Infinity Rehab therapist becomes GCS certified
The American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties (ABPTS) granted Greta Jerdo, PT, DPT, GCS, with Infinity Rehab, the honor of being a Geriatric Certified Specialist (GCS).
The specialist certification program was established by ABPTS to provide formal recognition for physical therapists with advanced clinical knowledge, evidence-based care, and skills in a special area of practice and to assist consumers and the healthcare community in identifying these physical therapists.
According to ABPTS, “Specialization is the process by which a physical therapist builds on a broad base of professional education and practice to develop a greater depth of knowledge and skills related to a particular area of practice.” Geriatric certified specialists treat in a wide variety of settings (e.g. acute hospital, rehabilitation units, home care, private practice, skilled nursing facilities, assisted living units) and to a diverse clientele.
Preparation for the exam must take into account the management of patients over a large age range (65+) and with complex acute and chronic medical histories, with a minimum of 2,000 direct patient care hours. As of June 2020, ABPTS has certified 3,316 geriatric specialists.
Research and preparation took several months
Greta, over the course of several months, extensively reviewed research that directly impacts her patient population and passed a rigorous written examination based on this information. Geriatric care encompasses a wide range of medical issues such as fall prevention, polypharmacy, neurological diagnoses like MS/Parkinson’s disease or strokes, dementia, osteoporosis, heart/respiratory failure, wound care, lymphedema management, cancer, and orthopedic injuries.
“As a physical therapist and Director of Rehab for Infinity Rehab at Prestige Post-Acute and Rehab Center – Edmonds, Washington, becoming a GCS broadened my knowledge in these areas and deepened my understanding of how to positively impact our patients with confidence and to help them achieve their functional goals with respect to their medical complexity and their individual needs,” Greta notes. “It will also guide my practice as a physical therapist to influence co-workers and the community to strive for the best patient-centered care. Our patients deserve to be as independent for as long as they would like to be and to have the quality of life they deserve!”
Get quality therapy services from clinicians like Greta. Contact Infinity Rehab today.
