Mission and Goals

MISSION

The Division of Physical Therapy recognizes the needs of the state and mission of the Health Sciences system. Our mission is to educate individuals with the knowledge, skills, and behaviors consistent with professional excellence who practice in and out of WV. Working as part of a community of professionals, we strive to advance autonomous practice characterized by independence, professional judgment, and involvement. The Division, through faculty participation in scholarship, will be a leader in the school, university, community, state, and the profession. The Division works to optimize health, movement, and physical function of West Virginians through clinical practice and service.

GOALS:

Graduates of the program will:

1. Deliver high quality physical therapy services to individuals and communities across a continuum of care, including rural settings.
2. Demonstrate sound, independent clinical decisions utilizing information literacy, critical thinking skills, and scientific evidence.
3. Function as a unique member of the health care team, including receiving and providing appropriate referrals.
4. Provide culturally sensitive care distinguished by advocacy, trust, respect, and an appreciation for individual differences.
5. Demonstrate a commitment to the health of the community through participation in primary and secondary prevention programs.

Program faculty will:

1. Participate in the scholarship of discovery, integration, application, and teaching
2. Engage in service activities that benefit the university, surrounding community, state, and profession
3. Engaged in clinical practice (as appropriate for effort allocation) diagnosing and treating movement-related disorders that serves as a model of excellence for the community and state. Specialty areas are representative of the scope of specialty practice within physical therapy.

The Division of Physical Therapy will:

1. Prepare PT professionals for practice with special emphasis on meeting the needs of the citizens of WV
2. Establish an ongoing record of research funding consistent with the university’s Carnegie Research Extensive Classification
3. Demonstrate interdisciplinary collaboration in service, scholarship, and education
4. Develop a self-sustaining clinical entity that includes opportunities for faculty and supports educational and research efforts
5. Develop post-professional educational programs that prepare Physical Therapists for leadership roles in advanced clinical practice, education, and research

EXPECTED OUTCOMES:

Student outcomes:

1. Graduates will demonstrate basic and applied knowledge necessary to practice PT as a member of the health care team in diverse settings.
2. Graduates will demonstrate the ability to make sound clinical decisions using information literacy skills, critical thinking, and scientific evidence.
3. Graduates will find employment with special emphasis on recruitment and retention of graduates in WV.
4. Graduates will adhere to core professional values.
5. Graduates will demonstrate the ability to practice independently.
6. Graduates will adhere to legal and ethical standards.
7. Graduates will contribute to the profession by demonstrating activity in professional organizations, scholarship, and advocacy services.

Faculty Outcomes

1. Core faculty members will have five or more peer-reviewed products in a ten year period.
2. Core faculty members will participate on at least two standing or ad hoc university committees and one committee or elected position outside the university (community, state, or national level) as assigned by the chair.
3. Faculty with clinical allocation of effort as assigned by the chair, will be engaged in direct patient care.
4. Each faculty will earn good to excellent ratings in teaching as evaluated by the annual promotion and tenure cycle.

Program Outcomes:

1. The PT Program will recruit and retain nationally recognized faculty.
2. The PT Program will increase applications for funding by 5-10% annually
3. The PT Program will be represented on committees, research projects, and in teaching within other disciplines
4. There will be a clinical faculty practice with an associated sustainable level of revenue>
5. The Division of Physical Therapy will sponsor at least one continuing education course per year