04/24/2026
Emergency physical therapy is often unseen but it plays a critical role in patient care. That was the key message from Sarah Nechvatal, DPT, at our Perspectives in Practice event on Thursday, April 23. In her presentation, "Emergency Physical Therapy: Who We See, What We Do and Why It Matters," Nechvatal offered an inside look at physical therapy in the emergency department at UW Health's University Hospital, sharing real‑world examples of how early access to PT improves patient outcomes and supports health care teams. DPT students and local physical therapy leaders gained insight into the scope, impact and growing importance of emergency PT across acute and trauma settings. Nechvatal also highlighted statewide advocacy efforts to make timely access to physical therapy a standard of care. This engaging networking event was proudly co‑sponsored by the UWSP DPT program and the NCD of APTA WI
