hey guys!
I am currently doing an acute care clinical in a community hospital and have been surprised by a few things, perhaps as an idealist (naive?) student . Here are some positive observations:
-The health care team really respects the PTs observations about discharge planning. I think that's pretty neat.
-Many patients are very happy to get up and moving for the first time and appreciate the PTs facilitating that.
Here are some other things that I have noticed and am questioning:
-I currently work primarily in a gym, not bedside. The PT is expected to see 3 patients every half hour. Here is the formula: vitals, AROM LE exercises, walk/stairs if they have them (hopefully twice so the PT can "bill" for it). As I was told, we don't really "treat" patients, thats for rehab.
-Patients are seen ASAP if they need to be discharged but otherwise once every 3 days or so, except if they are on the neuro floor in which they are seen 5x/week.
-Ortho patients on the other hand get post op day 0 bedside, then 2 hours therapy a day after that.
Is this the status quo in acute care PT? With what we know about dosage/intensity of our interventions, patients getting seen for 10 minutes 3x/week is obviously, not going to be very effective. I don't think acute care is for me but is something I'm considering doing on weekends.
Thanks for your input!
I am currently doing an acute care clinical in a community hospital and have been surprised by a few things, perhaps as an idealist (naive?) student . Here are some positive observations:
-The health care team really respects the PTs observations about discharge planning. I think that's pretty neat.
-Many patients are very happy to get up and moving for the first time and appreciate the PTs facilitating that.
Here are some other things that I have noticed and am questioning:
-I currently work primarily in a gym, not bedside. The PT is expected to see 3 patients every half hour. Here is the formula: vitals, AROM LE exercises, walk/stairs if they have them (hopefully twice so the PT can "bill" for it). As I was told, we don't really "treat" patients, thats for rehab.
-Patients are seen ASAP if they need to be discharged but otherwise once every 3 days or so, except if they are on the neuro floor in which they are seen 5x/week.
-Ortho patients on the other hand get post op day 0 bedside, then 2 hours therapy a day after that.
Is this the status quo in acute care PT? With what we know about dosage/intensity of our interventions, patients getting seen for 10 minutes 3x/week is obviously, not going to be very effective. I don't think acute care is for me but is something I'm considering doing on weekends.
Thanks for your input!