Physical Therapy Mission Statement

The University of St. Augustine’s mission statement emphasizes graduation of competent individuals who hold themselves to high ethical and behavioral standards, which is a key factor that attracted me towards applying to its Doctor of Physical Therapy program. While it is important to have a good education and clinical experience, I hold lessons in behavior and ethics to a higher standard due to the fact that patient care depends highly upon complete and proper care. If a therapist does not present the proper behavior or ethics when treating a patient, the patient’s life could be greatly affected despite the amount of knowledge the therapist has. Therefore, I personally have sought out physical therapy programs that hold behavior and ethics
I am amazed at the amount of locations and settings a physical therapist is able to work at, from home visits to hospitals to acute care facilities. In addition, working with patients of all ages and injuries will allow me to become more educated in providing the proper care for each individual’s case. Physical therapists can also become specialized in treating certain body parts and patient population (i.e. cardiovascular and pulmonary, pediatrics), which will allow me to discover my preferred niche. Collaborating between other health professionals is also a key career element in the field of physical therapy. Since patients are diagnosed by physicians prior to attending therapy sessions, the therapist will need to refer to the physicians recommendations, and the therapist will need to confirm patient progress or if any adjustments are required. Also, physical therapists work closely with occupational therapists and nurses; this makes me appreciate other health professions and the teamwork they provide. I prefer collaborating with others since multiple perspectives and skills are used together to produce a quality result, great patient care, and builds relationships among other