A physical therapist applies pressure to a female patient's lower back.

Orthopaedic Physical Therapy
Residency Program

Orthopaedic Physical Therapy Residency Program

UK HealthCare, in collaboration with the University of Kentucky, is developing an Orthopaedic Physical Therapy Residency Program. This program prepares residents to sit for the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialty’s orthopaedic clinical specialist exam.

Beginning Sept. 1, two residents will begin an intensive and comprehensive evidence-based clinical practice and education program designed to prepare them for advanced, independent practice in orthopaedic physical therapy. Residents will complete a comprehensive didactic program consisting of a combination of classroom, hands-on and online instruction. Through one-on-one mentoring and structured learning opportunities, residents will advance their abilities in examination, evaluation and effective treatment of complex orthopaedic conditions and pathologies.

The program will challenge residents' clinical reasoning skills and effectiveness as educators within both the clinical and academic setting. Through clinical practice at two primary sites, residents will have exposure to a wide variety of orthopaedic patients. This unique opportunity allows residents to work with both a traditional orthopaedic population as well as higher-functioning patients in a sports rehabilitation setting.

Mission

The mission of the UK HealthCare Orthopaedic Residency Program is twofold. It is to prepare the resident/candidate:

For advanced, independent practice in orthopaedic physical therapy
To contribute to society and their profession as a board-certified clinical specialist in orthopaedics

Graduates will demonstrate their competency in and compassion and dedication to the field of physical therapy by:

Providing excellent patient care/customer service through efficient, evidence-based practice
Advancing the profession and driving innovation through continual learning and participation in clinical research
Educating and serving as an ambassador to the public, physical therapy students and other professions in the organization and medical community

In doing so, the resident will uphold the missions, visions and purposes held by the University of Kentucky, UK Rehabilitation Services Department, UK HealthCare and the UK College of Health Sciences Division of Physical Therapy.

Goals

The graduate will be a highly skilled clinician who:

Delivers excellent client-centered care as a member of the interprofessional healthcare team to increase efficacy and efficiency of care.
Develops and demonstrates advanced critical thinking and clinical reasoning skills in the evaluation and evidence-based treatment of the orthopaedic population as outlined by the American Board of Physical Therapy’s “Description of Specialty Practice.”
Demonstrates proficiency in psychomotor skills for assessment and diagnosis of orthopaedic conditions and manual therapy interventions and treatments.
Demonstrates advanced skills as an educator of orthopaedic physical therapy, utilizing appropriate strategies to increase knowledge and skills of patients, caregivers, students, colleagues and other interdisciplinary healthcare providers.
Contributes to physical therapy's body of knowledge, consumes scholarly literature and utilizes evidence-based decision-making.
Masters the skills and knowledge required to pass the ABPTS’s orthopaedic specialty (OCS) exam and practice as a highly competent physical therapist in the field of orthopaedic rehabilitation.

Curriculum and program features

Direct patient care at UK HealthCare in outpatient orthopaedic and sports rehab. 30-32 hours/week
1:1 direct mentoring of patient care with a qualified faculty member. 4-5 hours/week
Teaching opportunities within the UK Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program instructing entry-level students in musculoskeletal courses and related content
Academic mentorship to promote growth of the resident as an entry-level DPT educator
Service as a clinical instructor for UK’s DPT students in primary clinic sites and at UK Good Samaritan’s Touch Clinic working with Lexington’s underserved population. 60 hours/year
Physician shadowing, surgery observation, specialty clinic experiences. 48 hours/year
Didactic education:
- Lectures and hands-on clinical activity instruction. 40 hours/year
- Specialty topics in orthopaedic rehab. 12 hours/year
- OCS preparatory coursework. 60 hours/year
- Independent study and self-directed learning opportunities
In partnership with The Johns Hopkins Hospital Orthopaedic PT Residency, attend the “Current Concepts in Orthopaedic PT” CEU series. 96 hours/year
Produce a research project with mentorship
Monthly journal club presented by the resident

Admission requirements

We accept two residents per year. The following items are required for an individual applicant to be eligible to enter the UK HealthCare Orthopaedic Residency Program:

Graduate from a CAPTE (Commission for Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education) accredited physical therapy program.
Hold (in good standing) a current license to practice physical therapy in the Commonwealth of Kentucky.
Meet all eligibility requirements to be employed as a practicing physical therapist within UK HealthCare, including passing criminal-background check and drug-screening requirements established by UK Human Resources for new hire employees.
Hold active certification in CPR/BLS.
Submission of a current resume or CV.

Minimum of one year of clinical experience or exceptional performance during clinical rotations in an orthopaedic outpatient setting is preferred. Manual therapy experience and APTA membership is also preferred. The ideal candidate will value professional growth and critical-thinking skills. They will be receptive to mentorship and feedback and demonstrate strong organizational ability. They will have great interpersonal skills and leadership potential. New graduates are welcome to apply.

Benefits

This is a paid, full-time position. Residents will receive malpractice coverage provided by UK HealthCare at no charge as per a standard employee hire at UK Healthcare. Health, dental, vision, life and disability insurance as well as 403(b) are offered at standard employee rates. Residents will be given the opportunity to select the health, dental and/or vision plans in which they wish to enroll during employee orientation. Residents may elect not to participate at that time as well. At the end of the program, residents will not be eligible to receive the employer match on the 403(b) plan but will be eligible to receive their own personal contributions to the 403(b) plan. For further details regarding insurance/benefits, refer to this page. Benefits provided by UK HealthCare will begin on Oct. 1. Benefits, including health insurance, malpractice insurance, disability insurance, 403(b) plan, sick, vacation and holiday time, and continuing education funding are based on the offers provided to employees of the organization.

Apply

Interested applicants should email the program director stating their interest in the program along with a resume or CV by Dec. 1. Please feel free to contact Heath Crist or Matthew Baker with questions concerning the program.

Faculty contact and information

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