Reason like an expert

The dual process model, metacognition, calibrated confidence, and how to work with uncertainty without faking certainty or freezing.

Cases that look musculoskeletal

Six worked cases across cardiac, vascular, pulmonary, rheumatologic, pediatric, and geriatric presentations, plus the four-tier safety decision tree.

Lead from any seat

SBAR, RACI, adaptive leadership, and a structured way through conflict, then a first ninety days plan for building your referral network.

About the course

Course 5 of the Primary Care Physical Therapy Certificate builds reasoning capacity rather than new content. Across six modules you will work through the generalist mindset and the cognitive science of expert judgment, six complex multisystem cases, imaging and pharmacology judgment in the grey zone, interprofessional leadership, and pathway design for high-complexity patients across the emergency department, acute care, and the home. The capstone runs one full case through the five-step pathway: safety, value, equity, function, reflect. Each module pairs a short video with a knowledge check. Included with your BrainSmith membership.

Eric Robertson, PT, DPT, FAAOMPT

Eric Robertson is a co-founder of BrainSmith and a physical therapy educator with nearly two decades on DPT faculty. He teaches at the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences, serves on the IFOMPT Standards Committee, and hosts the PT Outcast podcast. His work focuses on primary care physical therapy, clinical reasoning, and curricular innovation.

Curriculum

7 Chapters · 13 Lessons

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Welcome to Course 5

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Module 1: The Advanced Primary Care Physical Therapy Mindset

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Knowledge check 1

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Module 2: Complex Multisystem Case Decision-Making

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Knowledge check 2

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Module 3: Imaging and Pharmacology Integration

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Knowledge check 3

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Module 4: Interprofessional Collaboration: Leading in Primary Care Teams

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Knowledge check 4

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Module 5: Designing Care Pathways for High-Complexity Patients

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Knowledge check 5

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Module 6: Capstone Integration

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Knowledge check 6

Ready for Course 5?

Log in to your BrainSmith membership to start Course 5. Six modules, six knowledge checks, about 90 minutes.

Please contact us for access. Opens email in new window