Clinical Education | Doctor of Physical Therapy

Clinical Education Philosophy: The program's clinical education philosophy extends the DPT Program's belief in continuous integration of theory and practice across the curriculum by incorporating part-time and full-time clinical experiences throughout the curriculum to facilitate a successful transition to clinical practice as a professional. Program faculty believe our patients are an integral component of the student's educational process.

Faculty also believe clinical education should be developmental and patient-centered. Therefore, experiences are sequenced from less to more complex and patient management is integrated with professional practice expectations in collaborative environments to best serve our patients. Student self-responsibility for learning through frequent reflection is emphasized. The DPT Program recognizes the invaluable role of clinical education faculty as partners in the education process who serve as teachers and professional role models.

Clinical education experiences provide supervised opportunities for students to develop and apply knowledge and demonstrate competence. Classroom experiences are expanded into part-time Integrated Clinical Experiences courses where students clinically practice under the direction of program faculty. Four full-time clinical experiences scheduled every other semester in year two and three take place in a variety of environments representative of contemporary physical therapy practice and patient/client differences throughout the country.
 

Information for Clinical Education Facilities

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Clinical Instructor Rights and Privileges

1. Clinical Instructor: Individuals at this rank have an entry-level clinical degree and serve as a clinical preceptor to a Carroll University Health Sciences student during off-campus practicum and internships. Clinical Instructors major time commitment is not at Carroll University and participates on a non-salaried basis. (From the Carroll University Clinical Faculty Conditions of Employment)

2. Clinical instructors and their facilities are welcome to request an educational in-service provided by the Carroll University Physical Therapy Faculty at no cost to the clinical instructor or the facility. Requests should be made to the PT Program DCE and should consider availability, expertise and travel requirements.

3. Additionally, clinical instructors receive a discount on Carroll facility rental as a university partner and are invited to attend any Carroll University event, such as sporting events free of charge, Symphony and Choir concerts, as well as Drama Department productions.
 

Patient Rights

Patients have the risk-free right to refuse to participate in clinical education or treatment by a student. Patients/clients provide informed consent to being involved in the clinical educational experiences.

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