Foundations of Patient Care

Catalog description

This is the first course in the clinical skills series designed to introduce students to the clinical sciences and prepare students for direct patient care. In this course, students will learn and apply concepts that are fundamental to the practice of physical therapy. This course will focus on the development of skills for clinician safety, including infection control, body mechanics, principles of mobility, surgical precautions, as well as roles of physical therapy in prolonged immobility. This course will introduce the fundamental psychomotor components of patient handling techniques such as bed mobility, transfers, gait training, wheelchair mobility, in addition to management of lines and equipment while reinforcing both clinician and patient safety. Other topics that will be considered are the principals of physical therapy examination and intervention, communication, documentation, legal issues and psychosocial issues of physical therapy practice.