What is PROFESSIONALISM in the context of being a student in a DPT degree program?
This is what I have so far for my PTCAS essay. I'm stuck on the conclusion. Can anyone help?
Thanks ahead of time!
-Regina V.
The core values of a successful therapist will not change whether I am a DPT student, or after I graduate from a program and become a professional Doctor of Physical Therapy. The APTA defines professionalism in physical therapy as "Physical Therapists consistently demonstrate core values by aspiring to and wisely applying principles of altruism, excellence, caring, ethics, respect, communication, and accountability, and by working together with other professionals to achieve optimal health and wellness in individuals and communities" (Stern DT. "Measuring Medical Professionalism." Oxford University Press. New York, NY, 2006:19). Physical therapy is a profession that aims to help patients through the treatment of pain, disease, or injury to preserve, recover, or advance their physical abilities. The Physical therapists are expected to be fundamental members of a patient's health care team, working together with other health professionals to treat patients from every angle. As a student in a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree program, I would embody many of these principles myself, including accountability, maturity, professional duty, and social responsibility.
An important part of being a student in a DPT program is understanding that you are accountable for your own actions and education. As a DPT student, it is important to maintain responsibility for your own education and actions because a lack of accountability can have an effect on patient care. I have always had an interest in working in the medical field, therefore when I began my undergraduate career at Virginia Commonwealth University, I declared my Biology as my major with a pre-medicine track. As it turned out, this was not the best decision as I struggled with some courses, particularly organic chemistry. My desire to succeed as well as my work ethic caused me to stick with the major, and the resultant chemistry courses, for two years. I had a paid private tutor, went to the University College Tutoring Center, and went to the Supplemental Instruction sessions offered for the classes on a weekly basis. And even while using all of these resources, as well as spending my weekends studying in the library, my efforts were not working and unfortunately my grade point average suffered. It was only after a discussion with my parents did I realize that changing my education path was not the same as failure, but rather should be viewed as a learning experience, requiring some wise decisions. In my junior year, I changed my major to Health, Physical Education, and Exercise Science with a concentration in Exercise Science. Once I began to take classes in my new major, my entire view on my education changed. Even though I wish that I had declared my major as Exercise Science when I began my undergraduate career, I have learned a great deal from the situation. During this experience, I discovered that ruining your grade point average is easily accomplished, and place the blame on others or a class that was difficult; the only person that can be held accountable for these failures is myself. I have to learn to understand my shortcomings and better myself with that knowledge to become the best physical therapist I can be.
A DPT student must show great maturity throughout their education, and into their professional career. Throughout my education, I have always felt a responsibility to educate myself on topics that I did not fully understand. While working as a Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Technician (PT Tech), I have taken it upon myself to learn as much as possible about patient care, diagnoses, post-operative exercise protocols, special tests, and much more. Whether looking up the answer to a question on the internet, or asking a therapist to answer my question, I am always looking to learn more. At my current job as a PT Tech at Colonial Orthopaedics, I have been lucky enough to participate in what we call "Lunch and Learn", where the therapists discuss different articles, practice new exercises, modalities, and special tests that they learned from their Continuing Education courses or on their own. I was given the opportunity to sit in on these discussions and practice techniques along with the therapists. I hope to take the things that I have learned from these therapists and these educational sessions and apply them to my own education during the DPT program, and further into my professional career.
