George Washington University, Doctor of Physical Therapy Program: Mission and Focus

The faculty at The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences Program in Physical Therapy hold the following values and beliefs with respect to physical therapy professional (entry-level) education:

Faculty is dedicated to the development of professional (entry-level) generalist clinicians who are prepared to engage in autonomous practice in a legal, ethical, moral, and reflective manner to meet the needs of patients and clients now and in the future.
Faculty believes that experience and the reflective process are integral to learning. Active engagement and participation in problem solving activities are essential to the development of critical thinkers and effective problem solvers.
Faculty believes that skills are best learned through application, reinforced by repetition and feedback. The curriculum is designed to build from simple to complex, allowing for both vertical and horizontal integration.
Faculty believes that the development of a professional is incomplete without the development of a professional identity which includes assimilation of the core values of the profession as demonstrated by excellence in communication and interpersonal skills.
Faculty values the importance of lifelong learning and the use of evidence based practice and best practice as requisite to competent practice.
Faculty recognizes the power of the implicit curriculum and embraces its responsibilities in assessing student perceptions and in modeling an appreciation and respect for individual and cultural differences, and the core values and professional behaviors expected of a physical therapist, including service to the community and the profession.

Physical Therapy Program Mission

The mission of the Physical Therapy Program is to create a environment for learning that supports the professional development of students, faculty, and clinicians, where excellence in teaching, service, and scholarship leads to the development of professional (entry level) practitioners who are well respected within the profession. The Program is committed to graduating generalist practitioners prepared to assume the multifaceted role of the physical therapist today and in the future. The Program strives to graduate generalist practitioners who:

are prepared to provide quality care in a variety of physical therapy settings for patients and clients across the lifespan along the continuum from wellness and prevention to rehabilitation of dysfunction;
demonstrate skills in critical inquiry, evidence-based practice and clinical decision making essential for autonomous practice;
are service oriented, advocates for patients/clients and the profession;
are dedicated to lifelong learning and professional development;
embrace the core values of the profession, are reflective, culturally sensitive, and strive to practice in an ethical, moral, legal manner at all times;
are prepared to assume the multifaceted role of practitioner, team member, advocate, consultant, teacher, researcher, manager, and leader.

Further, the Program is dedicated to supporting faculty in its multiple roles as teachers, clinicians, scholars, and role models for professional and community service. The program strives to provide opportunities for faculty and clinicians to engage collaboratively in research and intellectual endeavors in knowledge generation both within and outside of the field of physical therapy.

Finally, the Program strives to create an environment where the community of students, faculty, and clinicians can engage in activities that foster ongoing professional development, critical inquiry, and lifelong learning.

Physical Therapy Program Goals

The primary goal of the Physical Therapy Program is to provide an environment that supports the professional development of students, faculty, and physical therapy practitioners. The program serves as a vehicle for students, faculty, and practitioners to continue to develop in their professional competence as practitioner, teacher, researcher, consultant, advocate, manager, and leader. Below are the terminal objectives the Program will use to assess whether the Program has been met its overall Mission.

The Program has a commitment to creating an environment that encourages the professional development of its student body.

