Specifically designed for physical therapists in the primary care environment, this new resource helps the reader develop the vital communication and differential diagnosis skills necessary to provide high quality patient care and assume a valuable role on the health care team. The comprehensive coverage includes each skill that the physical therapist outpatient practitioner needs to meet the challenges of a changing profession: communication skills, technical expertise, and clinical decision-making ability.This reference helps the practitioner quickly develop an accurate physical therapy diagnosis; adapt an examination and intervention approach to meet the individual's cultural, communication, anatomic, and physiologic needs and abilities; triage patients from a physical therapy perspective and decide who requires the expertise of a physical therapist certified specialist; recognize patient symptoms and signs that necessitate communication with other health care providers; and participate in the decision-making process regarding the selection of appropriate diagnostic imaging modalities.