The 3rd year Doctor of Physical Therapy students participate in an annual Interprofessional Laboratory Activity. The interactive clinical laboratory activity brings approximately 90 students together, including UMES Physical Therapy and Pharmacy students and students from the Salisbury University Nursing and Respiratory Therapy programs. The activity requires the students to:
- Describe the various professional roles and responsibilities of each health care professional;
- Perform select interventions utilizing role playing of patient case studies;
- Describe the optimization of patient management via interprofessional collaboration.
The activities are coordinated by UMES DPT faculty member Dennis Klima, PT, PhD, GCS, NCS, renowned physical therapist Jennifer Zanni, PT, MS, DScPT from Johns Hopkins Medical Institution, and Salisbury University Nursing and Respiratory Therapy faculty members.
Students are able to create a mock intensive care unit to facilitate interaction among all health disciplines. Peer teaching affords the students the opportunity to inculcate team-building using case-based patient scenarios.
This activity is congruent with current health care directives
to promote optimal patient care in all settings.
