Third year Doctorate of Physical Therapy (DPT) Program students at the George Washington University (GW) School of Medicine and Health Sciences (SMHS) are learning the value of flexibility, resilience, communication, and positivity as they navigate their full-time clinical rotations during a global pandemic.
Upon returning from spring break in 2020, students learned that the rest of their spring semester would take place online due to the pandemic. In addition to the changes in their academic schedule, many students received news that their initial clinical rotations might have to be postponed as sites did not have the capacity to accommodate students at that time.
Aislin Dolan, a third-year DPT student, had originally been placed in a pediatric clinical setting in Washington, D.C., but soon found out that in order to stay in this type of setting she would have to relocate to Pittsburgh. “This experience took a lot of flexibility, but it was so rewarding to get to work with my desired population while also experiencing the culture of a whole new city,” Dolan states.
Dolan reflects that there were other positive learning experiences that came from this change. In order to follow social distancing protocols, her clinic was forced to adapt their scheduling to provide one-on-one care for the entire session, rather than overlapping or group sessions. “I was able to provide patient’s my undivided attention and really enhance my clinician-patient relationship,” adds Dolan. Completing her full-time clinical rotations during a pandemic has made Dolan proud to be part of the physical therapy world and health care in general. “I think that we have learned how critical our physical health is and the role rehabilitation can play in restoring us back to our old selves,” says Dolan.
Not only have students had to physically relocate during this time, some also found themselves reassigned to an entirely different setting than they had originally planned. Fellow member of the DPT Class of 2021 Cara Jenson was originally placed in an inpatient setting, but when that placement was cancelled, she was reassigned to an outpatient clinic. Although this was a surprise, Jenson felt grateful that the clinical education team at the SMHS Department of Health Human Function, and Rehabilitation Sciences was able to work quickly to find a new location. “During a pandemic, it is important to help out where it is needed most, even if it is not where you originally planned,” Jenson says.
Many outpatient clinics during this time found themselves forced to downsize their staff, rearrange schedules, and develop extra resources to ensure they provided a safe environment for all patients.
“This experience enhanced my perception of health care being a team approach” explains Jenson. “With so many moving parts and ever-changing policy, it was vital to maintain open communication between providers for optimal patient care.”
For most of the DPT Class of 2021 students, clinical rotations have brought about many different aspects that no one could have accounted for. “Although this was a very challenging year, I believe that our cohort will come out stronger than ever and be more equipped to handle whatever happens in our future careers” adds Dolan.