Acute Conversations

APTA Acute Care
  • 4.9 (18)
  • Medicine
  • Updated Semiweekly

We share engaging conversations about acute care physical therapy so you can connect to your profession.

  1. May 27

    Pediatric Vital Signs: Development of a New, Valuable Resource

    Show Notes  Pediatric vital signs are more than numbers on a monitor — they are part of a larger clinical picture that includes development, physiology, behavior, medical complexity and careful observation. In this episode of Acute Conversations, host Dr. Leo Arguelles is joined by Ashley Parish, PT, DPT, PhD, CRT, CCS, and Dawn Drumm, PT, DHSc, two contributors to the new Pediatric Vital Signs Guide. Together, they discuss how the resource came to life, why collaboration across APTA Acute Care, the Academy of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Physical Therapy, and pediatric clinicians was essential, and how the guide can support therapists across settings. Ashley and Dawn share the challenges of building a practical document from variable pediatric references, the importance of using the guide alongside clinical reasoning, and why pediatric knowledge matters even for therapists who primarily treat adults. From infants in the NICU to adults living with congenital conditions, this episode highlights the need to think across the lifespan. Today’s Guests: Dawn Drumm PT, DHSc ddrumm@luriechildrens.org https://www.linkedin.com/in/dawn-drumm-b141b455/ IG: drummdawn Ashley Parish PT, DPT, PhD, CRT, CCS ashbrown@uab.edu https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashley-parish-pt-dpt-phd-crt-ccs-b98b60273/ IG: ashleyparish_pt Guest Quotes: 18:31 Ashley “ What we came up with originally, and Dawn will probably laugh, it’s a massive- massive document. It was a textbook. And we were like- … “Yeah, we gotta shave this down and make it like a guide people can actually use in clinic practice.” 21:05 Dawn “First look at the document, it’s a great overview of just the lifespan within a pediatric lens. And so honing in on those first few areas of content, it just gives you kind of basics. Heart rate through the lifespan, your, respiratory rate… I think that beginning section is really important to highlight so that way you’re getting your foundational guidance that way.” 28:51 Ashley “ If you specifically wanna go into acute care peds, sometimes it’s difficult to find a job because there aren’t as many pediatric hospitals as there are adult hospitals, so just hang in there if it’s really hard for you to get on at first. Get experience in acute care. That always looks really good if you go from an adult hospital to a pediatric hospital. But those jobs do open up, so just be patient if you can’t find one right out of school ’cause no one likes to leave pediatric acute care. It’s the best setting.” Rapid Responses:  What’s your favorite color scrubs to wear while you’re at work? Ashley “ Oh, since I’m a peds therapist, it’s always fun, bright colors. I would say Barney purple is my favorite set. Barney purple.” Dawn “ Okay. So sadly, we don’t actually have to wear scrubs at work. Oh, wow … and we don’t have a color. But I feel like physical therapy was always blue. We always were like- … blue at county, Going with my basic blue.”  You know you’re an acute care therapist when… Ashley “You have a distain for purewicks.” Dawn “ You’ve have changed more diapers than you would probably like. Yes. So getting down- In both adult and pediatrics, right? Both. Oh, yes … you can’t get away without poop talk.” Links: Pediatric Vital Sign Interpretation in Acute Care Guide 2025 https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/13/24/7681/xml https://www.sralab.org/research/labs/max-nader-rto/projects/intervention-promote-motor-development-infants 🎧 Connect with Our Hosts Leo Arguelles (pronounced LEE-O R-GWELL-IS) 📧 largue2@uic.edu 🐦 Twitter: @LeoArguellesPT Nicole Neveau, PT, DPT, NCS 📧 ngunder1@gmail.com 🔗 LinkedIn: Nicole Neveau Danny Young, PT, DPT, PhD 📧 daniel.young@unlv.edu 🐦 X: @DLYoungDPTPhD 🌐 Bluesky: @dlyoungdptphd.bsky.social 🎧 Listen now on Spotify | Apple Podcasts (Or wherever you get your podcasts) #AcuteCare #PhysicalTherapy #ClinicalEducation #HealthcareLeadership Interested in being a future guest? APTA Acute Care: Website Awards Journal Access https://www.aptaacutecare.org/page/AspireandAchieveMentorshipProgram Twitter @AcuteCareAPTA Facebook APTA Acute Care Instagram @AcademyAcutePT YouTube  APTA Acute Care Podcast APTA Acute Care Resources APTA Adult Vital Signs APTA Lab Values Document Webinar Recordings

