A Unique Preclinical Experience: Concur rent Mock and Pro Bono Clinics to Enhance Student Readiness

Abstract

Background and Purpose. Pro bono physical therapy services have become an integral aspect of community service due to recent changes in health care reimbursement limitations. Physical therapist educators are expected to introduce their students to the concept of social responsibility and human service activities. Model Description and Evaluation. pro bono clinic was designed to meet critical needs of the physical therapist students at our academic institution, as well as patients within the community. This clinic introduced the students to patients and the roles and responsibilities of patient care prior to their first clinical educational experience, which helped to relieve anxiety, promote professional socialization, and enhance retention of learned materials. Students participated in a mock clinic within the pro bono setting where they assumed the roles of patient, physical therapist, and peer evaluator. Within this mock clinic, students were required to present assigned patient diagnoses in a grand rounds formal, which helped to reinforce didactic knowledge and enhance verbal and written communication. Outcomes and Discussion. Students gained exposure to the clinical setting itself, experienced the patient-physical therapist relationship, and interacted with their peers and faculty members. The patients not only received treatment without cost, but they benefited from the time with the students as they educated them on their pathologies and functional limitations. Faculty benefited from becoming role models the students, improving relations and communication with the students, and observing and mentoring the students in a small group setting. Conclusion. Limitations implementation of this clinic were minimal. It is anticipated that this unique model will enhance students' clinical performance, provide faculty with clinical practice opportunities, and fulfill the health care needs of the community. Key Words: Pro bono, Mock clinic, Faculty-student clinic. BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Due to recent changes in the health care system, many individuals are unable to afford adequate insurance coverage. This has affected individuals of all ages, especially those self-employed and unemployed. Those employed utilizing managed health care have seen a reduction in the types and numbers of reimbursed services. Within physical therapy, this reduction in the number of allowable visits has held the patient accountable financially, when and if they want to extend the length of their nonreimbursable treatment. For those patients with chronic conditions, health care coverage is inadequate to address their long-term needs.1,2 These needs, both rehabilitative and preventative, can be addressed through pro bono services. Pro bono publico (Latin for the public good) service is an age-old concept under which goods or services are given at a small fee or free of charge to those who cannot afford them.3 This provision of free services is strongly supported in the legal and health care professions. The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) Code of Ethics, Principle 10, states A physical therapist shall endeavor to address the health needs of society,4 while the APTA Guide Professional Conduct, Principle 10.1, states, A physical therapist shall render pro bono publico (reduced or no-fee) services to patients lacking the ability to pay services, as each physical therapist's practice permits.5 Changes within the health care system have also affected the environment within physical therapy clinics. The current increased pace within the clinical facilities requires the novice physical therapist (PT) practitioner to be adaptable and flexible to accommodate to the fluctuating clinical demands. Because of the expansion in physical therapy scope and domain of practice, the traditional organizational box that defined who PTs are, what they do, and where they practice has been altered. …