The Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) invites comments from the physical therapy community regarding the physical therapist and physical therapist assistant programs scheduled for review at CAPTE's November 2012 meeting. Comments will be accepted until September 1.
A list of programs scheduled for review is available in this document. Information about how to provide comments is available on CAPTE's website.
As a clinician who has supervised student internships over the past 26 years, I have seen a growing trend in which large University PT programs are placing more emphasis on faculty who are researchers first, instructors/clinicians a distant second. The result, in the clinic, is a growing number of students who are being educated by faculty with limited clinical experience themselves and as a result, a significant disconnect between textbook and real life applications. I believe that the Universities and Colleges that only recruit/employ PhD faculty, to the exclusion of DPT with Board Certification, are placing students in the clinic, and workplace, that lack the clinical awareness and knowledge that has been the trademark of top PT students in the past. All PT programs should be required to have clinical faculty that are currently in practice on at least a part-time basis for clinical courses such as ortho, neuro and cardio. This would also enhance the interest in specialist certification.
Posted by Mark Howard, PT, DPT, OCS
on 7/14/2012 8:44 AM
I agree with Mark as well only from a different perspective. I'm currently a student at Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions (on the list for initial accreditation). Most of our professors are at least part-time physical therapists. Recently one of our professors talked about the importance of practicing our examination skills. He said if he doesn't do it for a week or so he isn't as efficient. He's been doing this for years so it really emphasized the importance of practice.
Posted by Nick Rainey
on 7/19/2012 4:47 PM