    37 min

  2. May 6

    More than just a PTA: A New Passionate Why

    Episode Description: What happens when burnout becomes a turning point instead of an exit? In this episode of Acute Conversations, Abby Catamas joins co-host Nicole Neveau and host Leo Arguelles for a candid and energizing conversation about identity, advocacy, and growth as a physical therapist assistant in acute care. Abby shares the pivotal moment when she nearly stepped away from the profession—and how stepping into leadership as PTA Member at Large helped her rediscover purpose. Together, they unpack what it means to practice at the top of your license, the evolving role of PTAs in high-acuity environments like the ICU, and why representation and voice matter now more than ever. This episode also dives into the Advanced Proficiency Pathway for PTAs, highlighting opportunities for clinical growth, recognition, and long-term career development. From navigating interprofessional dynamics to building trust within PT/PTA partnerships, Abby offers a grounded perspective shaped by real bedside experience. If you’ve ever questioned your “why,” this conversation is a reminder that it can evolve—and that growth often starts with using your voice. Today’s Guests: Abby Catamas, PTA APTA Acute Care PTA Member At Large johnsonabby96@gmail.com IG: @rose17abby Guest Quotes: 6:55 “ I think my best advice is just. You don’t have to give up your initial why, but maybe try to find a different why. It’s part of growth. It’s part of developing in your career too.” 25:46 “ Archana and I presented on APTA conference actually about like improving PT-PTA collaboration for like bi-directional mentorship and Partnership for improved patient outcomes. It all comes down to communication too. If I never communicate with my PT about what’s going on or questions I may have, how is my supervising PT on that floor? Going to feel comfortable that I’m doing an adequate chart review or that I know what I’m doing with my patient if I never update them with how a patient’s doing.” 30:32 “ She’s even though we supervise the PTAs, we are not like, you’re not above or below anybody. We’re supposed to work together. And that is the truest that is the truest statement I’ve heard as far as our profession is concerned, especially in acute care.” Rapid Responses:  Give us another podcast that you would recommend for our listeners to listen to. “Morning Cup of Murder: It’s this day in history of what happened in the past of like different unsolved mysteries.”  You know you’re an acute care therapist when…  “Your closet is primarily scrubs.” Links: https://academy.aptaacutecare.org/products/2025-09-29-more-than-just-a-pta 🎧 Connect with Our Hosts Leo Arguelles (pronounced LEE-O R-GWELL-IS) 📧 largue2@uic.edu 🐦 Twitter: @LeoArguellesPT Nicole Neveau, PT, DPT, NCS 📧 ngunder1@gmail.com 🔗 LinkedIn: Nicole Neveau Danny Young, PT, DPT, PhD 📧 daniel.young@unlv.edu 🐦 X: @DLYoungDPTPhD 🌐 Bluesky: @dlyoungdptphd.bsky.social 🎧 Listen now on Spotify | Apple Podcasts (Or wherever you get your podcasts) #AcuteCare #PhysicalTherapy #ClinicalEducation #HealthcareLeadership Interested in being a future guest? APTA Acute Care: Website Awards Journal Access https://www.aptaacutecare.org/page/AspireandAchieveMentorshipProgram Twitter @AcuteCareAPTA Facebook APTA Acute Care Instagram @AcademyAcutePT YouTube  APTA Acute Care Podcast APTA Acute Care Resources APTA Adult Vital Signs APTA Lab Values Document Webinar Recordings

