My "interdisciplinary" experience...

[markelmarcel]

---

Members don't see this ad.

I just started my first semester of DPT school this week and today we ended the week by being required to attend an interdisciplinary event. Basically, students from the graduate school health programs all came together and were able to meet, mingle and then we were broken up into small groups and given a case study. We had to discuss what each of our roles would be within the case study and listen about each others' careers. There were DPT students, MOT students, Nursing students, PA students, and clinical psychologist students present.

For the most part it wasn't that great; it wasn't organized very well and it was very hard to hear the members within your group because there were around 20 groups all in a huge auditorium all talking at the same time.

After we finished reviewing the case study, talking about our roles, etc we had a speaker... Surprise (ok, not really) the person that was the speaker was the person that the case study was built on. (A C6-C7 spinal cord injury; he is categorized as a quadriplegic but has pretty good movement in his upper limbs/body, although in the past couple of years he has lost some fine motor control; his accident was 28 years ago). It was a great story, got me teary-eyed a few times and thankful for everything in my life as well as excited to be able to help make a huge impact on someone's life, much like the doctors/therapists made an impact on him.

The real reason I'm posting this is, though, I was APPALLED by the members in my group and their attitude towards PT/OT. One girl outright asked us "What exactly do you do?" and seemed insistent that we had absolutely no role from the beginning in the patient and was more concerned about what she and her classmates (PA students) would do in the ER.

My fellow DPT student and I, as well as an MOT student did our best to educate those within our group, but honestly.... The profession has GOT to do something about this.

I really couldn't believe the attitudes that came out today and I hope that after meeting me and my classmate that the students we were in contact with can understand that we play a huge role in the patient's well-being.

 

[jblil]

How old, or rather how young, were the folks who didn't know what PTs/OTs do? I'd guess they're in their low- or mid-20s? Once they have gotten their healthcare degree and worked for some time, they'll understand what we do.

 

[TheOx777]

I wouldn't sweat it. We have this all-school conclave coming up soon too, and I am actually looking forward to it. We have been dissecting this week and we share space with medical students, residents, surgical fellows, and seasoned surgeons who want to practice their technique. According to the Anatomy director the DPT students tend to be light years ahead of Med Students when it comes to MSK anatomy. So when people take their precious time to knowingly demean your knowledge base and skill set(as may be the case with this student you are referring to) then just let them know exactly what you do and how well you do it!

You are right about educating people. I am slated to join the APTA and there will be numerous opportunities to let your voice be heard. Encourage everyone in your program to do the same!

 

[jellybean2020]

According to the Anatomy director the DPT students tend to be light years ahead of Med Students when it comes to MSK anatomy.

I know you mean well Ox, but let's stay away from these sorts of self-promoting generalizations. It's pretty counter-productive if our goal is to achieve respect in the healthcare field. And I say this as an applicant to PT school.

 

[TheOx777]

I know you mean well Ox, but let's stay away from these sorts of self-promoting generalizations. It's pretty counter-productive if our goal is to achieve respect in the healthcare field. And I say this as an applicant to PT school.

Jellybean,

Unfortunately, I have recognized that our profession does not do an efficient or adequate job of promoting itself enough. I will be the first to tell you that one's work should speak for itself, but in a world that by and large is under-educated about who we are(or will be in my case), what our role is, and our push towards being an invaluable part of the healthcare team; self-promotion is sometimes needed. Was "light years" hyperbolic? Probably, but it does not change the fact that as clinicians we should be the very best as it relates to MSK and NMsk form, function, pathology, and interventions.

"A closed mouth does not get fed."

 

[jellybean2020]

Jellybean,

Unfortunately, I have recognized that our profession does not do an efficient or adequate job of promoting itself enough. I will be the first to tell you that one's work should speak for itself, but in a world that by and large is under-educated about who we are(or will be in my case), what our role is, and our push towards being an invaluable part of the healthcare team; self-promotion is sometimes needed. Was "light years" hyperbolic? Probably, but it does not change the fact that as clinicians we should be the very best as it relates to MSK and NMsk form, function, pathology, and interventions.

"A closed mouth does not get fed."

There are ways to promote your own profession without putting others' down. Just because you meet certain people who toot their own horn at your expense (as in this OP's case) doesn't mean you should do the same.

You see cases of inter-profession tension all the time on SDN. (ie. MD bagging on DO, physicians bagging on midlevels, fighting over who gets to be called 'doctor' or not). People commonly pad their arguments by citing examples where their classmates were "light years" smarter than _____ students.

As far as PT's being MSK experts in pathology, function, and intervention, I would venture to say that although their scope of practice differs, PM&R & Orthopedic physicians have just as good if not better claim to that title. A more appropriate statement would be "PT's are experts at MSK rehabilitation and manipulation" I don't feel that statement diminishes our identity in any way, and it is one I can fully get behind and agree with.

