Implementation
A major goal of APTA Orthopedics is to provide for the interchange and dissemination of information about current trends and practices related to orthopedic physical therapy (PT). As a means to accomplish this goal, APTA Orthopedics has sponsored the creation and development of Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPGs). The purpose of CPGs is to describe evidence based PT practice, classify and define common musculoskeletal conditions, and identify interventions supported by best current evidence to address impairment, functional limitation, and disability. Essentially CPGs are a one-stop shop for best care practices, and every physical therapist treating patients with orthopedic conditions should be familiar with CPGs in their practice area.
APTA Orthopedics is committed to the implementation of CPGs in real-world clinics. Implementation science is the study of methods to promote the adoption and integration of evidence-based practices, interventions and policies into routine health care and public health settings. Implementation research plays an important role in identifying barriers to, and enablers of, effective global health programming and policy making, and leveraging that knowledge to develop evidence-based innovations in effective delivery approaches (source: https://www.fic.nih.gov/researchtopics/pages/implementationscience.aspx).
To date, APTA Orthopedics has developed numerous CPGs and related implementation resources like decision trees, patient education handouts, videos, etc, which can all be found here.
Resources, tools, and articles related to Implementation and Planning for Implementation:
- APTA Orthopaedic Clinical Practice Guidelines – Reach, Perceptions, Use, and Impact: A Survey Study
- Orientation to Dissemination and Implementation Research in Health Resource Guide:
- CoHSTAR Institute:
- Example of Barriers/facilitators from National Cancer Institute:
- SQUIRE guidelines for reporting on quality improvement:
- Journal specific to Implementation related articles and research: