Minutes of the Educational Policy Committee

Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2001

 

Present:

Marge Legg, Bonnie Leonhardt, Greg Bereskin, Pam Long, Cathy Daters, Kris Eitrheim, Michael Hustedde, Terry Schlabach, Joe Lesner

 

Guests:

Dan Zeimet

Paul Koch

Lynn Frank

Kevin Farrell

Kathie Lampe

John Barr

Sandy Cassidy

Dan Bozik

 

Minutes of the November 6th, 2001 meeting were read and approved (Greg Bereskin moved, Michael Hustedde seconded) with the following correction concerning changes in curricular  requirements for the DBA:

o         One course in Case Studies is required DBA 925 (students taking 920 or 921, which will be phased out next year, have fulfilled this requirement)

o         Students are required to complete 4 elective courses from the 8 DBA elective courses: 930,931,940,941,950,951,960,961.

 

3. Motion to accept the departmental program review for the Master of Physical Therapy (MPT) program  (Michael Hustedde moved, Terry Schlabach seconded). 

The contrast between broader core requirements for Physical Therapy as compared to Medicine was discussed. John Barr explained that their accrediting body expects a broader base of knowledge including social sciences.

Motion carried.

 

2.   Motion to approve the addition of elective courses MPT800 Applied Anatomy and Physiology (2cr), MPT810 Advanced Diagnostics (2cr), MPT 820 (2cr), and MPT830 (2cr) for the summer of 2002 (Greg Bereskin, Terry Schlabach)

 

John Barr explained that these courses provide higher level content consistent with the growing demand by professional organizations for higher level skills. Students have requested such offerings. They would be offered sequentially in the summer session to allow current MPT students the opportunity to take courses that would become part of the DPT program if that program is approved.

Motion carried.

 

  1. Motion to convert the Master of Physical Therapy program into an entry-level Doctor of Physical Therapy program (DPT) beginning fall of 2002 (Michael Hustedde moved, Pam Long seconded)

The following MPT Program courses will need to be changed in terms of their title or credit as the MPT Program is converted to the DPT Program:

 

            MPT 520 - Pathology & Medical Management I  (3 cr) and MPT 610 - Pathology & Medical Management II (4 cr) will become DPT 520 – Pathology & Medical Management (at 5 cr)

 

            MPT 531 - Functional Anatomy (2 cr) will become DPT 531 - Functional Anatomy (at 1 cr)

 

            MPT 550 - Introduction to Physical Therapy (4 cr) will become DPT 550 - Introduction to Physical Therapy (at 3 cr)

 

            MPT 635 - Health Prevention / Promotion (3 cr) will become DPT 635 - Clinical Exercise Physiology (3cr)

 

            MPT 670 - Orthotics & Prosthetics (3 cr) will become DPT 670 - Orthotics & Prosthetics (at 4 cr)

 

            MPT 720 - Musculoskeletal Therapeutics II (2 cr) will become DPT 720 - Musculoskeletal Therapeutics II (at 3 cr)

 

            All clinical education courses from the MPT Program will change credits in the DPT Program.  Based upon a revised course crediting plan that has been discussed with Dan Zeimet, Ann Freeberg and Dan Bozik, all required clinical education experiences leading up to the final semester will be awarded "0" credit hours.

 

            MPT 580 - Clinical Education  (1cr) will become DPT 580 - Clinical Education  (0 cr)

 

            DPT 582 - Clinical Education will be added (0 cr)

 

            MPT 680 - Clinical Education (1cr) will become DPT 680 - Clinical Education  (0 cr)

 

            MPT 684 - Clinical Education  (1 cr) will be discontinued

 

            MPT 781 - Clinical Education (0 cr) will be added

 

            MPT 782 - Clinical Education  (5 cr) will become DPT 782 - Clinical Education  (8 cr)

                                   

            MPT 784 - Clinical Education  (5 cr) will become DPT 784 - Clinical Education  (10 cr)

 

MPT elective courses will be will be converted to required DPT courses:

 

                       

            MPT 800 - Applied Anatomy & Physiology (2 cr) will become DPT 800 - Applied Anatomy & Physiology (2 cr)

 

            MPT 810 - Advanced Diagnostics (2 cr) will become DPT 810 - Advanced Diagnostics (2 cr)

 

            MPT 820 - Differential Diagnosis (2 cr) will become DPT 820 - Differential Diagnosis (2 cr)

 

            MPT 830 - Medically Complex Patient (2cr) will become DPT 830 - Medically Complex Patient (2cr)

 

Only one MPT Program course will be deleted in the coming academic year:

 

 

            MPT 730 - Advanced Therapeutic Exercise 

 

 

 

Discussion followed on the need for the DPT.  The PT faculty present explained that changes in the profession are leading to the doctoral degree.  Since a greater number of practitioners now operate independently outside hospital departments a higher level of “general practitioner” is required. Many insurers will not cover therapy received without doctor’s orders unless the practitioner holds a doctorate.  Some competitive institutions are offering doctoral programs.  The professional organization, the American Physical Therapy Association, is promoting this change, but the CAPTE, the accrediting agency is remaining neutral. Faculty credentials are not expected to be a problem. One faculty member is completing a doctorate, and future hires could be considered with the new needs in mind.

 

Currently, MPT students may enter after completing their requirements as seniors. This will not change for the DPT program.  It was believed that few of these enroll with more than 10 hours to complete.  MPT alumni would not be able to “convert” their degrees with extra coursework at this time.  A program is being considered for approval at a later date that would combine coursework with professional portfolio evaluation for a DPT.

 

Fieldwork will increase from 27 to 35 hours and will include a rural practice component.  Research will be diffused throughout the coursework, so that a high level of expertise can be achieved.  Pricing of the program will be different.  The DPT will abandon the one-price plan and charge students by credit hour and related fees.  This change is considered to be more desirable for attracting students than the current plan.

 

The decision to offer the program in only 2.5 years was discussed.  Historically, PT education has been very intense.  Adding courses and still requiring students to finish in 2.5 years can be achieved by building in additional coursework into former downtimes: the first summer, and interims. Concern was expressed about student burnout under such an intense schedule. Additional fieldwork is required but will be taken for 0 credits.  This allows the student to be covered by SAU liability insurance. 

 

In the future, adjustments could be made to the schedule or length of program. Five year goals include a conversion program for MPT’s and clinic opportunities.

 

The motion carried.

 

Submitted by

Bonnie Leonhardt