PAM Certification Course

This 30 hour Physical Agent Modality Course has been designed to enhance the participant’s clinical knowledge of physical agent modalities as a powerful adjunct to the patient’s plan of care. The course utilizes learning techniques such as didactic, case studies, hands on application in lab with each modality and critical thinking activities.  By the end of each session, the participant will be comfortable in identifying when a modality is appropriate, what parameters to use, safe and effective techniques, proper billing, and how to skillfully document the session.

Our course is approved by the NJ State Board of O.T. for the 30-hour Modality Certification for New Jersey. And since we are also approved by AOTA for 30 hours of CE hours, this course also meets the requirement by the Occupational Therapy State Board of Maryland Modality Competency and CE Credits. 

Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:

• Recognize the causes, manifestations of, and explain the physical principles of superficial heat, ultrasound, diathermy, electrical stimulation, iontophoresis, light (LASER, LED/SLED, MIRE) modalities  
• Describe the physiologic effects of superficial heat, ultrasound, diathermy, electrical stimulation , iontophoresis, light (LASER, LED/SLED, MIRE) modalities
• Differentiate the physiologic effects produced by each therapeutic modality
• Identify clinical indications, contraindications and precautions and explain the clinical rationale for prescribing the various modalities discussed in the course
• Explain and demonstrate correct setup procedures and alterable parameters for the various modalities and therapeutic applications and how each will affect intervention outcomes
• Develop and design an individualized plan of intervention, incorporating superficial heat, ultrasound, diathermy, electrical stimulation, iontophoresis, and light modalities
• Interpret current CMS regulations regarding National Coverage Decisions, billing, reimbursement, and skilled documentation for physical agent modalities 
• Describe appropriate objective tests and measures to be utilized with adjunctive modality usage 
• Explain clinical decision making, documentation, billing, and risk management practices pertaining to prescribing physical agent modalities  
• Recognize the current research which provides evidence for therapeutic uses of superficial and deep heating, light, electrical stimulation, and iontophoresis modalities for various clinical programs including falls and balance, muscle strengthening and re-education, pain management, edema reduction and urinary incontinence 

Day #1  

• Ultrasound

8:00am-10:00am 

History, Physical Principles, Terminology, Efficacy, Technique, Safety  

Physiologic Effects: Thermal vs. Non-Thermal 

10:00am-10:15am Break 

10:15am-10:45am 

Ultrasound Lab: Instrumentation and Safe Operation 

10:45am-12:00pm 

Indications

Clinical Applications and Protocols

Contraindications/Warnings  

12:00pm-12:30pm Lunch (on your own)  

12:30pm-1:45pm  

Ultrasound Lab and Case Studies 

1:45pm-2:15pm  

Phonophoresis

Ultrasound in combination with other modalities 

2:15pm-2:30pm Break

2:30pm-3:00pm 

Documentation, Billing, Risk Management 

• Shortwave Diathermy

3:00pm-4:15pm 

History, Physical Principles, Terminology, Efficacy, Technique, Safety 

Physiologic Effects: Thermal vs. Sub-Thermal 

4:15pm-4:30pm Break

4:30pm-4:45pm  

Shortwave Diathermy Lab: Instrumentation and Safe Operation 

4:45pm-6:00pm 

Indications 

Contraindications/Warnings

Clinical Applications and Protocols

6:00pm-6:30pm  

Documentation, Billing, Risk Management 

6:30pm-7:15pm 

SWD Lab and Case Studies

US vs. SWD comparison       

Day #2  

• Light Therapy

8:00am-10:30am 

History, Physical Principles, Terminology, Efficacy, Technique, Safety 

Physiologic Effects 

10:30am-10:45am Break 

10:45am-11:45am  

Indications 

Contraindications and Warnings

Clinical Applications and Protocols

Documentation, Billing, Risk Management

11:45am-12:15pm 

Light Wave Therapy Lab: Instrumentation, Safe Operation and Case Studies  

12:15pm-12:45pm Lunch (on your own)  

• Electrotherapy

12:45pm-3:30pm 

History, Physical Principles, Terminology, Efficacy, Technique, Safety 

3:30pm-3:45pm Break

3:45pm-5:00pm  

Electrotherapy Lab: Instrumentation and Safe Operation 

5:00pm-7:15pm  

Physiologic Effects of Electrical Stimulation

Clinical Indications for Electrical Stimulation

Contraindications/Warnings 

Day #3  

8:00am-9:00am 

Electrotherapy Application and Protocols for Pain Management  

9:00am-9:45am 

Pain Management Lab 

9:45am-10:00am Break 

10:00am-11:00am

Electrotherapy Application and Protocols for Muscle Re-education 

11:00am-12:00pm 

Muscle Re-education Lab  

12:00pm-12:30pm Lunch (on your own)  

12:30pm-1:30pm 

Electrotherapy Application and Protocols for Tissue Healing and Increasing Circulation 

1:30pm-2:30pm

Tissue Healing and Increasing Circulation Lab 

2:30pm-3:30pm 

Principles and Application of Iontophoresis 

3:30-3:45 Break 

3:45pm-5:00pm 

Iontophoresis Lab

Principles and Application of Biofeedback and Surface EMG 

5:00pm-5:30pm 

Documentation, Billing, Risk Management 

5:30pm-6:45pm 

Electrotherapy Case Studies