Developing leaders in multiple sclerosis rehabilitation: An innovative training program embedded in entry-level DPT education
Purpose: Strategies to advance clinical reasoning and competency, enhance interprofessional education, and embed leadership skills during entry-level Doctor of Physical Therapy education are needed. The Multiple Sclerosis Standardized Training and Education Program with University Partners (MS STEP UP) is an innovative program that has been embedded within the DPT curriculum at three universities. The goal of the program is to provide advanced training for DPT students to develop necessary clinical and leadership skills to successfully treat individuals with MS within an interprofessional team upon graduation from the entry-level DPT program. This session will present the development, partnerships, implementation, models for program management and administration, financial support, and outcomes of the MS STEP UP programs. An individual with MS who serves on the program leadership team and MS STEP UP scholars will share their perspective of the programs. The presenters will discuss the challenges and opportunities for expanding the program to other universities.Methods and/or Description of Project: The MS STEP UP program is embedded within the entry-level DPT education program at three universities. The program includes didactic, clinical, research, and advocacy components. Similarities and differences between programs will be presented. The faculty director from each program will share how the program has been tailored for their specific DPT curriculum. Outcomes will be presented from the two more established MS STEP UP programs, including the MS Competencies Rating Scale (MSCRS) and number of students who completed the Multiple Sclerosis Certified Specialist (MSCS), neurologic residency, and the ABPTS Board-Certified Neurologic Certified Specialist (NCS) designation.Results/Outcomes: Outcomes indicate that self-reported competencies increase in participants of the MS STEP UP program, and graduates have obtained the MSCS and NCS certification, have been admitted to neurologic residency, and have assumed leadership roles. From the first established MS STEP UP program, four of the first six scholars have obtained MSCS certification. Furthermore, scholars showed a significant increase in self-rated MS competencies on the MSCRS across the two years of the program. Specifically, the number of competency items (max. 44) on which the scholars perceived their knowledge to be “above average” or “excellent” compared to that of entry-level DPTs increased significantly (p<.001) from a mean (±SD) of 0.64±1.6 items (0%) at baseline to 26.6±7.1 items (60%) after the first year, and 41.4±2.5 items (94%) after the second year. Four scholars have graduated from the second established MS STEP UP program. One graduate has joined the leadership team for the program. Another graduate is in a Neurologic Residency program and intends to take the NCS exam in 2019. The other two graduates are clinicians in out-patient neurologic physical therapy clinics and are active in the National MS Society. Overall, these outcomes suggest that the MS STEP UP program is developing clinical competency and leadership skills in neurologic physical therapy and multiple sclerosis rehabilitation.Conclusions/Relevance to the conference theme: Our Leadership Landscape: Perspectives from the Ground Level to 30,000 Feet: This proposal addresses the Education Leadership Conference 2018 subtheme “embedding leadership skills across didactic and clinical education.” The MS STEP UP Program is an innovative program designed to develop clinical and leadership skills to treat individuals with MS within an interprofessional team. The program focuses on clinical competency and leadership development by utilizing a specific patient population to engage and expose students to professional behaviors from small-scale (interacting with and providing patient care for individuals with multiple sclerosis) to large-scale (active involvement in national multiple sclerosis advocacy days and fund-raising events). As reported in Part 1 of the Excellence and Innovation in Physical Therapist Education report regarding leadership and vision, “leaders were attentive to internal and external forces influencing physical therapist education, practice, and research. These leaders expressed a clear vision and worked to facilitate team-based collaboration toward this greater goal.” The three DPT programs currently employing this program have demonstrated this leadership both within and now throughout the three programs in order to advance physical therapist education while simultaneously supporting a work force dedicated to excellence in neurologic rehabilitation. The outcomes from the programs from a student perspective also value leadership skills and have demonstrated effectiveness in impressing the importance of leadership and professionalism in MS STEP UP graduates.References: Dickinson V, Dolley J, Stephenson J. Changes in Multiple Sclerosis Education Track Competencies among USF DPT Students. International Journal of MS Care. 2017;19(S1):74. Jensen G, Nordstrom T, Mostrom E, Hack L, Gwyer J. National Study of Excellence and Innovation in Physical Therapist Education: Part 1 – Design, Methods, and Results. Physical Therapy. 2017:97 :857-874. Plummer P, Rosenberg A, Anderson J, Stewart A, Huryta WW, Reynolds JH, Meyer D, Gooch K, Johnston L. Superior multiple sclerosis competencies in physical therapy students who participate in optional 2-year specialty education track. International Journal of MS Care. 2017;19(S1):77. Plummer P, Rosenberg A, Reynolds JH, Wilson W, Williams AA, Bohling CJ, Meyer D, Gooch K, Johnston L. Analysis of the development of multiple sclerosis-related competencies among physical therapy students. International Journal of MS Care. 2016;18(S1):83. Johnston L, Rosenberg A, Meyer D, Gooch K, Plummer P. An innovative multiple sclerosis education program improves self-rated competencies in physical therapy students. American Physical Therapy Association Education Leadership Conference. Phoenix, AZ. October 7-9, 2016. Plummer P, Rosenberg A, Williams AA, Bohling CJ, Eustis HL, Miller J, Meyer D, Gooch K, Johnston L. Multiple sclerosis education track improves self-rated competencies in physical therapy students. International Journal of MS Care. 2015;17(S1):78. Plummer P, Rosenberg A, Eustis HL, Miller J, Osinski A, Jacobs C, Meyer D, Gooch K, Johnston L. Four-year evaluation of a multiple sclerosis educational track for physical therapy students. International Journal of MS Care. 2014;16(S3):86-87.Course Objectives: 1. Describe the development, partnerships, implementation, models for program management and administration, and financial support of the MS STEP UP programs 2. Discuss student outcomes from established programs 3. Describe the perspectives of from an individual with MS and from scholars currently participating in the programs. 4. Discuss the challenges and opportunities in development of MS STEP UP programsInstructional Methods: presentation, discussion, question and answerTentative Outline/Schedule: 5 min: Introduction 30 minutes: Development, partnerships, implementation, program management, and financial support, and outcomes of the MS STEP UP programs 10 min: perspective of individual with MS (video) 15 min: perspective of MS Scholars 20 min: Panel discussion of challenges and opportunities in development of MS STEP UP programs 10 min: Question/Answer