Terminal Objectives
1. The graduate will be a competent physical therapy practitioner who can function safely and effectively while adhering to legal, ethical and professional standards of practice in a multitude of physical therapy settings for patients and clients across the lifespan and along the continuum of care from wellness and prevention to rehabilitation of dysfunction as evidenced by their ability to:
  - Demonstrate safety and competence in performing physical therapy screenings, examinations, evaluations, and interventions to optimize function across the lifespan.
  - Demonstrate proficiency in all aspects of patient/client management including teaching, delegation and supervision principles in the delivery of physical therapy services.
  - Provide competent physical therapy services for prevention, health promotion, fitness, and wellness to individuals, groups, and communities.
  - Establish and implement an age appropriate physical therapy plan of care that is safe and effective.
  - Take appropriate action in an emergency in all practice settings.
  - Demonstrate strict adherence to all legal, ethical, moral, and professional standards of practice.
  - Adhere to legal practice standards, including all federal, district, state, and institutional regulations related to patient care and fiscal management.
  - Practice in a manner consistent with APTA's professional code of ethics and standards of practice.
2. The graduate will be a reflective practitioner who embraces the core values of the profession, is culturally sensitive, and demonstrate respect for individuals, their cultures and the community at large as evidenced by their ability to:
  - Demonstrate care and respect for the individual, the family, and the community by adapting to cultural, social and individual differences in all professional interactions.
  - Demonstrate a reflective attitude and an exploration of alternative perspectives in all areas of practice and professional development as evidenced by their personal portfolio.
  - Demonstrate an assimilation of the core values of the profession as evidenced by consistent use of appropriate communication, interpersonal skills and professional behaviors in all aspects of patient/client care and in relating with other members of health care team, industry and regulatory agencies.
  - Demonstrate professional behaviors in a manner consistent with APTA's core values in all interactions.
  - Participate in self and peer-assessment activities with an open-ness to providing and receiving constructive criticism.
  - Provide culturally competent care to patients in collaboration with other practitioners.
  - Educate others using teaching methods that are sensitive to the needs of the learner.
3. The graduate will utilize critical inquiry and evidence based practice to make clinical decisions as evidenced by their ability to:
  - Efficiently obtain and critically evaluate, synthesize, and apply knowledge from published works to be used for evidence and best practice in the decision making process.
  - Demonstrate clinical reasoning, clinical judgment, and reflective practice in all clinical decision making efforts.
  - Participate in the design and implementation of decision-making guidelines.
  - Implement a method of assessing individual and collective outcomes of patients using valid and reliable measures that consider the setting, variables of cultural competence, and societal factors such as reimbursement.
4. The graduate will function as an integral member of the healthcare team and active member of professional and community organizations as evidenced by their ability to:
  - Expressively and receptively communicate effectively with patients, family, caregivers, other health professionals, consumers, payers and policymakers.
  - Collaborate effectively with patients, family members, payers and other professionals to determine a plan of care that is acceptable, realistic, fiscally responsible, and culturally competent.
  - Demonstrate sound judgment in delegating tasks to support personnel to meet patient goals and expected outcomes.
  - Supervise and manage personnel to whom tasks have been directed.
  - Make sound judgments in issues related to financial management.
  - Participate in activities related to program development, marketing, and public relations.
  - Provide consultation to businesses, schools, government agencies, or other organizations.
  - Participate in professional organizations, conferences and activities.
5. The graduate will be a service-oriented advocate for individual patient rights who is prepared to serve as an agent for change in the promotion and improvement of community health and the practice of physical therapy as evidenced by their ability to:
  - Demonstrate social responsibility and advocacy including participation in community and professional service organizations and activities.
  - Incorporate "pro bono" services into clinical practice.
  - Promote health and quality of life by providing information on health promotion, fitness, wellness, disease, impairment, functional limitation, disability, and health risks related to age, gender, culture, and lifestyle within the scope of physical therapy practice.
6. The graduate will demonstrate lifelong commitment to learning and professional development as evidenced by their ability to:
  - Demonstrate a commitment to lifelong learning through ongoing education, professional development, self-directed learning and mentoring activities.
  - Develop a learning plan for individual professional development.
  - Develop, maintain and revise a professional portfolio demonstrating continued reflection and professional growth.
  - Participate in professional organizations, conferences and activities.

The Program has a commitment to creating an environment in which the faculty will engage in activities that ensure that they continue to develop in the areas of teaching, service, practice, and scholarship.

Terminal Objectives
1. Each faculty member will contribute to the design, implementation, and assessment of the curriculum plan vis-à-vis the mission and philosophy of the Program and current practice guidelines.
2. Each faculty member will teach within their area of expertise, as evidenced by their ability to:
  - design, assess, and revise course materials.
  - present course content considering the needs of the learners.
  - communicate in writing and orally.
  - interact with students inside and outside of the classroom.
  - assess student performance.
  - provide feedback to students on their performance.
  - establish learning plans in collaboration with those students in need.
3. Each faculty member will engage in scholarly teaching, as evidenced by their ability to:
  - utilize self and peer assessment processes to ensure continuous refinement and currency in both the process and content of teaching.
  - participate in activities to ensure currency in their area(s) of expertise, such as continuing education, scholarly activities, research, and/or practice.
4. Each faculty member will engage in service activities that role model social responsibility and core values, as evidenced by their service to:
  - the University,
  - the School,
  - the Program,
  - the Profession, and/or
  - the Community.
5. Each faculty member will engage in scholarship, either independently or collaboratively, to enhance the knowledge base of the fields of physical therapy, education, and beyond, as evidenced by their involvement in the:
  - creation and dissemination of new knowledge.