Profile of Research Community Interview Questions Renee Sampson Professor Joella; ENGL282-71 March 5, 2024 I will be conducting an interview with Kylie Donaldson, DPT. Dr. Donaldson is a Doctor of Physical Therapy practicing at the Blanchard Valley Hospital in Findlay, Ohio. The interview will take place via phone call on March 7, 2024. I intend to discuss the following questions with Dr. Donaldson: 1. Can you describe a typical day at work as a physical therapist in the hospital? 2. What is the difference between a'smart' and a'smart'? How do you communicate with a patient during a therapy session? 3. What is the difference between a'smart' and a'smart'? What kind of notes do you take on your patients and how do you keep track of them throughout …show more content…
Dr. Donaldson works as an acute care physical therapist at the Blanchard Valley Hospital. In an acute care setting, patients and their needs can change almost hourly. It is vital for a physical therapist in an acute care setting to have a clear line of communication with the other healthcare providers that work with their patients. Additionally, physical therapists must have direct communication with their patients to better understand their needs and develop an effective rehabilitation plan. A normal day for a DPT at the Blanchard Valley Hospital begins with choosing their patients for the day. Patient load is typically divided among the physical therapists and physical therapy assistants working throughout the day based on patient needs and previous interactions with the patient. During my interview with Dr. Donaldson, she stated, “I try to see the same patients every day until they are discharged. It helps form a personal connection with them and allows me to better adapt their rehab plan.” Once the patient load is divided among the staff, a physical therapist will take about an hour to look over patient charts. During this time, they take notes of room numbers, preferred names, the condition the patient is being treated for, and notes from the nursing staff. After …show more content…
Meetings of this caliber are important to keep the entire staff on the same page when it comes to patient rehabilitation. In addition to treating patients, a physical therapist must also stay up to date on new information in the field. “One of the ways that we are encouraged to learn about new methods is through the APTA (American Physical Therapy Association) Journal that is provided through the hospital,” explained Dr. Donaldson. While not every physical therapist reads each published edition of the journal in its entirety, many of them skim through and read what interests them or pertains to their career. Furthermore, a physical therapist may turn to former classmates, colleagues, and even websites like Pinterest to find creative rehabilitation ideas. Dr. Donaldson stated, “In acute care, we don’t tend to need to seek creative methods very often. Most of our time with patients is very limited and getting the patient out of bed or walking is the biggest goal.” Professional conferences are another great way for a physical therapist to stay informed on new practices being used in the field. According to Dr. Donaldson, the hospital does fund DPTs to attend conferences. However, the