Clinical Edu I

Catalog description

The first full-time clinical experience for Husson School of Physical Therapy students is an eight week full-time basic skills course, typically scheduled in the summer following the first professional year. This course is designed to provide the student with guided experience in the affective skills of clinical practice, including adherence to ethical and legal standards of practice, cultural competence, Interprofessional and patient/practitioner communication, and professional conduct, and demeanor. Students participate in the examination, evaluation, and diagnosis/prognosis elements of care, including taking a patient history, simple musculoskeletal and functional assessment, and the development of a simple plan of care, all with the guidance of the clinical instructor. The application of basic interventions, including modalities, therapeutic exercise, soft tissue and joint mobilizations, and functional training is also accomplished under the guidance of the clinical instructor. This first clinical experience provides the student with opportunities to teach utilizing adult learning methods, to practice communication skills in a variety of professional environments, to supervise and direct responsibilities to aides and physical therapist assistants, to engage in problem-solving and clinical decision making under the supervision of the clinical instructor, and to be exposed to the management of outcomes data and fiscal management. The students have not yet acquired the clinical skills or the experience for the management of complex medical situations. Prerequisite(s): PT 413 .