PROGRAM GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

(Expected Outcomes)

 Goals related to the overall program: 

The program will:

Program Goal 1. Provide an educational environment that reflects the American Physical Therapy Association’s (APTA) Vision (2020) and the core values of the physical therapy profession as described in Professionalism in Physical Therapy: Core Values.

• Objective: The program provides instruction to all students on the APTA code of ethics and the core values of the profession across the curriculum.

• Objective: The program provides all students with an orientation to the vision, role and services of the APTA, provides students with information on joining the APTA, and encourages membership and participation in district, state and national meetings.

Program Goal 2. Provide students with the skills and knowledge to become entry-level physical therapist practitioners who meet the physical therapy needs of clients in an evolving health care environment.

• Objective: The program has a comprehensive curriculum plan that addresses the core competencies expected of an entry-level physical therapist. 

• Objective: The program will recruit and support a faculty with appropriate qualifications and a variety of expertise to provide educational experiences that will enable students to develop the requisite knowledge and skills to be competent entry-level physical therapists.

• Objective: The program will recruit and maintain a faculty of sufficient number to provide educational experiences that will enable students to develop the requisite knowledge and skills to be competent entry-level physical therapists.

Program Goal 3. Develop and sustain the necessary infrastructure and resources to support the mission of the program and achieve the educational, scholarship and service aims of the program.

• Objective: The program will develop and maintain laboratory and classroom space to meet the educational needs of the students.

• Objective: The program will purchase and maintain state-of-the-art equipment for necessary instructional and research activities to meet the goals and objectives of the program.

• Objective: The program will have appropriate administrative support to meet the goals and objectives of the program.

• Objective: The program develops and funds a budget that is adequate to support activities of the program and faculty to achieve the instructional, scholarship, and service aims of the program.

• Objective: The program will maintain the Hands for Health pro-bono clinic to help address the needs of the community.

• Objective: The program has access to or supplies the necessary technology infrastructure and support services to meet the educational and research objectives of the program.

• Objective: The program has access to and makes available teaching/learning supports needed to assist faculty in course design, development of instructional materials and methods, and assessment of student learning.

• Objective: The program develops and maintains an appropriate number and variety of clinical sites and qualified clinical faculty to support the clinical education requirements for students in the program.

Goals related to the faculty

Program Goal 4. Serve as role models and mentors who emulate the core values of the physical therapy profession.

• Objective:  Faculty members demonstrate professionalism and the core values in interactions with students, professional colleagues and others.

• Objective: Faculty members mentor students in scholarly pursuits and encourage integrity and excellence in clinical practice.

• Objective: Faculty members participate in professional and community/public organizations that serve the betterment of the profession and society.

• Objective: Faculty members are supplied with resources to pursue professional development and continuing education in areas of instructional responsibility.

Program Goal 5. Strive for teaching excellence to advance the learning of their students by providing optimal resources and learning experiences for students.

• Objective: Faculty members develop appropriate course materials to meet course objectives and support student learning in areas of instructional responsibility.

• Objective: Faculty members will pursue professional development and continuing education in areas of instructional responsibility.

• Objective: Faculty members will be encouraged and given opportunity to participate in clinical experience/practice that informs areas of instructional responsibility.

• Objective: Faculty members will continually strive to improve teaching effectiveness by incorporating appropriate teaching and assessment strategies to enhance student participation and foster learning.

Program Goal 6. Engage in scholarly activity that contributes to the body of knowledge in physical therapy practice and education.

• Objective: Core faculty members will supervise and mentor student research and scholarly activity.

• Objective: Each core faculty member will develop and pursue an individual research agenda.

• Objective: Each core faculty member will disseminate their scholarly work in appropriate publications, media or venues.

Program Goal 7. Collectively engage in service to the profession, community and university.

• Objective: Faculty members participate in professional and community/public organizations that serve the betterment of the profession and society.

• Objective: Faculty members participate in and contribute to the activities of professional organizations including the APTA and its components and sections.

• Objective: Faculty members participate in service activities that contribute to the university community at a variety of levels: program, school, college or university.  

Goals related to program students/graduates:

Our students/graduates will:

Program Goal 8. Embrace and enact the core values of the profession: accountability, altruism, caring and compassion, excellence, integrity, professional duty and social responsibility.

• Objective:  Students/graduates will demonstrate the professional core values and behaviors described in the document Professionalism in Physical Therapy. (Accountability, Altruism, Compassion/Caring, Excellence, Integrity, Professional Duty, Social Responsibility).

Program Goal 9. Be knowledgeable, skillful, reflective practitioners who make sound clinical decisions and practice legally and ethically.

• Objective: Students/graduates will competently complete screening procedures and a review of systems for patients/clients, and accurately determine if they are appropriate candidates for physical therapy services (recognize scope and limits of practice) or if referral to or consultation with another health care professional or agency is necessary.

• Objective: Students/graduates will effectively and efficiently conduct and accurately document an examination/re-examination of a patient/client, including: gathering relevant patient history from the patient and other sources, subjective data and patient goals, and selecting and performing appropriate objective tests and measures of body function/structure, activities and participation, while maintaining patient safety and dignity. 

• Objective:  Students/graduates will systematically evaluate and interpret data collected through patient examination and make accurate clinical judgments regarding the patient’s physical therapy diagnosis and prognosis, and to guide clinical decision-making about an appropriate plan of care. 

• Objective:  In collaboration with patients, caregivers and other health care professionals, students/graduates will develop a plan of care for patients/clients that addresses patient goals, incorporates the skillful application of interventions that are appropriate and safe based on patient presentation, supported by evidence, and that are consistent with legal, regulatory, ethical, and administrative guidelines governing the practice environment.

• Objective:  Student/graduates will implement a plan of care for patients/clients that incorporates methods/tools for monitoring and assessment of patient response to treatment and attainment of patient and therapy goals/outcomes, addresses the adequacy of resources to meet goals, assists the patient in accessing necessary resources, and is accurately and appropriately documented according to administrative, regulatory, and payer guidelines.

• Objective: Students/graduates will effectively educate patients/clients and others (caregivers, colleagues, other health care professionals, students, the public) using culturally sensitive and appropriate teaching methods that are adapted to individual or group learning needs, the content being conveyed, and the educational context for teaching/learning.

• Objective: Students/graduates will communicate expressively and receptively (verbally, non- verbal, in writing) with patients, caregivers, colleagues, other health care practitioners, and others in ways that are respectful, culturally and linguistically sensitive and competent, and that take into consideration the individual differences, values, preferences and needs of those with whom they are communicating.

• Objective: Students/graduates will provide physical therapy services that are delivered and documented in accordance with regulatory, legal, agency and reimbursement requirements and that involve consideration and coordination of resources (human and financial) to achieve quality care in the current delivery system.

Program Goal 10. Seek out and apply current evidence and theory to support clinical practice and be capable of engaging in scholarship to advance the body of knowledge in physical therapy.

• Objective:  Students/graduates will access, use and critically evaluate resources from a variety of sources (published literature, information technology, web-based materials) to examine the theoretical and scientific basis for physical therapy practice and integrate scientific evidence with clinical judgment and patient/client values and needs to determine the best care for patients.

Program Goal 11. Engage in service activities that promote the well-being of their patients and contribute to the advancement of their community and the profession.

• Objective: Students/graduates will promote health and quality of life for patients/clients and others (individuals, groups, communities) by advocating for health policy that will benefit patients and society and providing services and information related to health promotion, fitness, wellness, health risks and disease prevention, that are adapted to the individual or group needs and characteristics and are within the scope of physical therapy practice.