A DPT student needs to grasp the responsibilities of a physical therapist to provide expert therapy services to patients. Physical therapists also promote the PT profession beyond the practice setting. As a prospective DPT student, I have participated in several activities that helped to promote the physical therapy profession. During the summer of 2011, while interning at the McGuire Veteran Affairs Medical Center, I helped to organize the National Veterans Wheelchair Games (NVWG). The NVWG is "a rehabilitation and wheelchair sport program empowering Veterans with spinal cord injuries, multiple sclerosis, amputations and other neurological injuries to live more active and healthy lives through wheelchair sports and recreation" (wheelchairgames.org/). Along with the Spinal Cord Injury and Disorders therapy and research staff, I recruited new athletes and helped them to better train for the events that they would be competing in during the games. I also helped the Commonwealth Sports Medicine staff with the medical assistance at the Capital 10-miler, in Richmond, VA, where they were the primary sponsor, and I also ran the kids 1 mile run with Dr. Teresa Stadler's (the sports medicine physician) 5 year old daughter. At this event we aided runners with general first aid, and rapid assessment of medical needs and other immediate services to the runners. To be able to promote the physical therapy profession, one must be proud to be a part of the profession and of one's work. According to Forbes, physical therapy is one of the strongest fields in the country in terms of growth (evidenceinmotion.com/blog/2014/05/02/new-dpts-welcome-physical-therapy/). As DPT students in a tech savvy generation, it is important to share the pride you have for the profession on social media sites to market the profession and make sure that everyone knows what physical therapy is all about.
Physical therapists have a responsibility to promote an open and honest relationship with the general public. This social responsibility includes advocating for changes in laws and policies that affect the practice of physical therapy. In today's health care system, political advocacy has a large impact on the profession as a whole, the lives of our patients, their communities, as well as the overall public. This awareness is as important for students as it is for physical therapists already practicing. Students need to be aware of the laws and regulations that are going to be impacting their practice when they graduate. Whether educating patients on their insurance limitations, for example the Medicare cap, or calling State Senators to express our views on healthcare bills that affect the practice of physical therapy, it is our duty to ensure accessibility for all patients who need it. Another responsibility that physical therapists and students have is to be active in their communities, along with other health practitioners. During my time working at Colonial Orthopaedics, I was given the chance to volunteer at their Prescription Drug Take Back event. In partnership with the DEA and hosted with Colonial Heights Police, Colonial Heights Sentinels to collect potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs, over the counter medications, vitamins, and pet medications for destruction. Working alongside these community volunteers helps build relationships with other health providers, as well as the community, to help address a health and safety issue that is crucial to the public.
This is what I have so far for my PTCAS essay. I'm stuck on the conclusion. Can anyone help?
Thanks ahead of time!
-Regina V.
The core values of a successful therapist will not change whether I am a DPT student, or after I graduate from a program and become a professional Doctor of Physical Therapy. The APTA defines professionalism in physical therapy as "Physical Therapists consistently demonstrate core values by aspiring to and wisely applying principles of altruism, excellence, caring, ethics, respect, communication, and accountability, and by working together with other professionals to achieve optimal health and wellness in individuals and communities" (Stern DT. "Measuring Medical Professionalism." Oxford University Press. New York, NY, 2006:19). Physical therapy is a profession that aims to help patients through the treatment of pain, disease, or injury to preserve, recover, or advance their physical abilities. The Physical therapists are expected to be fundamental members of a patient's health care team, working together with other health professionals to treat patients from every angle. As a student in a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree program, I would embody many of these principles myself, including accountability, maturity, professional duty, and social responsibility.
An important part of being a student in a DPT program is understanding that you are accountable for your own actions and education. As a DPT student, it is important to maintain responsibility for your own education and actions because a lack of accountability can have an effect on patient care. I have always had an interest in working in the medical field, therefore when I began my undergraduate career at Virginia Commonwealth University, I declared my Biology as my major with a pre-medicine track. As it turned out, this was not the best decision as I struggled with some courses, particularly organic chemistry. My desire to succeed as well as my work ethic caused me to stick with the major, and the resultant chemistry courses, for two years. I had a paid private tutor, went to the University College Tutoring Center, and went to the Supplemental Instruction sessions offered for the classes on a weekly basis. And even while using all of these resources, as well as spending my weekends studying in the library, my efforts were not working and unfortunately my grade point average suffered. It was only after a discussion with my parents did I realize that changing my education path was not the same as failure, but rather should be viewed as a learning experience, requiring some wise decisions. In my junior year, I changed my major to Health, Physical Education, and Exercise Science with a concentration in Exercise Science. Once I began to take classes in my new major, my entire view on my education changed. Even though I wish that I had declared my major as Exercise Science when I began my undergraduate career, I have learned a great deal from the situation. During this experience, I discovered that ruining your grade point average is easily accomplished, and place the blame on others or a class that was difficult; the only person that can be held accountable for these failures is myself. I have to learn to understand my shortcomings and better myself with that knowledge to become the best physical therapist I can be.