    43 min

  3. Apr 1

    Breakthrough Insights Live at CSM: Inspiring Growth in Acute Care

    Show Notes  What does acute care physical therapy look like when you step outside your hospital and into a national conversation? In this special solo-hosted episode, Dr. Leo Arguelles takes listeners on the floor at APTA’s Combined Sections Meeting (CSM), capturing real-time conversations with clinicians, leaders, and innovators across the profession. Through a series of candid, unscripted exchanges, this episode highlights the energy, ideas, and evolving perspectives shaping acute care today. From discussions on professional identity and clinical growth to reflections on where acute care fits within the broader rehabilitation landscape, a common thread emerges: connection drives progress. These conversations reveal how clinicians are thinking differently about their roles, advocating for their patients, and pushing practice forward in meaningful ways. Rather than focusing on a single topic, this episode offers a mosaic of insights—each voice adding depth to the bigger picture of acute care practice in 2026. Whether you attended CSM or not, this episode brings the experience to you—capturing the momentum, curiosity, and shared purpose that define our profession. Today’s Guests: Numerous CSM 2026 Attendees 🎧 Connect with Our Hosts Leo Arguelles (pronounced LEE-O R-GWELL-IS) 📧 largue2@uic.edu 🐦 Twitter: @LeoArguellesPT Nicole Neveau, PT, DPT, NCS 📧 ngunder1@gmail.com 🔗 LinkedIn: Nicole Neveau Danny Young, PT, DPT, PhD 📧 daniel.young@unlv.edu 🐦 X: @DLYoungDPTPhD 🌐 Bluesky: @dlyoungdptphd.bsky.social 🎧 Listen now on Spotify | Apple Podcasts (Or wherever you get your podcasts) #AcuteCare #PhysicalTherapy #ClinicalEducation #HealthcareLeadership Interested in being a future guest? APTA Acute Care: Website Awards Journal Access https://www.aptaacutecare.org/page/AspireandAchieveMentorshipProgram Twitter @AcuteCareAPTA Facebook APTA Acute Care Instagram @AcademyAcutePT YouTube  APTA Acute Care Podcast APTA Acute Care Resources APTA Adult Vital Signs APTA Lab Values Document Webinar Recordings

    40 min

  4. Feb 9

    Preparing for CSM 2026: Inspiring Growth in Acute Care

    Show Notes  As APTA’s Combined Sections Meeting heads to Anaheim, this special episode offers a behind-the-scenes look at how acute care programming comes together — and how clinicians can prepare with purpose. Co-hosts Dr. Leo Arguelles and Dr. Nicole Neveau are joined by James Crick, PT, DPT, PhD, and Jean Woolford, PT, DPT, co-chairs of acute care programming for CSM, to discuss session planning, emerging themes, and practical tips for navigating the conference and making meaningful professional connections. Today’s Guests: Enjeen Wolford, PTA enjeen@gmail.com James P. Crick, Jr., PT, DPT, PhD jamescrickdpt@gmail.com Co-Chairs, CSM Education Programming, APTA Acute Care Guest Quotes: 5:28 “ Our big goal is to cultivate and bring up the new speakers and the people that have never spoken in a conference before. That’s our big push…” 8:49 “ This is the place to network and to connect.  That is the most important and valuable thing that I would give anybody who’s new or newer to attending CSM.” 27:46 “ So comfortable shoes are definite must!” 27:50 “I’ll remember the first time I ever went to CSM I walked in and I couldn’t believe the masses of people that were crossing the street and walking around, and they were all PTs or PTAs, all of them. They just took over the city. The whole city was taken over and it’s a lot, but it’s so energetic. It’s so much fun and there’s so many great things you can get there.” Rapid Responses:  If you had to go to work at Disneyland as a Disney character for the day, which character would you pick? James: “ I’ll go with Aladdin.  I actually have one of my first jobs in acute care in Naples, Florida. Shout out Naples Community Hospital. They I had a nurse who said. Did you know that your hair looks like Aladdin? Me? A lot of always will be Aladdin from here on out.” Enjeen: Goofy You know you work in acute care when…  Enjeen: “When you have to go look for your nurse on the floor before you see a patient.”  James: “So it’s standing at the bedside first time in a long time and they get to embrace for, physically for the first time in a long time. The therapeutic hug.” Links: Acute Care CSM 2026 Programming: https://apta.confex.com/apta/csm2026/meetingapp.cgi/Subject/220 APTA CSM Event App: https://csm.apta.org/programming/csm-events-app APTA CSM Proposal and Abstract Submissions: https://csm.apta.org/programming/csm-submissions 🎧 Connect with Our Hosts Leo Arguelles (pronounced LEE-O R-GWELL-IS) 📧 largue2@uic.edu 🐦 Twitter: @LeoArguellesPT Nicole Neveau, PT, DPT, NCS 📧 ngunder1@gmail.com 🔗 LinkedIn: Nicole Neveau Danny Young, PT, DPT, PhD 📧 daniel.young@unlv.edu 🐦 X: @DLYoungDPTPhD 🌐 Bluesky: @dlyoungdptphd.bsky.social 🎧 Listen now on Spotify | Apple Podcasts (Or wherever you get your podcasts) #AcuteCare #PhysicalTherapy #ClinicalEducation #HealthcareLeadership Interested in being a future guest? APTA Acute Care: Website Awards Journal Access https://www.aptaacutecare.org/page/AspireandAchieveMentorshipProgram Twitter @AcuteCareAPTA Facebook APTA Acute Care Instagram @AcademyAcutePT YouTube  APTA Acute Care Podcast APTA Acute Care Resources APTA Adult Vital Signs APTA Lab Values Document Webinar Recordings

