In the past, I have shadowed in multiple outpatient physical therapy settings.

I
observed many generic treatments such as: ACL repairs, total hip/knee replacements,
and rotator cuff repairs. As much as I did enjoy these particular settings, I felt that I
wanted more; I wanted to experience inpatient physical therapy in a clinical setting.
Professor Armstrong provided me with the contact information of Ann Jampel, the
Clinical Education Coordinator at Massachusetts General Hospital. I eagerly provided
her with my resume and cover letter, in hopes of scoring an interview, which I ended up
getting at the end of March. During the interview Ann asked me many difficult questions
pertaining to physical therapy. She wanted to know what I though the role of a physical
therapist, both inpatient and outpatient, was and what I was really looking to do as a
career in my future. After the interview portion of our meeting, I then shadowed a
physical therapist in the Cardiorespiratory Acute-Care Unit. This was the first time I had
ever seen physical therapy being done in a clinical setting and I instantly was intrigued.
There is a large need for a second set of hands during their treatments, which would
make this a very hands-on internship experience. After leaving the hospital alter that
afternoon, I knew that Massachusetts General Hospital was the place that I needed to
be during my Summer 2016 internship.

Professional Objectives
Goal 1: Consistently maintain an environment that is safe for the patient and myself
during clinical interactions.
Activities: Observe, Asking for assistance when necessary, maintaining
infection control, practicing effective body mechanics

Resources: Intern Hospital Orientation, Online HealthStream Training,

Coworkers
Evidence: Describing the departments emergency procedures, including my
own role. Describing the proper infection control and the proper body mechanic
used during the internship.

Goal 2: To demonstrate effective verbal and nonverbal communication.

Activities: Observing my coworkers, communicating clearly, actively listening
Resources: Supervisor feedback, online training, past job experience, past
materials
Evidence: Appropriately introducing myself to patients, maintaining professional
boundaries with both patients and staff, communicating clearly, understanding
the basic written language of physical therapy.

Goal 3: To demonstrate professional behavior

Activities: Observing coworkers, training
Resources: Supervisor feedback, coworkers,
Evidence: Showing initiative to complete all given tasks, demonstrating the
ability to problem solve in appropriate situations, effectively functioning in my role
within my specific team.

Goal 4: To demonstrate a complete understanding of the physical therapist role in an

inpatient setting.

Activities: Observing my clinical instructor and other coworkers, asking

appropriate questions, reading provided text/ handouts from my instructor
Resources: Text, Intern Orientation, Coworkers, Clinical instructor
Evidence: Describing how a PT develops a relationship with the patient,
describing the general clinical framework for physical therapy practice
(examination, evaluation, plan of care, intervention, reassessment, and
discharge), describing effective team interactions, articulating the scope of the
physical therapist in the acute care setting.

Goal 5: Create beneficial patient and physical therapist resources.

Activities: Research
Resources: Texts, past materials, clinical instructor
Evidence: Include in my portfolio the New England Cardiac and Pulmonary
Rehabilitation resource list that I create for patients upon discharge. Include the
pocket card that I create for the physical therapists to use to assess patients on
beta-blockers.