Clinical Education
Clinical education is your opportunity to apply what you have learned in an
actual physical therapy setting under the supervision of clinical instructors.
Together you
and the Academic Coordinator of Clinical Education will plan the
clinical education experiences that will meet your needs academically and
provide experiences across the practice spectrum. All students do not follow the
same clinical education pathway, but all students are prepared to work in a
variety of settings as entry-level PTAs.
Clinical education centers are located throughout Maine and New England.
Students may be assigned to a clinical education center that requires them to
commute a distance from campus or assume a temporary residence near the center.
Students are responsible for providing their clinical travel and living
expenses.
What could my clinical pathway look like?
|
|
PTS120 PTA Clinical Education I |
PTS218 PTA Clinical Education II |
PTS220 PTA Clinical Education III |
|
When do I take this course? |
Summer Session immediately following spring semester of year one |
First half of Spring semester Year two |
Second half of Spring semester Year two
|
|
How long is it? |
Five weeks on a full-time schedule |
Seven weeks on a full-time schedule |
Seven weeks on a full-time schedule |
|
Where could I go? |
Acute care hospital Ambulatory care center: out-patient clinic or private practice
|
*Skilled nursing facilities Rehabilitation centers * may include long term care facilities: nursing homes |
**Skilled nursing facilities Rehabilitation centers ** may include long term care facilities: nursing homes |
|
What types of patient problems would I treat? |
Musculoskeletal problems like broken bones, joint replacements, strains and sprains, amputations Integumentary problems like pressure ulcers, burns, wounds |
Neuromuscular problems like brain injury, strokes, and Parkinson's Disease
|
Specialized and complex problems such as cerebral palsy, Down's syndrome and multiple trauma
Cardiopulmonary Problems like heart attacks and emphysema |
Students who successfully complete PTS120 in an acute care/ hospital facility
may be assigned in PTS218 to an ambulatory care/out-patient center, private
practice, long term care facility, nursing home, skilled nursing facility, or
rehabilitation center.
Students who successfully complete PTS120 and PTS218 may be assigned in PTS220
to advanced experiences in cardiopulmonary rehabilitation, sports medicine, home
health care, industrial rehabilitation, or pediatrics for example.
Students will not be assigned to clinical education centers in which a conflict of interest exists. A conflict of interest for an unbiased evaluation occurs when a student receives financial assistance from or is employed by a clinical education center. Relatives employed at a clinical education center may also present a conflict of interest.