    38 min

  5. Feb 4

    Building Better Decisions: How PT-PENCIL Shapes Acute Care

    Show Notes: How do physical therapists decide who needs therapy today—and how often—when resources are limited and patient needs change by the hour? In this episode of Acute Conversations, hosts Leo Arguelles and Daniel Young sit down with Joshua Johnson, Sandra Passek, and Brittany Lapin to unpack the development and validation of PT-PENCIL, a clinical decision support tool designed to help acute care PTs prioritize care using real-world data. The conversation goes beyond algorithms. The guests walk through how a multidisciplinary learning community shaped PT-PENCIL, why documentation quality matters more than we think, and how predictive models can support—rather than replace—clinical judgment. They also tackle the realities of “it depends,” workflow integration, and why identifying patients on the fence may be where therapy makes the biggest impact. This episode is a must-listen for clinicians, educators, and leaders navigating triage, staffing, and value-based care in today’s hospitals. Today’s Guests: Joshua Johnson PT, DPT, PhD joshua.johnson@duke.edu Sandra Passek PT, DPT, Rehabilitation Manager Clinical Informatics at Cleveland Clinic Brittany Lapin PhD, Associate Professor of Biostatistics lapinb@ccf.org https://www.linkedin.com/in/brittany-lapin-004710b/ Guest Quotes: 7:44 “ I can’t help therapists set a frequency at the outset of a patient’s hospitalization. The best thing we could do and what we felt like really was the most appropriate thing to do was help therapists recognize which patients they needed to see the next day.” 20:43 “really what we found is that everybody benefits from PT. And so that ended up having a lot of discussions with the learning community about how do we then flag patients based on like clinically driven decisions rather than just the statistical model?” 32:27 “ So while we said a lot about helping individual clinicians make decisions about triage. I also think that there’s an opportunity here for managers and leaders to think through, how can I do something like that to support the clinicians that work for me.” Rapid Responses:   What patient population do you enjoy thinking about or working with the most? Brittany: “ As a statistician, I like surgical patients the most because there’s a date, there’s a pre and there’s a post.” Sandi “I like the geriatric population. It doesn’t matter what it is. I think there’s just a lot to learn from them.” Josh “ When I see patients I’m usually on our neurological floor and I really enjoy that. But I’ll admit a bias that I’ve, this little bit of time that I’ve spent in cardiovascular ICUs have been absolutely fascinating. And if I were to do full-time clinical care, I’d want to get trained to really take care of that population.” You know you work in acute care when… Josh “ Your treatment plan changes three times before you make it from the doorway to the edge of the bed.” Sandi “Things change all the time in acute care. You just have to be ready for it. You have to be resilient and just move with it.” Brittany “  📍 Lots of sensitivity analysis with your/any studies.” Links: https://academic.oup.com/ptj/article-abstract/105/9/pzaf093/8198102?redirectedFrom=fulltext 🎧 Connect with Our Hosts Leo Arguelles (pronounced LEE-O R-GWELL-IS) 📧 largue2@uic.edu 🐦 Twitter: @LeoArguellesPT Nicole Neveau, PT, DPT, NCS 📧 ngunder1@gmail.com 🔗 LinkedIn: Nicole Neveau Danny Young, PT, DPT, PhD 📧 daniel.young@unlv.edu 🐦 X: @DLYoungDPTPhD 🌐 Bluesky: @dlyoungdptphd.bsky.social 🎧 Listen now on Spotify | Apple Podcasts (Or wherever you get your podcasts) #AcuteCare #PhysicalTherapy #ClinicalEducation #HealthcareLeadership Interested in being a future guest? APTA Acute Care: Website Awards Journal Access https://www.aptaacutecare.org/page/AspireandAchieveMentorshipProgram Twitter @AcuteCareAPTA Facebook APTA Acute Care Instagram @AcademyAcutePT YouTube  APTA Acute Care Podcast APTA Acute Care Resources APTA Adult Vital Signs APTA Lab Values Document Webinar Recordings

