Physical Therapy Evaluation Tool (PEAT) 5 Practice Exam

The essential idea is that the physical therapy evaluation is the initial, comprehensive assessment used to establish a patient’s starting point, identify what problems and impairments exist, define a likely course of recovery, and shape the initial plan of care. By gathering history, performing a systems review, and conducting specific tests, measures, and functional assessments, the therapist creates a problem list and a PT-focused diagnosis that guide which interventions to start, what goals to set, and how often therapy should occur. This baseline information also provides the reference point for measuring progress at subsequent re-evaluations. It isn’t primarily about estimating reimbursement, nor about determining a medical diagnosis in the broader sense, and it doesn’t involve selecting home-use equipment.