The ticket to ride over to this inviting green country in the United Kingdom is offered jointly through Shifrin Healthcare Inc. in Edison, N.J. and The Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen, Scotland. Together they are launching a bachelor of science physical therapy program (called physiotherapy in Scotland, England, Canada and several other countries) that's scheduled to make it's classroom debut in January. Their aspirations? To help qualified, eager U.S. students, PTAs and other graduates become PTs.
"The main goal is to create an opportunity for American students who can't get in [to school in the United States] because the competition is so fierce," said Steven Shifrin, president of Shifrin Healthcare, which specializes in recruitment, education and placement of PTs and OTs. "Many people are rejected from schools here. They may have great averages, but for one reason or another they don't get in."
Of course, there are a lot more students in the "didn't get in" category than the 24 seats in the program, which may elicit visions of mile-high piles of applications and determined fingers continually dialing for more information. But while the response is good and the slots are expected to be filled, applicants must be ready to pick up and go since the semester kickoff begins with the new year.
OFFERED THROUGH the university's School of Health Sciences, which is comprised of PT, OT, nursing and radiography, the new joint education effort will lead U.S. students through a condensed PT program taught by the university's faculty, which covers the same material comprising their four-year PT curriculum. This four-year program had been in effect since 1991, although the university has offered a physiotherapy education since 1962, noted Valerie A. Maehle, PhD, MEd, MCSP, who heads this division.
To take advantage of this new opportunity, prospects must meet the requirements (or have equivalent experience, background and interest) and apply by the end of October. Interviews will be conducted shortly thereafter for the remaining openings of the 24 slots, which will jump to 30 in 1996 and 36 for every remaining year. According to literature about the program, prerequisites include a minimum 2.75 grade point average.
In addition, applicants must have 50 to 100 work or volunteer hours at a physical therapy facility under their belts, along with letters of reference and a successful interview with Shifrin Healthcare and representatives from the Robert Gordon University. Candidates who do not meet these exact requirements, however, may still apply.
"A candidate will be evaluated as a person, not just be grade point average," said Shifrin, adding, "It is important to note, however, that this course is intense, and we seek candidates who have the ability tp complete the course."
"I think the first year of the course will be very demanding for both the student and staff and [will] require a high level of commitment," agreed Dr. Maehle. "I expect that students will adapt quickly to our system and progress well as our other overseas students have done in the past."
After Students sucessfully finish the program and pass their state licensure exam, they will work with Shifrin Healthcare for one year as a traveling therapist in the United States. "The great thing about that is they get experience right away," noted Shifrin. "It seems to work out great for everybody. It's a great experience because they don't have to worry about looking for a job."
In addition to being well on their way to practicing PT, accepted students will enjoy another obvious learning experience-the one that comes from living immersed in a different culture. And unlike other cultures where language can be a barrier to learning, the common tongue in Scotland is English. Even though some of the vocabulary varies from standard American lingo, this ability to communicate is "another big, big advantage," Shifrin added.
Students can also choose to live with a host family and gain an even closer view of Scottish customs and ways of life. Or if they prefer, they can live in brand new single-room dorms or suites, where they can study together, eat together and give each other support when tackling their studies.
Witnessing and working in the United Kingdom's managed care
National Health Service (NHS) system marks another advantage of this PT
school near the Highlands. "These American students will have a
firsthand experience in a country where they're part of the national
medical system where everyone is covered."
In the long run, this knowledge will provide students with a better understanding of a managed care system in the United States, a topic making the headlines for a couple of years now. Throughout the program, students will gain clinical experience in various placements, which "are designed to enable the student to integrate with physical therapy skill in the therapeutic management of patients," stated program literature.
"The strong bias toward clinical practice is the best aspect of the course," stressed Dr. Maehle, who plans to meet with applicants later this month. The clinical hours total 1,120, which is more than many programs, several of which offer affiliations that tally up to 900 hours, added Shifrin.
This clinical and classrom work will span across seven trimesters in the two and one-third years, which makes 1997 the first year that the graduates will toss their caps and dance in their gowns. Before trading in their backpacks for a PT license though, they'll climb through the ladder of 2,672 hours of challenging courses, which include foundation studies and physiotherapy classes. Foundation courses consist of several consecutive classes in anatomy, physiology, kinesiology, behavioral studies, statistics and computing, research methods and a clinically based research project.
Physiotherapy studies are electro-physical modalities; manipulation; health promotion; movement studies; professional studies; option language; imaging; advanced computing and aspects of design; integrated clinical studies; pharmacology; advanced practice; management and quality assurance; alternative modes of health care delivery; management of change; and clinical sciences.
In terms of accreditation, The Robert Gordon University is fully accredited by the Charted Society of Physiotherapy in London, the accrediting body for the United Kingdom. It is also in the process of applying for APTA accreditation, said Shifrin adding, "The goal is to have accreditiation before the first group of students graduates."
If APTA accreditation is delayed, however, the graduates can still obtain licensure by having their course work reviewed by any one of the credential review agencies that submit reports to the states, he explained. While APTA accreditation does reduce the paperwork of licensure, it is not an essential ingredient for becoming a practicing PT.
Acording to Mary Jane Harris, associate director of the APTA's Department of Accreditation, the criteria for accrediting established physical therapy or physiotherapy programs in foreign countries must be recognized by their appropriate credentialing agency (as is the case with The Robert Gordon University) since the U.S. Department of Education and the Council on the Recognition of Post-Secondary Accreditors (COPRA) limit their recognition activities to domestic accreditation agencies.
While the criteria are essentailly identical, the accreditation process for foreign-based programs is slightly different since, in order to apply, the programs must already be in operation, Harris added. "Because we only accredit established [foreign-based] programs, these programs are not re-quired to go through the candidancy process such as new programs in this country," she explained.
Shifrin added that many PT graduates from the Robert Gordon University have been coming to America for years and American students can do the same-without the added step of obtaining U.S. citizenship.
It's because of the university's solid reputation that Scotland is the chosen spot for the new U.S. PT program. "Our criteria is based on a scale which either must meet or exceed U.S. educational institution standards," stated the brochure.
U.S. students aren't the only ones who will benefit, however. The Aberdeen university will gain insight into another culture while at the same time building its reputation among U.S. students, Dr. Maehle said.
"The university will benefit from having this student group as they will bring fresh ideas and experience from North America, thus enhancing the cultural fabric of the university," she noted. "The course also provides exciting opportunities for future academic and other links as the graduates return and practice in the U.S.A."
Overall, the debuting program is striving "to make the educational process and the transition from being a student to a licensed physical therapist in the United States as smooth as possible." And although Shifrin lists many benifits to this cultural and educational experience, the best thing for prospective PTs is joining the program. "Getting in is the best thing overall, so they can be great PTs in the future."
For more information about The Robert Gordon University or to
obtain an application for the program, contact Shifrin Healthcare Inc. at
111 Columbia Turnpike, Florham Park, NJ. 07932-2103; (212) 504-3005