Computer use and skills?

[JMSD2014]

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Greetings,

How much time do PTs typically spend on a computer in a given day? Is there a lot of record-keeping and data entry that happens on computers? Or does it get done by hand? Are computer skills useful or necessary in the industry?

Thanks!

 

[aroszko]

With the technology used now a days it is pretty important that a PT know how to use a computer, even in DPT school majority of student use either computers or laptops for notes and test taking. My guess is that within the next few years everything will be (if its not sooner) done electronically.

 

[tweaze]

Of the 4 locations I have shadowed at, 3/4 had mandatory electronic recordkeeping, and were updating patient information on a laptop or tablet as they worked with them throughout the appointment. The 4th, they kept paper files, and the PTs seemed to do a combination of manual note taking, or taking notes on a laptop then transferring them to the paper file. I agree that it's going to be completely electronic sooner rather than later.

 

[DesertPT]

Of the 4 locations I have shadowed at, 3/4 had mandatory electronic recordkeeping, and were updating patient information on a laptop or tablet as they worked with them throughout the appointment. The 4th, they kept paper files, and the PTs seemed to do a combination of manual note taking, or taking notes on a laptop then transferring them to the paper file. I agree that it's going to be completely electronic sooner rather than later.

This is true of all the PT clinics I have been to as well.

 

[JMSD2014]

That's good to know. Thanks for the feedback.