Course Series

This course is designed to update participants on the latest evidence and clinical application of Therapeutic Neuroscience Education (TNE) for patients in pain. Current best evidence has shown that neuroscience educational strategies utilizing neurobiology and neurophysiology are able to reduce pain, increase function, reduce fear and catastrophization, improve movement and change cognitions and brain activation during pain experiences. Therapeutic neuroscience education changes patient beliefs regarding their pain, thus reducing the threat of pain. This class will discuss the evolution of TNE, why neuroscience education is needed in physical therapy and, more importantly, the clinical application and implementation of TNE for patients with acute, sub-acute and chronic pain.

Outcomes

• Discuss the latest evidence for therapeutic neuroscience education.
• Demonstrate the clinical ability to apply therapeutic neuroscience education to clinical practice with the use of at least one metaphor shared in class.
• List at least half of the output systems discussed in class and their response in a chronic pain patient.
• List potential strategies to implement therapeutic neuroscience into clinic practice regarding time, staff, billing and traditional therapeutic treatments.
• Design a treatment plan for a chronic pain patient based on output system dysfunctions with correct pain neurophysiological reasoning behind the treatment with information provided in the course.

As technology, patient-needs, health care cost and growing populations meet, telehealth is emerging as a viable option serving people in need of health care. This is especially true for chronic medical conditions that require monitoring and guidance, such as diabetes, heart disease, rheumatoid arthritis and persistent pain. Telehealth has seen a steady, progressive growth over time and recently catapulted forward due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This introductory course will teach clinicians about the history and evolution of telehealth; benefits of telehealth; evidence for telehealth; regulations such as liability, confidentiality, documentation, billing and legislative issues surrounding telehealth. Furthermore, this course will step-by-step teach clinicians how to set up and use telehealth. This practical course is a must for all clinicians interested in developing a sound base knowledge of telehealth.

Outcomes

1. Develop an understanding of how telehealth emerged as a growing and viable option to deliver health care.
2. Recognize current best-evidence pertaining to telehealth for various medical conditions.
3. Establish a foundational knowledge of the current procedural issues surrounding telehealth including legislation, liability, documentation, and billing.
4. Be able to apply strategies from this class to develop, implement and market a telehealth program in their clinic.

This self-directed course which seeks to educate providers on the benefits of use of virtual reality to deliver digital therapeutic interventions for patients in chronic pain.

Part 1: Introductory content – history of VR, evolution, evidence, VR for pain and ultimately why VR PNE?

Part 2: Learn the PNE VR content by experiencing it. When a therapist starts this track, a VR headset is shipped to them, and they get a 30 day trial access to BehaVR’s PNE+ in VR program on their headset. They go through a few pain stories, mindfulness, relaxation and breathing sessions in that program (not all content – just the most pertinent ones). This way they experience it and have a real working knowledge of PNE VR. Once done with the course, and at the end of their 30 day access trial, the PT can either purchase a BehaVR clinician license to continue using the PNE+ in VR program on their headset, or they can decide to not continue with the VR program. In the latter case, their access to the program will be revoked by BehaVR at the end of their 30 day access trial, but can be reactivated by purchasing a license with BehaVR in the future.

Part 3: Clinical application – here we cover all the clinical logistics – who needs it; how to use in the clinic; billing; documentation; clinical pearls; interviews with super-users; etc.

Objectives

• Explain the evolution of Virtual Reality (VR), VR in medicine and pain
• Implement the use of the BehaVR program into their clinical practice
• Explain to a patient/client the benefit of digital therapeutics for learning about chronic pain
• Answer questions from a patient/client about what the digital therapeutic experience entails
• Explain to a patient/client the role of ion channels in their pain experience
• Explain to a patient/client how/why pain spreads
• Explain to a patient/client that tissue issues are only part of their pain experience
• List potential strategies to implement therapeutic neuroscience into clinic practice time regarding time, staff, billing, and traditional therapeutic treatments
• Communicate to the patient/client that pacing and graded exposure is the key to recovery when provided a patient scenario