In Pursuit of Best Practice in Physical Therapy Education

Abstract

'Quality is not an act, it is a habit-AristotleThe concern about quality in physical therapist education is everywhere! The profession as a whole, particularly members of the profession committed to academic and clinical teaching roles, is engaged in several major projects to identify best practice in physical therapist education. The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), Education Section, American Council of Academic Physical Therapy (ACAPT), Commission on Accreditation of Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), and Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT) have been supportive of several profession-wide projects over the past few years that will contribute to the debate surrounding best educational practice for physical therapist education. Consider the macro-level focus of several of these projects:* ACAPT supports the Benchmarks for Excellence task force, which seeks to develop quantitative and qualitative benchmarks that represent excellence in physical therapist education, against which, programs could assess themselves.* ACAPT, APTA, the Education Section, and the FSBPT collaborated to develop a shared vision for enhancing clinical education in physical therapy. A 2-year process of conferences, invited papers (published in JOPTE as a supplement in May 2014), and webinars culminated in the Clinical Education Summit in October 2014. Over 450 participants agreed on 15 recommendations that they believe represent best educational practice in physical therapist education. ACAPT will consider how to proceed with these recommendations for the profession this year.* APTA, the Education and Orthopeadic Sections, and ACAPT collaborated to fund a research project, Excellence and Innovation in Physical Therapist Education for the Twenty-First Century (PTE21). The research team has followed the research methods of former studies sponsored by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. These studies in medicine, nursing, clergy, engineering, and law focused on identifying what curricular structures, instructional practices, assessment approaches, and environmental/institutional characteristics optimally support the preparation and development of professionals in training. Preliminary data from this national study of physical therapist education in academic and clinical settings have been presented at conferences, with the final work expected to be published in 2015 and 2016.* APTA has identified the importance of quality physical therapist education through action of the 2014 House of Delegates by adopting a position statement on excellence, as well as a charge to identify best practices in clinical education. Also, APTA has charged a task force to provide strategic advice, counsel, and options to the Board of Directors regarding current and emerging issues impacting the ability of physical therapist education to produce practitioners that meet the needs of the current and evolving health care system. We are fortunate as a profession to havethe resources of these organizations and the commitment of learned colleagues to envision common and effective educational practices in the future. …