    44 min

  6. Jan 14

    Reigniting the Spark: A Breakthrough Approach to Acute Care Burnout

    Show Notes S4E1 Burnout isn’t just a buzzword — it’s a lived experience for many clinicians working in hospital settings. In the Season 4 premiere of Acute Conversations, co-hosts Dr. Leo Arguelles and Dr. Danny Young are joined by Kelly Murphy, PT, DPT; Maria Tucker, PT, DPT; and Laura Cataldo, MOT, OT to unpack what burnout really looks like in acute care — and what can actually be done about it. Drawing from their published work in the Journal of Acute Care Physical Therapy and their experience leading a departmental burnout initiative at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, the guests break down how burnout is defined, how it can be measured, and why it so often goes unrecognized until clinicians are already depleted. They explore the core components of burnout — emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and diminished personal accomplishment — and why acute care environments uniquely intensify each one. The conversation goes beyond awareness to action, highlighting both individual strategies and system-level interventions that can help clinicians reconnect with purpose while still navigating high-acuity, high-demand settings. From grounding techniques that work mid-shift to organizational changes that foster transparency, recognition, and trust, this episode offers a practical and hopeful framework for clinicians who want to keep showing up — without losing themselves in the process. Today’s Guests: Kelly Murphy PT, DPT kamurphy0615@gmail.com Maria Tucker PT, DPT mtucker4@bidmc.harvard.edu Laura Cataldo MOT, OT lecataldoqu@gmail.com Guest Quotes: 11:14 Laura “ …in our research, it, burnout is not something that can be fixed by doing individual interventions alone. And in a setting such as a hospital, or other large organizations, you really have to focus on organizational changes as well to have an effect on burnout.” 26:21 Maria “… another like self-reflection piece is like, yeah, we’re burnt out, but also our managers and leadership and everybody, like they’re burnt out as well. … but realizing and saying, they can be burnt out and they are burnt out and we’re just experiencing a different area of burnout or a reason for burnout. But at the end of the day, we all have the same like kind of feelings.” 32:05 Kelly “ I think it just brought general awareness to how good it feels to remind our staff. Shout each other out or thank someone for their help thing. And then, gosh, I still, to this day, every day on my commute home on the train there’s one intervention that we talk about in here. Three good things. I still do that every day on the way home because I’m like, you know what? Even if this was the worst day ever and my patients. Really had a hard day all day. I can still choose three good things, even if it’s not patient care related.” Rapid Responses:  What’s your best stress relief activity on the weekends when you’re not working?  Ski and golf. Oh, we’re all answering…I like going for a walk with my dog. You know you work in acute care when… Laura “When your knee deep in bodily fluids” Maria “ When you have determined both your worst and best outcome for every single patient before you enter the room.” Kelly “ When you come down to lunch and different scrubs and you start out the day in… Or if you’re throwing away your sneakers, like it’s beyond just a bleach wipe.” Links: https://journals.lww.com/jacpt/abstract/2025/04000/assessing_and_managing_prevalence_of_burnout_in.1.aspx 🎧 Connect with Our Hosts Leo Arguelles (pronounced LEE-O R-GWELL-IS) 📧 largue2@uic.edu 🐦 Twitter: @LeoArguellesPT Nicole Neveau, PT, DPT, NCS 📧 ngunder1@gmail.com 🔗 LinkedIn: Nicole Neveau Danny Young, PT, DPT, PhD 📧 daniel.young@unlv.edu 🐦 X: @DLYoungDPTPhD 🌐 Bluesky: @dlyoungdptphd.bsky.social 🎧 Listen now on Spotify | Apple Podcasts (Or wherever you get your podcasts) #AcuteCare #PhysicalTherapy #ClinicalEducation #HealthcareLeadership Interested in being a future guest? APTA Acute Care: Website Awards Journal Access https://www.aptaacutecare.org/page/AspireandAchieveMentorshipProgram Twitter @AcuteCareAPTA Facebook APTA Acute Care Instagram @AcademyAcutePT YouTube  APTA Acute Care Podcast APTA Acute Care Resources APTA Adult Vital Signs APTA Lab Values Document Webinar Recordings

