Physical Therapy Doctorate

VCU's Department of Physical Therapy offers a three-year degree program leading to a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT). The DPT Program prepares students for entry into the profession by teaching them to evaluate and manage patients with physical therapy problems effectively and in accordance with ethical principles. It also provides students with strategies to continually define and meet their own educational needs in order to keep skills and knowledge current throughout their professional careers.

Satisfactory performance in the experiences provided in the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program prepares the graduate to:

1. Demonstrate professional behavior and respect for self, the patient/client and colleagues in a manner consistent with APTA Code of Ethics and APTA Core Values.
2. Practice according to legal and professional standards, including all federal, state and institutional regulations related to patient/client care and fiscal management.
3. Communicate effectively, using appropriate verbal and non-verbal strategies and resources, with all stakeholders, including patients/clients, family members, caregivers, practitioners, interprofessional team members, consumers, payers and policy makers.
4. Adapt delivery of physical therapy services with consideration for patients’ differences, values, preferences, and expressed needs in all professional activities.
5. Strategically gather, interpret and synthesize information from multiple resources, including current professional literature, to make effective clinical judgements while considering the patient/client perspective, the environment and available resources.
6. Determine, with each patient encounter, the patient’s need for further examination or consultation by a physical therapist or referral to another health care professional.
7. Perform a physical therapy patient examination using evidenced-based tests and measures that are appropriate to the patient’s age, diagnosis and health status.
8. Evaluate data from the patient examination (history, systems review, and tests and measures) to determine a diagnosis, prognosis, patient/client goals, and expected outcomes that guide future patient management.
9. Establish, manage and adapt a physical therapy plan of care that is safe, effective, patient/client-centered and evidenced-based while also considering prognostic factors, professional obligations, interprofessional collaborations, and administrative policies and procedures of the practice environment.
10. Perform physical therapy interventions in a competent manner to achieve patient/client goals and outcomes.
11. Educate others (patients, caregivers, staff, students, other health care providers, business and industry representatives, school systems and the public) using relevant and effective teaching methods.
12. Produce accurate documentation that follows guidelines and specific documentation formats required by state practice acts, the practice setting, and other regulatory agencies.
13. Collect and analyze data from selected outcome measures in a manner that supports accurate analysis of individual patient and group outcomes.
14. Direct, supervise and appropriately delegate tasks to personnel to meet patient’s goals and expected outcomes according to legal standards and ethical guidelines.
15. Demonstrate a commitment to lifelong learning by effectively accepting and incorporating feedback, engaging in regular self-assessment to enhance clinical performance and actively seeking opportunities to expand clinical knowledge and skills.
16. Demonstrate a commitment to the physical therapy profession by serving as an advocate for the profession and the healthcare needs of society.