The Physical Therapy staff at The Rehab and Wellness Center at Box Butte General Hospital continues to specialize in their quest to provide the best possible care for their clients. The latest Physical Therapist to specialize is Tim Devlin, PT, DPT, SCS. The SCS stands for Sports Certified Specialist, a credential he earned by submitting evidence of 2,000 hours of direct patient care in that specialty area; certification as an Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) by the American Red Cross; then taking and passing the American Board of Physical Therapy Sports Specialist exam. He took the exam in March and was informed that he had passed the exam last month.
“I had to document and track each hour of patient care related to sports therapy,” he said. The following are just a few of the direct patient hours allowed as evidence of 2,000 of care: Team meetings where the needs of one or more specific patients were discussed and evaluated; consultation services if evaluation and input directly impacts a specific patient; time utilized to prepare home exercise programs for specific patients; time spent reviewing medical records prior to seeing the patient; time spent teaching a family how to help or care for a specific patient through a home exercise program; time spent providing acute care and injury management for athletes in venues where athletes practice and compete.
“The EMR course was an abbreviated form since I already knew the anatomy and physiology parts of the course through my Physical Therapy education,” Mr. Devlin continued. EMR is required due to the acute care aspect of specializing in sports. “We’ve been very active over the past few years in having a presence at high school games in both Alliance and Hemingford,” he said. “You have to be able to evaluate the condition of the athlete that’s been injured right there on the field; determining the extent of the injury and care needed.”
His certification puts him in a rarified field of specialty in the state of Nebraska. “There are only 13 Physical Therapist Sports Specialists in Nebraska,” he said. “I believe I’m the only one west of North Platte, at least that I’m aware of.” Having his certification means he will be able to network with other SCS therapists, as well as attend on-going SCS education opportunities held periodically around the country.
Mr. Devlin has always had a passion for sports. “I was an athlete throughout high school and a student trainer in college, so I’ve always been around sports,” he said. “I’ve wanted to be involved in schools with the kids and athletes, and Box Butte General Hospital allows its physical therapists to do that. Not every hospital allows their therapists to go and help out with their school, but BBGH does it as a community service. We’re all pretty thankful of that. I really enjoy my practice here because I’m allowed to work with the athletes and their families.”
This latest specialty certification is an example of The Rehab and Wellness team’s determination to promote excellence within their department. Brandon Kiser, PT, DPT, OCS obtained his certification in Orthopedic Therapy in 2012 and Austin Sheldon, PT, DPT, is currently immersed in study for his OCS credentialing. “We’re trying to make ourselves better for the community’s physical therapy needs,” Mr. Devlin concluded.
He and his wife Justine reside in Alliance with their two boys.