A DPT student must show great maturity throughout their education, and into their professional career. Throughout my education, I have always felt a responsibility to educate myself on topics that I did not fully understand. While working as a Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Technician (PT Tech), I have taken it upon myself to learn as much as possible about patient care, diagnoses, post-operative exercise protocols, special tests, and much more. Whether looking up the answer to a question on the internet, or asking a therapist to answer my question, I am always looking to learn more. At my current job as a PT Tech at Colonial Orthopaedics, I have been lucky enough to participate in what we call "Lunch and Learn", where the therapists discuss different articles, practice new exercises, modalities, and special tests that they learned from their Continuing Education courses or on their own. I was given the opportunity to sit in on these discussions and practice techniques along with the therapists. I hope to take the things that I have learned from these therapists and these educational sessions and apply them to my own education during the DPT program, and further into my professional career.
A DPT student needs to grasp the responsibilities of a physical therapist to provide expert therapy services to patients. Physical therapists also promote the PT profession beyond the practice setting. As a prospective DPT student, I have participated in several activities that helped to promote the physical therapy profession. During the summer of 2011, while interning at the McGuire Veteran Affairs Medical Center, I helped to organize the National Veterans Wheelchair Games (NVWG). The NVWG is "a rehabilitation and wheelchair sport program empowering Veterans with spinal cord injuries, multiple sclerosis, amputations and other neurological injuries to live more active and healthy lives through wheelchair sports and recreation" (wheelchairgames.org/). Along with the Spinal Cord Injury and Disorders therapy and research staff, I recruited new athletes and helped them to better train for the events that they would be competing in during the games. I also helped the Commonwealth Sports Medicine staff with the medical assistance at the Capital 10-miler, in Richmond, VA, where they were the primary sponsor, and I also ran the kids 1 mile run with Dr. Teresa Stadler's (the sports medicine physician) 5 year old daughter. At this event we aided runners with general first aid, and rapid assessment of medical needs and other immediate services to the runners. To be able to promote the physical therapy profession, one must be proud to be a part of the profession and of one's work. According to Forbes, physical therapy is one of the strongest fields in the country in terms of growth (evidenceinmotion.com/blog/2014/05/02/new-dpts-welcome-physical-therapy/). As DPT students in a tech savvy generation, it is important to share the pride you have for the profession on social media sites to market the profession and make sure that everyone knows what physical therapy is all about.
Physical therapists have a responsibility to promote an open and honest relationship with the general public. This social responsibility includes advocating for changes in laws and policies that affect the practice of physical therapy. In today's health care system, political advocacy has a large impact on the profession as a whole, the lives of our patients, their communities, as well as the overall public. This awareness is as important for students as it is for physical therapists already practicing. Students need to be aware of the laws and regulations that are going to be impacting their practice when they graduate. Whether educating patients on their insurance limitations, for example the Medicare cap, or calling State Senators to express our views on healthcare bills that affect the practice of physical therapy, it is our duty to ensure accessibility for all patients who need it. Another responsibility that physical therapists and students have is to be active in their communities, along with other health practitioners. During my time working at Colonial Orthopaedics, I was given the chance to volunteer at their Prescription Drug Take Back event. In partnership with the DEA and hosted with Colonial Heights Police, Colonial Heights Sentinels to collect potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs, over the counter medications, vitamins, and pet medications for destruction. Working alongside these community volunteers helps build relationships with other health providers, as well as the community, to help address a health and safety issue that is crucial to the public.