 

[johncronejr]

Jellybean...there is absolutely nothing wrong with tooting our own horns as long as we can back it up. Ox's assertion about PT's being light years ahead is MSK anatomy isn't dragging any other profession down, but rather is just recognizing that PT's do actually have a better skill set in that area. There are no others out there tooting our horns, so in order to get respect we will have to show why we are valuable and what we do know.

 

[WSUPT]

Relax. Students, whether they be PT or PA, nurses, don't know their asses from a hole in the ground. When you're in professional school such as these you get tunnel vision and start thinking that your profession is the only discipline out there. And to address the notion that PTs have a better grasp on MSK anatomy than docs (other than orthopods), I would have to anecdotally agree. I know there is a research article out there that compares MSK anatomy between a med students, orthopods, etc. and PT rates second behind the orthopods if I recall correctly.

 

[amaprez]

I am applying to Western for podiatry school, not PT, and they're known to have these 'interdisciplinary' discussion forums. I would like to think the story told by the OP is more of an isolated case and not widespread.

 

[jellybean2020]

Jellybean...there is absolutely nothing wrong with tooting our own horns as long as we can back it up. Ox's assertion about PT's being light years ahead is MSK anatomy isn't dragging any other profession down, but rather is just recognizing that PT's do actually have a better skill set in that area. There are no others out there tooting our horns, so in order to get respect we will have to show why we are valuable and what we do know.

I think I'm projecting my own modesty and etiquette onto this thread. Anyways we've definitely gotten sidetracked! I'll take myself out of this discussion 🙂

 

[markelmarcel]

Interesting discussion; on the telling those just how much we do and what exactly it is, I am more than willing to explain; however, I found it interesting they chose this interdisciplinary day after we had only been in class for 4 days... Now, granted, I know a lot about PT because I needed to learn about it to decide to go to school, but I am in no way an expert of anything yet and experienced enough to discuss to great detail why we are so awesome. 😉

It was just very intriguing to me to see this in the real world, after reading countless threads here about how PTs/OTs are often downplayed and how many people feel we are not treated with respect. Interestingly enough, the PA students soon realized that although they may see the patient at the beginning of the "case" it is ultimately the therapists that will spend the bulk of the time with the patient to get him/her back to functioning as highly as possible, as the case allows.

Besides that, having the speaker was truly amazing and I'm very glad that portion of the day happened. 🙂

 

[rangardrum]

It sounds like an interesting experience for sure. Thanks for sharing!

 

[USP45]

I had an interdisciplinary experience with a gorgeous OT this weekend, does that count?

 

[jellybean2020]

I had an interdisciplinary experience with a gorgeous OT this weekend, does that count?

So......tempting.....must....resist.....joke

 

[USP45]

So......tempting.....must....resist.....joke

Whatever the jokes on her I'm not gonna call her again!

 

[Litlwarrior08]

Jellybean...there is absolutely nothing wrong with tooting our own horns as long as we can back it up. Ox's assertion about PT's being light years ahead is MSK anatomy isn't dragging any other profession down, but rather is just recognizing that PT's do actually have a better skill set in that area. There are no others out there tooting our horns, so in order to get respect we will have to show why we are valuable and what we do know.

...and the squeaky wheel gets the grease... I am in the process of applying for DPT. During my observation hours I became accutely aware that PTs are not pulled into the recovery of the patient early enough in the hospital setting and the frustration that the PTs are feeling. I understand the priority of other healing processes needed, but wouldn't the patients benifit more from earlier therapy? I plan to make this something I squak about.........As I learn more about our profession, its resources, and politics,etc I hope to have a part in making a positive difference.
I also witnessed the interdisciplinary interaction between the various professionals and you can "feel" when the relationship is positive or negative. It is important to respect all fields - and the role they play-without loosing respect for our own and never at the cost of downgrading others............ the medical profession is not the only field where this is important. Think maybe this was the purpose of the class session that the OP posted. I was encouraged about my future skill set when I read that DPTs have a strength in the MSK anatomy. Yeah!!

 

[jesspt]

Relax. Students, whether they be PT or PA, nurses, don't know their asses from a hole in the ground. When you're in professional school such as these you get tunnel vision and start thinking that your profession is the only discipline out there. And to address the notion that PTs have a better grasp on MSK anatomy than docs (other than orthopods), I would have to anecdotally agree. I know there is a research article out there that compares MSK anatomy between a med students, orthopods, etc. and PT rates second behind the orthopods if I recall correctly.

The article compares the knowledge of the management of musculoskeletal conditions. And, indeed, PT rated behind only orthopaedic surgeons. I do not believe that PM&R physicians were included in the study.

 

[fozzy40]

Childs, John D, Julie M Whitman, Phillip S Sizer, Maria L Pugia, Timothy W Flynn, and Anthony Delitto. "A description of physical therapists' knowledge in managing musculoskeletal conditions." BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders 6 (2005): 32.

Agree with JessPT...and PM&R physicians were not compared.