    46 min

  7. 12/10/2025

    The Specialization Shift: Inspiring Growth in Acute Care Practice

    Show Notes  Specialization can shape a therapist’s confidence, identity, and long-term trajectory — but the pathways to get there aren’t always clear. In this episode of Acute Conversations, co-hosts Dr. Leo Arguelles and Dr. Nicole Neveau sit down with Dr. Leslie Ayres, Rajashree Mondkar, and Dr. Terry Schwing to explore what it really takes to pursue the Cardiovascular & Pulmonary (CCS) specialty. Together, they unpack three very different journeys: the traditional pathway, residency-based training, and fellowship experience. Leslie reflects on how a single listserv email led her to a CVP residency five years into practice. Rajashree shares what it meant to become one of the first CCS clinicians in Texas back in 1994. Terry explains how fellowship training and outcomes research shaped his voice in ICU mobility and cardiopulmonary care. Across their stories, one message stands out: there is no single “right” pathway — but there is always a spark. Listeners will hear candid reflections on mentorship, research expectations, clinical identity, and how specialization deepens bedside reasoning across acute care settings. Whether you’re a student curious about your future or a clinician considering your next step, this conversation offers clarity, inspiration, and practical insight into navigating the specialization journey. Today’s Guests: Leslie Ayers PT, DPT, EdD, CCS leslie.ayres@unthsc.edu Rajashree Mondkar PT, MSPT, CCS MondkarR@gmail.com Terry Schwing PT, DPT CCS Guest Quotes: 6:47  Leslie “ And that’s really what inspired me was just, I was thinking, I want to know more about these patients. I wanna get better at treating these patients. I wanna be an expert at this.” 17:34 Terry “ I think specialization really gives you an opportunity to delve deep into what you’re interested in and learn probably a lot more than you maybe thought you would need to know or I topics outside of maybe what your niche current interest is in. And it opens up your world as to all the different things that physical therapy is able to provide for patients.” 20:07 Rajashree “ I think they students, definitely very important because even if you’re not ready to do specialization, as soon as you are out, because you need few years of experience, you need to find where you are passionate about. You can see that even if there, there are many places, maybe the residencies are not available for cardiopulmonary, but you can reach out… You can find mentoring, mentorship, you can find avenues how to get there. And people are, I think people are eager to always guide others. To get to where you are. And that’s how our profession grows.” Rapid Responses:  How fast do you think you could run a hundred meters pushing a crash cart? Leslie “ So my rule for running is to finish in the upright position, but you don’t have to be first. So as long as you get there cart intact, it doesn’t matter how long it takes.” Rajashree “ And my goal is to get there and not that crash cart meeting for me.” Terry “ Yeah. I don’t know. I feel like a lot of the crash carts sometimes have rickety wheels, so I might just be trying to get it there as well. And just not falling and tipping the whole cart with me.” You know you work in acute care when… Leslie “ when you spent 30 minutes with a patient just to go to the restroom and their question is. That’s all we’re doing today.” Rajashree “when you are untangling lines and wiping somebody’s bumps. I did not know in PT school when I went that I’ll be. “ Terry “ I guess I might say you’re an acute therapist and I always think about whenever I’m watching like TV shows or something like that and I see like someone intubated or an eek g on the screen and things like that. And I’m like, I’m always like, okay, is that the appropriate rhythm or intubation like method for like for this patient at that time? And I’m always like they did okay.” Links: Vital Pathways Webinar Connect with our host and the podcast! Leo Arguelles (LEE-O R-GWELL-IS) largue2@uic.edu Twitter @LeoArguellesPT Nicole Neveau ngunder1@gmail.com LinkedIn Danny Young daniel.young@unlv.edu X – @DLYoungDPTPhD Bluesky – @dlyoungdptphd.bsky.social Interested in being a future guest? APTA Acute Care: Website Awards Journal Access https://www.aptaacutecare.org/page/AspireandAchieveMentorshipProgram Twitter @AcuteCareAPTA Facebook APTA Acute Care Instagram @AcademyAcutePT YouTube  APTA Acute Care Podcast APTA Acute Care Resources APTA Adult Vital Signs APTA Lab Values Document Webinar Recordings

