Harris County Hospital District Named Exemplary Site for PT Education Experiences

Online, December 9, 2010 (Newswire.com) - The Harris County Hospital District's Outpatient Orthopaedic Rehabilitation Department at Quentin Mease Community Hospital has received the 2010 Exemplary Site Award for Physical Therapy Clinical Education Experiences from the Texas Consortium for Physical Therapy Clinical Education, a group of physical therapy programs across the state.

This award, the first given by the Texas Consortium, recognizes the Harris County Hospital District for its commitment to high-quality clinical education and for providing exceptional clinical mentoring and education for physical therapy students. The program was commended for its hands-on mentoring and instructor-friendly learning environment where physical therapists hone their practice and patients benefit from their expertise.

"The Harris County Hospital District realizes that engaging students in lifelong learning and professional development are essential to maintaining clinical competence and acceptable standards of practice," said Carol Oddo, vice president and associate administrator, Ambulatory Care Services (Rehabilitation Services), Harris County Hospital District. "This clinical education is essential to providing high-quality therapy care for our patients."

As a testament of the Harris County Hospital District's commitment to education, the consortium cited the hospital district's successful two-year Orthopaedic Physical Therapy Residency Program at Quentin Mease Hospital and the launch of a Neurologic Physical Therapy Residency Program in September 2011.

Peggy Gleeson, PT, PhD, director, Clinical Education, Texas Women's University, and chair, Selection Committee, Texas Consortium, said the Harris County Hospital District was selected for its consistent record of providing clearly exceptional clinical mentoring and education.

"The Harris County Hospital District's leadership is committed to developing clinicians to provide high-quality care to patients. The staff is encouraged to attend and present at professional conferences and work toward advanced degrees and specialty certifications," said Laurene Bramlett, PT, coordinator, Clinical Education, Harris County Hospital District. "This wealth of knowledgeable clinicians helps create an amazing learning environment for students as well as providing patients with evidence-based therapy so they receive the best care possible."

HCHD's outpatient orthopaedic program currently has three clinical instructors who are fellows of the American Academy of Orthopedic Manual Therapy, seven clinical instructors who have doctorate degrees in physical therapy and five clinical instructors who are orthopaedic clinical specialists. Additionally, some clinicians are working toward doctorate degrees in physical therapy and advanced certifications.

The Harris County Hospital District follows closely the American Physical Therapy Association's Vision 2020, which encourages physical therapists to complete residency training and doctorate degrees. A clinical residency is a planned program of post-professional clinical and didactic education designed to significantly advance a therapist's expertise through examination, evaluation, diagnosis, prognosis, intervention and management of patients in a defined clinical practice.

"It's always great to think you have an outstanding learning environment for students, but it means so much more when your professional peers acknowledge the tremendous value the student program offers," Bramlett said.