PT 704 Clinical Skills I: Foundations of Physical Therapy Practice

This is the first course in the clinical skills series designed to introduce students to the clinical sciences and prepare students for direct patient care. In this course students will learn and apply concepts that are basic to the practice of physical therapy. This course will focus on the development of skills for clinician safety, including infection control and body mechanics that will be necessary throughout the program. The course will introduce the fundamental psychomotor components of patient care such as bed mobility, transfers, gait training and wheelchair mobility while reinforcing both clinician and patient safety. Other topics that will be considered are the principals of physical therapy examination and intervention, communication, documentation, legal issues and psychosocial issues of physical therapy practice.