    26 min

  8. 11/18/2025

    Measuring What Matters: A New Path for Acute Care Practice

    How do we measure what truly matters in acute care — and why does it finally feel possible to do it well? In this week’s episode, co-hosts Dr. Nicole Neveau and Dr. Leo Arguelles sit down with Dr. Caitlyn Crandall and Dr. Lindsey Fresenko, two contributors to the new clinical practice guideline, “A Core Set of Outcome Measures to Assess Physical Function for Adults Participating in Physical Therapist Treatment in the Hospital.” Together, they unpack how this Core Outcome Measures (COMs) Set was built, what makes each measure clinically feasible, and how the guideline is already reshaping evaluation, communication, and discharge planning across hospital-based physical therapy. Caitlyn and Lindsey share what surprised them during development, how psychometric rigor and real-world feasibility shaped the final set, and why standardized measurement doesn’t replace clinical reasoning — it strengthens it. They also preview their upcoming APTA Acute Care webinar and reflect on how a shared measurement language can help clinicians advocate for staffing, demonstrate value, and elevate patient care. Whether you’re an ICU therapist, med-surg clinician, educator, or student, this conversation offers a clearer, more confident path for integrating outcome measures in acute care. Today’s Guests: Dr. Caitlyn Crandall, PT, DPT, CCS, RYT Email: caitlyn.crandall@unchealth.unc.edu LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caitlyn-crandall-dpt Instagram: @CaitlynCrandall   Dr. Lindsey Fresenko, PT, DPT, PhD Email: lindsey.fresenko@utoledo.edu Publications: • PTJ CPG: https://academic.oup.com/ptj/article/105/6/pzaf076/8140951 • CC&E Journal: https://journals.lww.com/ccejournal/fulltext/2024/12000/rehabilitation_and_social_determinants_of_health.8.aspx Guest Quotes: Caitlyn: “These outcome measures aren’t meant to replace clinical decision-making — they’re meant to support it.” Lindsey: “The importance of having an evidence-based core outcome measure set is now utilizing it in practice.” Caitlyn: “Parts of these outcome measures are already what we’re doing. The COMs help organize and standardize it.” Rapid Responses: What’s the dumbest way you’ve injured yourself? • Caitlyn: “I fell off my horse — he stopped, I kept going.” • Lindsey: “I stepped on my own pinky toe in middle school and broke it.” You know you work in acute care when… • Caitlyn: “You’ve led a parade down the hallway with ECMO, an IABP, and half the team following behind.” • Lindsey: “Carrying socks in your pocket is an everyday thing.” Links: A Core Set of Outcome Measures to Assess Physical Function for Adults Participating in Physical Therapist Treatment in the Hospital- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40403754/ 🎧 Connect with Our Hosts Leo Arguelles (pronounced LEE-O R-GWELL-IS) 📧 largue2@uic.edu 🐦 Twitter: @LeoArguellesPT Nicole Neveau, PT, DPT, NCS 📧 ngunder1@gmail.com 🔗 LinkedIn: Nicole Neveau Danny Young, PT, DPT, PhD 📧 daniel.young@unlv.edu 🐦 X: @DLYoungDPTPhD 🌐 Bluesky: @dlyoungdptphd.bsky.social 🎧 Listen now on Spotify | Apple Podcasts (Or wherever you get your podcasts)

    36 min
See All (61)

4.9
out of 5
18 Ratings

About

We share engaging conversations about acute care physical therapy so you can connect to your profession.

Information

  • Creator
    APTA Acute Care
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    61
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Show Website
    Acute Conversations

You Might Also Like