Implementation of High-Value Care for Physical Therapy Residents Through Systems-Based Practice Curriculum...

Systems-based practice is a core competency for physical therapy residents, best acquired through experiential learning. Peer health professions are further along than physical therapy in implementing curricula that support systems-based practice. Clinical and practice data in residency programs could provide for education in high-value care (HVC) as a foundation for systems-based practice. Our purpose was to develop and assess a HVC curriculum incorporating reflective practice to help residents achieve competency in systems-based practice.

The Logic Model, which evaluates key components needed for success and sustainability, was used to identify resources for a curriculum in HVC. Two orthopedic physical therapy residents and 5 faculty mentors participated in didactic and mentoring sessions. A practice dashboard for each clinician was developed to facilitate resident-mentor discussions. Focus group input was used to refine the curriculum. The validated Systems Thinking Scale, the Quality Improvement Knowledge Application Tool Rubric, and the American Physical Therapy Association Residency Core Competency Score were used to assess residents' progress and to make comparisons to prior years' residents.

The residents demonstrated increases in systems thinking and quality-improvement knowledge and improvements in clinical outcomes and practice efficiencies. Three themes emerged from semistructured interviews: challenges to HVC, current approach in HVC, and future-oriented thinking in HVC in practice.

This study demonstrates that HVC activities and a personalized clinical dashboard in a physical therapy residency program can facilitate experiential learning of systems-based practice, a core competency for value-centered, inclusive practice.