Developing Curricula
First, the program should check for a valid practice analysis that details the intended subspecialty area. If there is none, the program must engage in a practice analysis. Contacting the Committee on Clinical Residency and Fellowship Program Credentialing is a critical first step to assure that the practice analysis is conducted to meet Committee requirements. By way of example, suppose an early intervention physical therapy residency program in pediatrics wanted to develop a curriculum. The program could use the Pediatric DSP as the basis for the curriculum. A fellowship program could use an already published and accepted practice analysis or develop their own practice analysis using the early intervention component of the pediatric DSP as a guideline. The fellowship is challenged to focus its curriculum on the proficiency of advanced clinical and didactic knowledge and skills for clinicians who already possess specialization.
Curricula Development Resources
Practice Analysis and Curricula Standardization
Practice analysis and curricula standardization are fundamental consumer protection and payer/policymaker survival issues. Physical therapists and consumers need to know that a residency or fellowship graduate can perform a minimally acceptable standard of care for a particular diagnosis. A system of standardized residency or fellowship curricula would indicate that all graduates of a residency or fellowship program should be able to perform the standard care for patients as described in the DACP or DSP or through a clear and sound practice analysis. It is essential that the practice analysis be valid and early discussion with the Committee is essential.
Outcomes Assessment in Physical Therapy Education
The Outcomes Assessment in Physical Therapy Education is a resource designed for physical therapist and physical therapist assistant educators and educational programs. Because this document presents the various perspectives on and levels of outcomes assessment, it has applicability to physical therapist residency and fellowship programs. It also describes how the various elements of assessment might fit together. The information located in this document provides physical therapy education programs, faculty, and researchers with a systematic structure for use in assessing program and graduate outcomes.