This is a really interesting topic as skill mix, efficiency
and effectiveness are all very much to the fore in
healthcare
it raises several issues:
it may not be the length of any programme or at what level
that is important but the quality of it in terms of content
and the delivery approach
there will always be a point at which a 'formal' taught
course must end so somewhere at any level lifelong
learning skills must be developed. (Higher degrees are no
guarentee of questioning minds).
what 'role' are we educating physiotherapists for?
someone has to carry out the more routine activites, will
there be an increase in support workers which are directed
by consultant therapists?
this then means who we are 'educating' and to what level
really does become an issue
Jackie
On Wed, 18 Oct 2000 11:25:29 -0400 "Douglas M. White"
<[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> Dear Yong:
>
> Thank you for writing this insightful post and placing much of the discussion
> in a valuable context. Your last statement about the "confines of a 3 or 4-year
> baccalaureate course" raises a different issue. Namely, the type of degree
> awarded a physical therapist. The USA has moved to a graduate degree for entry
> into the profession. Several months ago 25% of the PT programs in the USA were
> awarding or in the process of transitioning to the Doctor of Physical Therapy
> (DPT) degree as entry to the profession. Since then I am aware of several more
> programs intending to transition to the DPT. This is one of the fastest
> fundamental changes in the history of PT education in the USA. A discussion
> about education standards and degrees awarded around the world would be most
> interesting from my perspective.
>
>
>
----------------------
Jackie Waterfield
Department of Physiotherapy Studies
Keele University
Keele
Staffs ST5 5BG
Email:[log in to unmask]
Tel: 01782 583537
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