns your judgment into action. Each module pairs a focused video lecture with a short knowledge check. Plan on about 90 minutes of video plus your own review time. Access is through the BrainSmith Founders Membership, which includes every course in the certificate as it is released.

Eric Robertson, PT, DPT, FAAOMPT

Eric is a physical therapist, educator, and co-founder of BrainSmith. He has spent nearly two decades on DPT faculty, serves on the IFOMPT Standards Committee, and has led curriculum design across residency, fellowship, and continuing education. He built this certificate to give clinicians the screening, reasoning, and communication skills that primary care practice actually demands.

Curriculum

7 Chapters · 13 Lessons

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Welcome to Course 2

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Module 1: The Diagnostic Inversion: Reasoning for First-Contact Practice

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Knowledge check 1

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Module 2: Screening System by System

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Knowledge check 2

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Module 3: Red Flags, Flag Colors, and Triage

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Knowledge check 3

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Module 4: Diagnostic Imaging: When, Which, and Why

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Knowledge check 4

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Module 5: Lab Values for the Primary Care Physical Therapist

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Knowledge check 5

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Module 6: Communicating the Handoff: SBAR and Consultation

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Knowledge check 6

One membership. Every course in the certificate.

The Founders Membership is the only path into the Primary Care Physical Therapy Certificate. Join once and every course arrives as it is released.

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