The Standard of Care is defined as a diagnostic and treatment process that a clinician should follow for a certain type of patient, injury or clinical circumstance.
Legally, the standard of care recognizes the way in which an average, prudent healthcare provider in any given community would practice.
Physical therapist practice is guided by a set of seven core values: accountability, altruism, compassion/caring, excellence, integrity, profes- sional duty, and social responsibility.
Throughout the document the primary core values that support specific principles are indicated in parentheses.
(Core Values: Altruism, Collaboration, Compassion and Caring, Duty) 2A.
Physical therapists shall adhere to the core values of the profession and shall act in the best interests of patients and clients over the interests of the physical therapist.