Design, Development, and Implementation of the Pediatric Physical Therapy Senior Clinical Internship Telerehabilitation Program of De La Salle Medical and Health Sciences Institute: The Pandemic Impetus

Abstract

Aim: Develop a benchmark model that can be used by tertiary-level health institutions in the implementation of the Pediatric Senior Clinical Internship Training Program using telerehabilitation. Method: This is a descriptive documentary analysis-qualitative paper that focuses on explaining the design, development, and implementation processes used by De La Salle Medical and Health Sciences Institute – College of Rehabilitation Sciences Physical Therapy Department in its Pediatric Cluster Senior Clinical Internship Training Program covering the pandemic years spanning from the academic year 2020- 2021 to present. Results: Determination of the Pediatric Telerehabilitation Model; declaration of developed training program outcomes and thrusts, and content; explanation of the process integral to the training program’s pedagogy in implementation; and the evaluation procedures conducted for the program. Conclusion and Implications: The pandemic situation continues to affect the lives of many people, including children with disabilities and their families globally, especially in developing countries like the Philippines. The operations of health programs, industries, and economic sectors, as well as academic training institutions, are still challenged in terms of operations and delivery of services. The academic community of the Physical Therapy program is not spared by this circumstance. The restriction posted by the quarantine policies nearly terminated the onsite delivery of training programs for the senior internship level, which challenged the academic institutions to implement flexible learning programs to ensure the continuity of the instructional and learning processes with full consideration of safety and compliance to health protocols. This paper presents the big picture of how a tertiary-level health sciences institution in the Philippines embraced the senior clinical internship challenges through the operations of its telerehabilitation program.