HODS symposium Oct 17–18 online

Hands-On Diagnostics Symposium has opened registration for its 2026 event, which the organizers say will be held online on October 17-18. The symposium site describes the program as the 13th annual event and says it is aimed at private practice owners, physical therapists, healthcare professionals, innovators and industry leaders. (symposium.handsoncompanies.com) General admission is listed at $49.95, and the event page says 12 continuing education units are pending approval. (apta.org) The symposium’s theme is “Primary Care Physical Therapy Powered by Diagnostics and Value,” according to the event homepage. (symposium.handsoncompanies.com) Organizers say the program will focus on diagnostic services, advanced clinical reasoning and value-based care, with sessions tied to patient outcomes, profitability and professional autonomy. ### When is the event, and who can attend? October 17-18, 2026, are the main symposium dates listed on the public registration pages. Hands-On Companies says the event is virtual via Zoom and open to anyone across the physical therapy industry. (symposium.handsoncompanies.com) HODS members who buy the owner ticket also get access to an additional Owner’s Day on October 16, according to the member registration page. That all-access ticket is also listed at $49.95 and includes the general session, clinical track, business owner track, virtual attendance and clinical track recording. (symposium.handsoncompanies.com) ### What does the program say attendees will get? The symposium homepage says sessions will cover primary care physical therapy models, EMG and musculoskeletal ultrasound in clinical practice, diagnostic-driven clinical decision-making, earlier diagnosis, expanded access, practice growth and the future of the profession. (handsoncompanies.com) The site says all general sessions and clinical track presentations will run in the same Zoom webinar, while the business owner track will use a separate Zoom meeting. General attendance includes the general session, clinical track, business owner track, Zoom access and a clinical track recording, according to the ticket page. (symposium.handsoncompanies.com) The same page says 12 CEUs are pending approval. ### Why is APTA’s government affairs chief on the speaker list? Justin Elliott is listed on the symposium site as a featured speaker. APTA says Elliott is its vice president of government affairs and has led the association’s legislative, public policy and political efforts on Capitol Hill since 2015. (symposium.handsoncompanies.com) APTA has also identified Elliott in other 2025 and 2026 advocacy materials as the executive leading payment and legislative messaging for the association. That makes his inclusion consistent with the symposium’s emphasis on professional autonomy, payment and access issues, based on the topics described on the event site. (symposium.handsoncompanies.com) ### How is the event being positioned by Hands-On Companies? Hands-On Companies says the annual HODS International Symposium has, for more than a decade, served as a venue for learning, networking and showcasing developments in diagnostics, manual therapy and advanced interventions. (apta.org) The company’s events page says the symposium is held annually and is open across the PT industry. The symposium homepage says the online format is intended to make the event accessible to more clinicians. It also says attendees will be able to “learn from anywhere,” connect with clinicians and practice owners, and explore value-based care opportunities. (apta.org) ### Where are the practical details? The public ticket page lists general attendance at $49.95 for the two-day online event. The member-owner ticket page lists the same price and adds the October 16 Owner’s Day. (handsoncompanies.com) The symposium site says agenda details, registration and track information are available online, and it notes that specific Zoom instructions will be sent after registration. The first item shown on the posted timeline is a 10:00 a.m. Eastern welcome on Saturday, October 17, led by James Savas, chief executive of Hands-On Companies. (symposium.handsoncompanies.com 1) (symposium.handsoncompanies.com 2)