CHCS - Perspectives Winter/Spring 2016

COLLEGE OF HEALTH CARE SCIENCES • 47 is the pedagogy behind the D.P.T. program. “During these experiences, we take a medical history, get to know our patients and their families or caregivers, perform different tests and measures, and treat the deficits we find,” said fourth-year student Nicole Hall. “We create obstacle courses to challenge our patients’ balance and walking ability, which involves them having to walk around, over, and on different objects. We even play a card game with them to work on fine motor skills.” The stakes change during an IPE called Neuro Boot Camp, which is the culminating neurological experience prior to clinical internships. Neuro Boot Camp originated at the Fort Lauderdale/Davie Campus in 2006 and was designed to be an intensive physical therapy experience for partici- pants who desired a boost in their rehabilitation program. Likewise, it is an intensive experience for the students, who provide the PT examination and interventions under the watchful eye and support of licensed physical therapy faculty members and lab assistants. During Neuro Boot Camp, each patient volunteer receives five hours of therapy for five days. On the first day, a patient receives a thorough examination so that, by the end of the session, each group develops a specific treat- ment plan with the patient, caregiver, and faculty mem- bers. The remaining four days are devoted to providing interventions and developing a home exercise program. The classroom is transformed into a clinic with exercise equipment, technology to enhance rehabilitation, and functional training equipment. Students document information in the patient chart, engage in ongoing problem solving, and use their creative talents to make sessions effective and motivating. Integrated patient experiences truly bring the clinic to the classroom. They allow students to demystify foreign concepts and go into clinical internships knowing what spasticity feels like and what ataxia looks like. “Without these experiences, I would not have the understanding, confidence, and creativeness to work effectively with the neuromuscular patient population,” Hall explained. “This exposure has piqued my interest in neuromuscular rehab, and I am anxious to put all that I have learned to use in my upcoming neuro clinical rotation.” ■ If a picture or video is worth 1,000 words, an experience with a real patient is worth 1 million words. Cintya Aguilera, fourth-year PT student, directs Judy Piran- Vesseh to pay attention to her posture using a mirror, with Josh Courtney, fourth-year PT student. Caitlyn Glancy, left, fourth- year PT student, looks on as Chris Rausch, fourth-year PT student, helps Veda Dwyer.