Upon completion the participant will: 1. Describe the importance of differential diagnosis and primary care in the physical therapy profession. 2. Identify the steps to incorporate primary care into the physical therapy profession through specialization and residency. 3. Discuss how the implementation of primary care in our profession will change practice. 4. Utilize the mnemonic VINDICATE in practice. Description of Session: Differential diagnosis is pivotal for physical therapists to comprehend and consider when evaluating a patient. Understanding this content enhances our profession’s ability to expand into primary care settings. Up to 30 percent of patient complaints in a primary care setting are musculoskeletal conditions and our profession is well-positioned to treat these patients. Expansion into primary care will improve the musculoskeletal health of our patients across the country. This session will discuss an innovative approach our profession is taking to move towards primary care physical therapy. The session will walk the attendee through the history of how our profession got to this point and provide a view of where our profession is going in this dynamic health care environment. Content outline: 20 min: Describe the importance of differential diagnosis using a case-based approach, 40 min: Where are we going as a profession debate and engagement of the audience, 20 min: Why is primary care important for our profession right now, 20 min: Primary care progression to date, 70 min: VINDICATE, an example of a forcing function that demonstrates the usefulness of primary care, 10 min: Question and answer as a follow-up discussion This session will bring the importance of differential diagnosis and primary care in our profession. The need for this session is vital for our profession and fits within our profession’s strategic plan of “Expand(ing) access to physical therapy in primary care settings and employer health and wellness programs.” Attendees will walk away from this session understanding why physical therapy is suited for primary care and potentially students and clinicians will consider moving towards working in this area of practice. John Heick received his Ph.D. in 2015 from Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions in Orthopaedic and Sports Science and his clinical Doctorate from Shenandoah University in 2003. John is board certified in orthopedics, neurology, and sports and practiced for 16 years in the emergency department, sports, vestibular, and orthopedic settings. John teaches full-time at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, Arizona, and practices clinically in an orthopedic/sports setting and the NAU pro bono Orthopaedic clinic. John is Associate Editor of the textbook Differential Diagnosis for Physical Therapists: Screening for Referral, main author for the Academy of Orthopaedics Screening for Referral monographs, Editor for the Academy of Orthopaedics journal Orthopaedic Physical Therapy Practice, and has taught Differential Diagnosis for the past 12 years.